Has anyone....

[mutleydog]

...or know of anyone that has experienced the symbols and temple words popping into their head at any given time?

For quite a few months I experienced this and it was quite unnerving. In fact I used to images and symbols in the most unlikely places and think where have I seen that before? And then I would remember it was temple related. I never really enjoyed my temple experiences - they always seemed quite surreal - I couldn't put my finger on why, but to me now it was all very sinister. It gives me shivers thinking about it now.

It also took me months to prepare to remove garments - the fear that I had at the thought in doing so was quite mortifying. In the end, I went a way for a weekend and neglected to take them - it was an awesome feeling!! :)

[peter_mary]

...or know of anyone that has experienced the symbols and temple words popping into their head at any given time?



Little "sound bites" pop into my head from the temple ceremony with some regularity, but in the same way that Monty Python sound bites do. It usually is something stupid like, my wife and I will be up in our loft where the computer is housed, and she'll ask if we should go grab a bite to eat, and what flops out of my mouth is "We will go down."

Or she'll show me something, and I'll ask, "Has it a name?" To which she'll reply, "It has." And you all know the rest of it... :D

Mostly it just makes us giggle. I doubt that's what you're talking about, though.

Paul

[silverfox]

...or know of anyone that has experienced the symbols and temple words popping into their head at any given time?



The only words that would pop into my head were the "suffer my life to be taken" and the disemboweling and decapitating gestures always stuck. (pre 1990, yeah, I'm old, deal with it) And I KNOW these kept me in the MO mold for as long as possible. They caused me great fear.

But....I will say it again, folks, I've sent in my resignation letter, I am open about my apostacy and I still have my bowels and last time I checked they are still in perfect working order. :) My neck is fine....head is still attached. I think I still have all my brain cells. I don't see any oozing anywhere on my head sooooooo.......

I testify that you will NOT lose your bowels or head if you no longer believe. I say this in the name of cheese and rice, Amen

[jmkm]

Or she'll show me something, and I'll ask, "Has it a name?" To which she'll reply, "It has." And you all know the rest of it... :D

Mostly it just makes us giggle.


That is really funny! My husband and I do the same thing, and we've done some hand-shakes before too that just make us fall down on the floor. I think for a long time I have been really embarassed about having been throgh the temple and doing those really icky things, but it's funny.

[silverfox]

That is really funny! My husband and I do the same thing, and we've done some hand-shakes before too that just make us fall down on the floor. I think for a long time I have been really embarassed about having been throgh the temple and doing those really icky things, but it's funny.

Hey, girl! I just wanted to say HI! Good to see you around.

My hubby is still a little sensitive about the temple stuff. He really took it seriously. He insisted we name our daughter after MY temple name. (wish I could change her name, sigh) But at least he talks openly about it. Funny thing if anyone asks now he will tell them we named her after my temple name. You should see the looks on their faces. If they are TBM they immediately look at our tummies, waiting for our bowels to fall out. hahahaha (okay just kidding but I am sure they wonder about it)

[peter_mary]

That is really funny! My husband and I do the same thing, and we've done some hand-shakes before too that just make us fall down on the floor. I think for a long time I have been really embarassed about having been throgh the temple and doing those really icky things, but it's funny.

I showed my son one night sitting around a campfire what the secret handshakes were (we were talking about what he would be missing in the temple). When I showed him the hand shakes, he just looked at me with that, "PLEASE tell me you're kidding" look. Man, was I embarassed, too, that I ever for a minute thought those secret handshakes could be sacred! :o My son, who was 17 at the time, could see quite plainly that they were nothing more than the same kinds of things boys have been doing for centuries to communicate brotherhood and belonging...and exclusion!

But at least he'll know what to do when he meets those sentinals on the road to heaven... :)

Paul

[free thinker]

Little "sound bites" pop into my head from the temple ceremony with some regularity, but in the same way that Monty Python sound bites do. It usually is something stupid like, my wife and I will be up in our loft where the computer is housed, and she'll ask if we should go grab a bite to eat, and what flops out of my mouth is "We will go down."

