AN OVERVIEW OF THE MORMON TEMPLE CEREMONIES

This information is new to most of the readers of this text and

may be difficult to grasp at times, therefore, we have prepared the

following overview of these Temple Ceremonies to let you preview the

activities and to concisely present the important elements to you.

Mormons attending the Temple are called "patrons" by the Temple

staff, and will therefore be similarly designated hereafter in this

publication. Quotation marks enclose direct quotes from the ceremony.

THE PRE-INITIATORY ORDINANCES OR RITUAL

The "Pre-Initiatory Ordinances" or rituals are those that are

performed only for the dead in the Temple. Living Mormons receive

these Ordinances in their local Ward or Stake organizations.

BAPTISM

Baptism is the first ceremony performed in behalf of the dead in

the Temple. This is performed in the beautiful baptismal font mounted

on the statues of 12 full sized oxen, located in the Temple basement.

(3) The Officiator and the patron are in the font dressed in heavy

white jump-suits. There are two or more Witnesses observing the

procedure. Often a closed circuit T.V. is used to project the names

of the deceased persons on a large T.V. screen. Typically 200-300

baptisms are performed per hour, with LDS teen-agers serving as

proxies to introduce them into the Temple rituals and vicarious

Ordinance work at an impressionable age. The baptismal pronouncement

is recited in full for each baptism, and the patron is completely

immersed by the Officiator as observed and approved by the two

Witnesses.

CONFIRMATION AS MORMONS AND THE HOLY GHOST

The next ritual is Confirmation for the Dead. This makes the

deceased person a member of the Mormon church and gives him the Holy

Ghost. This is usually performed at or near the baptismal font, by

the same persons who performed the baptism ritual. Two or more Temple

Workers place their hands on the patron's head while one pronounces

the confirmation.

ORDINATION TO THE MORMON HOLY MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD

The ordination of dead males to the Mormon "Holy Melchizedek

Priesthood" is usually (but not always) performed in the same area of

the Temple by the same proxy. A patron may not receive a proxy

Ordinance which he has not received for himself. Therefore LDS teen-

agers who have not yet received this Ordination may not perform this

Temple Ordinance, and adult male patrons must receive this by proxy.

This is often performed in conjunction with the Initiatory Ordinances

described next. Other Temple Workers perform this Ordinance following

the Baptism and Confirmation. Two Temple Workers lay their hands upon

the patron's head and one of them pronounces the Ordination.

(3) All Mormon Temples from Nauvoo, Illinois in 1842 to the twenty

presently operating Temples have or had baptismal fonts as described,

always located below ground level, as Joseph Smith instructed

(Doctrine & Covenants 128:13). It appears that the new generation of

Temples presently under construction or planned, will abandon this

"prophetic directive". Plans for these Temples show baptismal fonts

above ground level with only six oxen in a semi-circle supporting

them. See Church News, January 16, 1982, page 14.

INITIATORY ORDINANCES

OR

RITUAL WASHING IN WATER

Each patron is ceremonially washed so that he "may become clean

from the blood and sins of this generation." A Temple Worker wets his

fingers in running water and touches each member of the patrons body

as he pronounces a blessing upon it. Women Temple Workers wash female

patrons, and men wash men. The worker starts at the top of the

patron's head and works down to the feet, reaching under the shield to

touch shoulders, back, breast, vitals and bowels, and loins. The

washing is sealed by two workers laying their hands on the patron's

head and pronouncing the sealing.

ANOINTING WITH HOLY OIL

Each patron is then anointed with consecrated oil preparatory to

"becoming a King and a Priest (or a Queen and Priestess) unto the Most

High God, hereafter to rule and reign in the House of Israel forever."

A Temple Worker pours some drops of oil on the top of the patron's

head and moistens his fingers in oil and then touches each member of

the patron's body as he pronounces a blessing upon it, reaching under

the shield to anoint shoulders, back, breast, vitals and bowels, and

loins. Two workers then place their hands in the patron's head and

one of them pronounces a sealing of the anointing.

CLOTHING IN THE MYSTICAL TEMPLE GARMENT

The patron is then dressed in the "Garment of the Holy

Priesthood" as a Temple Worker gives him special instructions

regarding the constant wearing of it 24 hours per day throughout his

life: "It will be a shield and a protection to you from the power of

the destroyer until you have finished your work on the earth,

providing you do not defile it, but are true and faithful to your

covenants." The worker also gives instructions regarding the secret

"New Name" and then whispers the "New Name" to the patron.

