I have received a report that the Church will be discontinuing temple missionaries. Temple missionaries are senior missionary couples who serve at a temple and assist local membership with temple work and staffing the temple, particularly in locations where local members struggles to be self-sufficient in meeting temple needs. If anyone else has information about this development, please comment.
I predict that we will see some significant announcements this conference weekend in regards to missionary work and the Church's missionary program, which is one of the last areas of the Church that has not undergone a major overhaul within the past couple years.
51 comments:
One of the purposes for temple missionaries was to assist in training members how to run a temple. Ws especially needed--and may yet be needed, in areas where few members in an area prior to a temple's construction knew a thing about what it took to run one let alone having attended.
Something on a short term, like a year or two after a new temple opens in a new place in an area remote from other temples, to be sure everything goes right and the members working in that temple are sufficiently ready to operate one under the direction of a temple president.
It took a month folloing the dedication of even the Denver temple to train workers. They had to run a few sessions before it opened in each area to be sure it all went well before normal operations started. That way the mistakes were cleared away before evryday use commenced.
So far, the Church has not removed senior missionary opportunities for temple missions from its website. Currently, there are 27 temples requesting senior couples and five temples requesting senior (age 40+) single sisters.
The USA-based elder and sister serving in the Ciudad Juárez Mexico Temple are on duty for every session and perform valuable work in whatever they are assigned to do.
Is this something that will be officially announced soon, e.g. next few days, or within the next few years? My parents are hoping to serve a temple mission and are filling their applications now. Will a statement be coming out?
A couple from my ward just left to go to Nauvoo. They tried to get in as temple missionaries but instead were called to be service missionaries there. I wonder if this development is why their request was not accepted.
Many Service Missionaries have a weekly or monthly temple assignment as part of their service mission.
I will be surprised if temple missionaries are completely eliminated. Maybe an increase in temple workers. Or senior missionaries having multiple duties with a weekly or monthly temple assignment as part of their overall mission duties instead of dedicated temple missionaries. I guess we will see what will happen. But with all the changes that we have had the last two years I will be surprised but not schoked over any changes.
I just returned home about a month ago from a service mission in Nauvoo. There are dozens of temple missionary couples there currently and honestly I dont know how they would operate the temple in the summer without them. There are thousands who come to do temple work from all over the world during the busy months.
Wondering where you received this information from? Thanks
Leadership Sessions (The week of General Conference)
The Church conducts leadership sessions the week of general conference for General Authorities and General Officers. The entire First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other senior leaders will speak. Reports from those sessions will be available on Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-quick-guide
Are you saying the discontinuation oftemple missions was discussed in this week's Leadership Session? So when will this be announced officially to the rest?
That meeting is held the Thursday and Friday before General Conference, excerpts on video were published following the 2015 Conferences, the April 2017 Conference inApril, and excerpts from the 208 April meetings is found on the ministering website on the Church site
We are currently serving as temple missionaries..We are on an 18 month mission to the temple here. If the church eliminates temple missionaries, I believe many temples outside the US will suffer, or they will have to reduce their session offerings during the week. I know that the "goal" is to have temples be self-sufficient with local workers. While a lofty goal this would require more temple workers being called and dedicated to being there during their assigned shifts. This has been difficult in many temples due to many factors: Distance traveled, work, etc. I hope this will not be the case or if so, US temples will be where it starts as there are very few temples in the US that use missionaries.
I hope this is true! Matt has never said something so clearly without having a substantial reason. :)
If true, this would be in keeping with the Nelsonian-era push for more individual responsibility, or emphasis on the Higher Law. We now teach from our homes and minister to brothers and sisters on our own. Thus, I can see that we start staffing and running our temples on our own too. This would require more local involvement instead of relying on foreign missionaries. It's self-sustaining. This should naturally lead to a more active temple-going people.
What percentage of senior missions are on Temple Missions???
By discontinuing temple missions, this would allow senior missionaries to serve in other capacities (maybe new, different, and much-needed mission types than they have now). Ideas?
@Butterfly,
Not that it has been announced, but that there could be some announcements on various points released prior to General Conference. Not guaranteed that there will be changes announced prior to General Conference, but a potential route that such events could happen prior to General Conference.
On another note, The World Report of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the October 2019 edition has been released already:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/world-report
It will all make sense when Father asks our prophet to give us the further light and knowledge.
