You would think that you had already paid enough to get in. It's like an amusement park that uses every way it can think of to suck more money out of you. Only it's not amusing.
The day I got my endowment, the first thing I heard in the temple after showing my recommend was the little bell on a cash register, and my immediate thought was "moneychangers in the temple?"
I thought it was odd, but I put it out of my mind (as I did many such things in those TBM days).
The ONE THING Mormons remember growing up and hearing about Jesus and temples is the story about how angry Jebus was at moneychangers in the temple.
You'd think the church would realize this instead of putting cash registers right at the start! Sheesh. I mean how obvious is that for a stab to the faith?
After the disappointment of seeing the cash registers, I then was taken to a locker room where they had lock and key lockers. Why? Because they don't expect honesty apparently.
And that was the first 5 minutes. You have to excuse a lot (I know, I did) to swallow the temple nonsense.
dagny Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You'd think the church would realize this instead > of putting cash registers right at the start!
I actually had a GA tell me, when I mentioned this very thing, that the cash registers were in the *entry* to the temple. Not the temple itself.
ificouldhietokolob Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I actually had a GA tell me, when I mentioned this > very thing, that the cash registers were in the > *entry* to the temple. Not the temple itself. > > Oh, how they love to split hairs...
Can you make it to the cash register area without a recommend?
It's not exactly the same thing as Jesus clearing the dishonest money changers. The money is spent to clean and repair the clothing or pay for the food eaten in the cafeteria. If I remember correctly it was a very small amount of money. I think it's also supposed to act as an incentive for people to buy their own clothing.
Any Christian who enters a building billed as a "temple" and who almost immediately hears the bell of a cash register is going to be reminded of the biblical verse:
Matthew 21:12 -- "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves..." (KJV)
It's not just the money changers, it's all those who "sold and bought."
I stand by my opinion that Mormons already donate *enough* to get a temple recommend, and that the clink of the cash registers is inappropriate for a building that calls itself a temple.
Cheers to a Summer and Don! Perhaps a sign that temple attendance is down will be a free meal after a session complete with ice cream. Everything about the temple is gauche form the ceremony to the clothes, to the white polyester...to the plastic on the alter that supposed to look like marble.
My aunt used to work at the COB as an assistant to a higher up person who managed temples. One reunion I asked her a trick question to see if they made money off of clothing rental and cafeteria. I asked her what they did with the excess money from the clothes rental and cafeteria. Without a pause and very casually she said the extra money goes into an account that goes back into the church funds. They make money. From the cafeteria they don't pay anything for labor because the cooks and other staff are all their as a calling, so they don't get paid. The food is from the bishops storehouse, most of which is produced and made by church volunteers, and grown on church owned farms. The clothing isn't purchased, it is the same clothing sold by the Mormon church, so basically free. Any cost would be offset by charging people more when they buy the temple clothes through the church. Volunteers do the laundry, so all they pay is the electricity and detergent.
My wife recently used to work (paid employee) at the temple cafeteria. She actually ran the cash register often. She got very tired of the 'money changer' comments.
To correct the previous post.
I think probably around 75-80% of the staff in the cafeteria she worked in (one in Utah) was paid employees. There were volunteers that came in, but they were not callings. They were just volunteers.
I did ask her about the budget as well. The manager of the cafeteria was given a budget. The budget equaled what they expected to make on the sales in the cafeteria. Their goal was to break even after all costs. During the few years that my wife worked there, they always came in very close to breaking even.
They got the food from similar sources of other restaurants. They served salmon, steaks, chicken things that are not coming from the bishops storehouse.
Also, in this temple there were paid employees that ran the laundry facilities.
All this info doesn't change the fact that they do buy and sell things in the temple. That part to me was always a little weird.
"...an incentive to buy..." Do you hear yourself, jojo? Jeebus, think it through, honey. Why would they care if you choose to rent or buy? They'd want you to buy because..um....?
It's easier for a temple worker to get used to hearing this complaint than for the majority to avoid saying how they feel. Seems to me the temple has enough control issues without blaming temple goers for objecting to cash registers and being nickle and dime-ed left and right.
In the 1970's there was an adult book store in Houston that had turn stalls like you see for the subway. The store charged 25 cents for each patron to pass through. I was told the store made $250,000 per year just in quarters.
The temples should install turn stalls in the temples. Porno movies might help with temple attendance.
OMG! Memories of a porn/toy store on Colfax in Denver in the 80's just flashed through my mind. Entrance fee to the kinky temples, 25 cents. Just in case one was a looky loo.
The first time I went to the temple, I had NO clue you had to rent that little packet of costume accessories. It's a good thing my mother was there with her $3 cash.
So, I have to wonder what would of happened if i'd of been there with no money, no credit, and no options. Would they have been kind enough to let me "use" their rental accessories? Or, would they have turned me away on my wedding day? Have they ever turned anyone away for not being able to pay?
If they have, i'd love to hear your story. The temple and the cash register, two things that don't go together, not even in the Bible.
Seriously. All these things raised red flags in my mind as well. Funny thing is, I'm not allowed in the "holy" part of the temple, but as an outsider, I'm allowed in the part with the cash register LOL. It seemed hypocritical, and then the red flags rose. I thought immediately of Jesus kicking out the people who were spending money in his temple. Money is much too earthly to belong in a place that is supposed to be the next best thing to heaven. Huge red flag. I didn't know temples had cafeterias either. Plus tithe *should* cover any cost to go in the temple, IMO. I think it's penny-pinching, greedy, and unethical to charge families who already donate 10%+ to the church.
The way I remember it if it' your first time you don't pay or if you don't have money they let you in anyway. They never turn anyone away who can't pay. That was a long time ago. don't know if it has changed. Actually the temples that don't rent out clothing always have extras for people who don't have their own or need an extra piece.
So.. why are temples different? Why do some give freely and some charge? Some rent and some don't? Some give and some don't? Isn't this about eternity?
Isn't God consistent and eternal? Why more for some and not for others? Why do men make these differences? Aren't we all children of God?
Or is it..something like..those who don't get charged were more valiant in the war in heaven? Or those who rent in Utah ought to buy, so we charge them more?
Why do I think this is about the bottom line, and temple presidents?
They might as well set up vending machines that are stocked up with "indulgences" for people to buy. 50 cents each or 3 for a dollar. It could be right next to the clothing rentals and tithing slips.
Yet another one of those things that makes people go Huh!?? Didn't Christ get rid of all the money changers in the Temple??? So why the need for cash registers? Don't TBM's pay enough money to the morg just to go to and use the Temple!!???