THE "NEW NAME"

A Mormon's most secret and cherished possession should be his

"new name" which he receives during the Temple Rituals. This is the

name by which he "will be called forth on the morning of the First

Resurrection" by his God, and by which he will be known throughout

Eternity. He receives this from a Temple Worker, in a whisper, as he

is being helped into his new "magic underwear" for the first time,

during his Temple initiation. Each time he returns to do Temple work

he will go through these same rituals for a dead person, whose name he

will carry through the entire ceremony on a little slip of paper,

which he surrenders to the Introducer at the Temple Veil, before he

enters the Celestial Room. On these return visits he will normally

bypass the "Washing, Anointing, and Clothing in the Garment of the

Holy Priesthood" rituals, and just receive the "New Name" in a little

booth as he leaves the locker room on his way to the theatre type

Endowment Rooms. The "New Name" is usually Biblical, such as Abraham,

Moses, Seth, or Mary, Martha, Naomi, or they come from the Book of

Mormon. Many Mormons are not aware that every person attending the

Endowment on a particular day receives the same male or female "new

name", or its alternate. The alternate is given when the first given

name of the person receiving the Endowment, deceased or alive, (not

the proxy) is the same, or sounds very similar to the "new name". My

son and I share the same "new name" of Enoch with the prophet Joseph

Smith Jr. and probably millions of other living and dead Mormons. I

often wondered how we would know which "Enoch" was being called forth,

or if we would all be judged together en-masse.

THE ULTIMATE HERESY - ETERNAL SEXISM

A Mormon husband must know his wife's (or wives') "new name(s)".

He normally learns this by representing the Lord behind the Veil, and

taking his wife through the Veil Ceremony when she is receiving her

own Endowments. She is not allowed to know his "new name" under any

circumstances. This is because the Lord calls forth only the

Priesthood holder, and it is up to him to call forth his wives, if he

wants them, or leave them behind if he doesn't want some of them.

PREPARATION FOR THE ENDOWMENT

The patron returns to the locker room, removes the shield and

dresses of the Temple Garment, in the white Temple attire; pants,

shirt, belt, tie, socks and slippers, or slip, dress, hose and

slippers. He then takes his name slip and the package containing his

robe, girdle (sash), hat (veil for women), and bright green fig-leaf

apron with him through the beautiful foyer, up the magnificent

circular staircase, and into the theatre type Endowment Room. He is

seated by the Officiator who presides over the presentation, women on

the left, men on the right, and waits in profound silence for the

ceremony to begin. Absolute silence is maintained for up to 20

minutes while the company is assembling.

THE ENDOWMENT CEREMONY

The Endowment is a two hour drama-ritual-ceremony presented to

groups of patrons, rather than individually, as most of the other

rituals are done. It is performed in beautiful theatre type rooms,

where walls are covered with floor to ceiling murals depicting

appropriate scenes. The performance is a basic 19th century

melodrama, with Lucifer as the villain, Elohim as the hero, and Adam

and Eve as the victims. Supporting roles are played by the Apostles

Peter, James and John, a Christian Minister, Jehovah, and the arch-

angel Michael (who becomes Adam). All of the secret names, signs,

tokens, penalties, the "True Order of Prayer", and the Veil Ceremony

are incorporated into the dramatic performance, with some audience

participation, and a "Witness Couple" participating as representatives

of the entire audience. The patrons are tested by the Lord, and must

individually demonstrate their knowledge of the secrets in order to

complete the ritual.

For over a century, live actors played the various roles with

interesting props and costumes. Now all Temples have changed to a

motion picture and tape recording presentation in which the

Officiator, who presides over the presentation, rarely speaks.

Several Temple Workers are present during the performance to

administer the secret elements named above, and to help patrons don

and change the special robes and other attire, where needed. Before

the movie version, the patrons move enmasse to four differently

muralled rooms to receive the various portions of the rituals. Now

they stay in one room for approximately one and one-half hours,

watching the film or the Officiator as he pantomimes the tape

recording. The Endowment can be divided into four "acts" according to

the four rooms previously used: the Creation drama, the Garden of Eden

drama, the Lone and Dreary World drama, and the Terrestrial World

presentation.

