A peculiar people

I read this thought provoking post yesterday.

I've been thinking about it a lot. Until this morning, my feelings on the matter were of disappointment all around. Mostly disappointment with members of my own faith as it caused me to think on members not living up to standards and a bit with the author seeming too judgmental at times and not giving much benefit of the doubt.

As years have passed, I've seen a few instances of disappointment with couples just married in the temple and I've heard of many more. Like the account of the mother arguing in the temple that her daughter would be married in the backless dress that she had made for her and there were no two ways about it. [Oh, sister...] Or walking by the temple to see a bride in a dress that obviously doesn't match up with covenants she recently made. [Sisterrrrrrrrrrrrrr!] Or seeing newlyweds full on making out at the temple. [For pity's sake, your grandmother is right there. Patience!]

I do agree with the author that far too many couples view the temple as simply a venue for their wedding and don't think enough on the importance of what will happen there. We are supposed to be different. Temples are quite unique architecture and stand out beautifully from the buildings around them. Latter-day Saints should do likewise.

And yet, are so many couples really taking irreverent pictures and does that make them irreverent people trying to keep one foot in Zion and one in Babylon? Totally agree on the lusty kissing pictures, though. It is quite possible to take sweet kissing pictures, but keep the lust between the two of you and not in your engagement and temple pictures. Now I, for one, like jumping pictures. The thought had never crossed my mind that such things are not keeping in the spirit of the temple. I still haven't come to a real conclusion. Being sealed to someone you love more than anything is something to be joyful about. Is jumping for joy too much? I suppose it depends on the couple. From some such pictures, I get the feeling that they're just so happy they can't contain it; I think that's great. For some, it does feel like the author mentioned, equated to winning the state championship=not anywhere near the special spirit of the temple.

I believe that we can express the best of both worlds in capturing wedding days. For example, my wedding video:) A fantastic mix of fun and reverent. I can take no credit for its amazingness nor the talent that captured and created such a fitting record. That belongs to Creativ Productions. The best video in the world (perhaps biased...no, not really:)) consists of three parts: photo montage of Bret and I growing up, at the temple on our special day, and the reception. The video of all the goings-on at the temple is markedly different from the rest, in a wonderful way. It's slower, softer, and it makes you stop and remember what had happened. Celebrations came later at the reception. I find it a perfect mix.

It's okay to have fun. But I do think that the LDS culture is trending toward bringing the fun to the temple and not recognizing the sacredness of temple sealings. I worry that parents are not teaching their children what's really important. I worry about my sons being able to find respectful, modest women to spend their eternities with.

I can't seem to put the rest of my thoughts into words, so I guess that's all I have to say. Like I said- thought provoking...I have been provoked to much thought. Have you?