Mormon apostle confronted over pre-1990 throat-slitting and disembowelment temple oaths
Mormonism’s image continues to suffer the exposing consequences of Romney’s candidacy.
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Mitt Romney and Mormonism 
First of all… Would you really trust a government official who chose to deny his faith in order to get elected? Sounds like a man of little integrity to me.
Second… Any issue that can be raised about someone leaving the church and how their lives were affected by that decision, can be seen in every other religion out there. I know of specific examples in the Jehovah’s Witness church as well as the Islamic faith where people have been rejected and shunned by there own families because of choices they have made. If any church can claim that everyone of their members is perfect and the people never act in ways contrary to the teachings of Christ, then they are living in a dream world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of God. The people are weak and we go to church to be healed, and to learn the teachings of Christ, not because we are perfect in anyway. If you truly want to learn of the teachings of the church, whether for good or for bad, the best place to be informed is the church website LDS.org. You wouldn’t ask your dentist advice about having a baby, even though he is a doctor, you would ask a gynecologist! So don’t ask a Catholic, or an Evangelical or a Buddhist about the LDS church. Be smart! Go to the source!
What this man is saying is not true. There is nothing about slitting a throat or abomen and I don’t think there ever has been. I know for a fact there hasn’t been in the last 50 years becasue I am an active Mormon as are my parents and my grandparents. None of them have any idea what this guy is talking about. There are definitely things that can be viewed as weird as could be said of any religous belief or denomination. There is lots of things in other denominations that I don’t understand and quite frankly might not even agree with. I would also stand up for another religion or person that is being slandered if I knew it was an outright lie.
You are mistaken. Pre-1990 LDS members gestured a slit across the throat, then the bowels during the temple ceremony. This, like the root of the entire ceremony, was taken from masonic rituals still practiced today.
Tom, are you misinformed about the LDS endowment? The following is a direct quote from the pre-1990 endowment.
“The sign is made by bringing the right arm to the square, the palm of the hand to the front, the fingers close together, and the thumb extended.”
(The Officiator, again at the altar, demonstrates the sign and penalty as the descriptions are given.)
“ELOHIM: This is the sign. The execution of the Penalty is represented by placing the thumb under the left ear, the palm of the hand down, and by drawing the thumb quickly across the throat to the right ear, and dropping the hand to the side.”
“I will now explain the covenant and obligation of secrecy which are associated with this token, its name, sign and penalty, and which you will be required to take upon yourselves. If I were receiving my own Endowment today, and had been given the name of “John” as my New Name, I would repeat in my mind these words, after making the sign at the same time representing the execution of the penalty:”
“I, John, covenant that I will never reveal the First Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, and penalty. Rather than do so, I would suffer my life to be taken.”
(The Officiator demonstrates the execution of the penalty.)
Tom, indeed, there are aspects of all religions that could be considered strange. The issue here is that the LDS church is trying to call such beliefs Christian in nature when they are not and never have been.
I remember my Mom telling me about the old pre-1990 throat slitting oaths that she did. I don’t remember when exactly, would have been shortly before I enter the MTC (so Sept-Oct 2003). I don’t recall exactly what brought it up, only that she mentioned it as a part of the old endowment (she also told me that when her older brother did his washing and anointing, he was naked; which made me feel better about wearing an open on the sides shield). I haven’t verified the washing and anointing thing, but I’ve heard enough other documentation of the slitting oaths to know it happened. Interesting story there actually; my comp and I were knocking doors and this guy’s reaction once he saw who we were was “I already know everything I need to about the Mormons.” (translated from Spanish), and then he made the motions of slitting his throat and abdomen. My companion was thoroughly confused as to what he could possible be talking about (I’m guessing like Tom here). I offered to explain what he was referring to but my comp was uninterested in knowing.
Also of note, Dad has never mentioned the slitting throat thing, so it’s not unreasonable that older generations would not mention it. However, that does mean that in a few generations it’ll be completely forgotten.