Monday, May 31, 2021

"ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL ADJUSTMENTS" - The new Politically Correct Term for TEMPLE CHANGES?


Today is Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. A day originally meant for honoring the men and women who have died while serving our country. It has now become a day where we remember all of  our family members and friends who have died, not just in battle. It is day we are reminded of loss.

It is hard to lose someone or something we care about. Sadness and grief doesn’t follow any rules. We all hurt and heal in our own ways. While grieving is unique to each of us, some experiences are common. People grieve for many different reasons, including loss of a:
  • A family member, neighbor, friend or pet
  • A job or career
  • Life role, when children move into adulthood
  • Physical ability, such as hearing or seeing
  • The break-up of a relationship or marriage
  • Home when moving 
  • Plans for the future when life changes unexpectedly
  • Possessions
  • Beliefs — in a person, idea or cause
I thought today would be fitting to share a recent loss I have felt. It is the latest change to the LDS Temple Endowment. I was saddened to go back to the Temple last week only to find one more thing that has been removed from the Endowment. This change is being called an "Additional Procedure Adjustment". In my opinion, it is hardly "additional", and I find it offensive to call it just a  "procedure" (since it involves something sacred), and is more than an "adjustment"; It is a deletion and change. For those who came up with the description of an "additional procedural adjustment", it might be good to look up what each of those words mean.
Additional: added or extra to what is already present or available.
Procedural: a series of steps taken in a legal, legislative or law enforcement agency.
Adjustment: the act of bringing something back into conformity. 

The change is not additional, more than a procedure, and is a removal, not an adjustment.  

The First Presidency continues to use the word 'adjustment' instead of the word 'change'. However, I am not sure that it is the best word to use when you remove, take away and/or completely change something. When you adjust something,  you put it back to its proper place.   For example, when you go to the chiropractor to get an adjustment. When you get your car tires adjusted which puts them back into alignment, or when you adjust your dress or tie, you are fixing things back into its proper place. 

I think it is just a carefully crafted term to make the changes more palatable for the Temple patrons.

This is the statement that is read now before the endowment: 
"Before beginning the endowment session, we share the following statement from the First Presidency of the Church. Brothers and Sisters: Since the temple endowment was first administered in this dispensation, occasional adjustments have been made by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles acting unitedly in their capacity as prophets, seers and revelators. You will notice that additional procedural adjustments have been made in the presentation of the endowment. These adjustments do not effect the fundamental doctrine of the Temple and its saving ordinances."

These changes were announced over a year ago in an official statement by the First Presidency. Link the LDS CHURCH NEWS

Due to the sacred nature of what these "additional procedural adjustments" are,  it is not appropriate to discuss, so I won't go into detail. Let's just say there is no more desire for all to receive, but instead just enjoy being a spectator while you remain comfortable in your seat while watching someone else receive.


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