First Reaction Going Through The Mormon Temple?
Sweet Spirit Feb. 2014
What was your reaction going through the the Mormon temple the first time?
zenmaster
Re: First Reaction Going Through The Mormon Temple?
"Is this it?"
I expected something much more mysterious
blueorchid
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Same as zenmaster. The Peggy Lee song popped into my head, "Is that all there is?"
Sitting there in the Celestial room with my family looking at me like,"wasn't that the most amazingly spiritual thing ever?" and I' like, "Uhhhhhhh ......."
But for some reason, having the garments on changed everything for me. It was some kind of psychological trick that pushed me even deeper TBM for a long time.
gentlestrength
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Creeped out, not the religion I was taught as a child. Confirmed my reservations about more spiritual-related concerns with respect to trusting my Mormon parents and Mormon church leaders.
immigrante
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I think my expectations were so high from hearing about other people temple experiences. I was confused at the least. I felt what was being done there eternally insignificant and just silly. I really didn't understand. I had a few friends with me and they were all excited. We took pictures outside of the temple, they even let me wear a beautiful white dress I got in the temple. It was a beautiful chiffon with peplum dress, unlike those potato sacks you used to rent everywhere else. Afterwards, I felt just overwhelmed by the unusual experience. It didn't help that my host mother told me what they used to do differently before 1990. My only thought was that I was happy I didn't have to do the creepy stuff people used to do before.
NormaRae
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"THAT was the church I grew up in? The one that make fun of the CATHOLICS for their rituals??!!!!"
Back in the throat slitting days.
hangar18
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"What the HECK just happened?"
(I didn't use the other 4-letter word back then)
fluhist
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Confusion, TOTAL confusion!!
Then I was married immediately after. OOOOhboy then the abuse started and the temple and its ceremonies was about as far from my mind as could be!!
rhgc
Re: First Reaction Going Through the The Temple?
1. I was stunned and, if I were alone, would certainly have walked out near the beginning.
2. At least I did find some humor. The "Pay Lay Ale" reminded me of something my older brother had taught me: "Repeat the following, each time faster, while first raising you arms and then bringing them down while you say: "O Wha a goo Siam." Almost burst out laughing.
Facing Tao
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
»Sitting there in the Celestial room with my family looking at me like,"wasn't that the most amazingly spiritual thing ever?" and I' like, "Uhhhhhhh ......."»
That's exactly what my TBM wife said to me! And that's exactly what I said in reply!
Other than that, like during the endownment ceremony, I remember thinking: "OMG... what IS this?!?!", and remember glancing around to see if other people seemed incredulous (no, they didn't). At the veil... *knock-knock-knock* I thought: "This is *SO* ridiculous.. wonder how much longer will this last?!"
The garments didn't do it for me.. I couldn't wait to get out of them when we got home to my wife's great dismay. She totally thought I would start wearing them every day. The only time I put them on after that when my son got baptized (since I was in the font :P). After that, I quietly tossed them into trash. Never. Wearing. Them. Again.
Facing Tao
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Having been a pretend-a-member for about 8 years at the time we went through the temple (I did it for my TBM wife, thinking it would improve the marriage.. it didn't), the temple experience was the final nail on the coffin. Up until then I had somewhat successfully made myself believe that TSCC is "just another Christian church". After the temple I started systematically distancing myself out of it.
tawanda2011
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
We looked at each other when we came out of the temple and thought, "what did we just do." We couldn't talk about b/c we'd be disemboweled, have our throat cut and have our heart ripped out, but we were both confused and not at all impressed. We made an oath before we knew what the hell we were promising. I kept waiting for the special thing to happen or the big secret to be given, but it never happened. I always felt I must not be worthy enough to understand it. I understand they don't make you promise anymore that you will die a horrible death if you reveal the secrets.TSCC is definitely a cult for having us young, innocent be involved in such a goulish display of BS. We've been out of tscc for years and I think I still occasionally suffer kind of like a ptsd or something. I wish the world knew the real truth about what the church teaches, they would not believe it is so wholesome and family friendly if they knew.
Devoted Exmo
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
At first I was really angry at being coerced into making death oaths for what? I don't even know what and I'm supposed to make the oaths up front????
Then later, I was very confused. You mean to tell me that I need to know secret handshakes to get into the temple? I thought spirits weren't able to shake hands.
And lastly, after doing the prayer circle, I thought this is just another version of the Hokey Pokey which is down right STOOPID.
And after leaving, I couldn't make anything, and I mean anything jibe with everything else I knew about Mormonism. It just didn't fit anywhere. I was completely creeped out and only went back one other time.
angela
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Pretty much what I thought. I was like "that's it? huh? what?"
BirdUncaged
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
This is Satanic. Where can I run to? Why is everyone smiling and crying and nodding at me, and acting like this is okay? Why am I promising to agree to things when I don't know what they are? I just covenanted away my life. I'm trapped. I'm screwed. Why in the hell would the people who love me get me into this?
The Celestial room is pretty. It's really nice meeting all my family this way, and being hugged and welcomed. Maybe it's all okay after all, if getting welcomed to heaven is like this.
Then a huge emotional breakdown, after feeling like I was caged inside my garments. Like something was REALLY wrong with them. I wanted them OFF. NOW. I picked the markings out of them.
roslyn
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I was nervous, I was an emotional mess. I had given birth a few weeks before. I will still bleeding and I was leaking milk and was a bit nervous and uncomfortable. The initiatory was weird. I don't know weird, just weird. It still is weird. My husband and I were never alone, we had a ton of people with us, it was just weird.
joan99
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I felt like it was unreligious, sort of evil. It was scary with the blood oaths, which seemed insane.
