The presence of God is personified as the Lord appears to Moses at the burning bush. To stand in the Lord’s presence and not be consumed is to experience the glory of God. Moses sees “the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2). Jesus gave the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man called out to Abraham saying, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). Lazarus is likely amidst the same flames but not tortured or burned. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into a fiery furnace and were not burned (Daniel 3:25-27). Nephi and Lehi stood in the midst of a fire and were not burned (Helaman 5:23).
To resist being consumed by fire seems to be a test for glory and holiness. Isaiah asks, “Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” This may sound like hell, but Isaiah’s answer makes it clear that this is celestial glory: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil” (Isaiah 33:14-15). Joseph Smith saw in vision the celestial kingdom and its gate like unto “circling flames of fire” and the “blazing throne of God” (D&C 137:2-3).
Things of lesser glory and worthiness can be consumed by fire. Isaiah has his sins purged after a divine seraph messenger takes a hot coal from the brazen altar and places it on his lips (Isaiah 6:6-7). Nephi, speaking of the Lord, said, “He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh” (2 Nephi 4:21). Love can conquer the flesh.
This sacred space is identified as Moses is commanded to “put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). As we enter sacred space, like the temple, we put off our shoes and change our clothing, symbolic of putting off the outside profane world and stepping into holiness.