@@@ There are all kinds of addictive substances around us. Susan, a new girl, came in late but felt strongly about addictions. She is the only person who I have heard mention DFU use of a diet soda which helped him stay awake, besides me. :) I have gone without my recent addiction: sunflower seeds, for over a week. Do you believe our bodies are sacred? Not very many people in the world do. Some religions even proclaim our bodies are evil and should be beaten. Susan concluded that anything which keeps us from feeling the HG that we take into our bodies should be avoided. I like that conclusion. But once again, what about those who can’t feel the HG? @@ I went crazy with indexing yesterday. I have wonderful handwriting to read and I couldn’t find any arbitrating on forms so I indexed extra. Of course I have to take breaks. In fact when Elder Tony comes to visit with me after each prayer meeting I stand to give my behind a rest. He understands, I have explained. My calluses are gone on my hands. They are thin skinned and getting wrinkly. Typing doesn’t do much for thickening the skin. @ Thurs 9/28 Good morning Brandon, God bless you. May you find ways to feel productive and if not may you be blessed to feel at peace. @ Do you like the missionary spirit? I love it. I am so grateful I had the courage and determination to serve strong. I did my best. I believed HF was worth it! Plus, I hoped my family would be blessed if I served well. As you saw I wrote our ward missionaries. Elder Hoppie ( pronounced like crappie, or a loppy-eared rabbit) has an older brother who left home disgruntled and antimission. His mother reminds me of Little Mermaid, Ariel. His father is a sports photographer here in town. They are from ID but lived in the midwest before moving into our ward. I wonder why they moved? Anyway, Elder Ryan Hoppie self promotes. When he spoke in sacrament meeting he warned us he was going to make us laugh and he did. Usually it was by bragging! He is a towheaded blonde. I dropped by their home to share a story about Josh Hoppie n Will Walker anticipating empenadas the night of Ryan’s Farewell. I dropped by this Sunday to encourage them to get his address in our Sunday bulletin. Looks like my efforts invited me into his email group. Here is his email. See if you detect any missionary spirit: Elder Hoppie called to serve: the real deal! Ryan Craig HoppieSep 26 (2 days ago)Dear friends and family,
Im officially out of the MTC and ready for the real deal! As i say goodbye to all the other Elders and Sisters that i grew close to during my MTC experience, its time to focus on the main purpose of my mission: helping others grow closer to Christ!
To start off this last week we had an apostle come and talk at our Tuesday night devotional last week! Elder Cook from the 12 Apostles came and taught us about our purpose and some words of advice for the mission field. Ive never felt the spirit as much as i did when he gave his talk.
{[su·per·la·tive\səˈpərlədiv/adjective: superlative1.of the highest quality or degree."a superlative piece of skill"synonyms:excellent, magnificent, wonderful, marvelous, supreme, consummate, outstanding, remarkable, fine, choice, first-rate, first-class, premier, prime, unsurpassed, unequaled, unparalleled, unrivaled, preeminent; informalcrack, ace, wicked, brilliant"a superlative photographer"antonyms:
mediocre 2.GRAMMAR(of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g., bravest, most fiercely ). --I pay special attention to superlatives. Ex: Never. When the prophets use them I pay particular attention. I have wondered how to mark a superlative? Last year I decided to use the absolute value sign: |absolute value| do you remember that from math? vj]} I felt that the things he said are true and also what im going to Edmonton and doing is just as true!
My testimony is and faith are at an all time high and ive never felt more close to christ. Heavenly father and Jesus Christ love us and were willing to sacrifice so much for us. Its amazing!!
