045. The Answer - The Vision

On February 16, 1832, in Hiram, Ohio, a vision was given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. From Joseph Smith’s history: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one....while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.”

Eleven years later, and in response to Vade Mecum (Go With Me), Joseph wrote a poetic version of Section 76, entitled "The Answer" or "The Vision". The Vision also elaborates on some of the doctrines put forth in Section 76. Said Joseph "I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them" (History of the Church, 5(21), p. 402). If you have not had occasion to read the poetic version of D&C 76 in the last few years, it is well worth your time to do so.

The Vision

1. I will go, I will go, to the home of the Saints, 

Where the virtue's the value, and life the reward; 

But before I return to my former estate, 

I must fulfill the mission I had from the Lord. 

2. Wherefore, hear O ye heavens, and give ear O ye earth, 

And rejoice, ye inhabitants, truly again; 

For the Lord he is God, and his life never ends, 

And besides him there ne'er was a Savior of men. 

3. His ways are a wonder, his wisdom is great; 

The extent of his doings there's none can unveil; 

His purposes fail not; from age unto age 

He still is the same, and his years never fail. 

4. His throne is the heavens--his life-time is all 

Of eternity now, and eternity then; 

His union is power, and none stays his hand, 

The Alpha, Omega, for ever. Amen. 

5. For thus saith the Lord, in the spirit of truth, 

I am merciful, gracious, and good unto those 

That fear me, and live for the life that's to come: 

My delight is to honour the Saints with repose, 

6. That serve me in righteousness true to the end; 

Eternal's their glory and great their reward. 

I'll surely reveal all my myst'ries to them-- 

The great hidden myst'ries in my kingdom stor'd; 

7. From the council in Kolob, to time on the earth, 

And for ages to come unto them I will show 

My pleasure and will, what the kingdom will do: 

Eternity's wonders they truly shall know. 

8. Great things of the future I'll show unto them, 

Yea, things of the vast generations to rise; 

For their wisdom and glory shall be very great, 

And their pure understanding extend to the skies. 

9. And before them the wisdom of wise men shall cease, 

And the nice understanding of prudent ones fail! 

For the light of my spirit shall light mine elect, 

And the truth is so mighty 'twill ever prevail. 

10. And the secrets and plans of my will I'll reveal, 

The sanctifi'd pleasures when earth is renew'd; 

What the eye hath not seen, nor the ear hath yet heard, 

Nor the heart of the natural man ever view'd. 

11. I, Joseph, the prophet, in spirit beheld, 

And the eyes of the inner man truly did see 

Eternity sketch'd in a vision from God, 

Of what was, and now is, and yet is to be. 

12. Those things which the Father ordained of old, 

Before the world was or a system had run; 

Through Jesus, the Maker and Savior of all-- 

The only begotten (Messiah) his son. 

13. Of whom I bear record, as all prophets have, 

And the record I bear is the fulness--yea, even 

The truth of the gospel of Jesus--the Christ, 

With whom I convers'd in the vision of heav'n. 

14. For while in the act of translating his word, 

Which the Lord in his grace had appointed to me, 

I came to the gospel recorded by John, 

Chapter fifth, and the twenty-ninth verse which you'll see. 

15. I marvell'd at these resurrections, indeed, 

For it came unto me by the spirit direct: 

And while I did meditate what it all meant, 

The Lord touch'd the eyes of my own intellect. 

16. Hosanna, for ever! They open'd anon, 

And the glory of God shone around where I was; 

And there was the Son at the Father's right hand, 

In a fulness of glory and holy applause. 

17. I beheld round the throne holy angels and hosts, 

And sanctified beings from the worlds that have been, 

In holiness worshipping God and the Lamb, 

For ever and ever. Amen and amen. 

18. And now after all of the proofs made of him, 

By witnesses truly, by whom he was known, 

This is mine, last of all, that he lives; yea, he lives! 

And sits at the right hand of God on his throne. 

19. And I heard a great voice bearing record from heav'n, 

He's the Saviour and only begotten of God; 

By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made, 

Even all that career in the heavens so broad. 

20. Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last, 

Are sav'd by the very same Saviour of ours; 

And, of course, are begotten God's daughters and sons 

By the very same truths and the very same powers. 

21. And I saw and bear record of warfare in heaven; 

For an angel of light, in authority great, 

Rebell'd against Jesus and sought for his power, 

But was thrust down to woe from his glorified state. 

22. And the heavens all wept, and the tears dropp'd like dew, 

That Lucifer, son of the morning, had fell! 

Yea, is fallen! is fallen and become, oh, alas! 

The son of perdition, the devil of hell! 

23. And while I was yet in the spirit of truth, 

The commandment was--"Write ye the vision all out, 

For Satan, old serpent, the devil's for war, 

And yet will encompass the Saints round about." 

24. And I saw, too, the suff'ring and misery of those 

(Overcome by the devil, in warfare and fight) 

In hell-fire and vengeance--the doom of the damn'd; 

For the Lord said the vision is further, so write: 

25. For thus saith the Lord, now concerning all those, 

Who know of my power and partake of the same; 

And suffer themselves that they be overcome 

By the power of Satan, despising my name-- 

26. Defying my power, and denying the truth: 

They are they of the world, or of men most forlorn, 

The sons of perdition, of whom, ah! I say, 

'Twere better for them had they never been born. 

27. They're the vessels of wrath, and dishonour to God, 

Doom'd to suffer his wrath in the regions of woe, 

Through all the long night of eternity's round, 

With the devil and all of his angels below. 

28. Of whom it is said no forgiveness is found, 

In this world, alas! nor the world that's to come, 

For they have deny'd the spirit of God, 

After having receiv'd it, and mis'ry's their doom. 

29. And denying the only begotten of God, 

And crucify him to themselves, as they do, 

And openly put him to shame in their flesh, 

By the gospel they cannot repentance renew. 

30. They are they who go to the great lake of fire, 

Which burneth with brimstone, yet never consumes, 

And dwell with the devil, and angels of his, 

While eternity goes and eternity comes. 

