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A relative informed me of a new program taking place in select areas of Utah. Members receive a letter in the mail informing them of some of their upcoming chores. Specifically, assignments for them to clean the ward building as well as dates through the year that endowed members are schedualed to participate in endowment sessions. If there is a schedualing conflict, no problem - you are not obligated to attend, but you are obligated to find your own replacement.

Another relative present, who works in an administrative position at our local temple, chimed in that members just don't attend the temple anymore(not a Utah location).

Has anybody else heard of this program? Additional information?

Update: the program is actually only specific to one stake/ward operating on their own accord. It is not a church mandated pilot program. There was a communication error with the individual who told me about the program. My apologies.

Maxrep wrote:A relative informed me of a new program taking place in select areas of Utah. Members receive a letter in the mail informing them of some of their upcoming chores. Specifically, assignments for them to clean the ward building as well as dates through the year that endowed members are schedualed to participate in endowment sessions....

Baaah-ah-ah!

Maxrep wrote:A relative informed me of a new program taking place in select areas of Utah. Members receive a letter in the mail informing them of some of their upcoming chores. Specifically, assignments for them to clean the ward building as well as dates through the year that endowed members are schedualed to participate in endowment sessions. If there is a schedualing conflict, no problem - you are not obligated to attend, but you are obligated to find your own replacement.

Another relative present, who works in an administrative position at our local temple, chimed in that members just don't attend the temple anymore(not a Utah location).

Has anybody else heard of this program? Additional information?

We already have about half of this program in my ward. Families are assigned to clear the building every week. The assignments aren't sent to the home though. They're published in the bulletin.

Assigned temple sessions is a new one.

harmony wrote:

Assigned temple sessions is a new one.

For several years we have had people called as "Temple Patrons" for the sole purpose of attending endowment sessions as room filler. This kept sparce sessions from looking like nobody attends the temple anymore.

Maxrep wrote:

harmony wrote:

Assigned temple sessions is a new one.

For several years we have had people called as "Temple Patrons" for the sole purpose of attending endowment sessions as room filler. This kept sparce sessions from looking like nobody attends the temple anymore.

We have ward temple trips twice a month, where ward members are strongly encouraged to attend. Not assigned yet, as far as I know, though. We have veil workers from our ward who are called, but no temple patrons so far.

Maxrep, I don't have reason to doubt you, but man, your opening post stretches credulity to the limit.

I really can't imagine that the powers-that-be would have the guts to pull something like this. Forgive me, but I really, really have a hard time buying it. Could your relative perhaps be confusing this with something else? Rather than a trial program orchestrated from the top, could it perhaps be some wacky idea by a rogue Stake President?

We have several couples who are called in our Ward as Temple Patrons.

I was so pissed off at one of the men, I could scream. His wife was recouping from major hip surgery. I was her visiting teacher. All of the Relief Society was busting their humps to schedule times to sit with her (she couldn't be alone) and to bring in meals.

Hubby, who always conveniently forgets to keep his cell phone on, leaves straight from work to drive to Raleigh to do a temple session....leaving us to scramble to make sure that this sister is covered for someone to take care of her in the evening....after everyone had rearranged schedules all over hell's half acre to make sure she was covered during the day.

I could not believe that a husband could be that irresponsible...and neither could one of my friends who was also in the Relief Society presidency at the time.

liz3564 wrote:All of the Relief Society was busting their humps to schedule times to sit with her (she couldn't be alone) and to bring in meals.

Why couldn't she be alone?

Dr. Shades wrote:Maxrep, I don't have reason to doubt you, but man, your opening post stretches credulity to the limit.

I really can't imagine that the powers-that-be would have the guts to pull something like this. Forgive me, but I really, really have a hard time buying it. Could your relative perhaps be confusing this with something else? Rather than a trial program orchestrated from the top, could it perhaps be some wacky idea by a rogue Stake President?

Oh, I completely understand. This is not straight from the horses mouth!

On the other hand, this is coming from the religion that brought us plural marriage and the united order, and as I recently pointed out, young couples who are called as temple patrons for the soul purpose of creating the appearance of healthy temple attendance. It sounds strange - but maybe just strange enough! Ha ha.

One of my relatives who has been working at the temple for many years has repeatedly mentioned low temple attendance year after year. At first members are encouraged to attend for the blessings. When that method fails, guilt is used. When that method fails, call temple patrons. Pretty soon, just assigning members times to go may be the unfortunate option.

Maxrep wrote:On the other hand, this is coming from the religion that brought us plural marriage and the united order, . . .

Yeah, you're right. Stranger things have happened.

and as I recently pointed out, young couples who are called as temple patrons for the soul purpose of creating the appearance of healthy temple attendance. It sounds strange - but maybe just strange enough! Ha ha.

Hold on a second. . . you mentioned people being called a temple patrons, but you said nothing about them being young couples. I rather assumed that they were calling older, retired couples whose kids were all out of the house.

Pretty wild. . . I guess they want to project an air of diversity in their sessions.