As the week went on we learned more ways to teach and share about what we believe and what is true! A cool and spiritual story that has truly touched me and made me sooo excited for my mission was a certain TRC (teaching resource center) meeting. These meetings put us up against real investigstors (most of them are already mormon and do it to help the missionaries learn, but some are actual investigstors). Me and my companion had this lady that wants to learn and grow closer to christ so she came to the MTC to learn it in the best way. Well we got super far into lessons with her and she was so accepting so we figured she was already a member. Our week got over and we all went our seperate ways. A couple days later we saw her in one of the hallways and started talking about life and she invited us to come to her TRC room and talk with her. It turns out shes an actual imvestigator and we had a really in-depth discussion for 40 minutes and we asked her the official baptismal questions and through the TRC and the teachings of me and my companion, shes going to be getting baptized here in the next couple weeks by the missionaries who are assigned in her mission area!!! Its a bummer though because we could have baptized her but we were leaving real soon. We got to do all the tough work and the Elders on the Provo mission get an easy baptism. Dang. But the work of the lord is amazing!! It got me so excited to meet the people of Canada and bring them closer to God. The feeling i had in my heart was the strongest feeling of happiness. For myself and for Jen Cope who will soon become the newest member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints (:
I know that what im teaching and sharing is true and i love the gospel! Ive grown close to those around me. My Zone, my district and even my teachers. Sister Boucher and Brother Hollingshead were true inspirations to me and helped me prepare in the best way possible for the mission field!
There isnt a whole lot thats been different in the MTC from last week, just more good food and good times!
Waking up at 2:30 in the morning and catching our first flight to Seattle isnt all that fun but when you walk through the Salt Lake City airport and people see that we are missionaries, the congratulate us and cheer and you just feel like a celebrity!
The Seattle airport on the other hand was very very different. We got more weird stares and a couple people would whisper "its the mormons" under their breath haha but we are still recognized!! Me and another elder went to go get some food while we were waiting for our flight to Edmonton and this guy was walking passed us looking at us funny and we said hi to him and he asked who we were and why we had funny badges lol we told him who we were and asked him about his belief of God and he said he doesnt really believe but knows that there is someone there looking out for him. We told him thst Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always watching us and protecting us. We gave him the information of Mormon.org and gave him a pocket Book of Mormon. We told him that if he wants to know more about the Man who is protecting him, to read the book and pray to discover for himself who he really is. We told him that it will bring us happiness forever and he left with a smile on his face! My very first handout of the Book of Mormon and testifying of christ to someone i dont know. The feeling it left with us and him were strong and i know this man will find his way onto the right path!
I made it to Canada and just got a run down of everything! I made it safe and sound!
I wont have a whole lot of time to respond to everyones emails through this last week because ive been moving around and not having the time to respond but just know im getting your emails and im reading them all! Those of you who want to email me, i have a tablet on me all the time and have access to read your emails whenever i just cant respond until my P day (Tuesday)!
Bishop, you and your health are in my prayers and im glad that things are moving in the right direction! You are one of the strongest people i know and you have led me to be an amazing missionary! You are a true example!
Thank you to everyone supporting me and being the best examples you can be! If you have any questions or cool facts to tell me, shoot me an email!!
Love Elder Hoppie!Mission Home:305-8925 51 Ave NW,Edmonton AB T6E 5J3,Canada
@ bps, chances are that letter feels very distant to you. Each missionary is unique. Did you feel his spirit? Were you prepared by my preface? @@ Next. My sister G encouraged me to read her Facebook post that got a welcome reception. She admitted to liking to burst people’s mistaken bubbles in the church, like me. Remember my “teaching in the Savior’s way” rant? She belongs to a Facebook club/ group and gets a kick out of their permutations. They were exploring Rev 12. Somehow it had touched her the year before and she had written about it. Here is her epistle:
Lisa Smith Here is a write up I did in August 2016 after a ward temple night. It is about the Revelations 12 sign with the woman in the wilderness being nourished for a time, times, and half a time.
Throughout the Ogden Temple we can see carvings of feathers. At the back, sides, and front of each endowment room; on the alters in the sealing rooms, on the end of each chair section in the endowment rooms. . . beautiful feathers surround me. I asked heavenly Father what I can understand from this and He led me on a treasure hunt with scriptures coming into my mind.
*Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
*Luke 13: 34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!"
*3 Nephi 10: 4 "O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart."
*D&C 43: 24 "O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!"
*D&C 10:64&65 "Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts;"
*D&C 29:1&2 "Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins; Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer."