31. They are they who must groan through the great second death, 

And are not redeemed in the time of the Lord; 

While all the rest are, through the triumph of Christ, 

Made partakers of grace, by the power of his word. 

32. The myst'ry of godliness truly is great; 

The past, and the present, and what is to be; 

And this is the gospel--glad tidings to all, 

Which the voice from the heavens bore record to me: 

33. That he came to the world in the middle of time, 

To lay down his life for his friends and his foes, 

And bear away sin as a mission of love, 

And sanctify earth for a blessed repose. 

34. 'Tis decreed that he'll save all the work of his hands, 

And sanctify them by his own precious blood; 

And purify earth for the Sabbath of rest, 

By the agent of fire as it was by the flood. 

35. The Saviour will save all his Father did give, 

Even all that he gave in the regions abroad, 

Save the sons of perdition--they are lost, ever lost! 

And can never return to the presence of God. 

36. They are they who must reign with the devil in hell, 

In eternity now, and eternity then! 

Where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quench'd, 

And the punishment still is eternal. Amen. 

37. And which is the torment apostates receive, 

But the end or the place where the torment began, 

Save to them who are made to partake of the same, 

Was never, nor will be revealed unto man. 

38. Yet God, by a vision, shows a glimpse of their fate, 

And straightway he closes the scene that was shown; 

So the width, or the depth, or the misery thereof, 

Save to those that partake, is forever unknown. 

39. And while I was pondering, the vision was closed, 

And the voice said to me, write the vision; for, lo! 

'Tis the end of the scene of the sufferings of those 

Who remain filthy still in their anguish and woe. 

40. And again I bear record of heavenly things, 

Where virtue's the value above all that is priz'd, 

Of the truth of the gospel concerning the just, 

That rise in the first resurrection of Christ. 

41. Who receiv'd, and believ'd, and repented likewise, 

And then were baptiz'd, as a man always was, 

Who ask'd and receiv'd a remission of sin, 

And honoured the kingdom by keeping its laws. 

42. Being buried in water, as Jesus had been, 

And keeping the whole of his holy commands, 

They received the gift of the spirit of truth, 

By the ordinance truly of laying on hands. 

43. For these overcome, by their faith and their works, 

Being tried in their life-time, as purified gold, 

And seal'd by the spirit of promise to life, 

By men called of God, as was Aaron of old. 

44. They are they, of the church of the first-born of God, 

And unto whose hands he committeth all things; 

For they hold the keys of the kingdom of heav'n, 

And reign with the Saviour, as priests and as kings. 

45. They're priests of the order of Melchizedek, 

Like Jesus (from whom is this highest reward), 

Receiving a fulness of glory and light; 

As written--they're Gods even sons of the Lord. 

46. So all things are theirs; yea, of life or of death; 

Yea, whether things now, or to come, all are theirs, 

And they are the Saviour's, and he is the Lord's, 

Having overcome all, as eternity's heirs. 

47. 'Tis wisdom that man never glory in man, 

But give God the glory for all that he hath; 

For the righteous will walk in the presence of God, 

While the wicked are trod underfoot in his wrath. 

48. Yea, the righteous shall dwell in the presence of God, 

And of Jesus, forever, from earth's second birth-- 

For when he comes down in the splendour of heav'n, 

All those he'll bring with him to reign on the earth. 

49. These are they that arise in their bodies of flesh, 

When the trump of the first resurrection shall sound; 

These are they that come up to Mount Zion, in life, 

Where the blessings and gifts of the spirit abound. 

50. These are they that have come to the heavenly place; 

To the numberless courses of angels above: 

To the city of God, e'en the holiest of all, 

And the home of the blessed, the fountain of love; 

51. To the church of old Enoch, and of the first-born: 

And gen'ral assembly of ancient renown'd, 

Whose names are all kept in the archives of heav'n, 

As chosen and faithful, and fit to be crown'd. 

52. These are they that are perfect through Jesus' own blood, 

whose bodies celestial are mention'd by Paul, 

where the sun is the typical glory thereof, 

And God, and his Christ, are the true judge of all. 

53. Again, I beheld the terrestrial world, 

In the order and glory of Jesus go on; 

'Twas not as the church of the first-born of God, 

But shone in its place, as the moon to the sun, 

54. Behold, these are they that have died without law; 

The heathen of ages that never had hope, 

And those of the region and shadow of death, 

The spirits in prison, that light has brought up. 

55. To spirits in prison the Saviour once preach'd, 

And taught them the gospel, with powers afresh; 

And then were the living baptiz'd for their dead, 

That they might be judg'd as if men in the flesh. 

56. These are they that are hon'rable men of the earth; 

Who were blinded and dup'd by the cunning of men; 

They receiv'd not the truth of the Saviour at first; 

But did, when they heard it in prison again. 

57. Not valiant for truth, they obtain'd not the crown, 

But are of that glory that's typ'd by the moon: 

They are they, that come into the presence of Christ, 

But not to the fulness of God on his throne. 

58. Again, I beheld the telestial, as third, 

The lesser, or starry world, next in its place, 

For the leaven must leaven three measures of meal, 

And every knee bow that is subject to grace. 

59. These are they that receiv'd not the gospel of Christ, 

Or evidence, either, that he ever was; 

As the stars are all diff'rent in glory and light, 

So differs the glory of these by the laws. 

60. These are they that deny not the spirit of God, 

But are thrust down to hell, with the devil, for sins, 

As hypocrites, liars, whoremongers and thieves, 

And stay 'till the last resurrection begins. 

61. 'Till the Lamb shall have finish'd the work he begun; 

Shall have trodden the winepress in fury alone. 

And overcome all by the pow'r of his might: 

He conquers to conquer, and saves all his own. 

62. These are they that receive not a fulness of light, 

From Christ, in eternity's world, where they are, 

The terrestial sends them the Comforter, though, 

And minist'ring angels, to happify there. 

63. And so the telestial is minister'd to, 

By ministers from the terrestrial one, 

As terrestrial is, from the celestial throne; 

And the great, greater, greatest, seem's stars, moon, and sun. 

