Reaching Out: With a smile, the shepherd boy walked away probably unaware that he was performing a pattern we were about to read. He walked a few paces and then picked up a stone. Knowingly, he looked back to see a few sheep just over the crest of the hill who remained instead of following. Skillfully, he threw the stone in their direction, catching their attention. They looked up and immediately began to run to catch up with the rest of the flock. There went the shepherd, his lead sheep and the flock. We began to read the account of Jesus (the Shep­herd) leaving the multitudes (the flock), going to the mount, and teaching just the disciples (the lead sheep) lessons that they would then teach the multitudes. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," (Matthew 5:1-2)

Signals of Readiness: In ancient times, when the Temple was functioning, the High Priest would signal his readiness for another sacrifice by burning the fire and throwing incense in it. (This would offset the odor of parts of the animal that needed to be consumed by the fire.) The plume of smoke would signal the twelve lead priests to ready themselves. When they were ready, they rang bells that alerted the multitude to gather close to participate in the sacrifice. The imagery is obvious, the shepherd, the lead sheep and the flock.

Ezekiel’s “Double” Vision: Another image that this particular lesson emphasizes is in Ezekiel 37. Latter-day Saints usually start at verse fifteen that begins reference to the "two sticks." However, an even greater meaning comes by combining the account of "dry bones" (verses 1-14) with the "sticks." Three elements are identified in Ezekiel’s first vision in this chapter, bones, flesh/skin and the breath. The bones are brought back together, they are covered with flesh and skin and then the breath of life brings them alive. The imagery is likened to the gathering of Israel, recognizing "I AM" who opens graves and then it leads into the "two sticks" vision. The second vision is a double emphasis of the first.

Like the Body, True Religion is Resurrected: The Hebrew word for breath, wind and spirit are the same (Ruach). The Hebrew word for sticks or wood is "ETZ." The word for bones, "ETZEMOT" could be considered the plural of "ETZ," or in other words, the sticks of the body. It is likely that Ezekiel wants you to consider the ancient body of true religion as having died, leaving a skeleton - the "sticks" of the body. Judaism with its "Old Testament," is what is left, the stick of Judah the skeleton of true religion. The old covenant was true and yet it died. In latter-days the skeleton is cloth­ed with a new body, the Book of Mormon, and breath (the Spirit of the Lord) is given so that the true religion is resurrected. The body is alive again, never to die. The covenant is restored anew, never to die again, "The New and Everlasting Covenant!"