THE CREATION DRAMA

This can best be described as a consciousness lowering, mood

altering experience. The movie shows hypnotic type scenes of

volcanoes and lava flows, ocean, animal and flower scenes, as the

dialog drones through a very monotonous and repetitious description of

the first five creative periods. Elohim, the head God, sends his

agents, Jehovah and Michael (the arch-angel) down to do all the

creative work, but one day at a time. He requires that they return

each day and give him a report of their activities, and receive

further instructions, because he is a man with a body, and cannot tell

what they are doing, nor see or hear beyond normal distances. Many

patrons are asleep, and most are drowsy at the completion of this act.

THE GARDEN OF EDEN DRAMA

Elohim actually comes down to earth with Jehovah to create bodies

for Michael, who becomes Adam, and Eve. Adam and Eve are placed in

the garden by Elohim, are tempted by Lucifer, and Eve succumbs and

eats the forbidden fruit. Eve convinces Adam to partake also, then

recognizes who Lucifer really is. Lucifer instructs Adam and Eve to

make fig-leaf aprons to cover their nakedness when they hear Elohim

and Jehovah coming. All the patrons don bright green fig-leaf aprons

with Adam and Eve, which they continue to wear over all of Elohim's

Priesthood attire throughout the remainder of the rituals. Elohim is

outraged, and curses Lucifer, who according to LDS doctrine will never

have a body, to crawl on his belly and eat dust forever. Lucifer

defies him to his face, and ignores his curse throughout the following

scenes. He is cast out, then Adam and Eve are cast out with him, to

join him, but only after they make a secret covenant with Elohim, and

receive a secret token (handgrip), with its name, sign and penalty

(blood/death oath).

THE LONE AND DREARY WORLD MELODRAMA

Upon arrival in the lone and dreary world, which is the world in

which we now live, Adam "builds an altar and offers up prayer."

Lucifer answers, instead of Elohim, affirming that he is "the God of

this world," and the drama develops its conflicts, around this altar

scene. Lucifer's claim to be "the God of this world" is never

challenged or denied by Adam, Eve, or Elohim's agents.

THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER IS SATAN'S HIRELING LACKEY

Lucifer employs a Christian Minister as his hireling lackey to

confuse, deceive, and destroy all mankind along with Adam and Eve. He

preaches to them a comical perversion of the 3rd century Nicean Creed,

which Adam rejects, employing sarcasm and ridicule to develop audience

contempt, but without hissing or booing, as was done in prior decades.

The Apostles Peter, James and John are sent by Elohim to rescue Adam

and Eve, and the hireling Minister deserts Lucifer and joins them

after Peter discloses Lucifer's true identity. He embraces Mormonism

with Adam and Eve and is saved, along with the patrons in the

audience, while Lucifer is cast out. Jehovah, whom Mormons have told

outside of the Temple is really Jesus, has been relegated to the role

of messenger boy between Elohim and his new agent team of Peter, James

and John.

THE TERRESTRIAL WORLD PRESENTATION

Adam, Eve, and the patrons advance to the Terrestrial World,

where they are put under covenant by Peter, James and John to obey

several more laws, and taught their accompanying Priesthood tokens,

names,signs and penalties, along with being clothed in the Robes of

the Holy Priesthood, and being taught "The True Order of Prayer."

THE ONE AND ONLY "TRUE ORDER OF PRAYER"

The only "live entertainment" in the Endowment is the True Order

of Prayer After all of the secrets have been received (except the one

learned only at the veil), all the temple clothing has been put on,

then taken off and put on again differently, and the ritual activities

are completed, the patrons enjoy sitting and watching something

different. (The patrons have stood up and sat down approaching 20

times since the Endowment started).

The Officiator calls the Witness Couple and seven or eight other

couples to come forward and form a circle around the altar. Those in

the circle then proceed to follow the Officiator in performing all of

the names, signs, and penalties of the tokens of the Priesthoods which

they have previously received. Then they form the "True Order of

Prayer". The sisters all veil their faces (in the audience also).

Then each couple in the circle joins right hands in the Patriarchal

Grip and everyone raises their left arms to the square and rests their

left elbow on the person next to them. The Officiator carefully

checks everyone's position ... then kneels at the altar and offers a

prayer, which all those in the circle repeat, one phrase at a time.

