In what has become one of the more discussed and pondered events of the Lords life, he set those worshiping in the temple straight through the use of force and command. The moment offers a strong contrast to the rest of our Saviors life of passive and peaceful resistance in the face of strong persecution. The fact that he did act in that way draws the question, what was worthy of that display? What was the nature of the problem He there faced?
For perhaps a slightly different view on the moment, let’s ponder the event for a moment. In what was likely the court of the Gentiles at the temple the people had set up stations for men to come to and by animals for the use of worship at the temple. Doves and others livestock were offered for sell there. what was the purpose? It was likely for the poor who had not the ability to own livestock themselves and for the traveler who came without livestock to worship. The Livestock were offered as means of proxy for the sins of the individual. Without the livestock worship in the temple by covenant people could not be fully realized. The offering of a future sacrificial animal to the people allowed all to be able to come and to worship regardless of situation. Money was used there too for the exchange, and a profit was no doubt made by the temple in the process.
Today a similar story is told. We enter the temple to offer proxy sacrifice. We are required while there to wear certain clothing. It make sense that we should be required to wear white, it being an obvious symbol of purity. Everyone wears the same clothing, kind of. In reality there are slacks, designer white shirts, plain old cotton pants, fancy dresses and plain, normal stockings and decorated, simple moccasin like slippers and name brand shoes. Obviously some temple clothes are better than others. As the most obvious addition of culture Babylonian standard mixed into our temple attire we can see the ties that men are required to wear. You must have a tie to worship in the temple. It sounds amazing enough to suggest that a person needs one to pass the sacrament, but you won’t see a man in the temple without a tie, and many of them have nice suits to go with it. All in pure white.
For some though, its not that easy. Not everyone owns temple clothing. I personally know several people who cannot afford to buy clothing specific to temple worship. It could be said that if they sacrificed a bit, and tried, they would be able to afford it. But that’s beside the point. Also, there are times and people, I know I am one of them, that folks who travel a good distance to a temple get there and realize they forget their temple clothes. I’ve done this several times. For the poor and the forgetful the temple offers a handy service. In order to worship at the temple, in order to offer your proxy sacrifice, you can for a small sum rent clothing from the temple for the days service. After all, it is as it should be, you can have anything in this world for money.
Isn’t this incredible? the two, that of the saviors time and our now, are very similar. In order to offer sacrifice in proxy at the temple, certain things are required and those things are provided for a small price right there within the walls of the temple. Surely this vast church corporation could afford to have clothing to rent for free for the same purpose. Do we really need to tax the people who enter? Are the things of Caesar really welcome in the temple? or do they provide a moment of Babylonian businees, of building up the things of the world, before being allowed to enter the house of Lord?
5 For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;
6If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
8Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.
9Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
10And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
11Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
(Jer 7:5-11)
Next time you “forget” your clothes and need to rent you should drop the “You can have anything in this world for money” line at the rental counter then hand them your money. I would be more than happy to finance the whole $3.75 for that experience=). I can just imagine the shock on the face of the lady as she takes your money.
You’re on. When do you want to go? It’d work nice to have you there, so I didn’t have the money handy…
filthy lucre indeed.
We will let you know next time we are going. Its a deal.=)
I looked up this post because it was mentioned on the LDS conservative forum and the challenge was put forth to discuss it (rather than simply condemn these ideas). I personally believe that the leadership of our church are all doing their best to do what the Lord wants and that there is more to this than meets the eye. Since it is under the jurisdiction of the first presidency, I believe the church would have to be in a state of apostasy in order for them to be wrong on this account. However, I must admit that I have wondered myself over Jesus’s actions in the temple many times. Something I read recently may shed a little more light on the issue.
it seems that the money changers in the temple were requiring worshipers to exchange their roman money to jewish money before making purchases. They were using this process to cheat people. So, they weren’t simply providing the people with the animals they needed to worship, they were purposely deceiving people to make a gain.
I’ll admit, I haven’t taken the time to confirm these facts and can’t say for sure if they are true, but they make sense. I don’t think there is anything wrong with requiring people to take responsibility for acquiring the things they need to worship or with the temple offering those things on site. In fact, personal responsibility is a major factor in determining the freedom of individuals. And it’s easiest to offer those clothes within the confines of the temple so that they can be kept sacred. As long as individuals aren’t profiting from the transactions, I think they are a reasonable way to allow everyone to worship.
Roserum, thanks for your input. I can definately see your point of view here, and would agree that perhaps there were more deviant attitudes at the time.
However, you stated, ” I believe the church would have to be in a state of apostasy in order for them to be wrong on this account”. The scriptures, the D&C, tell us plainly that we are in a state of apostasy. From our head our feet as Isaiah said, all are drunk with the wine of all is well is Zion. Many of our own prophets, Joseph, Brigham, John Taylor, up to Benson have all said the same. Anyway, thats what I believe, thanks for your input! You are welcome here. DAn