1st presidency says "Cut back on Leisure time for temple attendance"

Subject:	1st presidency says "Cut back on Leisure time for temple attendance"
Date:	Mar 27 10:36 2003
Author:	MollyNoMore

I was talking to my TBM sister who told me about a letter read to them from the 1st prez last Sunday during sacrament meeting which told the members to cut back on "leisure activities" in order to attend the temple more.

I laughed and said: "How many active LDS families have 'leisure time'?"

My sis said: "Yeah, Doug (her husband) and I were saying in order to give up leisure time, one must first have leisure time. Besides, the Mormons with leisure time aren't the ones with temple recommends!"

Then it dawned on me: "OH! By 'leisure time', they must mean sleep!"

The demands put on active LDS families never cease to amaze me.

Subject:	That's ridiculous. It's like making them feel guilty if they have 5 minutes to relax. n/t
Date:	Mar 27 10:47
Author:	Kristen

Subject:

"cut back"? They make it sound like a bad thing to have leisure time n/t

Subject:	It IS a bad thing!
Date:	Mar 27 11:19
Author:	Nightingale

If you are indulging in leisure, you are not building up the kingdom!!

This reminds me of how tired I always felt in the church (even without kids!!) I made an offhand remark to a missionary one day about how I was looking forward to heaven to get some rest. He looked very stern and told me there'd be no resting in heaven - there's all those spirits in prison we'll be busy converting.

SHRRRRIEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!

Can you imagine a busy young Mormon couple with lots of kids (THAT goes without saying - Mormons:Kids) who finally get a babysitter and a few hours alone...and they trek to the temple, where they get to sit on opposite sides of the room to watch a film they've seen a thousand times before that was never that interesting the first time round?

Oh the JOY!

This FP directive is just another way to instill the guilt. Every time you have an hour to sit and read a magazine, you'll be thinking how unworthy you are to be "wasting" the time.

Subject:	Re: Working Into Eternity
Date:	Mar 27 16:39
Author:	KJA

We were taught in MIA/YoungAdults/Whatever that there is no rest in the next life, rather we would be diligently working. My stepmother found this exhilarating, I found it exhausting just to think about.

We were also taught that the Celestial Order? New Order? What-sort-of-like-Communism Order would be the rule in the celestial kingdom, another reason that I wasn't looking forward to passing beyond the veil.

Funny how the adults who taught us this just beamed at the idea of it all.

Subject:	of course it's a bad thing...
Date:	Mar 27 11:26
Author:	MollyNoMore

If you have leisure time, then you might have time to start reading. And if you read, you might read things to start you thinking. If you're thinking, you might start to employ logic...

I think you see where this "downward spiral" could lead!

Subject:	smart a answer for the SP...**
Date:	Mar 27 11:18
Author:	Helen

Oh, Pres. you mean so we can do Hitler's endowment for the fourth time? !!!!!

Subject:	That's what I was just about to post . . .
Date:	Mar 27 11:34
Author:	StealthSister

If they've run out of names, how much time do members really need to be spending in the temple anyway?!

Maybe they'll have a revelation instructing them to introduce some new temple rituals to keep people coming back. *grin*

Subject:	mormonism's energetic program
Date:	Mar 27 11:41
Author:	kak

The busyness of Mormonism's energetic program surely doesn't lend opportunity to develop introspection, meditation or studying the scriptures, a huge contrast from Christianity.

One can't really appreciate one's religion if one can't reflect on it and develop an inner life!

Subject:	Yeah, well MY recommendation for the 1st Pres. is...
Date:	Mar 27 11:49
Author:	CO2

stop wasting my leisure time with your nonsense.

Subject:	My sister said:
Date:	Mar 27 11:53
Author:	MollyNoMore

"I guess my lack of temple attendance will be yet another reason I'll be burning in hell."

My response: "Don't worry, Kim--I'll mix you a drink when you get there."

Subject:	Re: 1st pres says "Cut back on Leisure time for temple attendance"
Date:	Mar 27 12:36
Author:	Secular Priest

We were visiting another city and attended Church there. The letter was read and it encouraged people to go in the daytime to the temple. Church leaders, HT and Relief Society sisters are to help people arrange rides etc so members can attend.

