genuinegirly

I haven't seen this episode.

I haven't heard that statistic specifically, but I do feel it is accurate. I interacted with a graduate student who, for her research she tested prozac levels in water treatment plants in the western United States. Every plant she tested in Utah was 10x+ more than any other state. Her second highest concentrations were in Washington.

I wasn't comfortable without religious tradition in my life. I looked around and I felt Catholicism spoke to me in a way that was entirely different and special. I enjoyed the structure, and comparatively there was a lot less guilt and commitment involved. Other Christian denominations seemed to loose an unregulated to me. I enjoy being able to walk into a mass, pray, take communion, and leave. I was free to stick around and sing in a choir if I wanted, but no one forced me into anything. I also really liked the fact that there were female altar servers.

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Glad to hear I'm not the only one around here with a similar past. I was also raised in CA, and consider myself lucky.

The garment is a symbol of the commitment one makes to God. It covers the parts of the body that are considered sacred.

I have been to many Mormon churches where there are windows all over the chapel. There is no blood involved in any service.

No. Everyone goes to heaven, even non-believers.
There are 3 levels to heaven.
Celestial is the highest. Every well-intentioned LDS member who has all of their paperwork in order and has been through all of the prescribed ordinances will go here.
Terrestrial is the middle. Every good person will go here, whether they believe in God or not.
Telestial is the lowest. It's where all of the unrepentant murderers, suicides, and rapists go.
Telestial is supposed to be so wonderful that if anyone living on Earth caught a glimpse of it for a second, they'd kill themselves just to get there.

Celestial has three levels within it. The highest level is reserved for those who are married. You cannot get into that highest level without being married. This marriage must be between a man and a woman. Together you are supposed to create worlds and become God.

Outer Darkness is a place outside the levels of heaven. It is where only the LDS men who "deny their priesthood" will go. What it means to deny your priesthood is a matter of debate.

My mother, father, and most of my relatives on my father's side are still active in the church. My sister waffles between activity and inactivity but she chooses to raise her children in the church. They always ask me to come back. They often try to trick me into coming to a service. The last time I agreed to go to a service was their Easter service. I agreed to go because I was in town and my father was going to speak. They begged me for a month to come with them. I went. My father decided it was the perfect opportunity to trash-talk the Catholic church from the pulpit.

The garments are white. They come in a variety of styles and fabric types. There are some that are one piece and others that are two pieces, some made of polyester, others cotton or silk. They are relatively diverse but they are only available for purchase at the temple. They are relatively inexpensive and will probably be given to you if you're too poor to purchase them yourself. When you purchase them you must present your current temple recommend to prove that you are worthy to wear them. They are considered sacred. If they begin to be threadbare, you must destroy them completely. I recall my mother taking a pair of scissors to them and saying a prayer as she was doing it - cutting them into pieces that were unusable for any purpose. I asked her why she didn't cut them up for rags like she did with other clothes and she responded that they were too special. The purpose of the garment is to remind you of the sacred covenants that you made with God at the temple during the endowment ceremony.

Telephones, cameras, and any other electronic devices are not permitted inside the Mormon Temples after they have been dedicated. Before a dedication, they give tours of each temple and anyone can take a tour. Photographs are permitted and encouraged during this time. Usually a temple is open for tours for a month or two before being dedicated so everyone who is interested in learning about the temple can come and visit.
Here is a picture of the Celestial Room of the San Diego Temple:

The Tabernacle is an auditorium on Temple Square. It is open to anyone. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gives performances in the Tabernacle almost every day. It has an impressive organ that is featured on the cover of every hymnbook. You have probably seen pictures of the interior of the Tabernacle. If you haven't, here are a couple:

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy