The Lord covenants to make Israel a “peculiar treasure.” Moses ascended Mount Sinai and received a revelation from God. He promised:
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
“And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
The Hebrew word for “peculiar treasure” is cegullah, meaning “valued property or treasure.” We are sometimes called a “peculiar people,” but being the Lord’s special treasure is much better than being called a weirdo. In Malachi, the Lord said, “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (Malachi 3:17). Cegullah is the word for jewels in this verse. We can only become His jewels if we allow Him to own us. He redeemed us with His atoning blood.
This is the primary focus of the Priesthood. The Priesthood is about making us a kingdom of priests and priestesses. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are taught,
“And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
“Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
“And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
“For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.” (D&C 84:19-22).
The purpose of the temple is to walk back to the presence of the Father. The Lord appeared in a “thick cloud” since the people were not prepared to endure His direct presence. The ordinances of the temple provide the power to stand in God’s presence.
In Exodus 24, Moses is commanded to take Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel to ascend the mount. The camp of Israel was to remain at the foot of the mountain. This is a good example of what Bible scholars call “liminal space.” It is the space, or threshold, between varying degrees of holiness. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith:
“All kingdoms have a law given;
“And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
“And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.” (D&C 88:36-38)
Telestial glory is represented by the camp of Israel at the foot of the mount. Terrestrial glory is represented by Aaron, Joshua, and the seventy elders who ascend partway up the mountain. Celestial glory is represented by Moses, who ascends to the top of the mount and into the presence of God.
Similarly, the ancient tabernacle was arranged with the outer courtyard representing telestial glory, the Holy Place with the table of shewbread, candlestick, and altar of incense representing the terrestrial, and the Holy of Holies with the mercy seat (throne of God) representing the celestial. See the diagram below.
I love the layout of the Provo City Center Temple. The instruction rooms represent the telestial world. We ascend the “hill of the Lord” (Psalm 24:3) and go up the staircase into the terrestrial world. The veil of the temple is the liminal space between the terrestrial and the celestial.
When I was young, they taught us that the priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name. This might apply to priesthood holders, but it falls incomplete as a definition of priesthood. If it’s about authority, then authority to do what? I feel like the general officers of the Church have focused the concept of priesthood more closely on the definition established in Exodus 19. The end goal is to make us a kingdom of priests and priestesses.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 76, known as “the Vision,” speaks of the resurrection of the just. The Prophet Joseph Smith described those who will enter into this kingdom of priests and priestesses:
“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
“That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
“And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
“They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
“They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
“They are they who are priests and kings (and priestesses and queens), who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
“And are priests (and priestesses) of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
“Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
“Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
“And they shall overcome all things.” (D&C 76:51-60)
Notice how this framework of priesthood aligns with the idea of you and I becoming part of the “general assembly” and “church of the Firstborn” (D&C 76:67).
I have attached a video of “Saints and Smoothies” done by Scripture Central. Church historian and temple scholar, Jonathan Stapley, explains (much better than I can) the role of women and the Priesthood and how temple worship is a fulness of the Priesthood. I think this is an excellent video.