(this is the first time the patrons hear the Officiator's voice. He

has been pantomiming the tape recording during all of the prior twenty

minutes of the ceremony since the movie ended).

The prayer is usually long and quite involved, covering many

subjects from the prophet's health to the patron's safe return home.

It opens, as all Mormon prayers do, addressed to "Heavenly Father",

and closes "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." The patrons in the

circle repeat the "Amen" and are instructed to return to their seats.

THE "TRUE ORDER OF PRAYER" RESEMBLES ANCIENT RITUAL

Prayer circles around Altars, doing very much the same sort of

ritualistic activities, are described in the Egyptian Coptic Gnostic

writings recently first published in English. These were a

continuation of the ancient Egyptian pagan rituals performed for

centuries before the birth of Jesus. This most certainly was another

Gospel, a very strange occultic one, from that which the Apostles

preached in the New Testament (see Galatians 1:8,9). Dr. Hugh Nibley

and other mormon scholars speak of these pagan ceremonies as if they

validated the Endowment, when they actually demonstrate the pagan

nature and foundation of the Temple rituals.

THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE

The climactic conclusion to the Endowment is the Veil Ceremony in

which each patron is tested by a Veil Worker, who represents the Lord

behind the Veil, for his knowledge of the four tokens and their names,

which were given to him during the Endowment. The Veil is a seven

foot high by three foot wide ivory colored fabric panel hung on a

beautifully finished hardwood framework. It has seven "Marks of the

Holy Priesthood" in it which correspond to the four marks in the

patron's Priesthood Temple undergarment. Three of these Veil marks

are sewn in the form of openings which are large enough for hands or

arms to pass through. Between each pair of Veil segments is a

curtained opening through which the patron is conducted after he

successfully completes the testing. The Veil is located at the front

of the Terrestrial Room, representing the Terrestrial (where almost

all Christians and nearly all Mormons will supposedly spend eternity),

and separates it from the Celestial Room, representing the Celestial

Kingdom, where those who successfully keep all of the Mormon

commandments will go to become Gods over their own planets. Thus the

patron gains entrance to the Celestial Room by passing the testing

conducted by the Lord at the Veil. Unfortunately for them, no Mormon

is successfully keeping all of the commandments required for entrance

into their Celestial Kingdom.

There are approximately 60 Veil segments in the Los Angeles

Temple, equally divided between men and women. The Veil is perhaps

the most important object in the Temples, and was used over four

million times last year alone. The veil of the Hebrew Temple was rent

in twain from top to bottom at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, thus

destroying its function (Matthew 27:51). Jesus' atonement ended the

need and purpose of the Temple forever (Hebrews 9:11-17). The Veil of

the Hebrew Temple had only one opening and was only opened once each

year by the one and only High Priest to enter for a specific ritual

performed on behalf of all Israel and then to return through it

(Hebrews 9:6-7). Over four million Mormon Temple patrons, mostly

women but including hundreds of thousands of High Priests, WORKED

their way through their Temple Veil to provide vicarious exaltation

for dead people. They did nothing on the other side, and did not

return through it as the Hebrew High Priesthood, yet Mormons speak of

their Temple as a restoration of the one in Solomon's Hebrew Temple.

They rarely mention any claims of specific similarities, or the very

many obvious differences.

THE VEIL CEREMONY

The Veil Ceremony is the Patron's principle opportunity to

participate in this two hour ritual. A Veil Worker represents the

Lord behind the Veil, and an Introducer presents the patron to the

Lord and coaches him through his lines and actions if necessary. The

Lord reaches through and opening in the Veil to take his hand in the

various grips or tokens and asks him specific questions through the

Veil. His answers must be word perfect. The culmination of this

examination is the name of the Second Token of the Melchizedek

Priesthood, the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, which is

given to the patron only through the Veil, while embracing the Lord in

the Five Points of Fellowship.

