I’ve got to say how super excited I am to share the concepts of this post! Yesterday, I mentioned how Jehovah subdued the waters of chaos during the Creation. This is a major temple theme and a significant part of the Creation. I have read quite a bit from scholars, and several LDS scholars, who have talked about this concept.
The Lord gathered the waters and dry land appeared (Genesis 1:9). According to Jewish tradition, when the waters of chaos receded the first spot of land that emerged was a large stone on top of a mountain. This mountain was the Temple Mount where Solomon built the first temple. The Holy of Holies was built on this rock and in ancient times it was referred to as The Foundation Stone.
Scriptures are full of numerous references to temple foundations and Jesus Christ as a foundation, cornerstone, or Stone of Israel. (Psalm 118:22, Ephesians 2:20, and Genesis 49:24 are examples). This “Foundation Stone,” which became the Temple Mount is considered by Bible scholars to be the naval of the earth. As we go through the Old Testament this year, we will see how important this sacred mountain (temple) is. It is Mount Moriah (and sometimes referred to as Mount Zion). It is the mount where Abraham was tested to see if he would sacrifice his son, Isaac, and later the place of the temple.
It also introduces the Hebrew concept of a sacred center. Hebrew thought is arranged in concentric, circular patterns, as opposed to Western thinking in linear patterns. As you study the scriptures and run into words or phrases like midst, bosom of eternity (D&C 88:13, round about (Psalm 89:8; 1 Nephi 8:13, 26), or eternal round (1 Nephi 10:19), please notice the Lord’s circular thought pattern. The circle represents eternity (or heaven), as it has no beginning or end, and at its center is the most sacred place. A square represents the earth, or mortality. In temple design and decoration, try to observe circles and squares overlaid on each other, after all, the definition of temple is that sacred space where heaven meets earth.
We have already encountered this concept of a sacred center in Abraham 3:21, 23:
“I dwell in the midst of them all; I now, therefore, have come down unto thee to declare unto thee the works which my hands have made, wherein my wisdom excelleth them all, for I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen.
“And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them.”
When the Savior visits the Nephites in the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 17, Jesus stood “in the midst.” He then commanded the little children to be brought, and they sat upon the ground “round about Him.” A few verses later, angels come down and encircle the little children. The adults “gave way” until all the children were brought, so they were the outer circle. There would be four concentric circles increasing in holiness until you arrive at the center where Jesus stood. There are four degrees of holiness—the adults, the angels, the little children, and Jesus. I love this because my wife and I teach the Sunbeams in Primary, and they are as cute and sweet as little angels.
Back to the Foundation Stone though. Israel would be the center of the world continents. Jerusalem would be the center of Israel. The Temple Mount would be the center of Jerusalem. The temple would be at the top and center of the mountain. And the Holy of Holies with the Ark of the Covenant was placed on the actual Foundation Stone created by God. The Ark of the Covenant at the sacred center represents the presence of God.
I will attach a YouTube video (or at least I hope this works) that explains all about the Foundation Stone.
After learning about the waters receding and the Foundation Stone, I was over the moon to notice two chapters in the Book of Mormon. Ether 13 speaks of a similar thing happening on the American continent. Verses 2 and 3 state,
“For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;
“And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord.”
The temple is the “holy sanctuary of the Lord.” This prophecy speaks of the Jerusalem in Israel, which will be rebuilt someday according to verse 5. It also speaks of a New Jerusalem in the Americas. The two Jerusalem’s will fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant according to this chapter.
In another Book of Mormon chapter, the prophet and priest Jacob speaks of a foundation, a stone, and a “head of the corner.”
“And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
“But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can build.
“And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of their corner?” (Jacob 4:15-17).
Could Jacob be referring to the same Foundation Stone? Clearly, this is a lesson about temples and sacred space and time. For if we don’t see Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, in the temple, or at other sacred times, we have missed the mark. (See Jacob 4:14).