And His Name Shall Be Called . . .

 

Jacob and Nephi spent a lot of time discussing Isaiah, seeking to improve the understanding of the Nephites who did not understand the manner of prophesying among the Jews. An understanding of the way ancient Hebrew prophets spoke and wrote was sorely needed by the Nephites and, even more so, by us today. To understand it we must recall the historical setting of the prophecy and we must become conversant with Hebrew poetry.  Isaiah, along with being a prophet, was also an accomplished poet.

Jesus taught using parables - metaphors and similes - so that His listeners understood the sacred by equating it to the known.  Ancient prophets achieved the same end by using symbolic language., the manner of prophesying among the Jews.

I found this information on the web* and I quote:

This type of literature makes up 1/3 of the Old Testament.  It is especially common in the "Prophets" (all but Haggai and Malachi contain poetry) and "Writings" sections of the Hebrew canon. ... It is basically thought based in balanced parallel lines.

Here are some examples from that same article describing forms of parallelisms as used by the Jews:

• synonymous – the lines express the same thought in different words:
• antithetical – the lines express opposite thoughts by means of contrast or stating the positive and the negative:
• synthetic – the next two or three lines develop the thought.
• chiasmic – a pattern of poetry expressing the message in a descending and ascending order.  The main point is found in the middle of the pattern.
• emblematic – one clause literal and the second metaphorical, 
•  climactic or stair-like – the clauses reveal truth in an ascending fashion,
•  introverted – a series of clauses, usually at least four are related by the internal structure of line 1 to 4 and 2 to 3.

One can find examples of each of these forms in the writings of Isaiah. One of Isaiah's main focuses was on the coming of the promised Messiah: Jesus Christ.  Here is one example from Isaiah 7: 

Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (2 Nephi 17:14))

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of government and peace there is no end…

(2 Nephi 19: 6-7)

 

Kingdom of Heaven

I can almost hear strains of Handel’s Messiah as I read these words! However, too many in Jesus’ day misunderstood that second verse: the increase of government… They were looking for a Messiah who would establish a temporal kingdom and sit on David’s throne. That was a gross misinterpretation of Isaiah’s words. I wonder if the Nephites were more likely to understand that the government spoken of was His government and kingdom – the Kingdom of Heaven?  Jesus Himself said, My kingdom is not of this world. (John 18: 36) This response was in answer to the question of Pontius Pilate: Art thou the king of the Jews?[2]

 

How did the Jew’s mistake who He was? Of all the people in the world, those temple lawyers should have recognized him, but they were not interested in truth: they wanted to rationalize away all the testimony of the Old Testament in order that they might continue their hypocritical – and profitable – practices. Sinful people do not like to be told that they are sinful.

Jacob later taught that the Jew’s of Jesus’ day looked beyond the mark. (Jacob 4: 14)

Do we ever find ourselves looking beyond the mark – failing to see what is right before our eyes? Do we ever find ourselves looking for answers in social media memes, political pundits, or outspoken celebrities instead of looking to the Lord through scriptures, prophecy, and the Spirit? If we look for answers in all the wrong places, we should not be surprised that we do not find them.

Isaiah saw and wrote about our day as well.

Introduction to Hebrew Poetry | Bible.org

Should We Celebrate Pride? Not According to Nephi and Isaiah

 

Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the cedars of Lebanon, for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan... upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people; And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall; And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. (2 Nephi 12: 13-16)

 

Pride Goes Before the Fall

Before we talk about the fate of the proud at the coming of the Lord, I want to note something that I find interesting.  The writings of Isaiah from which Nephi and Jacob quote were found on the brass plates. These plates pre-date any translation we have had since then.  The Septuagint, translated from the Greek, has the phrase all the ships of the sea. The Hebrew translation as found in the King James Version of the Bible has the phrase all the ships of Tarshish. The Book of Mormon has both these phrases, which leads me to believe that Isaiah included both in his original writing. It was common among the Hebrews to cite parallel phrases in this way, stating the first phrase followed by a second phrase meaning, essentially, the same as the first. Some Biblical scholars believe that the phrase all the pleasant pictures refers to the ancient Egyptian barges that floated down the Nile. If so, that would be yet another example of parallelism. I think this triple reference underscores the fact that, when the Lord comes, no one can run away from him as Jonah tried to do. God will not only visit the trees and mountains of the land; He will visit all of the sailing vessels on the waters as well.

 

Pride is a serious offense before the Lord.  When we aggrandize ourselves, we are not open to either learning from our mistakes or repenting of those mistakes.  The Savior stated it succinctly when He said, whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23: 12) A powerful lesson for us all.