THE FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP

"The Five Points of Fellowship are inside of right foot by the

side of right foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and

mouth to ear." The patron and the Veil Worker both reach their left

arm through the appropriate mark in the Veil, while holding right

hands in the Patriarchal Grip, and embracing each other, maintaining

strong contact at all the points indicated with the Veil separating

them, while the Veil Worker gives the name of the token to the patron

and the patron repeats it back verbatim. The name of the token is,

"Health in the navel, marrow in the bones, strength in the loins and

sinews. Power in the Priesthood be upon me, and upon my posterity

through all generations of time, and throughout all eternity." This

is a form of incantation similar to various Witchcraft, Voodoo, or

Black Magic incantations in use for centuries before Joseph Smith

developed his Endowment. Many women patrons are seriously agitated

and disturbed by this procedure through the Veil. Since the Veil

Workers are all men, they tend to put the blame on the men for being

overly familiar or enthusiastic in this embrace. Since the women tend

to be more sensitive and perceptive, I believe they are often

spiritually disturbed by the overtly occultic mystical demonic power

that is being invoked in this incantation. This probably

significantly contributes to why less than ten percent of those

Mormons who are eligible actually attend the Temple regularly, while

nearly triple that number have been through this experience once.

After the patron repeats this incantation verbatim, calling these

spiritist powers down upon himself and his posterity for eternity, he

is ushered into the beautiful, ethereal Celestial Room, as the climax

and reward for his perserverance and performance.

THE CELESTIAL ROOM

The Celestial Room is a very large, elegantly decorated and

furnished sitting room. It has no function or purpose except that

patrons may stand or sit for a few minutes to wait for spouse,

friends, or associates to come through the Veil. Conversation is

permitted only in quiet whispers. This is the only opportunity a

Mormon ever has to ask a question about the Temple ceremonies. It is

supposed to be a place to meditate, or seek answers to problems or

inspiration. In actual practice, however, patrons are not permitted

to remain in the Celestial room for more than a few minutes. Rarely

is anyone available to answer any questions or discuss a problem. It

is very business-like and efficiently operated, like a production

line.

Patrons move from the Celestial room out a side door and back

downstairs to the locker room, still wearing all the Temple clothing.

There the patron removes his Temple attire, puts on his normal

clothing, and is free to leave at his leisure. There is a comfortable

waiting room near the entrance where he may await spouse and friends.

TEMPLE MARRIAGE FOR TIME AND ETERNITY

A typical Temple contains from six to twenty Sealing Rooms where

marriages and Sealings are performed for the living and the dead.

Sealings are performed for couples already married, living or dead, to

extend their marriage to eternity. On a typical spring Saturday in

Los Angeles from 60 to 100 marriages and Sealings may be performed,

mostly for young couples. The Sealing Rooms are elegantly furnished

and decorated. The walls are lined with formal dining room type

chairs and a beautiful altar is in the center. Two opposing walls are

covered with solid mirrors so that one can seem to see "for Eternity"

in both directions. The Officiator for this ceremony is a Temple

Sealer, who is called to this position because he is considered an

especially "Spiritual" person.

The room is often filled with many friends and family of the

wedding couple, who must also have valid Temple Recommends, who have

come to be with them, all dressed in white Temple clothing. It is an

impressive ceremony. There were approximately 40 dearly beloved

friends at the Sealing of my wife and three teen-age children to

myself one year and six days after our Baptism. (It is the order of

the Priesthood that wife (or wives) and children are sealed to the

Priesthood holder). Though we were dazed and perplexed by the rush of

confusing activities that had taken place during a period of several

hours preceding it, at the completion of that brief climaxing ceremony

we truly felt blessed. With this capacity crowd of joyful well

wishers encouraging us, we truly felt a wonderful bond of family

togetherness envelop us. It is an event I will never forget. We

thought we had achieved a wonderful goal through sustained sacrifice,

dedication and hard work. The promises bestowed were glorious beyond

understanding, and it felt worthwhile and rewarding. The support and

fellowship of all those beloved friends who were there just for us was

a very significant factor in the good feelings we had, for without

them it would all have been a mass of confusion and senseless rituals.

5 LAWS

All Temple patrons covenant and promise to keep and live by these

five laws of the Endowment.

1 - Law of Obedience - Wives agree to obey their husbands in

righteousness, and husbands, in turn agree to obey the law of Elohim

and keep his commandments.

2 - Law of Sacrifice - All agree to give everything they have,

including their lives, if necessary, to the building up of the Kingdom

of God.

