Windy Sydney

Firstly, I know this is going to automatically become an issue of me speaking about the secret (I mean sacred) stuff that happens in the temple. It's my right to talk about it, and there is no reason to keep it secret (I mean sacred.) This is how I feel, and if you don't like it... tough.

Why is it that you have to wear special clothes in the temple? Does God really care what clothes you are wearing when you make covenants to him? Should it matter? Why must everything be just so? I just have a hard time with this, and the amount of money people spend on renting or buying their own temple clothing. (By the way... let me just mention that you *can* buy your temple clothing from the church... how convenient!?!)

Women must wear dresses. Why? Why must I wear a dress? Am I less worthy if I wear pants? What the hell?

The whole thing wastes a lot of energy in my opinion... not to mention money. Here is a story I found online about a young woman's trip to the temple:

I was with a group of women who drove for an hour and a half to show up for ward-assigned duty at the Seattle temple. In our group was a woman who was very, very close to her due date with her first child.

Any woman who's been pregnant can back me up on this - there is NOTHING that will lift a waddling expectant mother's spirits like a new outfit!

Sister Due-any-minute had such an outfit on. Her husband had lovingly picked it out for her. She loved it and felt pretty for the first time in months. It was a most unusual outfit. It looked like a salwar kameez (an Indian long tunic & pants set), but it was actually all one piece. The dress part came down past mid-calf, and somehow the bottom folded over with two short "cuffs" attached at the bottom. It looked like a long dress over fitted trousers, with just a couple of inches of cuff showing at the ankles.

The temple worker at the front desk told her it was disrespectful to try and "sneak in" with pants on, and to go and "take those things off this minute!" Sister Due-any-minute explained that they weren't pants, they were just cuffs at the bottom of the dress. "I don't care what they are, either take them off or wait in the parking lot for your friends!"

Again, she explained that she couldn't take her feet out of the cuffs without taking off the whole dress. She was still refused entry.

She went back to the car, and in her terribly pregnant condition, somehow managed to get the outfit off and then get back into it with her ankles out. She took the two cuffs and tied them together so they wouldn't flop around as she walked.

"That's better!" sez the temple worker, "now, you ARE wearing pantyhose under there, aren't you?" She was wearing knee-his, but answered yes anyway. Thankfully, the temple worker didn't feel the need to check just how far up the nylons went, and Sister Due-any-minute was admitted to spend a grueling afternoon, sitting, standing, getting dressed and undressed and playing handshakes at the veil.

What was that all about? The poor woman went to the temple as directed even though she was due to have a baby at any time... why do people feel the need to do this kind of thing? Just let the woman in the freaking building!! She paid her 10%!

Now, here is something I have heard many times in my life:

"You will understand everything better when you get through the temple."

Just tell me now, please. Why the need for all these secrets (I mean, sacredness...)? Do you really think some ceremony is going to change things? It doesn't. Does. Not. Happen. If anything, the temple ceremony raises more questions... that people won't answer... why? Because it's secret! (I mean sacred.)

Read this story:

It is true that I completely removed myself from the endowment ceremony in 1991. I was called to Colombia Bogota mission while at BYU in "Deseret Towers - R Hall" to be exact.

I was leery of the mission, but hey colombia sounded like a great experience.

Speed up til May 1991 one month before the MTC. My parents and I were having discussions about the temple. I was very nervous and had many questions. I wondered why not much information was available to the virgin temple goers. Why was it so hush hush?.

My mom tried to explain it me and used words like gowns, annointing of the body and sacred rituals. My dad just told me it would be a new and exciting time in my life. Nevertheless (phrasing BOM) I was utterly confused.

I didn't have any resources available, but one friend who had gone through and had told me it was really weird and awkward. He wouldn't say anything else even after bugging him over and over. What was so secret? I kept thinking about it and why GOD would want to keep it so sacred. I was also studying the new testament and tried to find clues to temples and endowments, etc. I couldn't find my answer there either.

I spoke with my Bishop and he said I had common symptons of many first time temple goers. I felt some assurance with his answer, then again I was 19 and kind of moldable.

