The following essay was written by the poster "greenpotato" on exmormon.org in the Recovery Forum, and is used with his/her permission. This author expresses many problems with temple worship, doctrinal, historical, and social. Many thanks, greenpotato!
What is it with mormons and temples? Where does the idea of temple worship come from? The book of mormon? Nope, temples are not mentioned there. The New Testament? Nope, Jesus' sacrifice ended temple worship. The old testament? Only if you want to get your ass kicked for building multiple temples that were not in god's chosen town of Jerusalem. Thomas Monson wouldn't be bragging about the number of new temples being built if he knew that the god of the old testament was watching.
And why must baptisms be done for every single person who ever lived? Surely 99.5% of them are going to reject the gospel anyway? Why not get baptised for the dead AFTER they accept the gospel? Did Jesus die on the cross over and over for every single person, even the ones who weren't going to repent? I know Jesus had a lot to bear already, but since he was getting baptised anyway, why not make it count for everyone?
When I am worried that I might forget something, I always write it down on my underwear... NOT! Why not give everyone a written copy of the temple covenants that they can refer to when needed, preferably BEFORE they agree to give the church EVERYTHING so that they have time to consider the implications first?
How does one decide whether to call temple worship sacred or secret? The handshakes are SECRET otherwise there would be no point to them. Sacred things can be spoken about, at least with others of the same faith who already know about it. Secret isn't a very good word for it since I am writing about it without ever having been to a temple. I think embarrassingly stupid is a better description for temple worship than either sacred or secret.
How far can one stretch the "milk before meat" principle? Some people die of old age while still on milk! But don't worry, if you don't understand the spiritual significance of the temple in this life, then at some point during ETERNITY you will finally get it!
But who wouldn't want to go to the temple and be sealed to their family for all of eternity? Duh, people who have family members that they don't like! But no person who doesn't love their family could possibly be worthy of going to heaven, even if they have suffered at the hands of those who should have loved them and have still been good, Christ like people. What counts at the gates of mormon heaven is knowing secret handshakes and being sealed to lots of family, and having as many wives as the laws of the land don't arrest you for.
Most brides these days don't like to know what is going to happen at their wedding. What they are going to wear, what the celebrant is going to say, what the venue looks like from the inside and who is going to be there are minor details that most brides take no interest in. NOT!!! TSCC knows NOTHING about throwing a good wedding! I know that there hasn't been much of a need for temples since animal sacrifice stopped, but having weddings at temples is NOT the solution.
Unlike many doctrinal questions, temple ceremonies are scientifically untouchable. The preface to the book of mormon has been changed drastically in the face of modern scientific discoveries, and it will continue to change. So why do eternal temple ceremonies that are pleasing to an unchanging god need to be changed so often? Surely if they were good enough for god 100 years ago then they are good enough now.
If it wasn't for Joseph Smith and his last minute plagiarism of Masonic rituals, temples would be nothing more than ancient ruins and I would have something better to rant about. In hindsight, temple worship is ridiculous and the secrecy surrounding temple worship is the only way to stop people from leaving the church as soon as they hear about it. Either that or find a way to provide an ACTUAL spiritual experience at the temple.