I began to understand that the Lord provides Temples to gather His people. In the Book of Mormon, the righteous Nephites gathered to the Temple ground after nearly 1 year of hearing the voice calling them to gather as chicks under a hen's wings. Those who heard the call to gather, were able to see and hear and touch the Savior when He came. (3 Nephi 8:5 "And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land." 3 Nephi 10:18 "And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them—" Did you catch that? - - BEGINNING of the 34th year was the storm showing of His crucifixion, while the ENDING of the 34th year was when He showed Himself to the Nephites.){ I have thought about this 1 year period of the call to gather the Nephites to the Temple grounds and the Savior's actual appearance and ministration. I think it is interesting that new members must wait 1 year before receiving Temple blessings. Also, passed on loved ones must wait 1 year after death to receive salvation ordinances through their posterity if they did not do so in life.}
All these scriptures of hens gathering chicks under wings made me curious. One night in the Temple with S*** (YW President,) I learned a story about a professor who took his graduate student out on site to a place where a brushfire had burned through acres of land. While exploring the damage done, the graduate student kept coming across these mounds of ash-dirt. He absent-mindedly kicked one and a bunch of chicks ran out! He went over to another mound of ash-dirt and kicked at it with his shoe; chicks ran out! He did this again with the same result. He called over the Professor saying, "Look at this amazing dirt mound - when I kick it, chicks run out." The Professor said, "That is not a mound of dirt. That is the remains of the mother Grouse hen. When the brushfire came close, she called all her chicks under her wings. The fire burned so quickly it consumed her, yet her body protected her chicks. The ash-dirt mound is the remains of the mother Grouse hen."
I know that as we gather to the Lord's Temples we will not be consumed by the fires burning rampantly in the World today. I know that we can be His chicks and seek refuge under His wings. The Ogden Temple with its beautiful feathers is a fabulous symbol of this safety.
Now the next part of the scripture treasure chain begins with this verse in Matthew 24: 28 "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." This verse is in the chapter about the second coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. Here is Joseph Smith Matthew translation in the Pearl of Great Price 27 "And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth."
I was confused what the symbology could be for eagles and carcasses. The answer was found for me in the Book of Revelation. But first, I needed to understand the significance of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy & the Sacrament.
With our Leaders putting more emphasis on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy and the sacrament, I spent some time studying these verses in Isaiah 58: 13& 14: ¶"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
I think our Leaders are trying to help us be the people prepared to greet the Savior. What happened to Jacob and most other prophets while riding upon the high places of the Earth? They saw the Lord face to face. What were the "high places of the Earth"? Mountains, or anciently Temples. What was the blessing of keeping the Sabbath? Seeing the Lord! In a coming day, everyone on Earth will have the opportunity to greet our Savior and see Him face to face. The focus of the Sabbath is the sacrament.
As I was doing my studies of Revelation of St. John, I began to see a pattern halfway through in 2 middle chapters. Revelations 11 is about a time period (3 1/2 years, 42 months, or a thousand two hundred and threescore days {1260}) and the 2 prophets in Old Jerusalem. Revelations chapter 12 I think is also about the same time period but referring to New Jerusalem/Zion/The Church of God (see Joseph Smith translation at the back of the Bible for verse 7- "nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ.") We have got the same number in verse 6: one thousand two hundred and three score {1260}, with it reiterated in verse 14: "a time, and times, and half a time" (a time could be 1 year, and times would be 2 years, and half a time would be 1/2 year; or 3 1/2 years altogether.) The Ogden Temple took 3 1/2 years to complete renovation.
Now here is where it gets really interesting and ties into my question about Eagles and carcasses. Rev. 12:14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." The woman is the church trying to bring forth Zion, the Eagle could represent the Priesthood with the 2 wings being the Aaronic & Melchizedek.
Matthew 24:28 "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." What is a carcase besides flesh & blood? What do we partake of in the sacrament - it is the body (carcase) of Christ, with the Eagles (Priesthood) gathered together.
The Sabbath prepares us, the Sacrament keeps us safe.
Tieing back to Isaiah and Eagles 40: 31 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Eagles - priesthood covenants nourishing each of us.
Culminating in the beautiful promise found in D&C 89:18-20(note the words end of verse 18) 18 "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." Many of these words are found in the Temple ordinances of initiatory and endowment. I know that as we gather in the Lord's Temples, He WILL protect and guide us and we will be like those chicks under the Mother Grouse hen; He has already given up His life for us; and when He comes again and the Earth burns with the Glory of His presence, it is our covenants that will keep us safe as through them we gather close to Him and become like Him.