The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves! (2 Nephi 13: 9)[1]

 

Sin Even as Sodom

The sad tale of Sodom’s fate is told in Genesis, chapter nineteen. In that day, Sodom and her neighboring city, Gomorrah, were two of the most wicked cities in the known world. Because wickedness spreads like cancer, the Lord told the Patriarch Abraham that He would destroy these evil cities. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, had chosen to live in Sodom.  One night, two messengers[2] from God came to Lot’s home. Lot invited them in and fed them.  He recognized them for who they were.  Later that night, a group of men came to Lot’s door demanding that he send out these two beautiful men that they might know them.[3] Lot shut and locked his door. It was then that the messengers told Lot to take his family and flee Sodom. Lot tried to warn his sons-in-law, but they mocked him.  In the end, it was just Lot, his wife, and their two daughters still living at home that left Sodom. That very day, those cities were destroyed in a hail of fire and brimstone.

The people of Isaiah’s days would have grown up hearing about the sins of Sodom. The fact that the prophet compared Jerusalem to Sodom spoke volumes about the sins of which they were guilty. In addition to a variety of sexual sins, the people of Israel beat God’s people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor.[4] Is it any wonder that both Israel and Judah were destroyed?

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[1] See Isaiah 3

[2] The Old Testament calls them angels, but the Hebrew root word means, more accurately, messengers.

[3] In a sexual sense

[4] For a more in-depth description, see Micah 3: 2-3

The Mountain of the Lords House

 

When Utah applied for Statehood, they chose the name Deseret. Those who made such decisions in D.C. chose, instead, the name Utah after the Ute tribe.  It was years later when someone learned the one of the meanings of the word Utah is The Top of the Mountain.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.[1] (2 Nephi 12: 2-3)

 

The Mountain of the Lord’s House

Throughout the history of the world, men of faith have often gone to the mountains in order to receive revelation and direction from God. When Moses prepared the Tabernacle, it functioned as a place wherein Israel could have that mountaintop experience.  The Temple in Jerusalem served the same purpose. But that was only the beginning.  Isaiah and Nephi both testified that in the last days, prior to Christ’s Second Coming, the mountain of the Lord’s house would be established in the top of the mountain.

 

We have seen that prophecy fulfilled in our day as temples dot the earth. As of 2022, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 168 operating temples, with another 68 announce, 41 under construction, and five undergoing renovations.[2] People all over the world truly can say, Come, let us go to the House of the God of Jacob and He will teach us His ways.  In ancient Israel, only the high priest could complete the full temple ordinance and then, only on the Day of Atonement.  He symbolically represented Israel.  However, today, any worthy member of the Church can go to the temple and receive instruction from God. In the temples, we can gather Israel from both sides of the veil.

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[1] Also see Isaiah 2: 2-3

[2] Conference Report, October 2022

In ancient Israel, the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was created by Moses to God's specifications.  It symbolically represented man's journey from the Fall in Eden or the world; to a holy place representing the covenant of God with man; finally, to the holiest place or Holy of Holies which represented a return to God's presence.  The temple in Jerusalem followed the same pattern.  What is interesting is that not all of the Children of Israel could walk that journey. Only the High Priest could walk the full distance and pass through the veil into the Holy of Holies and even he could only do so once a year on Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.

In our temples today, we make a similar journey from Creation to Fall, to the lone and dreary world; into a holier, lighter place within God's covenant and ultimately to the Celestial Room, returning to God's presence through the veil.  The difference is that any worthy member of God's Church and Kingdom can make the journey for himself or herself, learning from God and entering into His sacred covenants.

All of the temples dotting the world have become the Mountain of the Lord's House, a place of learning, a place of prayer, a place of promises, a place of hope, a place of peace.

 There is an old joke that once went the rounds of the Latter-day Saint community many years ago.  It is the story of a missionary who was out tracting when he was shot in the chest.  Fortunately, the missionary did not die.  His life was saved by the Book of Mormon in his upper left-hand shirt pocket, which stopped the bullet.  When asked about the experience later, the missionary said, “I’ve always known it.  No one can get through 2 Nephi!”

Welcome to the last week of February and the first week of March for Come, Follow Me.  More than half of the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon are found here.  Some members either skip the Isaiah chapters or try to breeze through them.  Trust me: Isaiah is not a snack.  You will need to feast upon the words of Isaiah to gain any understanding of the prophet's message.

