Subject: REPOST: PARADOX REVEALED - Temple endowment changes
Date: Dec 13 19:27
Author: Deconstructor
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Can temple ordinances be changed?
Here's a quote from this August's LDS Engisn Magazine:
From Page 22 of the August 2001 Ensign, in big bold print above a large colorful portrait
of Joseph Smith:
"The Prophet Jospeph Smith taught, "Ordinances instituted in the heavens before
the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be
altered or changed.""
This is from an article specifically on the temple ordinances. The author of the article
is a GA, so he must know that the temple ordinances have gone through MAJOR revisions over
the last 160 years.
To back up what Joseph Smith says on page 22 of the August issue of the Ensign Magazine:
"No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and
sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality
of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation,
and allegiance to God." Apostle James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, 1968, p. 84
"Now the purpose in Himself in the winding up scene of the last dispensation is that
all things pertaining to that dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance
with the preceding dispensations.... He set the temple ordinances to be the same forever
and ever and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man, or to send
angels to reveal them." Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol.4, p. 208
"As temple work progresses, some members wonder if the ordinances can he changed or
adjusted. These ordinances have been provided by revelation, and are in the hands of the
First Presidency. Thus, the temple is protected from tampering." W. Grant Bangerter,
executive director of the Temple Department and a member of the First Quorum of Seventy,
Deseret News, Church Section, January 16, 1982
"...God is unchangeable, the same yesterday, today and forever... The great mistake
made down through the ages by teachers of Christianity, is that they have supposed they
could place their own private interpretation upon scriptures, allow their own personal
convenience to become a controlling factor, and change the basis of Christian law and
practice to suit themselves. This is apostacy." Prophet's Message, Church News, June
5, 1965
"...the endowments have never changed and can never change; as I understand it; it
has been so testified, and that Joseph Smith Jr., himself was the founder of the
endowments." Senator Reed Smoot, Reed Smoot Case, vol. 3, p. 185
"...build a house to my name, for the Most High to dwell therein. For there is not a
place found on earth that he may come to and restore again that which was lost unto you,
or which he hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood.... And verily I say unto
you, let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein...
For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the
foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.
And I will show unto my servant Joseph all things pertaining to this house, and the
priesthood thereof, and the place whereon it shall be built." Jesus Christ Himself,
Doctrine and Covenants 124:27-28, 40-42
"the Lord had His endowments long ago; it is thousands and millions of years since He
received His blessings... He is far in advance of us." Wilford Woodruff, Journal of
Discourses, vol.4, p. 192
"The endowment was revealed by revelation and can be understood only by
revelation.... This temple... is a place of revelation.... The laws and ordinances which
cause men and women to come out of the world and become sanctified are administered only
in these holy places. They were given by revelation and are comprehended by
revelation." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988, pp.250, 252)
"The Gospel can not possibly be changed.... the saving principles must ever be the
same. They can never change.... the Gospel must always be the same in all of its parts....
no one can change the Gospel... if they attempt to do so, they only set up a man-made
system which is not the Gospel, but is merely a reflection of their own views.... if we
substitute 'any other Gospel,' there is no salvation in it.... the Lord and His Gospel
remain the same--always." Prophet's Message, Church News, June 5, 1965
Here's the Paradox:
The temple sealing ceremony (which is required for salvation) itself has gone through
major changes over the years. In fact, the ordinances and teachings in the temple
endowment ceremony went through a significant change as recently as April 1990!
See:
Altered Temple Ceremony
If these were divinely restored in their form from "the foundation of the world"
then why have they kept changing? And if Smith says they can never be altered OR changed,
how come the Church did it? Who got it wrong, the prophet Smith or his only true Church?
Either way, it smells like a hoax.
The pure falsity of the Church is right there in their own magazine. If you dare, tell
your TBM friends and families to read that quote and explain the paradox.
Don't take my word for it. Here' a comprehensive list of all the changes in the temple
ceremonies and ordinances made in April 1990:
Compare versions of Temple Ceremonies
Watch out for TBMs that will try squirming around the contradiction by saying the ceremony
is just a vehicle for the ordinance. If it's just a vehicle, then what IS the ordinance?
If it includes the covenants, oaths, handshakes, signs, keywords or even words at the
veil, then they HAVE changed. See http://helpingmormons.org/compare.htm
We're not talking about a blessing or a prayer that can be changed. We're talking about
revealed temple ordinances.
The words in the temple ordinances are just as revealed and un-alterable as the words in
the sacrament prayer. The ordinance of sealing must be said correctly, just like the
temple endowment ceremony or it's not valid. TBMs know the reason for this is that they
are revealed as the saving ordinances that can't change. Christ in the BoM said this very
thing when he gave the Nephites the exact same words used today for the sacrament. The
temple ordinances are no different.
If it's true that current practices in mormon ordinances are just vehicles that can be
altered, then who's to say that baptism wont change? Maybe sprinkling of water is enough
for baptism. It's just a vehicle, right?