Joseph Smith: Drunk, Hornball, Prophet

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Valentinus1

Would those honest responses even keep a faithful member from receiving a temple recommend? I hope not. I'm not trying to speak badly of church policy but it seems kind of trivial to me. If the temple means a lot to the individual and they maintain some kind of testimony, then the member shouldn't be denied a recommend. This is just my opinion, of course. I'm just trying to understand.

I am not in a position to judge whether a temple recommend would be granted. But in a pure speculative mode, I suspect it would turn on how one answered the questions.

If one hopes JS is a prophet and wishes it to be so, then one can answer the questions in a manner which would allow the authority to sign off. Most of the questions are yes/no, so the depths of one's beliefs are not in question.

[Valentinus1]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I am not in a position to judge whether a temple recommend would be granted. But in a pure speculative mode, I suspect it would turn on how one answered the questions.

If one hopes JS is a prophet and wishes it to be so, then one can answer the questions in a manner which would allow the authority to sign off. Most of the questions are yes/no, so the depths of one's beliefs are not in question.

So simplicity would dictate the outcome. It is somewhat relieving, even as a non-believer, that hope can still bring about a good outcome just as well as someone's certainty.