64. And thus I beheld, in the vision of heav'n, 

The telestial glory, dominion and bliss, 

Surpassing the great understanding of men,-- 

Unknown, save reveal'd, in a world vain as this. 

65. And lo! I beheld the terrestrial, too, 

Which excels the telestial in glory and light, 

In splendour and knowledge, and wisdom and joy, 

In blessings and graces, dominion and might. 

66. I beheld the celestial, in glory sublime; 

Which is the most excellent kingdom that is, 

Where God, e'en the Father, in harmony reigns; 

Almighty, supreme, and eternal in bliss. 

67. Where the church of the first-born in union reside, 

And they see as they're seen, and they know as they're known 

Being equal in power, dominion and might, 

With a fulness of glory and grace round his throne. 

68. The glory celestial is one like the sun; 

The glory terrestrial is one like the moon; 

The glory telestial is one like the stars, 

And all harmonize like the parts of a tune. 

69. As the stars are all different in lustre and size, 

So the telestial region is mingled in bliss; 

From the least unto greatest, and greatest to least, 

The reward is exactly as promised in this. 

70. These are they that came out for Apollos and Paul; 

For Cephas and Jesus, in all kinds of hope; 

For Enoch and Moses, and Peter and John; 

For Luther and Calvin, and even the Pope. 

71. For they never received the gospel of Christ 

Nor the prophetic spirit that came from the Lord; 

Nor the covenant neither, which Jacob once had; 

They went their own way, and they have their reward. 

72. By the order of God, last of all, these are they, 

That will not be gather'd with saints here below, 

To be caught up to Jesus, and meet in the cloud: 

In darkness they worshipp'd; to darkness they go. 

73. These are they that are sinful, the wicked at large, 

That glutted their passion by meanness or worth; 

All liars, adulterers, sorcerers, and proud, 

And suffer as promis'd, God's wrath on the earth. 

74. These are they that must suffer the vengeance of hell, 

'Till Christ shall have trodden all enemies down, 

And perfected his work, in the fulness of time, 

And is crowned on his throne with his glorious crown. 

75. The vast multitude of the telestial world-- 

As the stars of the skies, or the sands of the sea; 

The voice of Jehovah echo'd far and wide, 

Every tongue shall confess and they all bow the knee. 

76. Ev'ry man shall be judg'd by the works of his life, 

And receive a reward in the mansions prepar'd; 

For his judgments are just, and his works never end, 

As his prophets and servants have always declar'd. 

77. But the great things of God, which he show'd unto rile, 

Unlawful to utter, I dare not declare; 

They surpass all the wisdom and greatness of men, 

And only are seen, as has Paul where they are. 

78. I will go, I will go, while the secret of life, 

Is blooming in heaven, and blasting in hell; 

Is leaving on earth, and a-budding in space: 
I will go, I will go, with you, brother, farewell.

044. Vade Mecum (Go With Me)

Being Thanksgiving today, I am grateful for truth. I am grateful for words of truth that come from the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost, which can fill the minds and hearts of those who humbly seek the Lord, inspiring them to communicate the words of eternal life to others. Joseph Smith wrote a poetic version of D&C 76 in 1843 entitled The Vision, which was, in part, a response to a poem written by W.W. Phelps entitled Vade Mecum (Latin, Go With Me). Both were published in several church publications, including the Times & Seasons (January 1843) and the Millennial Star (August 1843). The text of Vade Mecum appears below, the words of The Vision will appear in the next post.

Go With Me

Go with me, will you go to the Saints that have died, 

To the next better world, where the righteous reside, 

Where the angels and spirits in harmony be,

In the joys of a vast paradise. Go with me.

Go with me, where the truth and the virtues prevail, 

Where the union is one, and the years never fail: 

Not a heart can conceive—not a natural eye see 

What the Lord had prepared for the just. Go with me.

Go with me, where there is no destruction nor war, 

Neither tyrants nor mobbers, nor nations ajar,—

Where the system is perfect, and happiness free, 

And the life is eternal, with God. Go with me.

Go with me, will you go to the mansions above, 

Where the bliss and the knowledge, the light and the love, 

And the glory of God do eternally be?

Death, the wages of sin, is not there. Go with me.

(History of the Church, 5:253)

WW. Phelps later added the following stanzas:

Come to me; here are Adam and Eve at the head 

Of a multitude quickened and raised from the dead; 

Here's the knowledge that was, or that is, or will be, 

In the gen'ral assembly of worlds. Come to me.

Come to me; here's the mysteries man hath not seen, 

Here's our Father in heaven, and Mother, the Queen; 

Here are worlds that have been, and the worlds yet to be, 

Here's eternity, endless; amen. Come to me.

Come to me, all ye faithful and blest of Nauvoo, 

Come, ye Twelve, and ye High Priests, and Seventies, too, 

Come, ye Elders, and all of the great company, 

When your work you have finished on the earth. Come to me.

Come to me; here's the future, the present and past; 

Here is Alpha, Omega, the first and the last,

Here's the "Fountain," the "River of Life," and the "Tree!" 

Here's your Prophet and Seer, Joseph Smith. Come to me.

(History of the Church, 5:556)

043. The Holy of Holies: The Tabernacle - Part XIII

With the Day of Atonement this month from sundown on the 22nd (T) through sundown on the 23rd (W), this post will conclude the running commentary of C.W. Slemming's 1938 text on the Tabernacle, entitled "Made According to Pattern", with a focus on the Holy of Holies. An upcoming post will cover some details of the conduct of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, when he entered the presence of God.

