Marketing. The most important thing is to get as many folks sending 10% of their gross income to Salt Lake City as possible. So they tweek things to make them more acceptable to society. They used to actually draw blood from their thighs in the early days. That went first. Since the latest change they don't even get to fondle naked flesh in the Temple anymore. Of course since the First Presidency meets with Jesus weekly in the Salt Lake Temple, maybe the unchanging God changes after all.

It's true that the Lord doesn't change. Therefore He calls prophets now as He did back in Bible times. If the Lord wanted to channge something about the church, then he'd do it through His Prophet, which He does. When Chirst was sacrificed, He paid the ultimate sacrifice and that abolished the Law of Moses which stated that we needed to sacrifice animals. So, as we see, the Lord DOES change His laws when it's part of His plan. He did it through Peter who was called to be the leader of the Church when Christ left (Matt. 16:16-19). Peter went on after Christ preaching that the Law of Moses was no longer needed, and people chose to believ or reject that teaching. The Lord makes the necessary changes to His church through a Living Prophet today as He did through Peter in the New Testament. Also, if the church changed policies in order to conform to society, it wouldn't be speaking out against controversial topicss that are accepted in today's society now whereas 50 years ago, they weren't (homosexuality, abortion, etc.). The Church STILL teaches that these things are sins against the laws of God, and although we love and pray for the sinner, we don't condone the sin! That's the way it was in the days of Soddam and Gomorah, as God said, and because HE DOESN'T CHANGE, HE SAYS THE SAME THING THROUGH HIS PROPHET TODAY!

The LDS Church and their scriptures have been changed so drastically over the 175 years; it's not even the same religion. Book of Commandments in 1833, revised to Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon published in 1830, 35 truthfully I don't know how many times but over 4000 changes. Stuff was deleted because most of JS's prophesies didn't come true. His first vision wasn't even recorded until, not sure maybe 1840 or so, and there are about 7 different versions of it. First he claims to see an angle, then two, then someone; I believe it was Brigham Young changed it to heavenly father and Jesus. I can go on, if you want all the information just Google it, some sites have original scanned documents to prove it the IRR, religious research website's pretty good they have the money to buy a $75,000 Book of Commandments.

Everyone claims this outrageous number of changes, but not what those changes were. Most of them, if not all, were minor spelling and grammar corrections. Joseph Smith translated the book of Mormon with divine help, but he was not the one to pen it. Spelling errors, a missing word here and there, and a few words misheard and penned wrong by the scribe are all understandable things.

When Joseph Smith stated that the temple ordinances were in force before time and cannot be changed, he was simply taking a fact that we understand to be true of most, if not all, ordinances, and applied it to the temple ordinances. The sacrament provides us with a specific example of an ordinance which has been "modified" in a superficial sense. In revelation the Lord made it clear that what was eaten and drunk was not essential to the ordinance. It is superficial, to a certain extent. (D&C 27:2 http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/27/2#2) Logically then, it would not seem unlikely that other ordinances may as well have prescriptive practices connected with them which may be modified. (That is, not essential to the ordinance, but prescribed as part of the ordinance through tradition or commandment.) Although an endowed member, I think it would be quite a challenge to identify the essence of most temple ordinances. However, none of what has been changed in the rituals and ceremonies of the temple would seem to me to be likely candidates for being "essential". From the standpoint of a faithful member, I could go even further, taking Joseph Smith's assertion, in conjunction with any changes to be indicative of the sorts of things which are certainly not essential.

Politics

The Kirtland temple ordinances are the only true ordinances and they are very different than the Nauvoo and current temple ordinances. Before the Nauvoo temple was completed, Joseph Smith and most all church leaders at that time had become Freemasons. Joseph was secretly practicing polygamy, and committing adultery. He was engaging in secret combinations. He borrowed from the masonic rituals, and put these rituals into practice in order to put the other church leaders and members of his secret combinations under oath. One of his secret combinations was called the Council of Fifty. Joseph had wild ideas about becoming King of the entire world. Some of his Council of Fifty members betrayed him. Joseph knew the game was up, so he began repenting of the things he had done wrong i.e. polygamy, etc. He wrote to all who had received the "endowment garments and told them to burn the garments." He asked forgiveness of his plural wives, and asked Emma to forgive him. However, all the other men namely Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball did not want to give up polygamy, and did not want Joseph Smith to expose them, so they arranged for his murder in Carthage Jail. Joseph Smith's death was a masonic hit. After his death, the Mormons followed Brigham Young to Utah, he kept alive all the evil masonic ordinances and they are still used in the temples today. The reason some of the ordinances have been changed is because finally some members are beginning to ask questions about the changes. So the Leaders change the ordinances to shut up the members. Emma Smith did not come to Utah, as she knew Brigham Young would keep practicing polygamy, which she knew was wrong. So the Mormons who stayed behind in Nauvoo are smarter than the Mormons who followed Brigham Young.

