Any body else just a little freaked this Mormon Temple Oath of Loyalty?

Question

"I Mitt Romney, covenant before God, angels and these witnesses that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name and sign, and penalty. Rather than do so, I would suffer my life to be taken."
From Mitt Romney's Mormon Temple Oath of Loyalty to the Mormon Church
http://www.rethinking-mormonism.com/mitt-romney.htm

Call me a bigot all you like but before I would consider voting for Mitt I would have to know what that “First Token of the Aaronic Priethood” is. I need to know that his loyalty to his church would not surpase his loyalty to the nation and that he would not reveal National Secrets to those who have no clearance just out of sworn obedience. One main tenet of the church is total and blind obedience to it.

Answer 1

Now you are going to get all the Mormons coming out and smacking you. I am not that enthused by that secrecy either but at least he doesn't believe that Canada has a National Igloo like Mike Huckabee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfSN4fnXwKM

Answer 2

i detect your questions very thrilling through fact:- they're all geared in direction of the Mormon Church. That your place internet site does no longer supply any information as to who you're, and don't enable e mail or others to envision your questions and solutions. Why is that? in case you're an open minded guy or woman, who needs to check and query and hear from different fascinated human beings, why are you a closed e book. i'd % to nicely known what's in the back of all the questions appropriate to the Mormon Church. Do you have a pink meat with them. have been you a Mormon member and are no further? Is there something, the two in the previous or the destiny which you're feeling is hurting you, as a guy or woman? the guy who wrote the long speal (which i did no longer examine) isn't and became into no longer, a member of the L.D.S. Church yet he has written this long, long testimonial as to what he believes are the training of the Mormon Church. It is smart that he does no longer be doing that if he became into FOR the Church, would it not, otherwise he does no longer be on the shielding, which i think you're besides. i'm no longer a Mormon. I easily have investigated all religions and that i consequently discover something rather no longer acceptable with what you attempt to do inclusive of your questions and inserts. I additionally am initiating .to have slightly of a niggling doubt which you're a black woman, on the grounds which you have on no account pronounced the Mormon's teachings concerning black human beings, in the previous. you have pronounced each and every thing yet. Come sparkling. what's it with you. i'd have an interest to nicely known, somewhat. by ability of how, i'm open with my Q and A and my e mail account, so I easily have no longer something to cover.

Answer 3

That's what we call a faulty syllogism. Just because you say that a tenet of the Church is blind loyalty doesn't make it true.

Latter-day Saints don't take Oaths to other Saints. Christ Himself said "Swear not at all; neither by God, the heavens, the earth, or your own head". We pledge allegiance to the flag, and when we fill public office we take oaths of office. Ask anyone who lived in Massachusetts when Mitt Romney was governor, and they'll tell you that he in no way used the power of his office to promote "Mormonism."

Our temple oaths are oaths to God. We promise to obey Him and His laws, to serve Him with all of our strength and talents, and to strive to return to live with Him someday. Does that allay any suspicions of yours? Do you feel better now? I'm not going to reveal sacred ordinances anymore than Romney did, because they are sacred. But know that we do no more or less than anyone claiming to be a true Christian would do.

Answer 4

Wow Someone who actually upholds the oaths he makes. What a concept. You know if more people kept their promises- then this world would be a better place.

There are some matters of National security that we want to not get out to the public- Don't you think if he can keep this a secret- that he can keep National Security things Secret too?

By the Way- the LDS church does not require blind obedience. We are encouraged to learn for ourselves.

Edit**
BTW- It is my understanding that the temple ceremony is on file at the Library of Congress- why don't you look it up if you are so concerned. I think the Library of Congress is a pretty reliable un biased source.

Answer 5

The thing is, it's people like you that make us want to keep some things that are sacred, private. When you don't know what it's about and you quote part of it and misquote part of it, then make a comment about it, of course it's going to sound scary and weird. But when you actually know what's being said, and why then it's not weird and scary at all. It's beautiful and sweet, and sacred.

As for your need to know of his loyalty to country, has he not said that he would not mix religion with his job (if elected)? Then, he has answered your question.

As for your quote about "total and blind obedience" to the church - no, that's not it. Those of us who have made temple covenants are expected to live according to those covenants we have made to God. For many they would sooner die than break those covenants. Obviously there are some who made those covenants, then had second thoughts and broke them by posting them on the Internet. I feel sorry for them, for they have their reward. As for the "blind obedience", I suppose anyone who doesn't understand what's going on in an act of faithful obedience might think that those who are obedient are a little off their rocker. My thought is that there are some things that I don't understand fully, but I know that God would not have me do something in His house that was not approved by Him, and just because I don't have a full understanding doesn't mean that I don't have at least some understanding.

