Difference between revisions of "Changes to Temple Ordinances"

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Many people who seek to prove the '''Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''' wrong like to claim that there have been changes to the LDS Temple ordinances. They use this as a weapon when referring to Joseph Smith's statement that ''"Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed."''
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Many people who seek to prove the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] wrong will sometimes claim that there have been changes to the LDS [[Temple]] ordinances. They use this as a weapon when referring to Joseph Smith's statement that ''"Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed."'' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 308.)
  
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== '''Setting the stage''' ==
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== Analogous Changes ==
  
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In August, 1830, the prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation pertaining to the ordinance of the sacrament. In this revelation Joseph Smith was told "it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins." In other words, the specifics substance that was eaten and liquid that was drunk were not essential elements of the ordinance.
  
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Any smart Christian knows that in the Old Testament, God laid down the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was very strict, and law given through the Prophet Moses to the house of Israel, as a replacement of the higher law that they had failed to obey. The Law of Moses consisted of many ceremonies, rituals, and symbols, to remind the people frequently of their duties and responsibilities. It included a law of carnal commandments and performances, added to the basic laws of the gospel. Faith, repentance, baptism in water, and remission of sins were part of the law, as were also the Ten Commandments. ''Upon the atonement of Jesus Christ, the Law of Moses was relinquished. Gone away with, and never to be practiced again.'' Some anti-Christians state that “if God supposedly said in the Bible that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why would he change the commandments of the people?”
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Likewise, the ordinances of the temple have not changed in any fundamental sense.
  
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== '''Problems with the claim'''==
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== External Links ==
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* [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=11e3759235d0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Ordinances and Covenants,” Ensign, Aug 2001, 20]
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From the '''August 22, 2001 Ensign''' of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints states that The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, ''"Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed.”'' Note: This does not state the words '''All Ordinances'''. The ordinances were not changed. Sure, the way they were performed maybe, but '''the power, authority, and effect are still there'''. The Webster Dictionary defines an ordinance as; ''an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command.'' Clearly, as long as it is done, it does not matter how (well, as long as it doesn’t break other commandments, and it clearly doesn’t.) '''Ordinances''' were not changed, but '''Performances''' were.
 

Revision as of 11:42, 25 July 2007

Many people who seek to prove the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrong will sometimes claim that there have been changes to the LDS Temple ordinances. They use this as a weapon when referring to Joseph Smith's statement that "Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 308.)

Analogous Changes

In August, 1830, the prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation pertaining to the ordinance of the sacrament. In this revelation Joseph Smith was told "it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins." In other words, the specifics substance that was eaten and liquid that was drunk were not essential elements of the ordinance.

Likewise, the ordinances of the temple have not changed in any fundamental sense.

External Links

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