I would be happy to see temple missionaries eliminated in favor of senior couple proselyting and service missionaries having a shift or two per week, scheduled at times when it makes the most sense. Some could also be temple shift coordinators, trainers, etc.
I always encourage senior missionaries to train local members to plug the holes rather than plugging the holes themselves. Diligently seeking our own self reliance and encouraging others to seek it is powerful. Improving self reliance = real growth and is a catalyst for self actualization.
I mentioned this blog post to a friend and he said someone in his stake who had been called to a temple mission in Uruguay was just informed (by phone) that there was no longer an opening for them. they were given a temporarily assignment to the LA temple. They were told they will be informed of the nature and location of their missionary service when it’s lined up.
Just heard there may also be something about adapting missionary drss to the local area, something done to an extent as needed but not all that common. Now it may be the best dress that will fit with the local culture and so forth for best dress for the area.
May be some adaptation of what is considered Sunday dress in a culture with some things better fitting the climate in some areas too.
This supposedly came from a former mission president who works now at headquarters. But for now, just treat it like any othr rumor that is out there, if it does happen, this could be all differe4nt from what I have heard too.
So, @Cory Ward made a March Madness Temple Bracket for April Conference earlier this year, so I thought it would be fun to do a "Fall Madness" one for October Conference.
I'm posting it here for anyone to participate:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kjk9gy7bq5tjxtm/Temple%20Predictions%20Oct%202019%20Bracket%201.pdf?dl=0
My family printed these off in the Spring and we had a fun little contest with a prize for the winner.
I tried to include as many of the predictions as possible, so if there are more names on each spot than you'd prefer, just cross off the ones that you think are less likely, or move one of them to the "pick" line.
Enjoy!
First big announcement this week, this ahead of General Conference
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-first-presidency-leadership-session?fbclid=IwAR0on8oGfPXUaTo5bLIPi58tbeKRub0fQbz-BeK8JZ8Ju6D_M8aBY5jk2Lk
Associated letter:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/multimedia/file/Witnessing-Ordinances.pdf
The Pre-General Conference announcements have started :
SALT LAKE CITY — President Russell M. Nelson announced a historic change in policy for women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that will enable them to act as witnesses in two of the faith’s core saving ordinances, baptisms and temple sealings, according to a news release issued Wednesday morning.
Baptized children also will be able to serve as witnesses at baptisms and, with a limited-use temple recommend, to temple baptisms, President Nelson told general authorities and general officers of the church during the leadership session of the church’s 189th Semiannual General Conference.
I could this as a big possibility since there are fewer callings within a ward now. I could see local members called as temple workers in a larger amount than currently done now.
My parents have had a call for about 2 months to the Laie Hawaii Temple and are to report to the temple there February 14th. They have yet to have direct contact with the temple presidency. This would be very interesting for them. I could see this implemented in the US (especially the mountain west US) and expand as time goes on to temples elsewhere as they can become self-sustaining. The announcement of witnessing changes could very well play a part in this. To use the members in the temple more is great. The fewer ward callings can help with this and help members be more active in attending the temple. Exciting time to be living!
I read a rumor (only a rumor) about YM (and YW?) presidencies could be discontinued with the new children and youth program. If that is true, the responsibility would return to the Bishop and his counselors to be with the youth. The charges of have the RS and EQ presidencies taking on more responsibilities from the Bishop for the adults also would help the Bishop return to being with the youth more. I have found Bishoprics tend to not be at activities with the youth as much as I remember from my youth or what I gather is the intent from the HofI. I would have a lot more time on my hands to do temple work if that happened. It would be great for me in that way. I love serving with the YM, though, and would sue miss the direct interaction with them.
So happy about the change in witnesses. Temples will be able to run more smoothly. The work is hastening! Can't wait to hear what is announced today or tomorrow.
This witnesse change is amazing... After all, a woman was the first witness of the Resurrected Christ. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.
The Detroit Temple has never had any missionaries called to help staff it ever. President Hinkcley's plan for the smaller temples emphasizes local staffing in all ways. We did have one of our 6 temple presidents to date called from Utah, but he had lived for 20 plus years in Midland Michigan and was president of that stake. He had gone to St. George after retirement.
I do know of at least one senior couple, in this case called to run the local bishop's storehouse, who were also temple workers while here.
On the other hand when I was a youth there was one couple from my ward who had served as missionaries from our ward to the Washington DC Temple back when we were in that temple district and another couple who moved from our ward to Toronto to be temple workers there.