The Veil

The last post about the Tabernacle concerned the veil, with a discussion of different types of veils as described in the scriptures. The word for veil in Hebrew, paroketh, means 'to separate'. Before entering the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place a final veil had to be passed through. The desert tabernacle actually had three veils or curtains, each made of fine-twined linen interwoven with threads of blue, purple, and scarlet; only the prepared and chosen were allowed to pass through one area of the Tabernacle to another:

1. Gate of the Court (Ex. 27:16): This gate or curtain was 7.5ft high x 30ft wide supported by four pillars anchored into four bronze (not silver) sockets. This was the entrance to the Tabernacle, or a separation between the people and the Tabernacle. People brought their sacrifices to the gate as an offering to God. We can offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit as personal sacrifices as we approach the gate of salvation and exaltation. 
2. Hanging for the Door of the Tent (Ex. 26:36-37): This curtain was supported by five pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold which were anchored into five bronze sockets and hung from gold hooks. This was the entrance to the Holy Place, or a separation between the priests in the Tabernacle court and the Holy Place. Only after cleansing at the brazen altar and the brazen laver could the priests enter the Holy Place to worship God. We can follow the pattern of our Savior by being baptized and then subsequently sanctified through the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, thus preparing ourselves to allow Christ and the Father to enter our own personal Holy Place, where we can commune with them.
3. The Veil: The veil was supported by four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold which were anchored into four silver sockets and hung from gold hooks. This was the entrance to the Holy of Holies, or a separation between the Holy Place and the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. The veil was described as a "skillful work" (Ex. 26: 31) with images of Cherubim woven into its fabric, similar to those placed to guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were driven out to protect the Tree of Life. Through our faith as well as casting off all sin, unbelief, jealousy, and fear, we can prepare ourselves to pass through the final veil separating us from the presence of God, which is both our privilege and a promise to us: "And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I AM—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual" (Doctrine and Covenants 67:10).

The Holy of Holies

The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube covered in gold, 10 cubits in length, width and height (15ft). The Holy of Holies represented heaven itself, God’s dwelling place. In the Book of Revelation, John’s vision of heaven, or the New Jerusalem, was a perfect square (Rev. 21:16). During their desert journeyings, God appeared to the Israelites as a pillar of cloud or fire in and above the Holy of Holies. Moses was allowed to go the Holy of Holies at any time in order to enter into the presence of God (Ex. 25:22). However, after Moses, only the high priest was permitted to enter into the Holy of Holies on one day each year, the Day of Atonement, to offer blood on the mercy seat for his sins and those of the people.

The Golden Ark of the Covenant

Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, with the Mercy Seat sitting on top of the ark. This represented God's throne, and was thus symbolic of His presence. It was the most sacred of all the articles in the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle itself was built to house the Ark of the Covenant so that God could dwell among His people. It was the first item of furniture made after God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8-10). We usually build a house first, then pick out the furnishings later. But God starts with the heart of things and then works from within outward. The ark was the heart or the soul of the Tabernacle, for without it, there was no purpose in having a Tabernacle. It was to maintain God's presence and protection among the people. This can be contrasted with the Temple of Herod during Christ's time that had no ark. By then the temple and the religion that supported it had been transformed into a system of pedantic customs and empty rituals that rendered its adherents so blind that they crucified the very God they were attempting to worship and the Messiah they hoped would deliver them.

The ark had several other names in scripture, such as: 

• Ark of the testimony (Ex. 25:22), because it contained the two tablets of the law;
• Ark of the covenant (Num. 10:33), speaking of God's covenant relationship with His people;
• Ark of God (1 Sam. 3:3);
• Ark of the Lord God (1 Kings 2:26);
• the Holy Ark (2 Chr. 35:3);
• Ark of thy Strength (Ps. 132:8).

The ark was a rectangular shaped chest, 2.5 cubits long x 1.5 cubits high and wide (3ft9in long x 2ft3in high and wide). It was made of acacia wood covered with gold inside and out. A golden rim or crown followed around the edge of the top of the ark providing a setting for the Mercy Seat (see below), gold rings on the four corners, and staves of acacia wood covered in gold to go through the rings to carry it.

Hebrews 9:3-5 states that there were three objects in the ark:

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

1 Kings 8:9 states that only the tablets were in the ark by this time (Solomon's Temple). 

The Golden Pot of Manna

Manna was the food provided by God for the children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The word manna in Exodus 16:15 is a transliteration of two Hebrew words expressed in English as "what is it?". It is also known by several other names in the scriptures:

• Bread from Heaven (Ex. 16:4);
• Angel's food (Ps. 78:25);
• Light bread (Num. 21:5);
• Spiritual food (1 Cor. 10:3).

Manna appeared every morning around the camp when the dew fell on the ground, similar to hoar frost (Ex. 16:14). It looked like a small coriander seed, was round and white in color, and tasted like wafers made with honey (Ex. 16:31) or oil (Num. 11:7-8). The head of each household gathered "according to each one's need, an omer (about 2 quarts) for each person" in their family every morning (Ex. 16:16). Only one day's supply was collected, except on the sixth day, when they gathered enough for two days to keep the sabbath day holy (Ex. 16:22). God did not permit a storing up or a surplus, for that encouraged selfishness or a lack of trust. There was always enough for each Israelite (Ex. 16:18). If any manna remained on the ground after the gathering, it simply melted away (Ex. 16:21). Aaron was commanded to gather an omer of manna in a golden bowl and put it in the ark (Ex. 16:33).  This token represented God's gifts and blessings to His children.

Jesus Christ is of course "the true bread from heaven" (John 6:32), as He thus referred to Himself. The manna was available to all in continual abundance just as the light and sustaining power of Christ are available to all, giving us breath and life each day. The manna was small, representing humility, round, representing perfection, and white, representing purity. The manna was ground and baked, symbolic of Christ's suffering on our behalf. The manna was laid within the ark, representing the will and life of the Son being laid before His Father on our behalf. The resurrected Lord announced to those at Pergamum that He has "hidden manna" to give to all those who overcome (Rev. 2:17). One day the righteous shall feast on the hidden glories of the Lord in their fullness. In sum, Christ is the true manna and is all we need (He is sufficient) to meet all our needs, to satisfy our hungry souls, to strength our weakened spirits, and to sustain us in our righteous endeavors. 

