darth_ender said:
timdiggerm said:
darth_ender said:
Well, I am officially the third highest official in the local Mormon Diocese.
Okay, so that's a lame joke. But I am now serving in a position of authority over the local congregation as the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. Positions are entrusted to a person, not sought, and leaders are not paid in my church, so there is no ambition in seeking these positions. This is a position I am honored and terrified to take part in. I'm younger than the usual folks, and it can be rather time consuming. I am not terribly organized by nature either. But I pray I am up to the challenge and may serve God to the best of my ability.
This is a serious question, and I am not making fun of your faith, despite the fact that it might sound like I am.
How many secret handshakes do you know, as a Bishop?
First, I am not actually a bishop: I am second counselor to a bishop. No biggie, but just to clarify. Second, it's a difficult topic for me to discuss because I feel that what you are referring to is sacred and not to be spoken of lightly. Even referring to it as handshakes, though I know that is how it is commonly viewed, seems like a simplistic way to express it. They're not something we do outside the temple, and they are not even part of entrance to the temple, nor are they a means of conveying, "Hey, I'm a Mormon too." Though the comparisons to masonry are common and understandable, their function is different. Brigham Young put it this way:
“Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.”
What others call secret handshakes we call tokens. That said, I received my endowment which included all such "key words," "signs," and "tokens" back in 2001 prior to going on a mission. There are no new tokens to learn. I learned 'em all already 12 years ago.
Hope that's a useful answer.
Thoroughly useful answer. I dunno how I misread your description of your title/duties, and sorry about that.
And the point about not discussing lightly, sacred stuff, etc makes a lot of sense, and I'm a little sorry I phrased it the way I did. Interesting to know that you learned all that stuff when you went on your mission (is that the same as being made an "Elder"? I am guessing entirely based on missionary nametags here)
Although it does sound from that Young quote like the tokens are about gaining entrance...just not on Earth so much.