These feathers on the columns, alters, and chairs all have the same symbol/shape in the middle - the CTR shield. If you look closely, you will also see them going up the outside of the Temple towards the steeple.
Ogden Temple Thoughts part 2
This past spring 2017 I have been learning about "the work of the Father" as in 3 Nephi 21:23-19 Pay attention to the wording - so much of the Millennium will be about "the work of the Father." Right now in preparing for the Millennium, we are trying to "come unto Christ and be perfected in Him." In the Millennium, Christ will rule and reign in our midst. The entire Earth will be a terrestrialized sphere, right now our Temples represent this terrestrialized place. In the millennium, our Temples will represent a celestialized space and we will be doing the "work of the Father" in preparation of meeting and dwelling with Him.
23 "And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.
27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.
29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward."
As temples are built dotting the Earth, the Earth is ascending to that of a terrestrial nature. I can see this, but I don't know how to put it into words. As we worship in the Temple, it changes our nature and we ascend as well. Next time you do an endowment session, sit at the back of the chapel and take a moment to gaze at each person as they rise for the session thinking, "My Brother" or "My Sister" and allow your heart to fill with love for this being, feel acceptance and love and gratitude for this person, "My family member through God." When Jesus is here in the Millennium, the entire Earth will be terrestrial and the work being done in the Temples then will be that of a Celestial nature (the work of the Father see 3 Nephi 21:26-29). Then when the Earth becomes Celestialized there will be no Temple there as it says in Rev. 21:22. Temples are places and spaces prepared for the ascending. Our body is also a Temple. Our body is a glory added upon us for keeping our 1st estate. So many neat clues in the Temple, the Scriptures, and our bodies.
Think about the Temple initiatory and endowment words. We have more ordinances to participate in. We are only in the beginning stages now. The work of the Father continues on and will commence as we build the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."
It seems to me that Temples (and other sacred spaces) are the places for ascending and descending - Right now we live in a telestial sphere, but our Temples represent the terrestrial. In the millennium, the Earth will be terrestrial so the Temples will be a celestial space (doing the work of the Father.) Then eventually we read in Rev. 21:22 "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."
And Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
We will be the pillars and the Father and the Son are the Temple! Pillars are strong and bear a lot of weight, pillars rely on the Cornerstone ("Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" - The Living Christ Document). As we worship in the Temple now, the Son & the Father will lead us along. I bear testimony They come to us in the Holy Temple. I bear testimony other ministering beings come to us in the Temple and teach us individually, leading us along. I am so thankful for these sacred spaces.
I have also been learning that time and space is linked and interconnected in a way with God near Kolob that is different from how it is on Earth right now. This happened as I studied the end chapters of 3 Nephi and its talk of "in that generation" (3 Nephi 29:2 " and ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the children of Israel." among many other references.) I had often wondered how long is a generation- 20 years, 40 years, 72 years, 100 years, 200 years?) As I pondered these end chapters of 3 Nephi and the promises therein, I didn't want to miss out. A great key was discovered in Pearl of Great Price Fascimile #2 in the Book of Abraham (the circle one). Figure 1 states: "Kolob. . .first in government, the last pertaining to the measure of time. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies 1 day to a cubit." Fascinating to me because 1 cubit is a measure of space (about 18 inches) while a day is a measure of time. This helped me understand the the generation of Zion is not necessarily a time, but a sacred space as well. All those who live a Zion life are of the Zion generation. In the Millennium, all of Father in heaven's children of the Zion generation will be together on Earth, no matter when they lived here mortally.
Moving to Ogden where the Temple was recently rededicated I have been able to talk to those who served as hosts during the Open House season before the rededication. As per the Temple President, they were told NOT to share the idea that the oxen under the baptismal font represent the 12 Tribes because the image of the animals is ALL OXEN - not the various different animals that are the symbols for the 12 Tribes (like lion, donkey, boat, and so on.)The important thing has somehow gotten lost - They are ALL Oxen - They are ALL representative of the Tribe of Ephraim. Whose work is it to gather right now? Ephraim's. It is given to Ephraim and His lineage to bring these blessings to the living and the dead. The majority of the youth who gather daily in the fonts of the Temple to redeem the dead and set the prisoners free are of the tribe of Ephraim and this is as it should be. It is not until the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation, that the other Tribes of Israel are given this charge to gather the remaining souls in the world right before our Savior comes, that the duty or 'yoke' will be extended to them. Isn't that fascinating and incredible? I too had been taught the oxen represent the 12 Tribes. I was happy to learn if this were the case, then under the font we would have a variety of animals which represent the different Tribes. Instead we have only one, the wild ox/unicorn, which represents Ephraim pushing the souls of the Earth to come unto Christ.