Or she'll show me something, and I'll ask, "Has it a name?" To which she'll reply, "It has." And you all know the rest of it... :D

Mostly it just makes us giggle. I doubt that's what you're talking about, though.

Paul


Absolutely hilarious!! :D

I laughed so hard that I had to remove the slippers from off my feet, and then put them on again!! :D

I know of one convert family that had a young boy, who remarked, regarding the temple cermony, that everyone had on their JOHNNY APPLESEED HATS!! Out of the mouth of babes eh??

Man this site is great! I enjoy you all so much!! " Has it a name" ? Ha Ha Ha HA!!! Too Funny!! :D

Free Thinker

[free thinker]

The only words that would pop into my head were the "suffer my life to be taken" and the disemboweling and decapitating gestures always stuck. (pre 1990, yeah, I'm old, deal with it) And I KNOW these kept me in the MO mold for as long as possible. They caused me great fear.

But....I will say it again, folks, I've sent in my resignation letter, I am open about my apostacy and I still have my bowels and last time I checked they are still in perfect working order. :) My neck is fine....head is still attached. I think I still have all my brain cells. I don't see any oozing anywhere on my head sooooooo.......

I testify that you will NOT lose your bowels or head if you no longer believe. I say this in the name of cheese and rice, Amen

Man something else eh? Joseph Smith was a genious in his ability to lock people in with fear!! When you think about this in light of the Blood Atonement doctrine, and the fact that Brigham Young enforced it, actually having people killed, it gets a bit kreepy eh??

Mormonism!! :p

Free Thinker

[Born Free]

[QUOTE=silverfox]

My hubby is still a little sensitive about the temple stuff. He really took it seriously. He insisted we name our daughter after MY temple name. (wish I could change her name, sigh) But at least he talks openly about it. Funny thing if anyone asks now he will tell them we named her after my temple name. You should see the looks on their faces. [/QUOTE

silverfox,

My guess they are more 'gutted' to discover that half the stake got the same name that day. It sort of 'rips the fork out of your nighty' :eek: to discover that this thing that you were encouraged to believe was sooooooooooooo special (password to Heaven no less), was so unspecial that everyone of the same gender got it that day, as has since been verified by former veil-workers.

Daryl

[peter_mary]

My guess they are more 'gutted' to discover that half the stake got the same name that day. It sort of 'rips the fork out of your nighty' :eek: to discover that this thing that you were encouraged to believe was sooooooooooooo special (password to Heaven no less), was so unspecial that everyone of the same gender got it that day, as has since been verified by former veil-workers.

Daryl

I recall being told this when I went through. It was actually an important point, because they let us know that if we ever forgot our new name, we just had to let the temple know the date we got our own endowments and they could look up and see what the name o' the day was. It also wouldn't surprise me if I learned that they only have 300 names that they cycle through continuously. I don't know that they do, but I doubt anyone is getting names that are Asian or Scandinavian...they are probably getting names that were either biblical (like mine) or English (like my wife's). And that list ain't exactly infinite...

Paul

[nikki]

The temple name they gave me was so strange, there was no way I was going to keep the name for eternity, so I went back and got another one! (just joking) :p

SilverFox, I agree with you the decapitating gestures, and disembowling was sick.For many people that would not make one feel they were in God's home.

All the handshakes, curtains, not like a wedding at all, but like a lodge meeting!

[square_peg]

It also wouldn't surprise me if I learned that they only have 300 names that they cycle through continuously. I don't know that they do, but I doubt anyone is getting names that are Asian or Scandinavian...they are probably getting names that were either biblical (like mine) or English (like my wife's). And that list ain't exactly infinite...

Paul

300? 295 of those must be male-names. I've been through the temple more than a few times, and I've only heard of about 5 female "new" names.

[lsands]

Keep your new names in mind for any new pets you might acquire. Although my new name, Susan, is too boring to give to ANYTHING.

I remember how uncomfortable I felt when some of my exmo friends started making fun of the temple ceremonies and clothing [in private, not in front of believers.] At the time I thought that it was rude and disrespectful of things that other people held sacred. I did not understand at the time what a strong psychological hold all of that b.s. can have on you, and the measures that you need to take to free yourself from it.