Because laws and ordinances were enacted to be broken and changed. It's a fact of life - adjust!

You can google the Freemason minutes of meetings. The one I came across was a meeting when the members of the Nauvoo lodge were discussing whether or not to have John C. Bennett expelled from the lodge. Of course they are not going to provide minutes for a planned murder. In order to find the truth about the history of the church, one must look beyond the controlled manuals we are allowed to study in sunday school class. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. However men are men and make mistakes. Joseph Smith did in fact consumate most of his plural marriages including those with the married women. This is clearly stated in their histories. Also read Sacred Lonliness. Polygamy has never been and never will be approved by God. I challenge anyone to search the scriptures and find one shred of evidence besides the 132 section of the D&C which approves polygamy. The 132 of D&C was a fabrication in order to cover up adulterous relationships. While searching, search the ordinances of the Kirtland Temple as compared to the ordinances of the Nauvoo Temple. Hopefully your eyes will be opened. The original Joseph Smith papers by Dean C.Jessee published in 1984 will help with this. The new version of the Joseph Smith papers recently released are altered and embellished. Also, Joseph Smith did in fact ordain blacks to the priesthood, Elijah Able was the first black man he also became a seventy. Google it. Emma Smith was also given the priesthood as well as other women. This is well documented as well. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and others did not like this. This is why Joseph was killed. By the way, the version of Willard Richards account of what happened in Carthage Jail would never pass a modern day forensic examination. Hmmm. Willard Richards was also a mason and Brigham Youngs first cousin. Hmmm he was in the jail and was not even hurt. Hmmm. Go ahead, begin googleing. It is all well documented in diaries etc. By the way, I am not anti mormon, my husband is currently serving in the stake presidency.

In 1830 the church was organized with very few members. By 1838 or so the church had 9000 members. Those who wish to control the economy of the U.S. could see this church was going to be successful so they infiltrated. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, to name a few. These men were all 33rd degree masons at least Young and Kimball were. Where ever the Mormons moved, they voted in mass and were in control. Mormon people without question pay 1/10th of their increase as tithing. No ledgers, no nothing about how the money is used. So enter the masons into this grand free flow of money and economic control. The masonic ideas coupled with the prophecies of Daniel about the stone rolling unstopped out of the mountain until it covered the whole earth got to JOsephs Head. He actually had himself ordained by his council of fifty, a secret society, as Prophet, President, and King over all Israel. Eventually someone in the council betrayed Joseph. So he gave William Clayton, his secretary the option to burn the minutes from the meetings of the council, and Joseph began to repent for his wrong doings. He was in the process of repenting when he fled Nauvoo, and crossed in the sciff to Montrose. The Lord had warned him to leave. But his friends in the council of fifty called him a coward, so contrary to the Lords will, he returned to Nauvoo and eventually to Carthage. Because he went against the Lords will and listened to men instead of God, the Lord removed his protection from Joseph. Josephs death was masterminded by the Freemasons of Nauvoo, as they wished to continue in their grand schemes, and not be exposed, which Joseph was about to do. Joseph had received forgiveness from Emma, and his plural wives, the so called revelation authorizing polygamy was burned by Joseph and Emma. Emma did not follow Brigham Young to Utah. In the next few years if people pay attention and watch, the L.D.S. church leadership will have to account for their evil designs. Many of them are members of the New World Order scheme and they will be exposed. Heaven help the sheeple saints when this happens. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, but the leaders have gone astray. The members don't think a prophet would lead them astray, but they need to find one scripture that will back up that statement, there isn't one. But read Micha 3 Deut. !8:18-22 and D&C. 64 34 (i think) The L.D.S. church is the great and abominable church as spoken in the Book of Mormon, because the leaders of this church had all the knowledge given to them, and they have changed and altered it. Read the Original Book of Mormon as opposed to what we study today, Get googling, and have fun learning the true history of the church. By the way, the leaders don't want us to study the true history as they think it will destroy our testimonies. HA! The real reason is that the true history leads to the present day corruption within the heirarchy of the church and will expose them, this is what they are truly afraid of.

Oh, by the way the State of Illinois did have anti bigamy laws in place. Also the Wentworth letter which eventually became the Articles of Faith was written in 1842. The 12th one says we believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. So why would the Lord ok polygamy, when he had just revealed that the people of his church would obey the law? Look outside the box. The box of homogenized, cleaned up history we are given to control our thinking. Read the histories not provided and approved for Sunday School. Get a copy of the 1833 Book of Commandments and compare it with the latest edition of the D&C which will be the course of study for the upcoming year. And let your eyes be opened! But remember, the Gospel is True, it is the leaders that are corrupt.