So the notion that temple missionaries are always "foriegn" or even from outside the temple district is not accurate. In some ways it can also be a way to get temple workers from within a temple district by the temple.
One of our temple presidents later served a temple mission with his wife in Mexico City. He then was a counselor in the mission presidency.
I do think there is a,continued role for such temple workers, but I can see how they could used the wrong way Foster dependency not growth. Also with opening temple worker positions to mothers of children under 18, ending marital restrictions on temple workers and a few other Nelsonian reforms (I think these were Helsonian and not Monsonian, but I could be off. I know the press for family baptismal time and the priests can baptize in the temple changes were Monsonian, even though since the later started Jan 1, 2018 it almost corresponds to President Monson's death.
Also since President Nelson was a member of the Quorum of the he 12 since 1984, we would be rash to claim any policy change during that time had no impact from him.
The biggest Mondonian reform was mission age change. President Nelson was chair of the Missionary Executive Committee at the time and per Sister Dew (a personal friend of Wendy Watson long before she became Wendy Nelson), in her book on President Nelson, he pushed hard for the missionary age reduction invoking the image of the Church hemorrhaging youth.
Since the new children and youth program still calls for weekly meetings where possible I do not see YM and YW president eliminated.
On the other hand it may be that scout master and assistant scout master callings are totally gone not replaced at all.
In Sterling Heights Ward it was normal for the scout master to not be a counselor in the YM presidency. Often there was a YM second counselor, a DQ adviser and a scout master. With the DQ meeting only 2 times a month at most (I think they met once in September because of stake conference in my branch, not that we neccesarily break out by quorum in the Aaronic priesthood), and with more emphasis on letting youth teach, it might be possible to have fewer callings in young men, but two deep leadership is still crucial.
This will also maybe open the possibility of more people called as temple workers.
There may be other changes. My branch has been operating with only a YW president and 1st counselor for basically a year. I am not sure we have more than 7 young women, and it is rare all seven are there.
My branch is also going to do the child portion jointly boys and girls. At present th her ed is only th 1 boy in that age group, although there is another who will be 8 next year, so he will qualify then.
Was the shift from priesthood preview to priesthood and temple preview announced in 2017.
A recent Salt Lake Tribune article was all about how change has accelerated under President Nelson.
While thus is true, I know the article over stated the level of change. They brought up the new Church history published. The thing is the first serialized chapter of The Standard of Truth came in the January 2018 Ensign. Since the January Ensign at times makes it to homes before Christmas, the course on The Standard of Truth was set long before President Monson died.
coachodeeps, unless I misunderstood the information provided in both the broadcast last Sunday and further outlined in today's General Conference Leadership Training held earlier today, then those serving in the Young Men and Young Women presidencies and as advisers will, alongside the Primary presidencies and those called as group leaders for those Primary children ages 8 and up will have an indispensable and crucial role in ensuring the new initiative is working as intended:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/worldwide-broadcast-new-children-youth-program
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-apostles-leadership-session
These rumors about the Church cutting certain auxiliaries from the infrastructure on both a general and local level keep cropping up every six months. But as one who absorbs all the Church news I can find as well as studying vast amounts of material on infrastructural aspects about the organization and hierarchy of the Church, I can state unequivocally and firmly that any such rumors at this time are false, and that in the unlikely event that ever occurs at all, the phasing out would be methodical and gradual, not instantaneous.
Unless there is a major change, any such rumors can be considered false and misguided. Hope this explanation helps.
JPL, the renamed preparation meeting was announced in mid-December 2017, but didn't go into effect until January 1, 2018, the day before President Monson's passing:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-adds-new-opportunities-for-youth-and-children-to-prepare-for-and-participate-in-temples?lang=eng
So it proves my point that many significant recent changes predate President Nelson becoming head of the Church.
I would amend that to say some Nelsonian policy decisions *may* predate his ordination, having been under consideration prior to President Monson's passing. How many of those fall into that category is likely something only the apostles from President Nelson to Elder Renlund would be able to answer.
Either way, the announcements themselves are far more important and relevant than which prophet made each decision, IMHO.
In the time I was attending the Santiago de Chile temple, I learned about temple missionaries, there are still today.
Although I am a former Mormon, I know the tremendous work they do, hopefully more members will be involved in the work of the temple, but the excuses are never lacking.