A few years ago an exmo friend in Arizona helped me realize that I had not fully healed these issues. She had kept her old temple clothes, and we played "dress-up", putting them over my regular clothes and repeating the words of the old ceremony, complete with signs, tokens, and penalties (I'm old too, Silverfox! What is amazing is how we both still remembered the whole ceremony, word for word, thirteen years after it was discontinued. I can bring it to memory to this day.) Then I took off the clothes and threw them on the floor and stomped on them! I think that only someone who has gone through the brainwashing can understand how that freed me.

Just last month, on New Year's Eve, I went to an exmo party here in Springville with a friend who is a nevermo. One of the women threw her garments in the fire, declaring her freedom from tyranny. When this guy and I talked about it later, he told me he felt embarrassed by this (and he's no prude.) I had to try to explain that it's not exmo's that are crazy, it's the f***in' church that is crazy and that we react to, trying to extract it from our consciousness.

So here are some ideas on how to exorcise the temple demon, if you need them. Another friend of mine bought some garments and tie-dyed them and wore them! Any other ideas?

[pokatator]

300? 295 of those must be male-names. I've been through the temple more than a few times, and I've only heard of about 5 female "new" names.


Hey, me MOSIAH, me ex was MARY. I'll have to remember to call her that some time.

This has been too funny.

PS I have never hated an animal enough to name them MOSIAH.

Randy

[peter_mary]

I've referenced this movie before, but for those of you who have seen "The Village," my new name takes on special meaning.

Noah

He was the village idiot. Say no more. :cool:

Paul

[gracie]

Hi, you may find I have alot to say! (oh well...)
I have to say that this has happened to me alot lately! And in the funniest way. I am fairly new to the post-mo mentality, I am still an active member (for my husband's sake right now), but only in body, not in spirit. The temple quote that comes into my head most often is when I am discussing the church with DH, and all the false "doctrine" that was discussed that a.m. at church or whatever, and whenever he disagrees with me I look at him solemnly and say in a monotone, "bow your head and say yes". Even he cracks a smile, and he has always been as TBM as they get!
Gracie :)

[free thinker]

My temple name was Reuben. Before right now, I have held true to the promise I made, but it seems to me there is some catharsis in letting the name out, and letting it go. I agree with lsands! The effects of mormonism are so pervasive. I am constantly surprised at how mentally difficult it has been to free myself!

Free Thinker

[Jeff_Ricks]

My temple name was Reuben. Before right now, I have held true to the promise I made, but it seems to me there is some catharsis in letting the name out, and letting it go. I agree with lsands! The effects of mormonism are so pervasive. I am constantly surprised at how mentally difficult it has been to free myself!

Free Thinker

My 'pretend' name was Job. Even now, after being out for over 10 years I feel a little anxious about revealing that. There's still lingering programming in there and probably will be some even when I die. (Jeff shakes his head).


Hmmm..... okay, so right BEFORE the moment I die. WHEN I die all bets are off. ;-)

Jeff

[Born Free]

The effects of mormonism are so pervasive. I am constantly surprised at how mentally difficult it has been to free myself!

Free Thinker

I have told this before, but it is worth repeating. Before I left Mormonism my wife and I started to get involved with an "Inner Energy Centre" - guided meditation etc.

Years later I discovered that I had replaced one cult with another, and that cult was the appropriate word.

Initially I saw Mormonism as merely an overly long, painful experience, of the ordinary variety. Later, as I studied cult dynamics, I came to appreciate that many, many of those features were present in Mormonism; that this organisation that posited itself as 'sweetness, truth and light' was in fact extremely 'bitter, full of half-truths and lies, and shadowy to boot' and that it had the capacity to severely mess with peoples' heads.

I have warned before that people leaving Moism should check if they are suffering from depression as a result both of the experience of Mormonism itself, and of discovering the time, energy and money they have wasted, when they start to check it out objectively. Further Mormonism offers such a pervasive model of how the world works, that when that collapses, many people have to start building something late in life, that non-members did in their teens and twenties. Some get stuck in the belief that life has NO meaning, when they find something they regarded so highly, was in fact, so flawed.