Aaron's Rod that Budded 

An account is recorded in Numbers 16 and 17 where men named Korah, Dathan, and Abiram had gathered 250 leaders from the 12 tribes to challenge Moses and Aaron's right to leadership. These men claimed that Moses had taken authority to himself, was full of pride, and had favored his brother Aaron in calling him to be the high priest. Moses took this concern to the Lord and God commanded that all these men should present themselves before Him the next day. Since they thought that they too should be priests, each man of the 250 was to come with a priestly censer containing live fire and incense (emblems that the High Priest would take into the Holy of Holies). After a tense exchange of accusations and reproof, God spoke. He declared that He would destroy the whole host, but Moses plead with God to spare them. God told the people to separate from the three ringleaders and then made His will known by opening the ground, which swallowed them up along with their families (Num. 16:28-30). The 250 followers were then immediately destroyed by a fire that broke out (Num. 16:35). The next day, instead of having a repentant attitude, the people were angry and accused Moses of killing their leaders. God's fury was further poured out with a plague that swept through the camp. All would have been killed if it had not been for Moses and Aaron standing between the living and the dead and making an atonement. Approximately 15,000 lives were lost, a very high cost for rebellion against the true servants of the Lord.

God then proceeded to give the people a further piece of evidence that He had chosen Aaron as the High Priest, vindicating the character of both His servants. The leaders of the 12 tribes were to each bring an almond branch or rod upon which Moses was to engrave the man's name. Aaron's name was engraved on the rod from the tribe of Levi. All 12 rods were put inside the Tabernacle. If God had chosen a man to be high priest his rod would blossom. The next morning, not only had Aaron's rod budded and blossomed, but it had produced almonds (Num. 17:8). Aaron's rod was placed inside of the ark as a testimony that it was God's will that he serve as High Priest and a sign against the rebels, a token representing God's chosen priesthood.

Jesus Christ is the great High Priest. He was selected by God the Father for His holy mission and purpose. No one is justified in questioning His authority or His fulfillment of His Father's will. He broke the bands of death and was resurrected from the grave. He alone is the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Just like Aaron's rod, which not only blossomed, but bore fruit, Christ is the first fruits of the dead. Christ wishes that we reproduce His fruits in our own lives. We must abide as branches in Him, the true vine, for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). There are many fruits that can come from our devotion to Christ: 

1. Our character and countenance changes as we become more like Him;
2. The works we perform bring glory to His name;
3. Any who are converted to Christ through our efforts.

The Tablets of the Law

These were the 10 commandments, the Moral Law. The Civil (Ex. 21-23; Lev. 11-15, 17-20) or the Ceremonial Law (Ex. 25-31; most of Lev.) were never included in the ark. The Moral Law was given to Moses three times:

1. First, orally to Moses upon Mount Sinai: "And God answered him by voice..." (Ex. 19:19) or "And God spake all these words, saying..." (Ex. 20:1), followed by God speaking the 10 Commandments.
2. Second, written on stones provided by God: The children of Israel were then invited to ascend the mountain and receive the law for themselves, but the children of Israel declined saying "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." So, God called Moses to the mountain again that he might receive the law in a written form to teach to the people (Ex. 24:12). This time God provided both the stones as well as the writing (Ex. 32:16; Ex. 31:18). As Moses and Joshua descended from the mount they heard the noise of singing and saw that the people were worshipping a golden calf. Imagine what went through Moses' mind as he contrasted what he saw his people doing with the first two commandments he had just received from God Himself!: "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" and "Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image". The law was being broken even as it was being made. Moses "anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands and break them beneath the mount" (Ex. 32:19).
3. Third, written on stones provided by Moses: God did not give up on His people and He instructed Moses to find two more stones. God cut the first pair, but He did not make the second. Moses had to make the stones similar to what God had provided the first time. Moses again ascended the mount with the stones and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before God wrote the words of the covenant, the 10 commandments, on the stones (Ex. 34:1,4,28). The commandments were written on both sides of the stones (Ex. 32:15). Deuteronomy 10:2-4 suggests the writing on of the first and second set of stone tablets was the same. God commanded Moses to put these stone tablets in an ark made of wood. 

Why two stones? Surely the commandments could have been written on one. Was it to divide them up? Five and five evenly? Perhaps the first four were on one stone, the latter six on the other -- the first four are focused on our duty to God, while the latter six focus on our duty to others. These tablets were deposited in the ark as a token of God's covenant with His children.

The Mercy Seat

The lid of the Ark of the Covenant was called the Mercy Seat. It was a slab of pure gold 2.5 x 1.5 cubits (3ft9in x 2ft3). Such a large amount of gold would have been beyond price in those days. Cherubim of gold stood on each end of the Mercy Seat facing each other. The figures were bowed, looking downward toward the mercy seat, where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled and God's glory dwelt (Ps 80:1). The wings of the Cherubim touched each other as they were stretched out over its top (Ex. 25:10-20). Cherubim were guardians, with their wings offering protection over the entirety of the Mercy Seat and its contents. Together the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were not an altar, there was no sacrifice made upon it.

The Mercy Seat was not really a seat at all. The work of a priest was never really finished and it was not a place where he sat; there was always more work to do. Only the Great High Priest Himself could say His work was "finished" and was then able to sit down: "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" Hebrews 10:11-12.

The idea of sitting down on the right hand of God suggests the completion of a finished work that God has given a person to do. It is up to each person to find out from God what He purposes them to do.

• "Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out" Helaman 3:29-30.
• And then from Alma: "And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out" (Alma 7:25).

This wasn't just called a seat, it was a mercy seat. The concept of mercy is not always prevalent in Old Testament writing. Notice, however, that the Mercy Seat covered the entire ark and its contents. Mercy is in God's goodness to and care of His children, represented by the manna. Mercy is in God's priesthood, intended to be used for the blessing and service of others. Mercy covers God's laws, His covenant. Man could not keep the law perfectly, for even from the moment Moses came down from Mount Sinai the people were already engaged in idol worship under the supervision of Aaron. He is merciful to forgive all those who have trespassed His commandments and repent.

