Temple Themes

The Lord commanded Jacob to return to Beth-el (house of God). In preparation to approach the house of God (or temple), he tells his household, “Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there […]

As Jacob travels to meet his brother Esau, he encounters a host of angels. He has already seen messengers from God ascending and descending on a ladder (staircase). He finds out that Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. I often wondered why the scriptures, and especially the Book of Mormon, refer to

The model covenant pattern is revealed in Genesis 31. I will break this down into five major components, although some scholars have noted as many as seven parts.   Historical Background   Genesis 31:36-42 gives the reader a historical background describing the relationship and history between Jacob and his uncle and father-in-law, Laban. In verses

Genesis 28 is one of the most poignant temple texts in scripture. Jacob travels from Beersheba (meaning “well of the covenant” or “well of seven”) to Haran. The text reads:   “And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of

I often wonder what was going through the mind of Abraham and Sarah with the commandment to sacrifice Isaac. We get a clue in the text. “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis

Abraham received the promises of the New and Everlasting Covenant. The Lord said, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. . . . my covenant will I establish

In Genesis 18:1-2, it states that “the Lord appeared unto (Abraham) in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from

Abraham knows his covenant with the Lord will be fulfilled through his offspring, but he has no children. The Lord reassured him saying, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and

Abraham learns that his nephew, Lot, has been captured in battle and the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah were taken. He and his servants rescue Lot and bring back the goods of the city.  The king of Sodom urges Abraham to take the spoils of the battle, to which he replies,   “I have lift

It seems that after Abraham enters into a covenant with the Lord he is blessed both temporally and spiritually. Abraham and Sarah travel to Egypt due to a famine in the land. Abraham fears for his life, as he believes the Egyptians would kill him to take Sarah. He tells her, “Say, I pray thee,