Prior to going on the LDS Church mission to Salt Lake City, Utah I was subjected to participate in the temple ceremonies of the Church. These were preparatory initiatory that every LDS Church missionary must do before embarking on the mission. This was probably why I shouldn't have gone on the mission. I didn't fully understand the requirements of the ceremonies but I was sincere. I wanted to go on the mission but it wasn't mandatory. I was encouraged by many people, strangers (other members of the LDS Church) and close associates. It wasn't considered taboo to do so. But the temple ceremonies made people to make promises of chastity and consecration (giving away of personal property like Jesus Christ asked the Rich Young Man to do in the Holy Bible) but its administration was different. In reality, it appears to be confiscation rather than consecration. People aren't asked to do it the same way. Often times, wicked members of one's family would liaise with the Church to do all sorts of evil things. Secret combinations appear to be a hallmark of the evil in the LDS Church.
Temple Square was a visitors' centre. For the most part, visitors were taken round the Square or accosted in several parts of the grounds and taught LDS Church principles. The young women worked with each other. Many of them were between the ages of 21-25 at the time that I participated in 2005. There were a few who were either younger or older than this range. It didn't matter to most of us but a few of the women would pick on such people. I went away after my 25th birthday, with a bachelor's degree and single. I had never been married. I didn't have a child. I wouldn't know if this was the same with most of the girls many of whom were good at poking at other people's private lives. There were elderly couple missionaries who came from the United States of America to serve on Temple Square with the young female missionaries. The men worked among themselves while the ladies who manned the offices worked together. The elderly couples looked like the grandparents of the young women and probably served as observers (or spies) of the events among the girls. I was civil to everybody.
Syncretism: This is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought. There were young women from several countries about 40 or more, representing the major continents of the world including Africa. Among the Nigerians or even the Igbo women, the cultures were different. I was an Ngwa lady (Ijeoma Njoku), there was another missionary from Imo State (Nelly Metus) and another from Ohafia (Ada Obasi). We shouldn't all see the world the same way. I came from Ibadan, as my point of take off, another came from Abeokuta and a few others came from Port Harcourt and Uyo. How could all think alike. I was the only degree hold among the Nigerian sisters. I didn't understand what I was doing on Temple Square. Was it an alternative to jail? I wouldn't know as there were no crimes that I witnessed but I wouldn't be surprised if Temple Square Mission was an outcome of plea bargaining. Or was it a rehabilitation centre for the mentally ill. I probably was mentally ill to have abandoned my life to preach a fable. But I had believed that it was the right thing to do and after consulting with many LDS Church people I comforted myself and left for the USA. I wasn't particularly interested in serving in the USA and had to deal with the disappointment of my supposed good luck.There were other women educated to a degree, associate's or bachelor's. Some of the Nigerians allegedly had the national certificate in education or the ordinary national diploma. Some came with no tertiary education or even secondary education. Temple Square was indeed a parcel, you got what it contained, at least for me who knew no other missionary before I left and had no communication with the entity until my arrival in Provo, Utah.
Syncopation: It's nobody's business to send another to school. I didn't promise that I was trading my education to another because of the temple ceremonies or Temple Square. I didn't know that Mormonism encouraged OBT - obtaining by trick. If somebody went to Church and agreed to work for God, had he agreed to work for Miss Obasi - a name that meant God in Ohafia or Igbo Language? I didn't think that the LDS Church would descend to such atrocious foolery in agreeing that a church was an avenue for exchange. I didn't authorize anybody to represent me, nor did I agree to prostitute my body for God. Prostituting my education was already an insult. I was aware that I would live frugally so I came ready to endure hardship. But for how long am I supposed to endure mad Mormons. It's not my job to make weak people strong at my own detriment. Although a musical term, syncopation is used here to mean the deliberate weakening of people's efforts and strengths in order to accommodate the weaknesses of other people. It's akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul, with witch hunt being its mode of operation. On Temple Square, there was a deliberate effort to humiliate, insult and shame some sister missionaries in order to embolden others. This was done through callings and assignments. It wasn't unseen that some missionaries who were zone leaders were taken back to district leaders or made to train twice. It's often easy to see the pride in other people than in oneself. I didn't think it was the role of the Church to humiliate people for being brilliant or bold. If it was for discipline or chastisement (which everybody should have got anyway), then I take back my word. But if it was to yield to bottom power, then Temple Square and indeed the LDS Church is regrettable.
Satanism: The devil is real. Satanism wasn't what I came to practice. Many evil women lied, conspired and found their way to Temple Square. I don't know much about Satanism. I hadn't bothered to learn much about other religions except the LDS Church as such would mean not being loyal to my own faith. But Satanism is real. So, be warned. Many people had come to Temple Square from various backgrounds. And it didn't seem that they had any trouble being at home in Salt Lake City, perhaps the home of Satanism? Hmm....
To be continued....
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