Void K. Packer
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I went solo. The only thing, literally the only thing, I was told before I went was to take a pair of garments. It was a long time ago, but I do remember being rather weirded out and shell shocked. I just compartmentalized it away for years simply because I had no framework in which to comprehend it.
visiting
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I saved my virginity for THIS?!
The whole thing felt like a really bad joke. I had nightmares about it for years and years. And, I only went once--on my wedding day!
L Tom Petty
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Not long before the first time I went through the temple I had watched a movie called "Race With The Devil" about some devil worshipers. The pay lay ale and prayer circle parts of the temple reminded me of devil worship and creeped me out.
The death oaths bugged me a lot too… the whole thing was kind of creepy to me. And the garments…gag me. I felt like I was a prisoner to the church at that point. Hmmm I kind of was a prisoner.
wine country girl
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"What the hell is on my imminent future husband's head?"
Facing Tao
Re: First Reaction Going Through the The Temple?
PTSD, yes! I still get flashbacks from the temple, especially when my TBM wife demands me to become more active in TSCC again. I usually see flashes at the veil, or chanting in the circle. It's probably one of the creepiest situations I've ever been in.
laurel
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
My niece came home from endowment with Grandma and cried for the week before she got married. Quit the garments the week after she was married.
Greyfort
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
My entire being was going, "RUN!!!!" But I stuck it out and eventually it seemed normal to me, which is a little scary.
Second:
"What is wanted"?
I need to get out of this stupid religion. Too bad I have to go on a stupid mission.
20 years later:
DearnTSCC. F you. Love, Richard G. Spot
Mr. Neutron
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I completely lost my testimony during the endowment session. Then Mr. Carlson from "WKRP in Cincinatti" came on the screen so I could calm down a bit. Then, when I saw my parents in the celestial room, I was fine.
From that point on, I spent my time at the temple trying to find deeper meaning in, as another poster put it:
Owa
Tagoo
Siam.
randyj
"Did I put these underwears on right?" :-)
Levi
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"Well my mother is doing this, so it must be ok, but this just feels wrong"
Then in the celestial room, it felt like seeing everybody in their underwear. I had seen the clothes, but never seen anybody on any of them .
Lmn8h8
Re: First Reaction Going Through the The Temple?
It was very creepy. I went through before the 1990 changes. Neither my husband nor I wanted to go through (we'd been married a year) but it was expected of us and so we did. Before I left the temple that day I took off my garments. They disgusted me. My husband wore his for a couple years. We never renewed our recommends. I've been in the temple a total of two times--still too many. It was the beginning for the end for us. I left first, but my husband was close behind. We left early enough so that our kids were not raised Mormon.
Brethren,adieu
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"OMG, I"m in a cult! "
Nelly Normon
Re: First Reaction Going Through the The Temple?
Havent posted in years but have to on this one. My first reaction was OMG Im in a cult! Wanted to run out after the pretend throat slashing but everyone with us is acting like its this great thing. Shell shocked in the celestial room where you are supposed to be able to talk about it. And then you cant dare discuss it outside of the temple because you will go straight to hell. Too bad it took me 20 years to figure out my gut reaction was right
zenmaster
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Kind of like the scene in "Christmas Story" where Ralphie gets his super special decoder and in great anticipation he decodes the super secret message...and to his utter dismay it says "drink your Ovaltine" :)
Annon11
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I had a friend who said it looked like a bakers convention. I still laugh when I think of him saying that.
cheezus
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
When eve's shoulders were visible, I was wondering of we were going to enjoy some nudity and that the reason the church is so crazy about sexual control is because maybe in those few moments before the ceremony completed, the temple was all about spiritual nudity, and maybe this was about to turn into an orgy. Not that I wanted to be all sexual in there. I wasn't sure what the alter was for....but my imagination was going for a while. Then when all the men close their eyes, I was hoping that eve would be nude. I peeked later, but nope.
Villager
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
"Really? My level headed parents think this is okay?
did they not get the part of my job where I try to save peoples lives, not take people's lives. especially my own?
...what the hell?"
NotSoSure
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
One thing that stuck out to me was the prayer circle. We are taught in church that we don't say ritualized prayers...no repeating of the Lord's prayer, etc. So, being told we had to repeat in unison what some guy had just said seemed really creepy to me. It was like we're told one rule outside the temple and a different rule inside.
Stainless Rod
Re: First Reaction Going Through the The Temple?
Slitting my throat and disemboweling myself creeped me out. Then I saw everyone else doing it! Freaky!!! I have friends who don't believe we used to have to do that.
Mr. Happy
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
Race With The Devil also had a better ending than the temple movie.
Before going in the only thing I was told was that there was a lot of symbolism. While I was being naked touched, I was wondering why THAT couldn't have been done symbolically with my clothes on. I guess now it is. I might be a prophet!!
I guess I should be grateful. My first time through confirmed that I was in a cult.
azsteve
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
The group suicide pact, death threats, were just evil, plain and simple. It felt wrong then. It was actually horrifying. Then when it's over, you block it out. You say to yourself "that didn't just happen". Then off to the mission field you go. Two years later, you return home and try to forget that it did happen. Eventually, it's like you've eaten some bad food. You know you're going to throw up and it's more a matter of deciding where and when. But you can't wait too long or it's going to come up, like it or not, on its own. Then afterwards, after you've left the church and renounced your covenants - death threats and all - you feel better. It's like throwing up that bad food. Then you tell your friends which restaurant gave you the bad food and what it did to you. Is it any wonder there's a great apostacy from the Mormon church going on right now?
RealityCheck
Re: First Reaction Going Through the Mormon Temple?
I thought the whole thing was goofy -- nothing like the church I grew up in.
All I could do was think, "I sure am glad that they don't allow non-members in here."
"Recovery from Mormonism - www.exmormon.org"