Posted by:
CA girl
(
)
Date: February 02, 2012 12:39AM
Yes, they actually cover their faces, even after 1990. I went through a month after they changed the endowment ceremony and the women veil their faces, but only during the prayer. About half a dozen men and half a dozen women make a circle around the alter and they make certain signs and tokens with their hands. The women veil their faces and the officiator says a prayer - a couple of sentences at a time - then the men and women repeat the prayer as it goes along. All the women in the room veil their faces while praying and when the prayer ends, the announcer tells the women they can unveil their faces and tells those in the prayer circle they can return to their seats. At the time, I didn't find it degrading - I was actually glad to have it to hide behind. I felt safer somehow. I never analyzed that feeling while in the temple but now I think it's because on some level the temple always creeped me out and being behind a veil made me feel safer.
Here's a picture:
http://www.salamandersociety.com/proxy/051022three_faces_eve.jpg