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New Lds Temple Recommend? - Page 2

Name: Dee

Comments: It seems to me that I hear a lot about using the temple recommend bar-code as a means of tracking activity of members for better planning, so forth, and etc... Essentially what is being said is that it is a means of control for better planning. Hmmm! I find it interesting that the church has done so well, for so long, without this little electronic savior. Have we come so far that we are more interested in what a spreadsheet can show us, than what Father can tell us through the power of revelation? He showed Moses the entire earth and its human population, and probably then some. Is it too much then to ask Father what we should do, and how we should conduct ourselves in regards to building up His Kingdom, and letting him reveal this to us rather than relying on inferior human technology to lead us? As for principle of control, well, we all know that Father is all about control, that must be why he gave us our agency, and also why he gave our fallen brother and a third of our Celestial siblings the boot when he (Lucifer) advocated a strict system of control whereby to save us. And as for security, if there are people out there that can steal your identity through assuming your social security number, credit card numbers, etc..., then there are people who will be able to do it with this system. By the way, what does Father, or his Kingdom need security for? IS HE NOT THE SECURITY! However, it is whimsical to imagine Large, dark suited men with ear buds running around Kolob, at the ready to detain any unauthorized intruders.
We should be more concerned about ourselves and the covenants we are making while in the temple, than if the person next to us is a non-lds intruder who is somehow going to reveal our deepest secrets. It has already been done over, and over again, by good members gone bad. Will they not all receive their reward?

As far as the bar-code is concerned, not too many years ago, and even to this day, the bar-code is synonymous with the mark of the beast, 666. I challenge all to find a product, credit card, check, or document of legal or financial transaction (excluding legal tender) without a bar-code these days. Could this be prophecy fulfilled?
I find it interesting that the church would go against its own council of "avoiding the very appearance of evil" by integrating such a mark into the members most treasured and sacred document.
If you can't tell, I feel very strongly about the integration of man's ways into Father's Kingdom. It brings to mind a scripture that goes something like this- "come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues." The Lord was talking about modern-day Babylon, or the kingdoms of the world, and their adopted and false systems.
Brigham young once said that it is easy to take a person out of Babylon, but not so easy to take Babylon out of the person. A point duly illustrated in the story of Lot's wife turning to a pillar of salt. Have we not been told that Modern Babylon would fall in the space of an hour. Then why adopt its ways?

Recommend Temple Lds New

Name: What

Comments: why would tracking an individual's activity level (Sunday school, etc) be a good thing? Isn't this a little extreme? Should we have to log the number of times we pray per week?

There is already significant tracking in the church, that, to many people, provides little incentive for members to follow the teachings of Christ. Isn't this what the Church is all about? How is tracking someone's meeting attendance in a given month correlated to the intent of their heart?

New Lds Temple Recommend? Studies Doctrine Mormon

There is no correlation. The purpose of the temple recommend bar codes are strictly for added security and not for tracking individual member activity. We have been told on numerous occasions that individual temple attendance is not to be tracked in any way. That is between the individual and the Lord. It is not even a part of the recommend interview process.

Page 2 Recommend Temple Lds New

Name: Dee

Comments: We are told many things by many people, and it is your choice to believe or not. but if you investigate the history of the bar code A.K.A. UPC or Universal Product Code, you will know that the system was developed specifically for the purpose of tracking a product, person, animal, etc. I use it at my job all the time, and exclusively for tracking purposes. The only exception is the transponder (a radio frequency version of the barcode) in my badge that allows me to enter the building, which if stolen from me would allow anyone access. As for security, the last time I looked, my Temple recommend didn't have a picture of me on it. How is a Temple worker suppose to know that it is mine? Maybe some devious non-Mormon stole it (unlikely, but plausible) and is trying to sneak into the Lord's house? I know what they tell us, but really, I don't see the security, unless the recommend is coupled with a pin number we would enter at the Temple, or a photo the workers would check. As for Temple attendance not being a part of the interview process, I don't know where you're located, but here in Utah, in my neck of the woods, I am asked if I attend the Temple regularly, at every interview. Once, years back, I was told that if I didn't use my recommend within a three month period that it would be taken from me. In other words, use it or lose it pal.

Recommend Temple Lds New

Temple attendance is not one of the official temple recommend interview questions. Individual Bishop's may or may not add questions of their own but it should not be a reason to withhold a recommend. In addition, temple attendance and worthiness to have a temple recommend are two separate issues. "Use it or lose it" is not Church policy. There are worthy members all over the world who do not even live close to a temple. They count themselves lucky to be able to attend on a yearly basis. Some may only get there a few times in their lifetime. They are still worthy and as long as you are worthy you can hold a temple recommend.

And just because bar codes are used for tracking does not mean the Church is interested in doing so. Sounds like paranoid thinking to me.

New Lds Temple Recommend?

Name: Dee

Comments: I concede, as for the interview process, I can only relate my own experience, I know that there are certain questions that are asked, of which, you are right, there is no specific question regarding Temple attendance. However, by your own words, you have conceded that it may be added as a part of the process, depending on the individual giving the interview and the promptings given by the Spirit. As far as the bar-code being used as a security device, I just don't buy it, because it's not a security system. There are too many loopholes, and if there is any security in it at all, it is through tracking. An example would be multiples of the same recommend being used within a given time frame, in other words, you can't be in two places at the same time. Therefore, the only security I can see, is through the tracking process. The bar-code is an information based system designed for tracking. Do your homework, and you'll see that what I say is a matter of fact. As for what that information is used for, it is entirely up to the user. Here again, I am only speaking from my own experience and knowledge. Personally, from a logistical standpoint, I think that it would be crazy for any organization not to utilize such a tool for statistical purposes, especially when that is what bar-codes were designed for. Should a church track its members? I guess that's debatable, but the LDS church already tracks its member's attendance through class rolls every Sunday. As for the paranoia comment. Certainly you are entitled to your own opinion, but could you be more harsh? Paranoia is defined as: a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality.

Suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification. While I might admit to occasionally feeling self important, I do not suffer from a martyr complex, I have no need to be jealous of the church, I'm as functional as the next person, I'm not a druggy, and could only hope to lose touch with some aspects of our reality. However, I admit, I am a suspicious person, but my evidence is my own personal experience, and knowledge, as is anyones, and my justification is scripture, especially the Book of Mormon, and the words of the prophets.

New Lds Temple Recommend - Page 2

If the new bar code is for security reasons then why not one or more steps further, like a hologram, your pitcher, special paper/color. All these steps cost money, I would be more than happy to pay for the upgrades to keep people who shouldn't be in the temple out.

New Lds Temple Recommend Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

Name: Mormon

Comments: So when we die and Christ asks me why I didn't go to the temple where I could learn and grow so much, and help my ancestors, I am suppose to say because they had a tracking system that tracked when I would go and I didn't like that?