Mormon-Temple-Ceremony.com has a page of pro-LDS videos about the temple, but not enough. What are you favorite videos that ought to be included? I’m looking for friendly suggestions here, please.
By the way, have you noticed TempleStudy.com, the site for learning about the Mormon temple? Nicely done–a good resource, IMHO.
There's the one by Mormons Made Simple, http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=yvMLV-LugK8
I like Russell M. Nelson's talk.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages#p/search/0/32QEzPeK1MI
I think it's a great idea. One that will give a pro-LDS web site high ranking in the search results when people do a search on the words "mormon temple ceremony."
One suggestion: It looks too official. May I suggest a "not affiliated with… " type of disclaimer at the footer of all pages? And mabye the web site owner should probably identify himself. Or, at least point out that it is the work of an individual, and not a church group.`
So this might be weird, but can we request posts from you? I've done my own personal research, but was wondering if you might take the time to help…
Holy Ghost vs. Ministering of Angels
Who really helps us find our missing car keys?
I know it might sound silly, but I feel like it's important to know the difference and how to identify what type of help you are getting and when.
Thanks, Bookslinger. The footer has been changed based on your suggestions.
Sojo and MaNini, thanks for the suggestions. Can you be more specific about the Holy Ghost question? The missing car keys theme has been addressed here a few times. (FYI, the consensus answer: they are probably near or in the couch…..
Sojo: I used to think the same thing, along the lines of Holy Ghost versus Light-of-Christ.
After a while, I figured out that "it's all good", and I needed to obey whatever inner voice that encouraged me to repent and to do good.
Moroni said all good things come of Christ, and that which encourages to do good things comes from Christ, and that's how you discern the spirit of Christ.
Somewhere in the New Testament, Jesus said that he only did what he saw the Father do, and only says the words that the Father gave him to say.
The Light of Christ comes from Jesus, and since Jesus speaks the words and will of the Father, whatever comes through the Light of Christ is therefore Heavenly Father's will.
The Book of Mormon says the Holy Ghost speaks the words of Christ, so everything that comes though that channel is Heavenly Father's will.
So for me, the bigger issue is just obeying, and not worrying about which channel it was coming through.
Then, it was either Nephi or Moroni who said "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, therefore they speak the words of Christ". So again, those words or messages originate from Heavenly Father.
So no matter how we get the message, I think we should thank Heavenly Father as the source. And, after all, since He's the only one we pray too, we direct all our prayers of thanksgiving to him anyway.
David O. McKay and Boyd K. Packer also taught that the Holy Ghost speaks to us through the Light of Christ. I don't have the reference handy, but you can google it with "site:www.lds.org" to find it on the church web site.
I'm not sure how that technically works, but if you know how to listen to and follow your conscience (Light of Christ), then you're tuned into the same 'frequency' that the Holy Ghost comes in on, and should be able to hear/feel him too.
I don't know if all of that is official, but that's how I interpret the scriptures that mention those things.
Sojo, I like what Bookslinger wrote. Elder Oaks also briefly addressed this topic in the October 1998 general conference, here:
"In a closely related way, these ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood are also vital to the ministering of angels.
"“The word ‘angel’ is used in the scriptures for any heavenly being bearing God’s message” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist [1987], 54). The scriptures recite numerous instances where an angel appeared personally. Angelic appearances to Zacharias and Mary (see Luke 1) and to King Benjamin and Nephi, the grandson of Helaman (see Mosiah 3:2; 3 Ne. 7:17–18) are only a few examples. When I was young, I thought such personal appearances were the only meaning of the ministering of angels. As a young holder of the Aaronic Priesthood, I did not think I would see an angel, and I wondered what such appearances had to do with the Aaronic Priesthood.
"But the ministering of angels can also be unseen. Angelic messages can be delivered by a voice or merely by thoughts or feelings communicated to the mind. President John Taylor described “the action of the angels, or messengers of God, upon our minds, so that the heart can conceive … revelations from the eternal world” (Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1987], 31).
"Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his rebellious brothers that (1) they had “seen an angel,” (2) they had “heard his voice from time to time,” and (3) also that an angel had “spoken unto [them] in a still small voice” though they were “past feeling” and “could not feel his words” (1 Ne. 17:45). The scriptures contain many other statements that angels are sent to teach the gospel and bring men to Christ (see Heb. 1:14; Alma 39:19; Moro. 7:25, 29, 31–32; D&C 20:35). Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen.
"How does the Aaronic Priesthood hold the key to the ministering of angels? The answer is the same as for the Spirit of the Lord.
"In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering of angels, for “angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ” (2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels."
I like this video about the temple
http://www.youtube.com/user/mormonsmadesimple#p/u/0/yvMLV-LugK8
It's short, to the point, and covers all the basics
At the risk of nitpicking and offending the talented authors of that video (recommended twice by readers!), I will admit that I don't like that video because it supports a common mischaracterization of Mormon views on salvation. It shows a checklist of things that Mormons have to do to be saved. Ticking off the boxes on the checklist as the path to salvation is not the true LDS approach. That scene really irks me. Our relationship to Christ as Redeemer is not ticking off items on a checklist, boom we're done and good to go. Following Christ does involve faith in Christ, repentance of sins, baptism, and keeping the commandments, but the imagery of making salvation a checklist of acts doesn't fit my view of what Christ asks of us. I would rather that it said that baptism is part of the journey of entering into covenants to follow Christ. We follow Christ and accept His blessings and grace through a covenant relationship that includes baptism and temple covenants. The goal is to accept Him, believe Him, serve Him, and let lead us into becoming disciples–not just completing acts on a checklist. Related article: "Toward a Mature Discipleship."
I also feel that there are several helpful explanations that are left out – no time now to review the other things that left me uneasy. A few revisions would make me more comfortable with it.
Sorry – don't mean to offend the creators.
Amen to the checklist critique
Thanks so much everyone! We always talk about having the gift of the Holy Ghost, and His companionship… and I guess the word "companionship" throws me off/confuses me when He can only be in one place at a time, yet His influence can be felt everywhere. Is the companionship the angels that are directed by Him or the Holy Ghost Himself? or both? Sorry if I'm asking too many dumb questions. I just want to teach my children properly.
Sojo:
Scriptures and modern prophets emphasize companionship of the Holy Ghost much more often than companionsnhip of angels.
Personally, I think our focus ought to be more on the Godhead, Father/Son/Holy Ghost, and not angels.
Prophets have taught that our thoughts (prayers) should be directed to the Father, in the name of Christ, and be uttered by the power of and under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. That we should focus on the example of Christ, and what He did for us (teachings, atonement, resurrection).
Angels, if anything, are "bit players" in comparison to the Godhead. If it does turn out that certain things are done by angels, it's only under the direction of the Father.
I'm fairly confident that the angels want us to give thanks to Heavenly Father, not them, for anything they do.