Depression is extremely common amongst people leaving such organisations, and depression is dangerous to ignore or trivialize.

You may greatly benefit from getting professional help to accelerate recovery, thereby minimising the period before you achieve full and independent function.

Daryl

[noodle]

I'll have to admit that the first time I went to the temple, I was overwhelmed. Too much to comprehend, partly because it was so bizarre. I went back in hopes that I must have missed something. The signs and tokens stuff was just too weird, and every bit as weird as the first time I went. I never went back. You all probably know that you can find the entire ceremony written out on the web. I've read over it a few times, and am reminded of why I never went back. Yikes!

[silverfox]

Keep your new names in mind for any new pets you might acquire. Although my new name, Susan, is too boring to give to ANYTHING.

I remember how uncomfortable I felt when some of my exmo friends started making fun of the temple ceremonies and clothing [in private, not in front of believers.] At the time I thought that it was rude and disrespectful of things that other people held sacred. I did not understand at the time what a strong psychological hold all of that b.s. can have on you, and the measures that you need to take to free yourself from it.

A few years ago an exmo friend in Arizona helped me realize that I had not fully healed these issues. She had kept her old temple clothes, and we played "dress-up", putting them over my regular clothes and repeating the words of the old ceremony, complete with signs, tokens, and penalties (I'm old too, Silverfox! What is amazing is how we both still remembered the whole ceremony, word for word, thirteen years after it was discontinued. I can bring it to memory to this day.) Then I took off the clothes and threw them on the floor and stomped on them! I think that only someone who has gone through the brainwashing can understand how that freed me.

Just last month, on New Year's Eve, I went to an exmo party here in Springville with a friend who is a nevermo. One of the women threw her garments in the fire, declaring her freedom from tyranny. When this guy and I talked about it later, he told me he felt embarrassed by this (and he's no prude.) I had to try to explain that it's not exmo's that are crazy, it's the f***in' church that is crazy and that we react to, trying to extract it from our consciousness.

So here are some ideas on how to exorcise the temple demon, if you need them. Another friend of mine bought some garments and tie-dyed them and wore them! Any other ideas?

An acquaintance took his garmies to the Burning Man Celebration in Nevada last summer, danced around in them and then threw them into the burning man. Another acquaintance sold them on Ebay - he didn't make out too bad. So many people are curious about them. Then you have TBMs who want to buy them to keep them from the public.

I didn't do anything special to get rid of mine except throw them in the garbage. Sigh. I should thought about Ebay. Or something - a big ol' party - something to celebrate it. (anything to have party)

[ifitmakesuhappy]

hiya to all my new buddies :D Just thought id intoduce myself to those i havent already spoken to. Im Julia, im 28 from the UK. TBA my whole life, been inactive about 8 or 9 months now. Im in the process of leaving the church...im gay...in a long term r/ship with a non member and very happy thankyou...have an ex husband, beautiful daughter who still attends church with my parents. Came across this site a couple of days ago and its turned my world upside down...i know u all understand that feeling i dont need to go into detail. Ive so much to say and i look forward to reading all your new posts. Thats me in a nutshell :D hiya! o/

[Free-soil]

I'll have to admit that the first time I went to the temple, I was overwhelmed. Too much to comprehend, partly because it was so bizarre. I went back in hopes that I must have missed something. The signs and tokens stuff was just too weird, and every bit as weird as the first time I went. I never went back. You all probably know that you can find the entire ceremony written out on the web. I've read over it a few times, and am reminded of why I never went back. Yikes!

Mamajama- I agree the temple is weird! When i went I wasn't super weirded out...just let down honestly. I had been told it was so spiritual and all that...right .It didn't seem to be at all related to the things I had learned before... So weird. I've since gone and read on the internet...I was shocked to hear about the punishments that used to be involved. I'm young! :D Some of the things said there seemed to contradict what I had already learned...I expected the temple to cure all my doubts about the church...well it just added to them! It is so weird to me that people don't question what goes on in there...why not? Well...I guess they don't really question much :rolleyes: