Posted by:
pollythinks
(
)
Date: February 07, 2021 08:56PM
A long time ago, when I worked at the L.A. temple, I served as the exit "greeter" (big deal), while a priesthood MAN worked at the greeting end of the same table.
The man I was partnered with across from me, wore a mustache and beard, and his supervisor requested he shave it off, or quit the job. He choose the latter.
I bought a skirt that was not quite white enough, and was questioned about it. I ended up with a nurses uniform, which was white and long sleeved, and very ugly for the job--especially when aided by the green apron and other items which covered one shoulder--which were nearly impossible to keep on one's shoulder.
A meeting was called for all women temple workers. It was held for the purpose of telling us all that women could no longer work behind any of the counters. The women appointed for this job approached me with tears in her eyes, and bemoaned the fact that she had just lost her job. She asked me, "What can I do now?" (Her husband was a temple worker, and they would come together, every time the temple doors were opened.)
One of my jobs was to sit at the first seat as woman came into the temple to change from street cloths, to all white. There was a BofM for all that waited while seated, but nary a Bible. I went to the counter across from where I sat, and asked for a Bible to read while I waited. The Matron told me there was only one Bible in all the temple rooms, which was sitting on the shelve behind her, verses all of the BoM's which were placed on each and every bench or chair in the temple. This surprised me.
Once, I approached about four men chatting with each other, which would make them late to attend to their duties. You should have seen the look they gave me for reminding them regarding what they should be doing at that time--otherwise, the whole 'party' would be late. Me, a lowly female, telling them--the priesthood bearers--what to do, didn't go well.
When I first started my work in the temple we were horded into a vacant room full of seats, with an isle separating the women from the men. First we sang a religious song, next we received a lecture about being 'sealed forever' to each other. As we marched out, we were partnered with whomever was across the isle from us. As my about-to-be-sealed-to husband and I were not partnered together, I was very worried that I had just been "sealed forever" to another man. (The parents of both of us had never been inside a temple themselves.)
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While working in the temple, one of my jobs was to work behind the clothing counter, and pare cleaned socks together (a very important job). I also took care of the 'lost and found' cupboard--which was never approached during my tenure.
The long, windowless hallway we marched thrugh to the next room gave me claustrophobia, and was likely against fire rules.
That did it. From then on (as far as I can remember), I never went to the temple again--with the exception of when my older sister--who went for the first time---and then the door was closed in my face, because the room was already full.
Then, there was the afterwards reception at our Ward.
The greeter at the door was a friend of mine from work, who was sitting on a chair next to the opened doors, and took care that everyone who came into the room signed the registry. I'm sure she was wondering why we hadn't used the inside of the building, where we could have walked down an isle, and were everyone who cared would be sitting on the benches, watching us be married.
Our parents where supposed to be in the greeting line, however, my father refused to do so (as he wasn't very happy about whom I was was wedding), and my husband's father was in the hospital. However, both of the mothers stood there, appropriately dressed, and a friend--one of my bridesmaids husband--stood in line for my father.
However, I did have sense enough to send 'thank-you' notes to all who had attended and left a present for us. (Something many brides seem not to bother with, anymore.)