Nephi gives his people some hints regarding Isaiah:

1. He invites them to liken these scriptures unto themselves
2. Look for symbols representing Jesus Christ. Ask: what is this symbol teaching me about the Savior?
3. Seek the Spirit of Prophecy

For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men …  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved (2 Nephi 10: 17, 24)

 

Reconcile Yourselves to the Will of God

Jacob concluded his sermon with this reminder: his people were among the Children of Israel.  They were thus entitled to the blessings of the covenant God made with Israel. After talking about the ways their ancestors went astray through sin and followed the enticements of the devil and of the flesh, he reminds them that they must lay that aside and follow the will of the Lord. His use of the word reconcile is informative, for it means to restore friendly relationships between two or more parties who have become estranged. That explains the situation in which all of God’s children can find themselves if they follow the call of the flesh and not the call of the Lord. 

 

President Jefferey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put it succinctly; he said: You cannot live in Zion and have a summer cottage in Babylon![1] Some others think that Latter-day Saints do not believe in the concept of grace. As you can see by these verses, we certainly do.  It is only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can enter into the gate. However, unlike some who think grace will allow for a profusion of sinning,[2] we who are members of Christ’s Church know that grace is sacred, not a get-out-of-jail free card. We must align our wills to the will of God and follow the walk of a disciple of Christ along the covenant path.  If we find ourselves, like Lot’s wife, looking longingly of at the values of the world, we need to repent and recommit to the Lord.

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[1] Jefferey R. Holland, The Best is Yet to Be, Ensign, Jan 2010

[2] See Romans 3: 4 on this topic

And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delights in his words … for he truly saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him... Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word…

Behold, my soul delights in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ…for this purpose, the Law of Moses [was] given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him. (2 Nephi 12: 2-4)

 

Types and Shadows

Whenever I teach a class on the Old Testament, my main objective is to show Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Whether He is referred to as Messiah, Anointed One,[1] Lamb of God, or by any other such name, He can be found throughout ancient Israel. The very Law of Moses itself points directly to Christ as coming to sacrifice Himself to redeem the world from sin and death. From the study helps in the scriptures, we read that the scriptures are rich in symbolism and figurative expression. Ceremonies and ordinances are symbolic in their performance, and all bear record of Jesus Christ…sacrifice… sacrament…baptism… and the tabernacle ceremony…  The entire law of Moses contains types and shadows of Christ.[2]

 

In this chapter, Nephi testified that he has seen his Redeemer in vision.  He further testified that his brother Jacob and the prophet Isaiah have so seen Him. As you study the scriptures, look for testimonies of Jesus Christ, symbols, and ordinances that all point to Christ.  You will find them in abundance. All true prophets testify of Christ.  The Lord has stated that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everything be established.[3] I haven’t personally seen Jesus, but I have faith that Isaiah, Nephi, Jacob, and other prophets have.

In the mouths of 2 or 3 witnesses shall all true things be established.  I have not seen Jesus, but Isaiah did and Nephi did and Jacob did.

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[1] Both Messiah [Hebrew] and Christ [Greek] mean the Anointed One.

[2] Symbolism (churchofjesuschrist.org)

[3] See Deuteronomy 17: 6

 

Jacob teaches about the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus.  How grateful he was and how grateful I am.

[Because] death has passed upon all men, [in order] to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must … be a power of resurrection and the resurrection must … come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, [the atonement needs to] be an infinite atonement …[Otherwise], the first judgment which came upon man [would] have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.[1] (2 Nephi 9: 6-7)

 

The Infinite Nature of Jesus’ Atonement

The word infinite means limitless, endless, and unmeasurable. Some people believe that the atonement of Jesus Christ is only applicable to those living after the Savior’s birth and death.  Jacob taught that it is not.  Like God Himself, Christ’s Atonement is without beginning of days and ends of years. (Alma 13: 9) Jacob knew that in order to teach the Atonement, he had to first teach the Fall, which he had. In these verses, he taught that the fall came about through transgression.  Two things happened as a result: first, men became mortal and subject to death by reason of Adam’s transgression; second, mankind were separated from God by reason of our own sin (not Adam’s[2]). The infinite nature of Jesus’ atonement covers both physical death and spiritual death – that separation from God by reason of sin. Were it not for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our mortal bodies would crumble to dust forever, and never rise again. Our spirits would be separated, not only from God, but from our own bodies. Jacob wanted his people to understand the importance of resurrection as part of the atonement.