'Evolution of the Temple Endowment Ceremony' published by the Tanners is helpful. Although I don't agree with the view that Joseph Smith actually introduced the LDS endowment ceremony, the Tanners do well in documenting the changes in the rituals and transcript of the words used through the years. The most likely reasons for changes are the concern over the sheer time involved and society changes. The early endowment ceremonies took long hours and had live actors reenact the story of creation and others. 'Patrons' (people participating) progressed from room to room for more of the ceremony. Society changes/influence also played part in changes. Polygamy, blood oaths, touching during washing/annointing, among other things were troublesome to some members and non-members alike.

In Joseph Smith's own words in the book The Joseph Smith Papers compiled by Dean C. Jesse, he claims he was visited by ONE personage. This account was later changed, embellished to two personages, (masons worship many god's) the embellished account is what is printed in modern day editions of the LDS scriptures. So for those of you who think the minor changes in the BOM are insignificant, the very identity of God himself has been changed. There is only ONE GOD. For you true believing Mormon's get out of the sheep pen, and do some research on your own. What you will discover will be astounding! Begin with the identity of God, then go on to the changes in the endowment over the years, study how polygamy was never ordained of God, and never has been. These are just starters.

Actually the Temple Ordinances have not changed. The only thing that has changed is the way the Ordinances are presented. The ceremony has changed several times but the Ordinances themselves have not changed. They are still the same Ordinances as before. They will never change...whew6

Prior to 1990, all temple-going LDS members swore a blood oath of loyalty and secrecy with a slitting of their throats, cutting out their hearts, and disemboweling their intestines as a pantomimed act of “suffering their lives to be taken” if they disobey their leaders and disclose the teachings of the temple. After 1990, these blood oath Masonic actions were taken out but are still “assumed” today. The Temple Ordinance was changed because too many people were finding out about satanic masonic blood oaths rituals and leaving the church and talking about it. Bottom line, the church needs to be cleansed as prophesied in the Book of Mormon (altered with the 2nd printing changing the identity of God) and Doctored Covenants (For instance, D&C Section 132 justifying polygamy was added after Joseph Smith's Masonic Murder) The Kirkland Temple did not have Masonic Satanic Blood oaths or rituals, women and blacks held the priesthood, the Book of Mormon was not altered prior to having the "plain and precious truths taken from it", and Joseph Smith had not committed adultery behind Emma's back. During this early time period of the church, the church was pure. The Kirkland Temple did have spiritual manifestations that were true and not embellished. Great Mormon member here that is a truth seeker waiting for the Church to be cleansed.

They can’t be, and they haven’t been. While the pertinent instruction preceding said ordinances has indeed been changed, the ordinances themselves have not been, and I don’t expect they ever will be. For clarification regarding the changes in said instructions, let’s appeal to four different Presidents of the Church:    “In May 1842, after the first endowment was given, the prophet Joseph told     Brigham that the endowment was ‘not arranged perfectly’ and he wanted     Brigham to “organize and systematize” the ceremonies. In the process of so     doing, Brigham claims to have gained more insight into the endowment.    “In succeeding years, Brigham Young suggested that the presentation of the     endowment could further evolve. On April 6, 1845, in a Nauvoo Conference,     Brigham Young said that Joseph ‘did not receive every thing connected with     the doctrine of redemption’ in his lifetime, but instead ‘left the key’ with the     Brethren. ‘We have got to learn how to be faithful in a few things; you know     the promise is, if we are faithful in a few things, we shall be made ruler over     many things. If we improve upon small things, greater will be given unto us’     (*Millennial Star* 6:121). …    “After receiving revelation in the St. George Temple… [Wilford] Woodruff     wrote that ‘we still have more changes to make, in order to satisfy our     Heavenly Father, satisfy our dead and ourselves’ (Discourses of Wilford     Woodruff, 154). … Sixteen years later, Wilford Woodruff met with the     Quorum of the Twelve and four temple presidents to harmonize the various     and “different” modes of endowment ceremonies. (Wilford Woodruff Journal,     9:267).      “Harold B. Lee emphasized that the means by which the endowment and its     message are presented are subject to modification: ‘Now, you think for a     moment—in the upper office over [Joseph Smith’s] store, with no equipment     like we have in our temples today, the endowment had to be given by     lecture. The Prophet Joseph Smith… attended to the matters that we now     have given in various ways.…    “But it is the same message that was given by lecture by the Prophet Joseph     Smith in his office over the John Taylor store. Now, when we have that in     mind, we will see why the Prophet, in the beginning of this dispensation,     gave certain instructions to have the brethren stimulated in their thinking’     (*Teachings of Harold B. Lee*, 578)”     (http://en.fairmormon.org/Temple_endowment_changes). In short, the ordinances themselves seem to be pretty dang consistent. However, we humans are an imperfect and ever-changing people, so the *methods* with which the ordinances are preceded—and by which the ordinances are presented—are and always have been subject to change, according to the needs of the people. Good question! +5