Ordinances
Posted by Tyler on November 21st, 2006A few months ago, I wrote about the importance of spiritual presence in Mormon life. My argument was that we will gain much more from ordinances and Christian living if we engage our whole selves therein. That is, if I immerse myself in any Mormon/Christian act–whether it be taking the sacrament or giving food to the homelss–I will gain much more therefrom than if I merely do it to mark it off a spiritual checklist (original post on Mormon Hippocrates, see sidebar).
The discussion that followed raised an important question: why do we value ordinances so much?  To begin with, ordinances are important components of Mormon culture. Most of us have seen a symbolic picture with steps leading up to the Temple; the steps are usually labeled as ordinances: baptism, confirmation, receipt of the Priesthood, receipt of one’s endowment, and Temple marriage. We celebrate these occasions: an open house after a baptism, a dinner for the newly endowed member, and, of course, all of our many wedding festivities. Further, we use these occasions to mark spiritual progress (though, to some extent, this practice may be a bit wrongheaded, but that is a discussion for another time).
Beyond all this, however, it seems to me that Mormon theology clearly implies, if it does not teach outright, that ordinances have intrinsic–even salvationally necessary–value. Jesus taught this: “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit. he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Traditional Christianity, of course, has found this to be a hard doctrine because it implies God is either unjust or inconsistent: either he condemns those who never had the chance to be baptized or He gives them a free pass–either option seems rather empty.
Mormonism, of course, offers a beautiful solution to the debate: vicarious ordinances. When all is said and done, every person will have the opportunity to accept or reject every ordinance. In a sense, all our geneological work and all our Temples are a testament to the importance of ordinances. The questions then, again, is: why? What unique benefits do ordinances offer? If ordinances are rituals God has ordained, why did He do so? Why can’t personal study, devotion, and discipleship be enough? Indeed, in a sense we could extend this argument and ask why the Priesthood is necessary to administer ordinances? What is so important about them that God would only allow his authorized servants–excluding, as that limitation does, many faithful and wonderful people–to perform the ordinances necessary rites? There must be some power inherent in ordinances which we do not, I believe, always grasp–any ideas?
Nice post, and interesting question. Of course I do not know the answer, but I might take a stab in the dark.
I think there is something necessary in making a covenant. I clear declaration on our part to commit to certain things. When we accept an ordiance there is no question that we have made certain commitments. A vague commitment made just in the mind is not exacty ‘evidence’ for a final judgement perhaps. God will not force us to make these commitments, but make them we must. Receiving these outward ordinances is a symbol before God and men that we have entered into a covenant. We may then be eternal judged by Christ without ambiguous question about what we have commited to.
Comment # 1 left by Eric Nielson on November 21st, 2006
Piggybacking off of what Eric says, God also makes covenants with us. He is bound when we do what He says. It’s one thing to really try hard to be a good disciple and hope some good comes out of that. It’s another thing to make a covenant, which is likely more motivating and binding on my heart than simply a desire, and surely it is more motivating when I KNOW what I can receive if I hold to my part of the deal.
Comment # 2 left by Michelle on November 21st, 2006
Why was Abraham asked to lay Isaac on the altar? There is something pivotal in coming to the moment and seeing it through. We know that we have screwed our courage to the sticking place and *done* it. We didn’t think about doing it, feel like we should, decide that someday we would, we *did* it, and that is a surety of knowledge that can stay with us on throughout all the trials of our life. Giving us something to do, something specific, gives a chance to lay ourselves to the moment and see if we see it through.
There’s also the parablistic teaching inherent in them. I’ll not discuss it here, but they are, all of them full of teaching that can’t be had in any other way. theres’ somethign in the experience.
As for the deeper questions of why even have them, or why require the priesthood, I have no answer of even statable mild certainty. I can only speak to what I get out of them as they are.
There are some things that only a celestial perspective will reveal, and many of Heavenly Father’s ‘why’s fall well within that category for me.
Comment # 3 left by Naiah Earhart on November 21st, 2006
Naiah–
I agree many whys are beyond mortals–or at least fary beyond me.
I also agree with Eric that ordinances may bind us come judgment day and with Michelle that covenants are “motivating and binding.”
Still, I think a covenant made in the heart–known only to me and God–would be binding also and I believe many spiritual forces can be motivating.
I think, in the end, I come down somewhere near Naiah’s statement that “there’s something in the experience.” We as a people are coming to more fully acknolwedge and embrace Christ’s grace–I believe all ordinances are opportunities for Christ to endow us with some aspect of His grace. That is, there is something inherent in the tactile and spiritual experience of an ordinance that grants to us power in a sense that would be otherwise impossible.
Let me make an analogy: plants require sunlight to grow. Photosynthesis–the process by which sunlight becomes energy–in invisible and esoteric to most of us, yet it forms the basis of life. Though I once learned something about the mechanics of photosynthesis, I can no longer recall most of them. What I do know, however, is that contact–physical, though invisible–between sunlight and plant leaf is necessary for the creation of nutritious energy. Talking about making energy, hoping to make energy, praying about energy–none of these would suffice: the actual physical experience in the only way it will work.
Comment # 4 left by tyler on November 21st, 2006
the actual physical experience in the only way it will work.
But why? I would say it’s all to help us “always remember Him” — to help us “look” more in our lives and minds and hearts. There is also a LOT of symbolic teaching that goes on in the physical acts and also the words associated with all of the ordinances. (I just had a new insight about the sacrament prayers just this past Sunday. You would think that something that simple would be exhausted of its symbolic teaching after nearly three decades in my life….)
Comment # 5 left by Michelle on November 21st, 2006
I think it is interesting that Christ was able to forgive those whom he deemed had faith sufficient. They did not need at that time to be baptized or partake of an ordinance like the sacrament in order for it to take place. I believe ordinances are more of an outward thing but in the same sense, they have power symbolically just like the temple as symbolic power.
In the temple we mimick recieving ordinances in the actual endowmwnt ceremony that are not actual ordinances but are actually just tokens (something to remember by). These tokens are varrying degrees of priesthood powers that at some point we must attain on our journey back to heavenly fathers presence. We do not actually gain all of these symbols as priesthood powers, it is more of a teaching tool.
The same can be said for ordinances- they are just a sign or token between us and God that makes them memorable. Baptism is not a must requirement for someone to be cleansed from their sin as we have seen in Christ’s teachings with the whore who plead for forgiveness before Christ and was forgiven without any necessary ordinance. Given the chance though, she too will enter into the ordinance and covenant of baptism because it is required to enter heaven.
I hope all that made sense. eh eh!
Comment # 6 left by Rob Osborn on November 21st, 2006