Temple Themes

I’m still stuck in Leviticus. This post, however, deals with the most holy day of the year on the Jewish calendar—Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. The fall feasts were of the highest significance of the year, occurring in the seventh month of Tishri. I will deal with two other feasts, Feast of Trumpets (Rosh […]

The ritual for cleansing lepers was highly symbolic. The leper was brought to the priest. The entire book of Leviticus was the handbook for priests, similar to the bishop’s handbook today. Leviticus 14 reveals how the roles of modern-day bishops and ancient priests were similar. This chapter describes the entire ritual for cleansing lepers.  

There was a specific order for the consecration of priests, and particularly the high priest. I should emphasize that the high priest was of the Aaronic order of the priesthood and not the office of High Priest in the Church today.   The ordinance consisted of washing, anointing, and clothing. Leviticus 8:6 states, “And Moses

Animal sacrifices were a major component of the Law of Moses. There were basically two categories of offerings—the compulsory offerings, such as the sin offering and the voluntary offerings, such as the burnt offering and the meal, or grain, offering. The meal offering is called a “meat” offering in the scriptures, but it’s the only

Moses was commanded to make holy garments for Aaron and his sons, who would become the high priests. The garments were made for beauty and glory (Exodus 28:2). Job 40:10 states, “Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.” The garments consisted of a breastplate, an ephod, a robe,

Moses is commanded to build a tabernacle. The Lord called it a “sanctuary,” so He could “dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). The Hebrew word for dwell is shakan, and it’s the root of the word Shekinah.   The Shekhinah (שכינה) is the Hebrew term for the divine presence or “dwelling” of God on Earth, symbolizing

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

The children of Israel were delivered from bondage thanks to a three-part revelation from the Lord to Moses. There is a lesson here. Revelation comes a piece at a time and “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30; see also Isaiah 28:13). Those precious gems of

The word hand occurs 21 times in these Come Follow Me chapters of Exodus 7-13. In every case, in these chapters, it’s the Hebrew word yad. This is the open hand meaning power, means, or direction. The phrase “to give the hand,” is equivalent to making a pledge or entering into a covenant.   The

I am profoundly grateful for the influence of the temple in my life. As I contemplate the atonement of Jesus Christ during this Holy Week, my heart is full of gratitude and love for my Savior! I think of how Jesus rescued me when I was a practicing alcoholic with no sobriety in seven years