21 July 2009

Mormon Temple Endowment Ceremony

The Institute for Religious Research has posted at its website the text of the audio used during the Mormon Temple Endowment ceremony. If you ever talk to a Mormon, and they tell you that "The LDS church doesn't teach such-and-such," here is proof that they do.

For instance, they like to say that the Mormon church does not teach Adam-God. However, think about what happens on the "Sixth Day" in the Endowment:
ELOHIM: Jehovah, see the earth that we have formed. There is no man to till and take care of it. We are here to form man in our own likeness and in our own image.

JEHOVAH: We will do so, Elohim.

(The youthful body of Adam who appears to be sleeping, is shown from the shoulders up.)

ELOHIM: Jehovah, man is now organized, and we will put into him his spirit, the breath of life, that he may become a living soul.

(Adam stirs, and begins to sit up.)

ELOHIM: Jehovah, is it good for man to be alone?

JEHOVAH: It is not good for man to be alone, Elohim.

ELOHIM: We will cause a deep sleep to come upon this man whom we have formed, and we will take from his side a rib from which we will form a woman to be a companion and help meet for him.

(Adam lays his head upon the ground as he looses consciousness.)

NARRATOR: Brethren and sisters, this is Michael, who helped form the earth. When he awakens from the sleep which Elohim and Jehovah have caused to come upon him, he will be known as Adam, and having forgotten all, will have become a little child. Brethren, close your eyes as if you were asleep.

Now, if we use a little logic to recall that

if a=b

and

if b=c

then a=c

Apply this to LDS theology:

if Adam=Michael

and

if Michael=one of the "Gods" that formed and organized the earth

then Adam=God.