Temple symbols - March 1, 2015

We had guest teacher Lynne W. speak on some of the symbols of temple worship.  Here are a few notes from her robust lesson.

What a blessing it is for us to approach the veil of the temple, in biblical times only one man could do so, and only once a year.

 Elder John A. Widtsoe said: 'There is a feeling abroad that the benefits of the temple are primarily for the dead. This is not so. While the dead, if repentant, are able through our efforts to enter into a larger salvation, yet the work itself has a most beneficial effect upon the living who serve as proxies for the dead. . . . The response of the spirit of man to the ordinances of the House of the Lord stimulates every normal power and activity and helps greatly in the accomplishment of our daily tasks; more joy enters into the daily routine of life, . . . spiritual vision. . . love. . . peace tempers the tempests of life, and we rise to higher levels of thought and action. . . In this way the temples are always places where God manifests himself to man and increases his intelligence. A temple is a place of revelation.' (Christ Manifested to His People by Marion D. Hanks)

Catherine Thomas said: 'The temple is the narrow channel through which one must pass to reenter the Lord's presence. A mighty power pulls us through that channel, and it is the sealing power of the at-one-ment of the Lord Jesus Christ. . . In scripture we can study how the ancient great ones were drawn through that narrow channel to find their heart's desire . . . This was the very search for which they were put on earth: to rend the veil of unbelief, to yield to the pull of the Savior's sealing power, to stand in the Lord's presence, encircled about in the arms of his love (Doc. & Cov. 6:20; 2 Nephi 1:15). This then is the temple endowment: having been cast out, to search diligently according to the revealed path, and at last to be clasped in the arms of Jesus (Morm 5:11).' (Temples of the Ancient World by Donald Perry)

In ancient temple worship there is evidence of that they washed, anointed, clothed, enthroned and named people in the temple as a way to focus their service to Christ.  The olive oil used for anointing in the ancient temple was the first pressing of the olives.

Paul spoke on Veils of Authority in 1 Corinthians 11: 2-13 which explains why women wear veils. 'Head' can also mean 'source' so in verse 3: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
In verse 7, "but the woman is the glory of the man." instead of the glory of God.  Only through woman could man/humanity continue.

Brigham Young said "Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels (DBY, 416)."