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One of the highpoints for the day was visiting the Veracruz México Temple. In outward appearance, it’s very similar if not identical to several of the other small temples that were built in México and elsewhere during the rapid flurry of temple construction that was undertaken during Gordon B. Hinckley’s tenure as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, I very much liked its unusually visible location in an attractive, upscale area of the city, and its grounds were beautiful and exceptionally well maintained. It’s a nice advertisement, as it were, for the Restoration and the Church.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... osmos.html

Upscale. Is that really how Jesus would want to be perceived? Upmarket, exclusive, expensive? My view is that Jesus would want the focus point of His Church to be amongst the poor and the needy, the downtrodden etc. rather than mingling amongst the high property value areas where the impoverished daren't venture. Bragging about being upmarket seems to me to be contrary to the idea and example of Jesus.

He wouldn’t.

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 4:05 pm

One of the highpoints for the day was visiting the Veracruz México Temple. In outward appearance, it’s very similar if not identical to several of the other small temples that were built in México and elsewhere during the rapid flurry of temple construction that was undertaken during Gordon B. Hinckley’s tenure as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, I very much liked its unusually visible location in an attractive, upscale area of the city, and its grounds were beautiful and exceptionally well maintained. It’s a nice advertisement, as it were, for the Restoration and the Church.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... osmos.html

Upscale. Is that really how Jesus would want to be perceived? Upmarket, exclusive, expensive? My view is that Jesus would want the focus point of His Church to be amongst the poor and the needy, the downtrodden etc. rather than mingling amongst the high property value areas where the impoverished daren't venture. Bragging about being upmarket seems to me to be contrary to the idea and example of Jesus.

And itsa not about buildings for Jesus either. People are the temple he wants. People, the priesthood of believers as Peter put it would be Jesus' emphasis. Billions put into mere buildings? Nope. Buildings don't exalt, God does. God doesn't exalt buildings either, but people. Many Mormons will never be able to grasp that.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1Cor. 3:16.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
Acts 17:24

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2Cor. 6:16b

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 4:05 pm

One of the highpoints for the day was visiting the Veracruz México Temple. In outward appearance, it’s very similar if not identical to several of the other small temples that were built in México and elsewhere during the rapid flurry of temple construction that was undertaken during Gordon B. Hinckley’s tenure as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, I very much liked its unusually visible location in an attractive, upscale area of the city, and its grounds were beautiful and exceptionally well maintained. It’s a nice advertisement, as it were, for the Restoration and the Church.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... osmos.html

Upscale. Is that really how Jesus would want to be perceived? Upmarket, exclusive, expensive? My view is that Jesus would want the focus point of His Church to be amongst the poor and the needy, the downtrodden etc. rather than mingling amongst the high property value areas where the impoverished daren't venture. Bragging about being upmarket seems to me to be contrary to the idea and example of Jesus.

When my little branch in Scotland was organized, they met in rented premises in the downtown area - reasonably accessible to most people by bus or on foot. Only 1 or 2 members had cars.

When the church bought land to build, it was in a "posh" part of town, several km from downtown, in an area where no members lived.

Now, instead of taking one bus or having a short walk to church, members had to take 2 or 3 buses (there were no "transfers - each busfare had to be paid), or a long walk. Actually, there wasn't even a bus route that ran past the building. And being in the west coast of the country, as often as not it was raining.

We built it, but they never came

As far as I know, the branch never had members who lived in that neighbourhood. Missionary work was hard, with many missionaries going home without a single baptism to the credit. The few 'tisms that there were usually came from the poorer parts of town - the relatively wealthy people who lived near the building had no interest in joining "the Mormons".

It was a burden on the members, few as they were, to maintain the building. Living so far away made for an additional burden that was, at least in my mind, completely unnecessary.

Local faked attendance figures + SLC planning = serious inconvenience.

malkie wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:02 pm

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 4:05 pm

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... osmos.html

Upscale. Is that really how Jesus would want to be perceived? Upmarket, exclusive, expensive? My view is that Jesus would want the focus point of His Church to be amongst the poor and the needy, the downtrodden etc. rather than mingling amongst the high property value areas where the impoverished daren't venture. Bragging about being upmarket seems to me to be contrary to the idea and example of Jesus.

When my little branch in Scotland was organized, they met in rented premises in the downtown area - reasonably accessible to most people by bus or on foot. Only 1 or 2 members had cars.

When the church bought land to build, it was in a "posh" part of town, several km from downtown, in an area where no members lived.

Now, instead of taking one bus or having a short walk to church, members had to take 2 or 3 buses (there were no "transfers - each busfare had to be paid), or a long walk. Actually, there wasn't even a bus route that ran past the building. And being in the west coast of the country, as often as not it was raining.

We built it, but they never came

As far as I know, the branch never had members who lived in that neighbourhood. Missionary work was hard, with many missionaries going home without a single baptism to the credit. The few 'tisms that there were usually came from the poorer parts of town - the relatively wealthy people who lived near the building had no interest in joining "the Mormons".

It was a burden on the members, few as they were, to maintain the building. Living so far away made for an additional burden that was, at least in my mind, completely unnecessary.

Local faked attendance figures + SLC planning = serious inconvenience.

Yep, Mormon Jesus is all about image and property values.

msnobody wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 6:34 pm

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1Cor. 3:16.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
Acts 17:24

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2Cor. 6:16b

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24

Ha! You lovely lady scriptorian. Thanks for that.

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:29 pm

Yep, Mormon Jesus is all about image and property values.

When I and other endowed members attend the temple this is not the image/character of Jesus that we learn of and make covenants with.

You’ve got it wrong.

That temples would be built in areas that can be considered safe and accessible does not surprise me.

Jesus himself visited the temple and taught the learned. Temples have always played a part in God’s eternal plan for His children. It is there that we make covenants with and receive power from on high to live in the world but not of the world.

Why would anyone discourage someone else from receiving these promised blessings by making a false representation of Jesus?

Regards,
MG

I think Jesus would want the Finance Committee members to buy acreage around the Temple, build luxury homes around it, and sell those homes for as much as LDS members could afford so they can do tons of Temple work when they retire. By doing so they can thank God for the profit.

Also, if possible, build 1000-ft. tall, well-lit Temple spires so nearby residents can look in awe at the Temple, and people will remember it like the Eiffel Tower or the pyramids.

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 02, 2024 4:05 pm

One of the highpoints for the day was visiting the Veracruz México Temple. In outward appearance, it’s very similar if not identical to several of the other small temples that were built in México and elsewhere during the rapid flurry of temple construction that was undertaken during Gordon B. Hinckley’s tenure as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, I very much liked its unusually visible location in an attractive, upscale area of the city, and its grounds were beautiful and exceptionally well maintained. It’s a nice advertisement, as it were, for the Restoration and the Church.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeters ... osmos.html

Upscale. Is that really how Jesus would want to be perceived? Upmarket, exclusive, expensive? My view is that Jesus would want the focus point of His Church to be amongst the poor and the needy, the downtrodden etc. rather than mingling amongst the high property value areas where the impoverished daren't venture. Bragging about being upmarket seems to me to be contrary to the idea and example of Jesus.

In deserts.