|
“Establish . . . a House of God”
|
Lesson
18
Summary |
Scripture
Summary: |
Doctrine and Covenants 95; Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 1, 1833. HC 1: 350—352. This revelation is a continuation of divine
directions to build houses for worship and instruction, especially the House of the Lord. See Section 88: 119—136 and Section 94. 1—6, The saints are chastened for their failure to build the
House of the Lord; 7—10, The Lord desires to use his house to endow his people with power from on high; 11—17, The house is to be dedicated as a place of worship and for the school of the
apostles. |
Doctrine and Covenants 109; Prayer offered at the dedication of the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, March 27, 1836. HC 2: 420—426. According to the
Prophet’s written statement, this prayer was given to him by revelation. 1—5, Kirtland Temple built as a place for the Son of Man to visit; 6—21, It is to be a house of prayer, fasting, faith,
learning, glory, and order, and a house of God; 22—33, May the unrepentant who oppose the Lord’s people be confounded; 34—42, May the saints go forth in power to gather the righteous to Zion;
43—53, May the saints be delivered from the terrible things to be poured out upon the wicked in the last days; 54—58, May nations and peoples and churches be prepared for the gospel; 59—67, May
the Jews, the Lamanites, and all Israel be redeemed; 68—80, May the saints be crowned with glory and honor and gain eternal salvation.
Doctrine and Covenants 110; Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. HC 2: 435—436. The occasion was that of a Sabbath day
meeting. The Prophet prefaces his record of the manifestations with these words: “In the afternoon, I assisted the other Presidents in distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, receiving it
from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed
myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to both of us.” 1—10, The Lord Jehovah appears in glory and accepts the Kirtland
Temple as his house; 11—12, Moses and Elias each appear and commit their keys and dispensations; 13—16, Elijah returns and commits the keys of his dispensation as promised by Malachi. |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights:
|
Entire Encampment of Israel Was a "City Temple:" (Apparently it will be that way again when the Lord returns to Jerusalem): “In pre-Temple times, in the desert, the whole
encampment was considered to be in a state of sanctity, and hence anyone who was tameh (unclean) was forced to go outside the marked boundaries and was forbidden to return until he had completed the
purification ritual.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) |
Washing and Temples: The call to go to the temple includes the phrase, “He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.” (Psalm 24-1-3) Since the Jews feel they don’t have a temple, they have used
the meal table as a substitute “altar.” It is appropriate to wash hands before every prayer at the beginning and ending of each meal. That is why kosher hotels have a basin and naturally flowing
water at the entrances of each dining room.
Doorway to Lord’s Presence: Once, as I was leading my guests to the Western (Wailing) Wall, I observed a young Bar Mitzvah lad anxious to open the ark to retrieve the scroll so he could get
on with his presentation to the congregation. His grandfather stopped him and said, “Be polite; first you knock, then pull the curtain aside and then you take the scroll.”
Temple Curtains: The center of the Lord’s house (or city) was curtained because of its sacredness, a courtyard where we could converse with the Lord. As mentioned previously, the Children of
Israel lived in a “camp” that was divided into three sections; the people, the Levites and the Lord. We long for the time when we can return to “dwell in thy courts” (Psalm 65:4), and
be “shielded,” safe from the imbalance of the world around us. (Psalm 84).
First Israelite Temple in Israel in the Hands of Ephraim: “Situated in the mountains of central Erez [land of] Israel, Shiloh was in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim and housed the
‘temporary sanctuary’ or Tabernacle containing the Ark of the Law.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) The latest temples outside the land of Israel are now in the hands of Ephraim, the
Latter-day Saints. The destiny of Joseph and Judah is that they will eventually come together to build the temple in Jerusalem.
Nails in a Sure Place: In Jerusalem, there have been thousands of nails pounded into the old Western (Wailing) Wall, a remnant of the last known Jewish Temple. They remind us of a practice
the Jews had until about a hundred years ago. They would “nail their sins in a sure place” and then get on with life. A glorious thought! Going to the Temple for Latter-day Saints not only blesses
the ancestors whose work is being done, but those who are serving them. “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and
fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 22:21-25)
Major Events Centered Around Biblical Holidays: The dedication of the Kirtland temple culminated with the remarkable visits of Elijah and Moses at Passover which is the first full moon after
the first day of spring. Jews are still waiting for the prophets Moses and Elijah to return. At one of the early meetings of the “Bnai Shalom” group (Jewish/Mormon cultural group), the late Apostle
LeGrand Richards once remarked that he saw two beautifully decorated chairs fastened to the wall of a synagogue he was visiting. Knowingly, he asked the Rabbi, “What are those two chairs for?” The
reply came quickly that they were being kept for Elijah and Moses. Elder Richards, seizing the moment and using his wonderful sense of humor said, “Get them down, they’ve already been here!”
Sequel to Passover: The festival of Sukkoth, which happens at the first full moon after the first day of autum, commemorates among other things, the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. “Sukkoth
[Hebrew for ‘huts’ or ‘tabernacles’], [is] a seven-day festival . . . which falls in September or October. One of its main observances is living temporarily in huts, called Sukkoth, resembling those
in which the Children of Israel dwelt during their forty years in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Festivals and Feasting: The word “festival” comes from feasting on the sacrificial emblems that came from the temple. A festive meal is always a part of a Jewish wedding, in part a connection
to the temple. “With the destruction of the Second Temple sacrifices were no longer made. It was then said: ‘Now that there is no altar, a man's table . . . and prayer takes the place of the
sacrifices.’ “The Talmud describes in detail the various modes of conduct to be observed at meals. For example persons should engage in a discussion of Torah during the meal so that they will be ‘as
though they had eaten at the table of God.’” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Table and the Temple: “. . . The table is regarded as a substitute for the altar in the Temple . . . Before any meal, the hands must be washed pronouncing the appropriate blessing . . . after
which bread is eaten. The meal is concluded with the Grace after Meals. “. . . (a) benediction (after meals) . . . asks God to have mercy on Israel and to restore the Temple and the Kingdom of
David.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Latter-day Temple as Viewed by Essenes: Remember, the Dead Sea “Temple Scroll” described a temple to be built in “latter days.” The Essenes believed that they were in the latter days and
referred to themselves as “Saints.” The dimensions of the Temple they planned were similar to the dimensions described by Ezekiel. However, the outer dimension seems to include the entire walled
city of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, the Temple City: “That temples and temple ordinances are essential to the (true) faith is well established in the Bible. Malachi predicted the coming of the Lord suddenly to his
temple, in the day of vengeance, in the latter times, as a refiner and purifier. Ezekiel predicted the building of a temple in Jerusalem which will be used for ordinance work after the gathering of
Israel from their long dispersion and when they are cleansed from their transgressions. John the Revelator saw the day when, after the earth is sanctified and celestialized, the presence of the
Father and the Son in the New Jerusalem would take the place of the temple, for the whole city, due to their presence, would become a temple.” (Doctrines of Salvation Joseph Fielding Smith
Vol.2, Pg.244)
Jewish Custom Linking Death and Temples: Stones or rocks are still placed on Jewish graves as reminders of the stone-built temple and an innate desire to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Apparently, it was and will be made with stone – and the Rock of Salvation will come to that temple!
Home as Part of the Temple: Our homes can become the “temple” model of the Lord’s house. Entertainment brought in by various “vicarious” means may challenge us today as it did in the past! On
the other hand, our homes may just be the model to prepare us daily to live with Him, in His house and in His city. Also mentioned previously is the expectation that the entire city of Jerusalem
will become the “City of the Lord.” May our feet “stand within thy gates.” (Psalm 122, 134). |
|