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[1] Grammar modified for easier reading

[2] See the Second Article of Faith

[Jesus] will come into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffered the pains of all … men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam …. And he commands all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.    (2 Nephi 9: 21, 23)

 

Keys of Both Death and Hell

Jacob concluded his lesson by differentiating the two parts of the atonement: death and hell.  We are told elsewhere in the scripture that Jesus Christ holds the priesthood keys of both.[1] Salvation from death is universal and unconditional.  However, salvation from sin is a matter of repentance and baptism, having perfect faith and enduring to the end. When we stand before the judgment bar of God, we will have a perfect recollection of our guilt and uncleanliness if we have not repented. If we have, we will be clothed with purity and the robe of righteousness. (2 Nephi 9: 14) It is contrary to the nature of God that man be raised out of corruption into a state of incorruption.  As Jacob wrote: they who are righteous shall be righteous still, [but] they who are filthy shall be filthy still (2 Nephi 9: 16)

Jacob extols the virtue of a God who is both perfect in justice and perfect in mercy. These two virtues are compatible, contrary as that might sound. Oh, then, my beloved brothers [and sisters] come unto the Lord, the Holy One…. He is the keeper of the gate. [2](2 Nephi 9:41)

I want to do so.   Do you?

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[1] See Revelation 1: 18; Also hymn 66, Rejoice the Lord is King; hymn 182, We’ll Sing All Hail to Jesus’ Name

[2] Jesus is the only way by which we enter God’s presence; He is called the gate, referencing the gate of the ancient tabernacle, the only way to enter the house of God and ultimately regain His presence.

[Jesus]should come among the Jews … those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooves[1] our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God. For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God. But because of priestcraft[2] and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him... (2 Nephi 10: 3-5)

 

It Behooves God

As you have likely noted, Jacob is a plain speaker.  He will tell the truth, even when it is not politically correct to do so. His teaching is not against Jews at all times and in all places, but a specific group of people in that time and place. The Old Testament testifies to the propensity of the Children of Israel in general (not just the Jews) to turn their backs on God.  They persecuted, tortured, and killed the prophets sent to warn them.

 

In Matthew 21, Jesus told a parable of a wicked husbandman.  This man had been given stewardship over the vineyards of the Lord, but when the Lord of the vineyard sent his servants to take an account of the production of the vineyard, the husbandman and his cronies killed them.  Finally, the Lord of the vineyard sent His own Son, thinking He would be acknowledged and respected, but the wicked husbandman killed Him as well. The Children of Israel had become like the wicked husbandman.  God had entrusted them with His priesthood so that they might be a nation of priests.[3] They had killed God’s prophets over hundreds of years, and when God’s Son came, they killed Him, too. They were hardened by sin and led by arrogant men who did not rightly hold the priesthood.

 

Do we ever set the Lord at naught when He calls us to account for our stewardship here on earth? If so, we need to humble ourselves and remember who we are and what we stand for.

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[1] Behooves God: it is the responsibility of God

[2] A state of illegitimacy; claiming priesthood power when there is none; the High Priest in Jesus day was not a legitimate heir to the Levitical priesthood. Jesus called them thieves, which is to say, usurpers. (See Matthew 21: 12-13)

[3] See Exodus 19

 

And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel—

That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God; (2 Nephi 9: 1, 2)

 

Covenants Are Restored

God’s people are a covenant making people and have been since the Garden of Eden.  God made a covenant with Abraham and renewed that covenant with Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph.  He made covenants through Moses with the Children of Israel during their exodus from Egypt.  Covenants are two-way promises, in this case, between God and His children.  He told us in the Doctrine and Covenants that I the Lord am bound when you do what I say, but if you do not do what I say, you have no promise. (Doctrine and Covenants 82: 10) Unfortunately, throughout the history of the world, while some have kept their part of the covenant, far too many have not.

In traditional Judaism, they have a saying that the covenant has always been there. [1] Any breaking of that covenant has not been on the Lord’s part, but on people, individual and in groups.  The ultimate result of a broken covenant is apostasy.

 

Following a great apostasy, God’s original Church has been restored in our day.  This is the day Isaiah and Jacob foresaw.  Part of this was the restoration of God’s covenant with man.  We enter into the covenant in the waters of baptism.  We renew the covenant each week as we partake of the Sacrament.  We make further covenants in the holy temple. We take Jesus’ name upon us, promising to always remember Him, and keep His commandments.  In return, we receive the Gift of the Spirit to help us stay on the covenant path.