Journeyings of the Ark

The ark was built at Sinai by Bezaleel and his workmen who were skilled in all manner of workmanship because they were guided by the Spirit of God. The ark was carried first by the Kohathites (a clan of the tribe of Levi) whose special burden was the ark, the lamp stand, the table of showbread, and the two altars, with all their vessels. The ark was carried by priests on the Israelite journey through the wilderness, across the river Jordan, and into the promised land. When it was traveling, the ark was covered by the covering of the tabernacle so that no one else ever saw it. The ark was at the front of the 7-day march around the walls of the city of Jericho. During one period of Israel's apostasy, the ark was taken away by the Philistines, physically representing the removal of God's presence from among them. When the ark became a curse to the Philistines, suffering plagues and other afflictions, they returned it to the Israelites. The ark made its way to the house of Abinadab where it remained for 20 years. After David became king, he transported the ark on an ox-drawn cart (which mode of transportation was not allowed by God) to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). During this journey, the oxen became upset and the ark shifted. Uzziah reached out to steady the ark, but died immediately because he had violated God's commands by touching the ark. Only the Levite priests were permitted to carry the ark (Num. 4:15). David feared God's judgment and so put the ark in the house of Obed-edom, a gentile (2 Sam. 6:10-11), which was greatly blessed. After three months David sent priests to carry the ark to Jerusalem where it was placed in a tent (2 Sam. 6:17) until Solomon's Temple could be built. From there, the final destiny of the ark is a mystery. Some conjecture that the ark may have been destroyed by Babylonians seeking its gold or taken back to Babylon as a war trophy, or that it was buried in the ground on the Temple Mount by the priests before the Babylonian invasion. An account in the Maccabees (2 Mac. 2:4-5) suggests Jeremiah removed the ark and hid it in a cave that has been lost from memory. Some believe it was transported to heaven or that it simply disintegrated over time. Jeremiah alluded to the ark not being necessary to the future of Israel (Jer 3:16) and the description of the millennial temple by Ezekiel does not mention the ark at all (Ez 40-44), likely because the Lord Himself will be in the midst of those present. Revelations 11:19 says "Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple."

In Closing

At Christ's crucifixion the veil to the Temple of Herod was rent from top to bottom, exposing the Holy of Holies to all. Through His sacrifice and infinite atonement, Christ opened the way for all to have access individually to God's presence. By following the example of Jesus Christ, all may eventually be made partakers of His glory and become joint-heirs with Christ. Through Him was the law fulfilled and a second or a "better covenant" established between God and man. Instead of the covenant being written upon stone tablets, it was to be written upon the minds and hearts of the people, and through which all could come to know the Lord their God individually. This was God's original intent with the children of Israel when they were invited to ascend the mount and receive the covenant individually from God's own voice. Things came full circle with Christ:

Hebrews 8:

6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

042. September 2015 Timeline

Even a causal observer of recent world affairs or manifestations in the sky would notice the unusually large number of important events occurring over the next month. Not only is the sheer number and scale of the events unfolding on the world stage staggering, but their timing seems to be orchestrated by an unseen or divine hand. We see the cadence and symbolism embedded within the High Holy Days of Ancient Israel overlaid with a series of secular and heavenly events. What does it all mean, if anything? Is it so plain to see that most all the world will miss the message(s) entirely? Will we miss it? What is presented below represents an effort to lay out these upcoming events and their timing, with some scriptural context, in an effort to better understand.

Before beginning, a note from Paul about commemorating the holy days (Colossians 2:16-17): “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Our efforts to discover the significance of the holy days can help us gain a greater knowledge of God's will and purposes for our own lives, a deeper appreciation for the scriptures, and a more meaningful relationship with the Lord Himself. Although there may not be one perfectly correct way to observe or commemorate the holy days, as long as we remember that they typify of Christ and are “a shadow of things to come”, their observance can help us recognize our total dependence upon the Lord to save and redeem us.

Sundown 9/12/2015 (Sat) – Sundown 9/13/2015 (Sun): Last day of Shemitah year

Elul 29 in the Jewish calendar. The Sabbatical or Shemitah year is the 7^th year in a 7-year period. During the Shemitah year the residents of the land of Israel were to waive all outstanding debts, release indentured servants, and not plant, cultivate, nor harvest their fields (were to leave them fallow), nor prune their vineyards. The current Shemitah year began on 9/24/2014. The Shemitah year can be a double-edged sword, coming as a blessing to the nation that upholds the ways of God, or a sign of judgment to the nation that rebels against Him. This can be seen in the pattern of US history with frequent regularity.*

Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 12-14

Leviticus 25:2-7

Undoubtedly, keeping the commandment of Shemitah year required great faith in God’s promises and power. Individuals were also to relinquish ownership of their fields so that whatever produce grew on their lands was considered communal property, free for anyone, except for the owner of the land itself, to take. People were free to take and consume whatever grew on its own, but were not permitted to harvest their crops in the normal manner, nor to store/gather those foods. God promised to make the 6^th year harvest last until the beginning of the 9^th year. Since the Fall harvest generally occurred at the end of the Jewish year, the harvest of the 6^th year would last through the entire 7^th or Shemitah year; and since there was neither planting, harvesting, nor storing in the 7^th year, the store from the 6^th year was again used into the 8^th year, when new crops were planted that Spring, harvested in the Fall, which were then consumed at the beginning of the 9^th year. God promised the people that there would be sufficient grain to sustain the people through the Shemitah year.

Leviticus 25:18-22

The Shemitah year is a reminder that everything…crops, vineyards, lands, possessions… belongs to God. The Shemitah wipes away or releases whatever has been built up, reminding a nation that its blessings and power only comes from God, and without His support they will eventually fall.

9/13/2015 (Sun): Partial Solar Eclipse

Only visible from South Africa, Antarctica, and locations in Indian and Atlantic Oceans. 

