(And I wanted to mention that there have been times that I’ve not felt worthy to go to the temple. There’s a list of questions (like, are you morally clean, do you pay your tithing, etc) before you can go in the temple, and the last question is “do you feel worthy?” It’s a hard question to answer, sometimes.)

I also think it’s very cool that you’re corresponding with Jennifer at Conversion Diary. I read her regularly and her posts truly challenge me to take a look at my own Catholicism and examine where I stand on “big” issues.

The birth control issue has always been a big sticking point for me; I do understand (quite well, in fact) the Catechism behind it. And I do also understand how NFP works – used it to get pregnant with my first. It’s just a big, big thing to fully commit oneself to. And NFP works well when and only when you can be completely detail-oriented/obsessed about it; it’s not always easy to take a basal temperature lying still in bed at the same time every day when you’ve got three kids running amok through the kitchen!

Ok, TMI.

Love the family photo from the baptism, too. Bee-YOU-ti-ful!!

Open houses are held at all of our temples in an effort to do missionary work (to get people interested), but also to show the community that we’re good neighbors. We don’t do any weird things in them (well, “weird” is subjective I guess). My point is we like to differentiate between “secret” and “sacred.” Anyone can go inside a temple before it’s dedicated and see that it’s not so different from other houses of worship. What makes it different is that it’s considered a literal house of God once it’s been dedicated to Him.

Anna — Formal/heirloom gifts aren’t common for a baby blessing in the Mormon church. (Of course gifts are always nice, but they’re not expected). The blessing itself is a short prayer at the beginning of a regular church service on Sunday. Extended family will make an effort to attend, but usually only a few very close friends (our families are often big, so usually there are plenty of aunts and uncles and cousins). The regular congregation is there too. Sometimes families bless their babies at home, but these are usually just for the extended family too.

I’m sure your acquaintance would be happy for you to attend the blessing and that day’s service if you’re interested. But it’s not really a “ceremony,” per se, if that makes any sense.

Yes, you’re right, within the Catholic church currently priests are only men, not women. The only ordained clergy role currently for women is as nuns (and even then I don’t think they’re actually “ordained” as nuns). I’ve not been invovled in the Catholic church for a number of years, but remember my high school principal, a nun, commenting that the Catholic church would need to let priests be married before they would be likely to allow women to be priests.

Thanks again for the explanation.

Oh, another thing – can anyone attend the baptism, or can only Mormons attend? A new temple opened (was consecrated? dedicated?)here a few years ago, and before the consecration, anyone was allowed to go inside and check it out. But after the dedication, only Mormons can go in, right?

A large part of Matilda’s baptism for me (she was 4 months old, so more like Sally’s naming) was being surrounded by family and friends and having the baptism within the Sunday morning church service. Some of my favourite lines are where the whole church congregation promises to help the child (or on occasion adult) in their faith journey. At some point, when she’s Sally age or a bit older, she will confirm the vows we made for her at her baptism, and take on her faith journey for herself. I suddenly realise I’m being somewhat presumptuous that she’ll continue on the faith journey we anticipate for her, but that’s my right as a Mama.

you may already know this, but in case you dont, when the prophet receives as stipend as well some other officials in our church, the stipend never comes from tithing funds or fast offering funds. all stipends come from business ventures that the church owns; ie Bonneville communications, etc.

i was very pleasantly surprised to hear this. it only makes sense.