If we are of the tribe of Ephraim, we are called now to gather and build Zion. Ephraim is represented in scripture as the Unicorn or wild ox - to push all nations of the Earth to Christ. The baptistry fonts in the Temples rest on the backs of oxen because it is the duty of Ephraim to provide Covenant ordinances to all of Father in heaven's children. Yes, there are 12 oxen to represent all 12 tribes need this work done, but it is the birthright of Ephraim to do this work of salvation, hence the oxen. All over in D&C it states we are called to the work. I testify to you, to each of us of the tribe of Ephraim, that we are called. Let's Go To!
Last autumn before General Conference 2016, I had been going to Temple (initiatory in particular twice that week along with my regular 3 endowment sessions) asking to learn more about: Noah's Ark, Enoch's token of the Rainbow Arc, Moses's Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, Adam the ArchAngel, an Arch with the Keystone that holds it up, and how they correlate. As I considered the 4 booths in initiatory possibly representing: #1 premortal realm (waiting to come to Earth), #2 Telestial/Mortality/Earthlife, #3 Terrestrial/Millennium, #4 Celestial Kingdom, I was humbled to have an understanding opened. It could fit! Booth #2 is all about water - this Earth is mostly Water, WE are mostly water, we are baptized by immersion in water, we are 'WASHED'. As we take our deceased loved ones names to the Temple, we are gathering male & female into the "ARK" - helping them to symbolically board Noah's Ark/ Moses's Ark of the Covenant/ receive Enoch's Rainbow Arc (think of the symbol we receive across our forehead as we are washed!). Considering the officiators in the booths as members of the Godhead - booth #2 is the realm of the Holy Ghost who sanctifies us and prepares us to meet our Savior, who comes and takes us to booth #3 blessing us and preparing us for the Father, #4 who comes and brings us into Life Eternal.
The Book of Mormon has been said to be the Keystone of our Religion, why? Last school year the kids & I began reading it again before they go to school. On nearly Every Page is the word Covenant & Jesus Christ or some other reference name for Him. The Safety of Our Covenants with Jesus Christ very well could be likened to boarding the Ark in Noah's Day, or the powerful protection the Ark of the Covenant for the children of Israel in Moses's day. They hold all the promises of Enoch's token arc of the rainbow.
As I continue this analogy further, the Earth will be burned with Fire at the Savior's 2nd Coming. I find it SO interesting that booth #3 is about oil! What does oil do with fire? It intensifies it. It is the same fire that destroys the wicked that will protect the righteous at that time. Like the Nephite children were surrounded by protective sanctifying fire. It was so thought provoking for me that we welcome the oil, that it is God's Gift to anoint us with oil as I consider the Fire.
Jesus refers to Himself as Living Water; we have been referred to as potter's clay. When Pottery is made it is wetted with water, then baked in a fiery kiln; but if you put oil or wax on the piece of pottery before firing, it is preserved differently.
Zion has been referred to by Elder Ballard (also Brigham Young) more than once as a boat or a ship that has already set sail. We know also that Zion is compared to a tent in the scriptures that is constantly extending her borders and enlarging her stakes. These things of small significance actually have HUGE importance! Take for example this verse of scripture that everyone has memorized in the Book of Mormon: "And my father dwelt in a tent." Have you ever considered that a tent is the symbol for Zion; that Lehi had a pure heart filled with the love of God, he achieved Zion status! Such huge importance in a small simple verse! In fact, before Lehi ever sailed on the ship, he testified he had "obtained a land of promise." (1 Nephi 5:5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice;. . .)
