Rote Law, conformity to lists…

As I was driving the very snowy streets of town today I pondered something that I wanted to say a quick word on here.  Just a rant if you will indulge me:

Passing a questionnaire, a list of worthiness obligations, is incredibly similar the Pharisaic law of rote obedience based on certain laws that must be kept.  It’s odd to me that we would feel compelled to adopt such a list in order to gauge temple worthiness.  Revelation seems like a better alternative?  I think that’s a better alternative for Priesthood advancement too.  In the scriptures if men can’t be found who have received these priesthoods than allowances are made and an order is established as to who will lead.  It doesn’t instruct us to promote people to callings based on need.  The administration of priesthood today though is a bit different than in Josephs day.

Isn’t using a list of questions and answers an odd way to establish worthiness?  I wonder if this has a type elsewhere…

Especially the Temple recommend questions (I do hold a recommend).  Here’s why i ask, I’ll point out a few inconsistencies that I have with the questions.  When I have asked these to people, and have been asked them myself, they 9the questions) seem to really shoot past the mark.  An agenda might easily be seen:
hypothetically;

My worthiness to enter the temple is based on whether or I not I can sustain other men in their callings.  Its based on whether or not I think they are exercising keys.  Its based on their seership (greatest gift), Prophecy and revelation, none of which I have evidence of in my hand.  Its based on their worthiness than, to do those things.  If they are not acting well within the calling, can I say I sustain them in their actions?  If not, than should that keep me out of the temple, even If I am striving personally to do so?  this particular question is the lengthiest, containing 3 small questions in it.   with all the quorums of seventy, etc… one must paint a really broad stroke in order to make sure that we can sustain all of them.  History has shown that many of them have been ex’d…  and the things not being punished are more sinister.

One of the questions is whether or not we keep our temple covenants.   Who here can raise their hand and say they are keeping the law of consecration, the law of sacrifice, the law of the gospel and are giving all their time talents and energy to the building of the kingdom of god and the establishment of Zion? Do we even know what that means (rhetorically as a people)?  If you are tell me where, so i can come and join you.
It is also inferred that we have covenanted to go to all our meetings.  Not sure when I did that or why that is a perogative to enter the house of the Lord.  Jesus skipped a ton of meetings, in fact he was kicked out of them when he went.  He went on extended forays into the wilderness, including on the sabbath no less.

One of the questions is whether we keep the WoW…Though the definition used for the sake of measurement is not inline with what the WoW in the scripture states, and it was given not by way of commandment.  A few things have been added to that definition too that are not in scripture.  Which WoW are we keeping?  the modern one or the scriptural one?

question 7 on whether or not we support or agree with anything contrary to the churches official standing is punishing based on belief.  Again, Joseph told us Mormonism does not do that.  Its oppression.

One of the questions refers to child or spousal support, decided by the state.  We must conform to the Gov’ts edict to enter the temple.  In fact, i know a guy, whom I helped to teach, who was denied being baptized because he was on probation.  He was on probation until he paid a HUGE debt ($50,000) that his exgirlfriend had racked up on his credit card to get even with him.  He never did anything wrong that he would have to repent of, but because the state put him on probation until that monetary debt was paid, the mission president decided he could not get baptized.  And this was one of the rare time when conversion was real.  Ye scribes and pharisees…

Questions 1-3 and 15 should be sufficient, no?

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

than base the decisions on the spirit of your answer.