Sundown 9/13/15 (Sun) – Sundown 9/15/15 (T): Rosh Hashanah / Feast of Trumpets / Jewish New Year

Tishri 1 in the Jewish calendar. No feasts were observed in the 4^th, 5^th, or 6^th months. In the 7^th month, three feasts were observed. The first, the Feast of Trumpets begins the High Holy Days and is also the first of the Ten Days of Repentance. This feast begins with the blowing of the ram's horn, the shofar, calling God's people together to repent from their sins. Also, this is the first day of the civil year in Israel, or new year’s day. This is a solemn day of soul-searching, repentance, seeking forgiveness, and remembering God, as well as a joyful day of celebration as we look forward to God's goodness and mercy (yet this was not the kind of New Year’s celebration we are accustomed to).

Leviticus 23:24-25

Numbers 29:1-6

Trumpets were blown at every new moon and were therefore a monthly event. Two silver trumpets were used originally (Num. 10:2), but then in later years to the present day rams’ horn, or shofar, were used. Whether one or two trumpets were blown and whether the blasts were long or short conveyed different messages and the people knew how to interpret and respond accordingly…whether it was to gather (Num. 10:3), to walk as a camp (Num. 10:5-6), to go to war (Num. 10:9), or to worship (Num. 10:10). In some cases the sounding of the trumpet signified liberation, as in the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:9). The people also knew by the blowing of the horn which tribes were to be involved or if it was all of Israel.

Trumpets are used to announce or proclaim. What are the trumpets of our day? What is their sound? How are their sounds interpreted? How do we respond to their sounds? Who blows the trumpets? In the ancient world, the trumpets were used by the priests “the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow…” (Num. 10:8). Only men with divine callings and the power of God were to blow the trumpets; men who were cleansed, consecrated, and commissioned (Num. 8:6-15). The sound of a trumpet is distinct and unmistakable; everyone can hear it without question or confusion about what it is. The sound of a trumpet brings us to or captures our attention. Trumpets are heralds, not bringing attention to themselves. Their blowing brings attention to something else, even if it be an internal interpretation or understanding of what the pattern of the trumpet blast indicates.

Numbers 10:1-10

A traditional holy meal of round challah bread and apple slices dipped in honey is served on Rosh Hashanah, symbolizing God's provision and hope for the sweetness of the coming new year. “L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu”, meaning "May you be inscribed and sealed [in the Book of Life] for a good year," is a typical New Year's message found in greeting cards, or in a shortened form as “Shanah Tovah”, meaning "good year." Orthodox Jews take part in a ceremony known as Tashlich on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (9/14/2015) where they will walk to flowing water and say a prayer from Micah 7:18-20, symbolically casting their sins into the water by throwing pieces of broken bread into the water:

18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Sundown 9/13/2015 (Sun) – Sundown 9/23/2015 (W): 10 Days of Awe (or Repentance)

Begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur. According to Jewish tradition, it is during the Days of Awe that God decides each person's fate in the next year. Although He has written these judgments in "books" on the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, they can be changed, depending on our repentance and good works performed during this 10-day period, until the end of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), when the books are sealed. The 10 Days of Awe is a period of deep repentance, seeking forgiveness from and reconciliation with others, apologizing for misdeeds, slights, and misunderstandings, as well as serving the poor and needy (performing good deeds and acts of true charity).

9/15/2015 (T): Operation “Jade Helm 15”

US Military training exercise / war games taking place across seven Southwestern states since 7/15/2015 (including Utah, designated a “hostile” state).

9/15/2015 (T): 70th session of the UN General Assembly in NYC

Will they recognize Palestinian statehood?

9/17/2015 (Th): Constitution Day

9/17/2015 (Th): Iran nuclear deal vote deadline

Sundown 9/18/2015 (F) – Sundown 9/19/2015 (Sat): Shabbat Shiva (or Shuva)

Sabbath that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur during the 10 Days of Awe. Shuva literally means “Return!” A day to focus on errors of the past and deep repentance.

9/21/2015 (M) – 9/25/2015 (F): Islamic Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca

            9/23/2015 (W): Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)

Sundown 9/22/2015 (T) – Sundown 9/23/2015 (W): Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement

Most solemn and important Holy Day. The only day of the year where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple or Tabernacle to make an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the people, bringing reconciliation (at-one-ment) between the people and God. After the blood sacrifice was offered to the Lord, a scapegoat was released into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the sins of the people, never to return. A ram's horn is blown at the end of evening prayer services for the first time since Rosh Hashanah. It is common to fast on this day. This is the conclusion of the High Holy Days (the upcoming Feast of the Tabernacles is not considered a High Holy Day).

Leviticus 23:26-32

Numbers 29:7-11

Leviticus 16:8-34

Sundown 9/22/2015 (T) – Sundown 10/2/2016 (Sun): 70^th Biblical Jubilee Year

The year following 7, 7-year periods (or after 7 Shemitah years; 7 x 7-year periods = 49 years total) is a Jubilee year (the 50^th year). 2015-2016 is known as the 70^th Biblical Shemitah Jubilee since it has been approximately 70 Jubilees since the time of Moses, and 40 Jubilees since the time of Christ. Similar to the Shemitah year, during the Jubilee year, the land was not worked, all indentured servants and slaves were freed, and all fields and houses sold during the past fifty years were returned to their original owners. Individuals were to trust in God to provide for them during this (extended) time and were permitted to eat foods that grew on their own. Current Judaism does not observe nor commemorate the Jubilee year as they take the scripture literally that all 12 tribes must reside in Israel in order to do so. The Jubilee year was a year of liberation and release. The Jubilee year is the first year in the next period of 7 years. Jubilee = Yovel = “Trumpet Blast of Liberty” or “Shout for Joy”.

