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(1.) CONSECRATING – ROLE OF BROTHER, BRIDE AND GROOM:
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Jacob is consecrated by his brother. Jesus, our Eldest Brother, consecrates us to the Father and becomes our King and Protector. "Samson and Samuel --- were consecrated . . . by their parents from the moment of their conception, with the intention that they remain Nazirites (priests) all their lives." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

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(2.) SCATTERING, GATHERING OF ISRAEL – MODELS OF REPENTANCE, FORGIVENESS:
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The contrast of Israel and Gentiles is another model of repentance. Nowadays, to the Jews, a new concept of "Righteous Gentiles" is emerging. Gentiles are assisting Jew to "return to Israel." It is like being "saved" by Gentiles. "Repentance in Hebrew is known as teshuvah, which literally means "return," and signifies a return to God." "Repentance will bring forgiveness and the Lord will turn His terrible wrath on the exilers of His people and the plunderers of His Temple:" (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

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(3.) LORD’S NAMES REPRESENT HIS MISSION:
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Some of the names of the Lord and words that represent the Savior’s mission and atonement include: Deliver, 2 Nephi 6:17, 7:2; Redeem, 2 Nephi 7:2; Comfort, comforteth, 2 Nephi 8:3, 12; Light, 2 Nephi 8:4; Judgement, judge, 2 Nephi 8:4-5; Salvation, 2 Nephi 8:5-6.

(4.) RESURRECTION – SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN PRINCIPLE IN JUDAISM: ". . . traditional believers claim that there are ‘hints’ to future life in the Torah, such as . . . ‘Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song’ (Exodus 15:1). The Hebrew word for ‘sang’ is in the future tense and the sages took this to mean that Moses and the Israelites will sing in the future, that is, in the world to come." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) However, Ezekiel teaches that dying and resurrecting is parallel to the scattering and gathering of Israel as well as the separating and reuniting of Joseph and Judah and their records (sticks).

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(5). JEWISH HISTORY – A TYPE OF THE RESURRECTION:
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Ezekiel spoke of breath, wind or spirit (all the same word – RUAH) bringing life into a dead skeleton. The sticks (ETZ-emot) of the body (dry bones) are clothed again with flesh and come alive. So shall the stick (ETZ) of Judah (Old Testament), the dead skeleton of a once true and living religion, come together with the stick of Joseph (The Book of Mormon), embodying the true religion. At that time, Ezekiel prophecies, the scattered Israelites will begin to gather. "Ruah ha-Kodesh (holy spirit) is often used as a synonym for prophecy." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) With the "breath" of the Lord, his spirit, a resurrection - a new life begins again. As Israel gathers again, their new life will include a new sanctuary (temple) of the Lord. (Ezekiel 37)

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(6.) The Temple Sanctuary Contained the "Presence of God:
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" The term "Presence of God" is used in Judaism, yet the personal reality of God, His presence, and an afterlife have also been forgotten or at least obscured. "The exact nature of this afterlife is the subject of great discussion in classical Jewish sources. All agree that after death the soul continues to live. The souls of the righteous enter paradise, or Gan Eden (Garden of Eden) as it is generally called. In that state ‘there is no eating or drinking . . . the souls of the wicked enter hell, or Gehinnom, as it is known, where they undergo purification before they too can enter paradise. (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

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(7.) KNOCK BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD:
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At the Western (Wailing) Wall, I observed a grandfather keeping his Bar Mitzvah grandson from retrieving the Torah Scroll out of the "Ark" until he had first knocked. The boy questioned the "knocking" procedure. The only explanation that his grandfather would give was that inside the Ark, behind the curtain, represented the "Presence of God." The scrolls were "His Word," and it was only polite to knock before entering. Inside the Ark were several Torah scrolls draped with beautiful cloths or enclosed in beautiful containers. Retrieving them is often accompanied by a gentle kiss and a prayer utterance.