Two more ideas of common symbols found in the Ogden Temple: The Wheat Stalk and the Prairie Desert Rose are easily seen throughout the entire Temple, especially on the ceiling, stained glass works, and wall paper borders.
The Wheat - Goes back to church history when Brigham Young was asked by Joseph Smith to go collect consecrated food, land, and animals from the Saints. Disappointingly, many Saints told Brother Brigham, "I need all this land, I plan to give 80 acres to each of my children." "I am sorry I don't have any crops to spare this year." "Here is a cow I am willing to give" - but the udder had been eaten off by wolves or ruined by frostbite; or the horse that was swaybacked or lame in the foot. Joseph lamented the selfishness of the Saints and stated something to the effect that until the people of Zion were willing to live the law of Consecration, a lower law would be issued: that of food (supply) storage where each person was responsible to hold supplies for several years. I see the wheat in the Temple (especially along the border of the ceiling in the Celestial Room) symbolic of the fruition of the law of Consecration happening. As we consecrate Everything unto our God, All will be provided.
The Prairie Rose - On the walls of the endowment room, we can see the stems, leaves, and GOLDEN thorns of the rose in stained glass windows, with 1 Blue square. On the ceiling of the Endowment room (and also the back windows of the largest Endowment rooms) we can see the rose blossoms on the bottom & top along with the stems, leaves, and thorns, and 3 Blue squares connecting them n the middle. I see the Blue squares as Salvation Covenants made with God. They come in sets - the 1 set we see with the thorns on the walls remind me of baptism ordinance; much of the Christian world knows of baptism, and some even know of its companion ordinance of laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost; but these are not enough to produce full bloomed and blossomed joy of eternal Life with God (the rose blossom). However, on the ceiling (and back stained glass) we have 3 sets of squares representing: #1-baptism/confirmation, #2-initiatory/endowment, #3-sealing to spouse/sealing to parents; along with rose blossoms at the bottom (pre-mortal life living with God) and top (post mortal life living with God eternally.) The GOLDEN thorns are significant to remind us that the hard painful trials of life are actually golden opportunities that as we overcome all, they fit us for heaven to live with our Father again as we become like Him. The Blue squares are even on the doors entering the Temple so I can take my youngest child and explain to him the importance of these salvation ordinances while pointing to each one with my finger. He is old enough to do family search and is fantastic at claiming ancestor names for these ordinances. Then my older youth can do some of the work and my husband and I can finish it off.
The Lord's richest blessings are ours as we go to His Holy Temple and receive of His further Covenants. Always be true and Faithful to your Covenants. They are most powerful! I know that the Lord teaches in symbols because they can have many different meanings at different times to different people. These are just one interpretation of many possible options of a few symbols found therein.
ff ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ff
9pm Fri 9/28/17
I just finished carefully reading the story of my great grandmother in Vardo, Norway, where she went as a teen to nanny for a family who was moving up there. She met and married and lived there 18 years. Her conversion story is on FamilySearch and was posted by my sister Gayelinn'72.
| BIRTH |
23 March 1877
Haus, Hordaland, Norway
|
|---|
| DEATH |
10 June 1963
Sault Sainte Marie, Chippewa, Michigan, United States
|
|---|
Then I read two long posts by Gayelinn of insights into the symbolism of the Ogden Temple and Revelation Chapters 11 n 12. She got rave reviews and wanted me to be a part of her momentary fame. Her posts are above. Comments:
1- a hen gathering her chicks. I have always loved those verses. JC uses a common occurrence to remind us of his love and care and effort.
2- prairie hens die protecting their young in prairie fires. Woah, those images will be with me for a long time.
3- feathers as symbolic of. . .
Interesting.
4- man does she write well!
5- she cares, she considers, she analyzes, the gospel is her hobby, like me.
6- 4 booths of initiatory.
7- blue glass, single and triple
8- golden thorns on prairie roses
9- such temple dedication but it comes from pain. She hurts. She desires because she hurts. I pray better/deeper/differently when I am hurting.
10- She cared enough to record what she was learning and here she shares them a year later. What do you remember from a year ago? Any gospel breakthroughs?
11- Her brain is not working right now. Her body is not working right now. But look what she did when they were!
12- Ephraim represented by w___ o_! or _n_c_rn
v