Leviticus 25:8-12

9/23/2014 (W): Fall Equinox (2:22 AM MST)

Summer ends, Fall begins

9/23/2015 (W): Pope visits White House (266^th Pope, 266^th day of year)

9/24/2015 (Th): Pope addresses Joint Session of Congress

9/25/2015 (F): Pope addresses UN General Assembly; performs mass

9/25/2015 (F) – 9/27/2015 (Sun): UN launches new “universal agenda” known as the “2030 Agenda”

9/26/2015 (Sat) – 9/27/2015 (Sun): Pope visits Philadelphia; performs mass; attends 2015 World Meeting of Families; returns to Rome

9/27/2015 (Sun): Total lunar eclipse, 4^th of 4 blood moons of the 2014-2015 tetrad

Supermoon. Eclipse will be visible from most of North and South America, Europe, West Asia and parts of Africa. For most of the world, this blood moon will be visible early in the morning on the 28^th, however, for the Americas, the eclipse will begin early in the evening of September 27^th. From Utah, the blood moon begins at 6:11 PM on the 27^th, reaches its maximum at 8:47 PM, and ends at 11:22 PM (duration: 5 hrs, 11 mins). Since the sunset will occur at 6:49PM MST a partial blood moon and a setting sun will be visible simultaneously.

Sundown 9/27/2015 (Sun) – Sundown 10/4/2015 (M): Sukkot / Feast of the Tabernacles (or Booths)

One of the most joyous Jewish holidays, a time of Thanksgiving, a season of rejoicing, lasting 7 days. "Sukkot" means "booths” (not Tabernacles). Has dual historical and agricultural significance. Historically, Sukkot commemorates the 40-year period of the children of Israel wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering, because the work of the harvest was finished. No work was permitted on the first and second days of the holiday, but was on the other days. Fresh fruits and vegetables were consumed. Two important ceremonies took place: 1) torches were carried around the temple, lighting the candelabrums along the walls of the temple to demonstrate that the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles; 2) priest would draw water from the pool of Siloam and carry it to the temple where it was poured into a silver basin beside the altar. The priest would call upon the Lord to provide heavenly water in the form of rain for their supply. During this ceremony the people looked forward to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Some records reference the day spoken of by the prophet Joel. When Christ attended the Feast of Tabernacles, on the last day of the Feast, He said (John 7:37-38):

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

And then the next morning, while the torches were still burning (John 8:12):

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Leviticus 23:34-43

Exodus 23:16

Exodus 34:22

Numbers 29:12-40

Deuteronomy 16:13-15

Ezra 3:4

Nehemiah 8:13-18

All of September: FEMA’s annual National Preparedness Month

10/3/2015 (Sat) – 10/4/2015 (Sun): 185 Semiannual LDS General Conference

______________________________________________________

*Other Shemitah years or their aftermath in this century:

2015-2016: Jubilee Year…

2014-2015: Turbulence in stock market; rise and spread of ISIS; US legalization of same-sex marriage; racial conflict in major US cities leading to riots and violence; nuclear deal with Iran; mass immigration to Europe from Middle East and Africa; on 9/3/2015, President Monson will have served as President for 7 years and 7 months...

2007-2008: Massive stock market crash; great recession; global recession. LDS Church President Gordon Hinckley dies (1/27/2008) and Thomas S. Monson becomes President (2/3/2008).

2000-2001: Massive stock market crash, global recession; 9/11 attacks on US soil, destruction of World Trade Center buildings.

1993-1994: Bond market crash; LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson dies (5/30/1994), Howard W. Hunter becomes President (6/5/1994).

1986-1987: Stock market crash.

1979-1980: US and global recession.

1972-1973: Legalization of abortion (1/22/1973), completion of World Trade Center buildings; stock market crash; global recession; America fails in Vietnam; Tenure of LDS Church President Harold B. Lee spans just before and after this Shemitah year (7/7/1972-12/26/1973).

1965-1966: stock market crash; 1966-1967 was a Jubilee year: 6-day war between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. Israel reclaimed Jerusalem for first time since before Roman occupation. Construction of World Trade Center begins.

1951-1952: LDS Church President George Albert Smith dies (4/4/1951), and David O. McKay becomes President (4/9/1951) just before Shemitah year.

1944-1945: End of World War II; America rises as world super power; LDS Church President Heber J. Grant dies (5/14/1945), George Albert Smith becomes President (5/21/1945). Plans for World Trade center are conceived.

1937-1938: Beginning of World War II; stock market crash; global recession.

1930-1931: Although the stock market crash that lead to the Great Depression occurred in the Fall of 1929, it was the huge bank runs in the falls of 1930, 1931, and 1932 that collapsed the banking system, deepened the recession, and left country mired for so long. Many suggest the Great Depression truly started in the fall of 1930.

1916-1917: Stock market crash. Balfour Declaration - Great Britain recognized need for a Jewish homeland and openly supported and legitimized Zionist efforts in an official statement. Britain almost bankrupt. 1917-1918 was a Jubilee year and marked the end of World War I. LDS Church President Joseph F. Smith dies just after Jubilee year (11/18/1918), Heber J. Grant becomes President (11/23/1918).
1901-1902: Stock market crash.

041. Update

Slightly over a year has passed since the last post on this blog. It has been a year of highs and lows, successes and failures, polarizing forces, opposition, struggle...a year of transition, growth, overcoming, learning, being pushed to the limits...and ultimately, joy. It was my 40th year. The 40th post to this blog will forever be personal and private, between me and my God only. I now look forward to writing again. I pray that what I share will be of benefit to others, and I give all the Glory to God. We are all in this together, yet our struggle to come to know God is individual.

Whatever struggle or trial you are facing, believe me, it is worth it to hold on in faith. God knows you, He loves you, and He wants you to know Him. There are prices to be paid...in sacrifice, in faith, in patience, in struggle, in loss, in fumbling in the dark..but it is all for a wise and measured purpose...to bring about your salvation and exaltation...to purge the dross from your heart...to align your mind with God's...and to make you more Christlike. For He is indeed the prototype of the saved man (and woman). "What [Christ] proposed unto the human family when He proposed to save them -- that He proposed to make them like unto Himself, and He was like the Father, the great prototype of all saved beings; and for any portion of the human family to be assimilated into Their likeness is to be saved; and to be unlike Them is to be destroyed; and on this hinge turns the door of salvation." (Lectures on Faith, Lecture 7, vs. 16).

Follow the Savior, there is none else that can save.