3 - Law of the Gospel - All agree to obey the Law of the Gospel, and

to avoid lightmindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord's

anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and every other

unholy and impure practice.

4 - Law of Chastity - All agree that they shall have no sexual

intercourse except with their legal and lawful husband or wife (or

wives).

5 - Law of Consecration - All agree to consecrate their time, talents,

and everything with which the Lord has blessed them or will bless them

to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building

up of the Kingdom of God and the establishment of Zion (the Mormon

Church).

4 TOKENS (HANDCLASPS) - WITH ACCOMPANYING NAMES

Temple participants each receive these four secret tokens or

handclasps with accompanying secret names, signs, and penalties.

1 - The First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood: Is given by clasping

the right hands together and by placing the joint of the thumb over

the first knuckle of the hand. Its name is the NEW NAME you received

in the temple this day (The 'New Name' is usually Biblical, and is the

same for everyone on a given day, i.e., every male who goes to the

temple on the third of the month will receive the name "Abraham". The

name of the First Token of the A.P., then, would be "Abraham").

2 - The Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood: Is given by clasping

right hands together and by placing the joint of the thumb between the

first and second knuckles of the hand. The name of this token is your

given name (If you are Elmer Jones the name of the token would be

"Elmer", and if you were Sadie Jones it would be "Sadie").

3 - The First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or Sign of the Nail:

Is executed by bringing your right hand forward in a vertical

position, fingers close together, thumb extended, and the person

giving the token placing the tip of the forefinger in the center of

the palm with the thumb on the back of the hand. The name of this

token in "The Son".

4 - The Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Patriarchal

Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail: Is given by clasping right hands and

interlocking little fingers, and placing the index finger of the right

hand on the center of the wrist. The name is "Health in the navel,

marrow in the bone, strength in the loins and in the sinews, power in

the priesthood be upon me and upon my posterity through all generation

of time and throughout all eternity".

4 SIGNS AND 3 PENALTIES

1 - The Sign and Penalty of the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood

Is made by bringing the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand

forward, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended. The

penalty is executed by placing the right thumb under the left ear,

palm down, fingers close together. The thumb is drawn quickly across

the throat to the right ear and the hand dropped to the side. This

signifies having your throat slit from ear to ear and your tongue torn

out by its roots. (4)

2 - The Sign and Penalty of the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood

Is made by bringing the right hand in front of you, the hand in

cupping shape, the right arm forming a square, and the left arm is

raised to the square. The penalty is executed by placing the right

hand on the left breast, and drawing the hand quickly across the

chest, then dropping both hands to the sides. This signifies having

your chest ripped open and your heart and vitals torn out and fed to

the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air. (5)

3 - The Sign and Penalty of the First Token of the Melchizedek

Priesthood is made by bringing the left hand forward, the hand in

cupping shape, the left arm forming a square. The right hand is

brought forward, the palm down, fingers close together, and the thumb

extended. The thumb is placed over the left hip. The penalty is

executed by drawing the thumb quickly across the body and dropping

both hands to the sides. This signifies having your body cut asunder

and your bowels gush out upon the ground. (5)

4 - The Sign of the Second Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood (no

penalty is mentioned) Is made by raising both hands high above the

head, palms forward, fingers close together, and lowering the hands to

the side three times while repeating aloud the words, 'PAY LAY ALE,

PAY LAY ALE, PAY LAY ALE.' They are told this means, "Oh God, hear the

words of my mouth" in the Adamic language.

(4) Up until the 1930's the penalties were plainly stated as

indicated. The patron was agreeing or covenanting that if he or she

revealed these secrets, the Mormon elders would very literally take

them and execute the penalties upon them. This is known as "blood

atonement", and is still a doctrine of the Church today.

(5) The significance of the penalties is no longer explained to the

patrons as plainly as it was in former days. Today it is described as

"various ways in which life may be taken." As the patron is executing

the morbid gesture of the penalty, he is affirming that rather than

reveal the secret token, name, sign and penalty, he would "suffer his

life to be taken."

