Also, take a moment to remember some things. Early converts to the church were former active members of MANY other religions. They brought with them into the church many other social and cultural practices that were parts of their former religions and interpretations of scripture.

In the beginning of the church, ALL things could not be addressed at once. It was important to get certain things (like the Godhead and the Priesthood established) and then little by little other things were added. So, it is my belief, that not all practices of the early church were of divine inspiriation, but more that Heavenly Father didn’t find them important enough at the time to give direction one way or another as he had to direct the saints to do other things and get them safely to Zion.

Fast forward to now. Our situation is much different. Now the Lord can fine tune his people. This is why we believe in and support continuing revelation.

Anyway, Jeff, no one has said this directly, but brother, you need to seriously consider your comments/position. Your selling your “temple” altar is not to “compensate you” for your labor/materials, but is actually the selling of religious implements to get gain, which is blatant priestcraft.

You have tried every way possible to justify your actions and not once have said to anyone who has opposed you, “hmmm…I’ll take that into consideration, you might be right”. Kind of thing…IF ALTARS IN OUR HOMES WERE ADVOCATED BY THE CHURCH FOR US TO PRAY AROUND, THEN the prophet and Stake Presidents / Bishops would NOW have them. You sincerely somehow think that your justifications are right? Yes, you can have one in your home, yes, you and your family can pray around it if you so choose. BUT, to advocate that others do it, and to persuade others that THAT is what the Temple, is *really* teaching us IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF THE SPIRIT OF APOSTASY.

On another note, I am a little confused as to why some posters on this blog think that “formal prayer as a family” is a new concept? We have long been taught to “gather in a circle morning and night and pray together as a family”. A primary song begins, “let us gather in a circle, and kneel in family prayer…”.

“Celestial Rooms” in homes are silly, a Celestial spirit is not.”

I’m truly sorry if anyone is offended that I made this comment here, but Elder Holland DID say that, and it struck me as half funny and half sweet that here we were jointly taking care of the space where we sleep together, the same way that the space for the sacrament of the Lord’s supper is prepared and covered.

This is an interesting discussion. Glad I could read all about it.

I don’t agree with doing prayer circles outside the temple though. I think Jeff and others have read too much in to the First Presidency letter.

1) The original post was fascinating and an interesting glimpse into Mormon history (thanks, J.); at the very least, it seems to suggest origins of the LDS cultural tendency to kneel as a family (by the bed or sofa or table, or in a circle on the carpet) for family prayer.

2) Outside of the temple, the edifice described as potentially the most sacred place on earth is the home. I don’t take that to mean that my home has to physically resemble a temple in order to be a sacred place. It has far more to do with the spirit felt therein, the way we treat each other, the love we express, the things we learn together. Prior to this conversation, I had never heard of or seen a “celestial room” in someone’s home, and I lived in Provo for 15 years. I just don’t see that such a room–or an altar–is necessary to create the spirit that can be found within a loving and God-directed home.

3) I teach a class fulla squirrely nine-year-old kids right now. Each Sunday, as part of the Primary theme, these children repeat a sentence that seems of particular import to this conversation. It is this:

“I can pray to Heavenly Father any time, anywhere.”

It suggests to me that members of the Church in general–and children in particular–need to know that if they wait for optimal conditions to pray, they will find themselves praying too infrequently to make this a viable channel of communication between themselves and Deity. True, heartfelt prayer doesn’t require an altar in order to be efficacious. It requires a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and a desire to listen to God as well as speak to Him.

That’s all.

It seems that all this discussion about the TLC and the prayer circles ignores the simple fact that divisions and “reorganizations” have been happening since the early days of the LDS church. Particularly in Nauvoo the role of the Holy Order and the access the members had or not to the temple ordinances was decisive to the sucession of Joseph Smith. Ehat’s thesis is a very good work on this.

Note- the link to the letters leads to a site which is not friendly to mainstream mormons (and it has links leading to even worse things) so beware.

Also, there has been counsel about keeping things in the temple, well, in the temple.

I have not heard any counsel not to pray in this manner, except the hearsay which Mr. Harmston details was the reason for his discipline. The 1978 letter has not been read out loud to congregations to the best of my knowledge. So I am hesitant to accept that “the persons who hold the keys are counselling us *not* to do something outside the temple”

Can anyone show evidence that counsel on this subject has been given to members at large, other than Mr. Harmston?