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[1] BBC - Religions - Judaism: The First Covenant

(Israel) shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise. …they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth (2 Nephi 9: 2; 10: 8)

 

The Gathering

The Old Testament is full of references to the gathering of Israel in the last days.  In the covenant God made with Abraham, He promised him posterity, priesthood, and prosperity in a land of promise. Abraham also was promised that, through his lineage, all the world would be blessed. Through Abraham’s grandson, Jacob/Israel, the promise was fulfilled as the Children of Israel inherited the land promised to Abraham.  But as with all covenants, this was a two-way promise.  God kept His part of the promise, but the Children of Israel did not. As a result they lost the land of promise, first the northern ten tribes to Assyria and, later, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to the Babylonians. Through it all, the prophets testified that one day, Israel would be gathered. The covenant with Lehi’s family included many of the same features, new land of promise. 

 

We, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a special responsibility to facilitate this final gathering before Christ comes again. In the early days of the Restoration, the Saints were asked to gather to a specific place so that they could build a temple.  Today, the Saints are asked to gather with other Saints in their own lands.  As the number of temples increases around the world, these communities become lands of inheritance to their people. The gathering today is first and foremost a spiritual gathering: a gathering of honest and seeking souls to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They then are joined to Israel, either through birth or adoption, and entitled to all of the blessings of Abraham.  It is an exciting time to be living!

 Explanation, Sort of An . . . 

I began writing a daily Book of Mormon devotional book with space for the reader to write his or her thoughts as the Spirit dictates.  I found out about mid-Mosiah that the internet, bookstores, and Church website are awash with enrichment books, podcasts, and videos on the topic of the Book of Mormon study for 2024 - Come Follow Me.  That stopped me for awhile.  Then, in January, when I decided to resurrect my blog, I thought of copying some of these pages here.  I got sidetracked when my Bishop asked us to contemplate covenants and I did several posts on that topic.  Now I'd like to go back to my original idea of posting Book of Mormon quotes and insights.  I've skipped ahead to 2 Nephi to correlate with the current Come Follow Me lessons. I can go back later and add 1 Nephi if anyone shows an interest.

Here you go for Friday, February 23:

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. … and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (2 Nephi 7: 4-8)[1]

 

I Was Not Rebellious, Nor Turned Back Away

If we want more evidence of the indignities Jesus suffered at the hands of His enemies, we can find it in these verses. Jesus spoke with great wisdom and power. He was without sin.  He never turned His back on His Father.  After the mockery of a trial, He was turned over to Roman soldiers who smote Him with scourges, and He suffered it, like a Lamb to the slaughter.  The suggestion here is that at some point in time, men spit on Him and pulled out some of the hairs from His beard.  Again, He suffered it. When we think of Jesus’ sacrifice, we think of the cross.  As important as that is, His atonement – which began in Gethsemane – and His suffering was more acute than most men could stand without dying. His suffering and ultimate death upon the cross was the conclusion, not the entire story.  When Isaiah wrote: By His stripes we are healed,”[2] he was referring to the totality of Christ’s suffering on our behalf.

Jacob, in his reverence, must have been humbled by the extent of Jesus’ suffering.  I am humbled every time I even think about it. What is even more humbling is the knowledge that He did it for me, personally.  He atoned for the sins and sorrows of all mankind, but He also atoned for mine – as an individual. Such mercy, such love, and devotion, can I forget. No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat … until … I kneel at His feet.  O, it is wonderful.[3]

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[1] See Isaiah 50

[2] See Isaiah 53:5

[3] I Stand All Amazed, LDS hymn number 193

Saturday, 2/24

For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, … I am he; yea, I am he, that comforts you. Behold, who are you, that you should be afraid of man? … Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleads the cause of his people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; you shall no more drink it again. (2 Nephi 8: 3, 12, 22)[1]

 

I Have Taken the Bitter Cup from Your Hand

When Moses prepared the tabernacle in the wilderness, it was set up so as to have three steps – steps from the world to a holier place, and then to the holiest place, the place where God dwelled. As the high priest traveled through those stages, he was symbolically guiding Israel away from the world and back into Eden, where man could again live in the presence of God. The temple in Jerusalem followed that same model. I am guessing that something similar occurred in Nephite temples which were built according to the pattern of Solomon’s temple.[2]

When I read these verses, I was taken in memory to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.[3] This was the bitter cup that He took from our hands and He drank it, down to the very dregs.

In a similar way, we travel in our temples today back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. The key difference, to me, is that any worthy member of the Church may make that journey, whereas in ancient Israel, only the high priest could do so, even though he did it in behalf of all of Israel.  I am so grateful that today we can enter the temple and covenant directly with God. How blessed we are that He drank the bitter cup so that we will not have to do so.

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[1] See Isaiah 52

[2] See 2 Nephi 5

[3] See Matthew 25