My reaction was this. According to my brother Toronto temple is largely empty during weekdays and evenings. Missionary couples are doing the work. I guess the church wants members to make greater use of the building. Notice I said greater use of the building NOT "we need to get this work done for the dead." There is a difference and the top brethren seem to be having a problem. Are we to go to the temple to get spiritual uplifts? Or are we to go to the temple to redeem the dead? If you attend open houses for the temple it is built for the redemption of the dead. The letter was lacking as to the purpose of daily temple attendance. My TBM wife said nothing about the letter at all. Guess I am the only one in our family who could see that the letter was for something and that something was not clear.

If temple attendance is for spiritual uplift can members now sit in Celestial room and read and mediate? Can members sit in another room and ask temple president questions about the mysteries? Just going through the motions of an endowment and being in a quiet atmosphere is not being feed spiritually, it is just that being a quiet room and being quiet.

If its for the redemption of the dead then why did top Brass not say that?

When the Church started to bring temples to the people I told people that is a great mistake. People do not appreciate things like temple work if you make it too accessible. They laughed at me. If the temple becomes too common place it looses it mystery. Guess what at least in N. America that is what I think has happened and now they can't fill the seats!

When I has to travel from Toronto to SLC to attend temple it was something that had to be planned for and it had mystery to it. To go 20 miles loses it appeal and mystery.

What struck me was when Toronto temple was being built everyone wanted to be a temple worker. Then after it died out what happened? It lost its appeal because now temple is just like any other building except it is quiet.
Best Toronto story. When I was a TBM I took my girlfriend, another TBM to Toronto temple, and the guy at the front desk that checks recommends starts to put the heat on her. Asks her out for date. etc. I was pissed. She was shocked. Then I realized that this would be a great place for single losers to meet women!

Subject:	I guess by going to the Temple, they would have less time to surf the net, watch movies on the big screen
Date:	Mar 27 14:08
Author:	aaron

watch DVD's at home, listen to CD's, plant a garden, go shopping etc? Why bother going to the temple? It's too repetative and nothing ever changes there. Besides the movie is not very exiting!
My TBM parent's try for once a month, but are too busy doing other stuff that forget to even go! They have to drive all the to Idaho Falls and it's a 3 hour drive just to get there! Maybe if they put a temple in Twin Falls (which is 45 minute drive from Burley) the morg could have better attendance there? …
if I had to drive 3 hours to go somewhere, it better worth the drive in mileage and gas!

Subject:	Aaron has hit the nail on the head.
Date:	Mar 27 15:01
Author:	Tyson Dunn
Mail Address:

aaron wrote:
> Why bother going to the temple for? it's too repeative and nothing ever changes there. Besides the movie is
> not very exicting there!

I hated going to the temple. The repetition drove me nuts. I suppose that for some people who can't wrap their minds around what's going on, they *might* discover new things each time, but once I had gotten to the point that I had memorized everything, the whole process seemed pointless.

I never had new spiritual insights or sudden epiphanies, and worse, not once have I had a good experience with the temple workers. For eight years I've lived within 20 minutes of at least one temple, but once I got off the mission, I saw no reason to take advantage of that fact more than a handful of times.

Tyson

Subject:	Grandparents should serve temple missions; strengthening their families?
Date:	Mar 27 14:36
Author:	Romans house go

My inlaws are planning to serve temple missions. What a way to cozy up to the family upon retirement. What a f*cking waste of time!!

Subject:	Re: 1st pres says "Cut back on Leisure time for temple attendance"
Date:	Mar 27 14:45
Author:	ianhusford

Years ago I was reading my great-grandfather's history and he recorded that he enjoyed going to the Manti temple just after it was opened and paying to do endowments for the dead. Is paying to do endowments still required?

Subject:	No, not directly.
Date:	Mar 27 14:54
Author:	Tyson Dunn

But of course, tithe-paying and clothing rental are indirect ways they get the money anyway. Tyson

Subject:	FP letter re: leisure time and temple attendance
Date:	Mar 30 18:05
Author:	Dude
Mail Address:

Official FP letter read at F&T meeting today urges members to replace some of their leisure time with temple attendance. [I didn't hear any audible groans but no one stood up and cheered either.] In addition, members were encouraged to find a way to attend daytime temple sessions. No doubt serious Mormons will start taking sick days from work to go to the temple.

Looks like the "build and they will come" strategy isn't working.