The day came and I went into the dressing room. I was handed a shawl like poncho gown. It was bizarre and was led into the initiatory phase. Man I was freaking out. What the F was going happen? My heart was racing. I got to the area and a couple of old brothers began their oil sponge bath. I was very uncomfortable and upset. Why wasn't I told about this?

I finally got dressed to go into the endowment. I had my "pink" tag on and was led from the chapel to the endowment room and was led to the front row.

Then it was quiet and I heard on the overhead speakers the uttering a few simple instructions and then the request if any would withdraw please raise your hands. I can't remember the exact words, but something like that.

I thought for a split second. I raised my hand and the usher came over. He whispered in my ear if I was requesting to be escorted out. I said "yes, I prefer to not participate". A blank look came across his face. He motioned for me to come with him and we went out of the room. My mom and dad were almost frozen.

Out in the hall, he asked me if I was uncomfortable or not felling well. I told him I would prefer not to participate in the ordinance until I understood what it was about.

He ushered my back to the dressing room, quiet as a church mouse. He probably was in disbelief about it all.

2 hours later, I was waiting for my parents in the foyer. They were devastated. My mom was crying and my dad was very perplexed.

They asked me what happened and I told them I felt uncomfortbale and unsure of the oridinance. I had a few weeks to re-decide my endowment and my mission, but each day I got further away from the mission plans. My MTC date came and passed and then a year and two and three.

I don't regret my decision. I didn't do it out of disbelief. I did it because I felt weird. Years later I stumbled across this site and have been a silent lurker ever since.

For 13 years I considered myself inactive. I drank a few beers, got a great career and lived life.

I married a non-mormon and we are happy.

Wow. I totally give this person props for walking out of the ceremony. Usually people are so consumed with peer pressure to act on their feelings. Instead, they are frozen in their chair, scared to death, and thinking... "What the F*#@ was that? Why am I wearing this baker's hat? What's the deal with the secret (I mean sacred) handshakes?"

This person actually stopped on the spot and told the temple workers that they wouldn't go through the ceremony until it was explained to them. I wish more people would be this way! Not just in the secret (I mean sacred) temple! Make those missionaries explain it all to you before you are baptized! No milk before meat, eat the whole effing meal! Then let them know if you are interested!

While I am on the subject of the secret (I mean sacred) handshakes, let me go off on a little sidenote here.... What in the world are people thinking with the handshakes?

• People are going to learn the handshakes... people outside the group... you can't stop it, they can't stay secret (I mean sacred) forever.
• Do you really think God is up there waiting for you to use your secret (I mean sacred) handshake? What about your secret (I mean sacred) temple name? Why can't he just use your regular name? It's not secret (I mean sacred) enough?

Maybe it's just me, but these things seem extremely silly. Silly isn't even the word, but I won't use the word I am thinking of.

There is more...

One woman tells this story about her temple experience:

I'll never forget my first temple session with my friend that converted me to the Church.

As if I wasn't stressed enough as is trying to tie a sash in a bow and it had to be over top of the apron and the robe had to be from this side to this side. I figure stepping into the shoes was simple enough. Just slide 'em on. Thank god something simple that I know how to do.

Wrong!!!

I had made the god awful mistake of putting my left one on first. I got sternly tapped on the leg and my friend nudged me and said TAKE THAT ONE OFF AND PUT THE RIGHT ONE ON FIRST.

Talk about a look of bewilderment.

I was even more confused. I hated that whole experience.

I am just wondering if any of you were ever told such a silly thing. Later when I asked her about it when we were allowed to talk. (AKA OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE), she said it was just like passing the sacrament -- that you were to use your right hand. Ha -- I had never paid attention to what hand I used to pass the sacrament to the next person.

That bugged me for so long but I studied the ward minions and many of them indeed always passed it with their right hand. And once the friend mumbled something about "Right hand of God" having something to do with why to put the right shoe on first.

Does God care what shoe you put on first? Why would that matter in the slightest? Come. On. Are we or are we not being a little OCD? There are so many more things I could rant about, but I want to play with my new camera lens for a while.