IMMORALITY AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN THE TEMPLE RITUAL

Numerous stories have been circulated of all manner of sexual

activities, indecent exposure, polygamous marriages, marital

intercourse, etc., taking place as part of the Temple rituals. We

want to unequivocally and emphatically state that none of these are

true. There is no overt sexual activity, immoral or otherwise,

contained within the rituals or otherwise conducted within the Mormon

Temples, although there are numerous similarities between ancient

pagan fertility rites and Mormon Temple rituals. We do not believe

that polygamous marriages are knowingly being performed within the

Temples today. Since polygamy is still an essential element of Mormon

doctrine, and still very much alive in Utah, we realize that some

Mormons dishonestly obtain polygamous marriage through Mormon Temples

by concealing the truth of their intentions.

THE GARMENT OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD

4 MARKS

Every Mormon who "receives his Endowments" (including all Mormon

Missionaries) is dressed by a temple worker in the "garment of the

holy priesthood" which he is required to wear 24 hours a day, 365 days

a year, until he is buried in it. It is removed only to bathe and

change them, and for certain "public appearance" exceptions. Most of

these have the appearance of old-fashioned "long johns".

Closer examination reveals a pair of button-holes over the right

breast sewn in the form of a square, reminding the Mormon of exactness

and honor in living up to his temple vows. Over the left breast a

pair of button-holes in the form of a compass, remind the Mormon that

all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole, and that all

appetites must be kept within certain bounds. One button-type hole

over the navel, recalls the need of nourishment for body and soul, and

an identical hole over the right knee, signifies that every knee shall

bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. In the early

Mormon Temple ceremonies some of the marks were cut into the garment

with a small knife while on the patron's body, thus nicking his flesh

and shedding his blood into the garment. See Leviticus 19:28, 21:5,

Deuteronomy14:1, and Jeremiah 16:6.

The same four marks are on the veil of the temple in much larger

dimensions. The Temple Worker tells the patron, as he or she is being

dressed in this garment, that "it will be a shield and a protection to

you from the power of the destroyer until you have finished your work

on the earth, so long as you are true and faithful to the covenants

you make in the temple this day."

The garment has thus become a magic talisman to the Temple

patron, and is to be his source of protection from the power of Satan

throughout his lifetime. The patron is instructed that, when the

garment is worn out, he must cut the priesthood markings off of it and

burn them. The garment then can be used for rags or any other

purpose. Thus we see that the magical "power" is in the Priesthood

markings.

The Christian is taught that his protection from Satan comes in a

much different form from this Priestcraft occultic talisman magic.

Christians, in overcoming Satan's attacks, are to put on something

more substantial than magic underwear with Masonic markings. It is

fully explained in Ephesians 6:12-18, and we highly recommend this

form of protection to all readers.

MASONIC SYMBOLS AND RITES USED IN THE MORMON TEMPLE

In spite of vehement denials to the contrary, there is a direct

link between the rites, symbols, signs, handclasps and penalties of

the Masonic Lodge (Free and Accepted Masons or Free Masons) and those

of the temple Endowments of Mormonism. Joseph Smith received his

first degree in Masonry on March 15, 1842 and the very next day was

elevated to 32nd degree sublime Master of the Royal Secret. (See

History of the Church (H.C.), Volume 4, page 550, 552). Six weeks

later, on May 2, 1842, Smith was teaching these Masonic secrets as his

own "revelations" to Mormon leaders as the Temple Endowment (see H.C.,

Volume 15, Page 2). It was from his association with the Masons that

Joseph Smith derived the basic ceremonies and symbols now known as the

"Endowment". Into the fabric of Free Masonry he wove his own peculiar

brand of occultism, claiming it to be "Revelation" from on high.

We do not intend to do an exhaustive comparison between Masonry

and the Mormon Temple Endowment, but we would like to draw your

attention to a few of the more obvious similarities. Please keep in

mind as you look over the following list, that the Masonic rituals and

symbols pre-date the Mormon Church by several hundred years:

All Seeing Eye

Anointing with oil

Apron

Beehive

Square and Compass

Earth Symbol

Emblem of the clasped hands

Solemn Assembly in the Temple

Five points of Fellowship

Special Garments applied to initiates

Garment Markings

Grips (Special handshakes)

The phrase: "Holiness to the Lord"

Moon symbol

New Name given

Special Prayer circle

Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods

Location (possession of) Throne of the "Holy of Holies"

Star symbols

Sun symbols

Tabernacles

Temples

Blood/death oaths of secrecy with morbid gestures and words

describing penalties agreed to if secrets are revealed.


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