# Supposed video of secret Mormon temple rituals **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552 "2012-10-22T18:58:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/1 "2012-10-22T18:58:37Z")
I’m not even sure what forum to post this in. There’s a video on YouTube that’s been getting a lot of buzz around the net that supposedly depicts secret Mormon temple rituals. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6udew9axmdM/hqdefault.jpg "Behind The Veil: Never-before-seen videos of secret Mormon Temple rituals") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6udew9axmdM) I’m not sure what to make of it. It some ways it seems kind of mundane - why would someone go to all the trouble to fake this but not make it REALLY wacky? It just has a feeling of people going through a well known, well worn routine. On the other hand, God is hiding behind a curtain and sticks his hand out? Seriously? If that is truly part of the endowment ceremony, then the higher-ups know the whole thing is a scam. But hey, I would have thought the Kolob business was some sort of joke, so who knows? Very likely a hoax, but it’s an interesting video. ---
**Author:** ![kaiwik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaiwik/32/3978_2.png) [@kaiwik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaiwik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/2 "2012-10-22T19:15:52Z")
It isn’t a hoax. As a former member I have been to temples and have taken part in these rituals. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/3 "2012-10-22T19:23:13Z")
So they claim that God is behind those curtains? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/4 "2012-10-22T19:23:39Z")
Did you know that Catholics engage in cannibalism? Jews cut off the end of their son’s dicks. Protestants put mayo on everything. It’s horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/5 "2012-10-22T19:25:33Z")
Yes, but obviously there’s a real person behind that curtain, so some members (at the very least the guy behind the curtain sticking his hand out) know that it’s not really God. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/6 "2012-10-22T19:29:17Z")
No, it’s not a hoax. Just about every Mormon and former Mormon could tell you it’s hidden camera footage of actual temple ceremonies. I didn’t have time to watch all 8 minutes (I skipped around to make sure that it was real) but unfortunately, some of the captions are a bit annoying. Just from what I saw, it said the children are being “used” for baptisms in the basement, which is simply stupid. Also, I noticed it said something about a “Hispanic girl” being baptized for her ancestors. While you are strongly encouraged to bring in names of your own relatives, you don’t absolutely have to, and the ethnicity is of no importance. It was dumb to bring it up. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/7 "2012-10-22T19:31:27Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Yes, but obviously there’s a real person behind that curtain, so some members (at the very least the guy behind the curtain sticking his hand out) know that it’s not really God. You’ve misunderstood. The guy is standing in for God. No one thinks he is actually God. It even specifically states this fact during the ceremony. I can dig up exactly what is said during the ceremony if you like. Also, once you are pulled through the veil, you can see the old guy whose hand you were practicing the secret handshakes on. So there is absolutely no question of anyone thinking it’s actually God. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/8 "2012-10-22T19:33:33Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Yes, but obviously there’s a real person behind that curtain, so some members (at the very least the guy behind the curtain sticking his hand out) know that it’s not really God. How do you know it isn’t? I’ve heard people say “God walks among us.” And I bet he gets mistaken for George Burns a lot. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/9 "2012-10-22T19:33:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > So they claim that God is behind those curtains? No. They claim that when they die, they will face God behind a curtain. In order to get into Heaven, they will need to go through a specific ritual with code words and special handshakes. The video shows people practicing the ritual with real people who they know are real people. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/10 "2012-10-22T19:35:11Z")
Okay. That makes sense then. In that case I can totally believe that this is real. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/11 "2012-10-22T19:37:11Z")
The captions though are clearly very biased… once they start talking about Mormons taking over the government and then start talking about Mitt directly I knew they weren’t worth reading. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/12 "2012-10-22T19:39:36Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > The captions though are clearly very biased… once they start talking about Mormons taking over the government and then start talking about Mitt directly I knew they weren’t worth reading. I agree with this. The captions do a disservice to the video. I don’t think that there is anything that will get me to vote for Mitt but I don’t for a second believe that he wants to make the US a Mormon theocracy. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/13 "2012-10-22T19:41:05Z")
And, as yet another tidbit about Mormonism, when you get married in a Mormon temple, the groom plays the God role and sticks his hand through the veil, and the Bride has to successfully complete the secret handshakes and passwords and then he will pull her through the veil. I certainly hope she doesn’t think he is God! But all these ceremonies are considered practice for after death when Mormons believe they will be required to give secret handshakes and passwords to be able to get into Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/14 "2012-10-22T19:44:24Z")
I understand that the captions are just propaganda by whoever posted the video, but is there any truth to the claim of Masonic influences? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/15 "2012-10-22T19:46:52Z")
So, after you die, if you don’t know, or screw up, the handshake or password, do you just stand there for all eternity watching others bypass you, do you go to hell, do you disappear in a puff of smoke, or what? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/16 "2012-10-22T19:47:50Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > But all these ceremonies are considered practice for after death when Mormons believe they will be required to give secret handshakes and passwords to be able to get into Heaven. Which would seem to indicate that they don’t believe in an all-knowing god because they have to do the ritual to get in and not knowing the ritual keeps them out. I imagine that I am over-simplifying things though. Another part of the captioning that was lame is claiming that they worship a god called Elohim and that is somehow different than the regular Christian God. I think that it’s the same god with a different name. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/17 "2012-10-22T19:53:17Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > But all these ceremonies are considered practice for after death when Mormons believe they will be required to give secret handshakes and passwords to be able to get into Heaven. That sounds very Ancient Egyptian in its way. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/18 "2012-10-22T19:54:21Z")
Regarding their “saving” of deceased non-Mormons: Little do they know I have my own ritual that counteracts their ritual. It involves drinking beer plus the usual hand waving, but it is very effective. Please DO NOT TELL the Mormons about this or they will redouble their efforts to counter my counter ritual. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/19 "2012-10-22T19:55:11Z")
Regarding the temple ceremony, also known as the “Endowment”, Brigham Young has said, > [@](#): > > Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation… As many church leaders have said, the temple ordinances are “not secret, but sacred.” There is nothing taught in the temple that is not available in other places, and in fact you can find the entire temple ceremony posted verbatim on the internet by those seeking to discredit the church. We don’t share this with the world because we consider it to be sacred and holy, and something that should not be held up to ridicule by those who do not understand or respect its value, as Jesus instructed in Matthew 7:6 > [@](#): > > Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552/20 "2012-10-22T19:59:24Z")
So when they baptize deceased non-Mormons, and those people then arrive in Heaven, do they somehow know the passwords and handshakes? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposed-video-of-secret-mormon-temple-rituals/638552.md?page=2)