... The thing is, I'll never be able to explain to someone like you things that can ONLY be understood spiritually. That's why we don't let just anyone in to the temple. A person must be spiritually mature enough to understand what's going on, and learn and grow from it. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little until you have a full understanding. We aren't born with the ability to walk, eat solid foods, do complex mathematical equations, so why do people feel they need to know EVERYTHING spiritual all at once, with no time to let it sink in?

Answer 6

I think the same can be said for pretty much any GOD-fearing candidate. Catholics are also members of a church and yet nobody is taking Rudy to task for his affiliation. Everyone was freaked out that JFK was going to be a pawn of the Catholic Church too, and guess what - it didn't happen.

I think people are being scared over a non-issue. If you are going to get freaked out at people's loyalty to religion, you might as well reject all the candidates because none of them are atheists. Personally, I think we have more to fear from the Church of Pope Ron Paul than the Church of Pope John Paul, or the Mormon Church.

Answer 7

I am LDS and the Temple Ceremony in not quite like that. It is surprising to me that it doesn't disturb you that someone would try to find out what the Temple Ceremony is like and then post it on the internet? We have nothing to hide, but we do hold some things as sacred and would hope that other people could respect that.

Anyway, here is our 12th article of faith:

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Mitt Romney, because of our religion, would also be bound to honor and sustain the laws already in place. Furthermore, we believe that the men who wrote the constitution were inspired and, therefore, we believe in protecting and sustaining that document as well.

Total and blind obedience are absolutely not part of the church in any way, shape or form. We believe in the principle of Free Agency, the right to choose between good or evil. Each member is faced with that decision.

All of this fuss about Romney being LDS is absolute irrational. If people knew anything about the LDS church, you would want him, as president, to be a practicing member. This would help to ensure honesty, moral fidelity, upholding the constitution, respect for the office of the president, thrift, frugality, and every other Christ-like behavior. We are Christians and we try our best to live our lives in accordance with his teachings.

You mention loyalty to nation as a concern. I have worked overseas for years. The CIA and other government agencies apparently do not feel the same way as you. I have met so many members with Top Secret clearances in many of the federal agencies and contracting companies. A member, truly living church standards, would never have a problem keeping loyalties, not breaking the law, or passing any other requirement to faithfully serve our country.

Perhaps you do not agree with some particular doctrine of the church, but this should not be a reason not to vote for someone. Bill Clinton was baptist and look at his antics. Richard Nixon was quaker and look at his behavior. It just seems odd to me that people seem to want someone who belongs to the same church as them regardless of whether they adhere to the tenets of that faith or not. It seems a bit childish.

I hope that this has helped. If you have further questions regarding our beliefs, contact me. I will do my best to address your concerns.

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. Some people can be pretty O/CD when it comes to religion. Just because he says he can separate church from state doesn't mean that he can. Have you ever met a Mormon who took no for an answer? I mean they just keep coming back to talk about Joseph Smith the prophet. I mean quite simply don't you hide when they come knocking on the door for a little Mormon pow wow? I know that I do.
Don't get me wrong, I have some really good friends who are Mormons and we all choose not to talk about our beliefs, but if he were the President.... wow he would be the most influential Mormon in power of the free world. You couldn't just turn the tv and lights and pretend you weren't home.

Answer 9

I am very disturbed by your blasphemous and profane mocking of sacred things that you know nothing about. I have been there, I know what it is all about and I can assure you that our temple covenants have nothing to do with politics. It has to do with sacred knowledge that has been revealed to us that is needful for us to enter God's Kingdom. It is our desire that all people be able to partake of those same blessings. That is why we have such an active missionary program, so that we can share with you the blessings of temple covenants that will allow you, too to return to God's presence. It is not secret, it is sacred and for you, or anyone else, your source specifically, to make these sacred things public, taken out of the context in which they were given, is a mockery and is blasphemous. Shame on you and everyone else that pretends to talk about things that they know nothing about. In order to learn about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you need to talk to members and missionaries and start at the beginning. After you understand the foundations of the Church and the Gospel, then you can begin to understand the higher doctrines of the temple and not before.

Answer 10

So you would trust him more if he broke his oath to God and told you what the first token of the Aaronic Priesthood was? Doesn't that sound a little backwards. Shouldn't you trust him more because he keeps his oaths?

And I wouldn't call it "blind" obedience.