The attendance to the temple and dedication in my opinion has to do with priorities, desires and sacrifices, without it it is impossible to consecrate.
I find it interesting that despite rumors only young men presidencies will be discontinued not young women.
This is also not really an outgrowth of the new system but part of broader changes
One think we are seeing is a move toward more gender parity on ward councils. Under President Nelson there has now been a net reduction of 2 males on ward and branch councils.
The moving of stake young men and Sunday school presidents to the high council is also significant. My stake rarely had more than one counselor in the stake Sunday school presidency. Will the stake Sunday school and young men president shave counselors.
Perhaps instead of counselors, there is a young men's board, similar to that at the general level. The change to YM presidency I felt would happen, as that is/nearly was my calling. It didn't make sense with all the recent changes, emphasis on youth leading as per scriptures. These and the other changes strengthen the Priesthood and families.
I counted a reduction of 3 (wml, hpgl, and now ymp).
At the general level though there are both counselors and a board. At one time at least stajexSunday schools had a board. I know this because I knew a woman who had had that calling. The general voards used to be much bigger. I think the Sunday school general board had over 60 members, today it is under 10.
However in my branch the EQP counselor who is WML is part of the branch council.
I was going 5o say I am not sure why the RS counselor who is cochair of branch mission never comes. There might he multiple reasons, but the fact that she is his wife and they have multiple young children is the answer if nothing else.
I didn't know about the ward mission leader being discontinued- thought my ward still had one though I don't know who it is.
coachodeeps, looks like the rumors you heard were true. Did the rumors specify only YM presidencies? It looked you were wondering if YW presidencies were included too. Your other comments about youth programs were also very much on target with what was said yesterday.
Handbook 2, section 4.4: WML optional. If called, not a member of ward council but may be invited to the ward council meeting on a one-off basis as needed.
This happened. YM Presidency discontinued. The question mark on the YW was just my own question. I had felt for some time this was coming and to me was more than a rumor.
Twin#1: YM Presidency discontinued. The question mark on the YW was just my own question. I had felt for some time this was coming and to me was more than a rumor. I had several impressions for myself on this, but then I read something that was just a rumor and knew it was more than just for me.
My ward still has a Ward Mission Leader. We also have a new Young Men's presidency that was just called about one month ago. They may stick around a bit to help wrap up the Scouting program, I suppose.
It makes sense to keep the Young Women presidency while getting ridding of the young men's. Not only does it seem more appropriate to have adult women as leaders at activities, but also they are positive role models for the young women.
I hope these reductions in ward callings will lead to more people being temple workers. I understand my ward has only one couple currently working at the Boston Temple. I will be starting there soon as well. We will need new Temple and Family History Consultants as well. We also have very few people serving at the Stake level from my ward, so we may see more people move into Stake callings.
There were some exciting announcements made. I also didn't know there was a new Tabernacle Choir organist until I watched the 2nd session.
Me either- I thought Joseph Peeples had come with that session's choir, to be honest.
Actually, I do remember hearing about him back in April, now that I think of it, but had forgotten.
I think Brian Matthias (sp.?) is now my favorite organist to watch- he is so deliberate and attentive the whole time he is playing.
coachodeeps, I'm glad you were right. I was thinking infrastructurally on all levels and not accounting for the scriptural directive about each bishopric having direct responsibility for the Aaronic Priesthood holders in their wards.
Another Church-wide course correction by President Nelson. I echo what Elder Holland said of him in April 2018. What a prophet indeed.
On a personal note, I am glad for the changes to young women groups as well. My ward has an overabundance of Primary-aged children but only a handful or so of youth. There have only been around 2-3 young women in each level of advancement for a while, so a single class will likely do as far as my ward is concerned. Thanks.
Brother People's appointment was actually just announced in August of this year, so that was his first chance to accompany any choir during General Conference:
https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/new-temple-square-organist-appointed.html
August is when he started, and when the choir blog post was written, but the appointment was actually announced back in April (after conference), according to the article you linked (and articles on other sites also show this). But you're right that this was his first chance to accompany a choir during conference. Peeples is the correct spelling of his name.
Slight correction to my earlier comment, August 18 was the date of his first organ solo. The article doesn't actually state when he started working as an organist. (I am guessing there would need to be some training on technique from the other organists, even for an accomplished organist, or at least learning about how this organ (and the room's acoustics) differ from others that he's played.)
Mathias.
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