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.

039. Psalm 75:8 and the Big Dipper

I was looking at the big dipper the other night...upside down in the sky, as if it was pouring out its contents. It looked a little like this...

In times of sorrow, trial, loss, or tribulation it can be helpful to turn to the Psalms. Came across this verse today: Psalm 75:8-10 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

The SL Temple has seven 6-sided stars chiseled on its central Western-facing tower, representing the Big Dipper...

The Big Dipper points to the North Star, the one star in the heavens that never moves...all the other stars revolve around it. The Egyptians called the North Star “The Nail”, which anchors the heavens, allowing all other heavenly bodies to pivot around it. The nail also has reference to the crucifixion and atonement of Jesus Christ. The Big Dipper is made up of seven stars. The number 7 is very common in the scriptures. Seven represents perfection or completeness. In the beginning there are seven days of creation and at the end there are seven seals in the Book of Revelation. We are to forgive seventy times seven (limitless forgiveness). There were seventy elders in Israel. There were seven feasts ordained of the Lord. There have been seven dispensations...from Adam, to Enoch, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to Jesus Christ, and to Joseph Smith...all these then point to the North Star, representing Christ, who is immovable, eternal, complete, perfected.

038. The Veil: The Tabernacle - Part XII

Now returning to my ongoing summary and commentary on C.W. Slemming's "Made According to Pattern", the little known, but amazing book about finding Christ in the details of the desert Tabernacle. Chapter 15 discusses the veil.

The High Priest alone entered the Holy of Holies only once per year. He offered blood sacrifice for himself and for all of Israel on the Day of Atonement. The shedding of blood and its sprinkling on all the vessels of the tabernacle purged and allowed for the remission of sins. In order to do this he had to part the veil and enter into that sacred space.

The scriptures describe six different veils:

1. Veil of the Tabernacle: Made by Moses and the children of Israel. Exodus 26:31-37.

 31 ¶And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: 32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. 33 ¶And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side. 36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. 37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

2. Veil of the Temple. Not the same veil of the Tabernacle. Moses made the 1st, Solomon the 2nd. 2 Chronicles 3:14 And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

3. Veil of Moses: A veil Moses wore when conversing with the Lord, to protect him from the glory of the Lord. Exodus 34:33-35

 33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. 35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

4. Veil of Christ’s Flesh. Christ’s mortal tabernacle was a veil that concealed His inner glory. Hebrew’s 10:19-20

 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

For many, that veil was not enough to prevent them from recognizing something great in Him. On the Mount of Transfiguration, His glory came through that veil (Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light).

5. Veil of Unbelief. This is a veil in our own minds and hearts that does not allow us to see or understand what has been taught. 2 Corinthians 3:13-16

 13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

6. Veil of National Blindness. There is a veil of blindness over all the Lord’s people, who are scattered. When it is removed, they will recognize their Savior and a nation shall be born in a day. Isaiah 25:7-9

 7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. 9 ¶And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

All veils serve to separate and conceal. Christ IS the way, the truth, the life. The way into the presence of God was not made manifest while the veil of Christ’s flesh remained unrent. The veil was His life, and the rending the veil His death. His death was the fullest manifestation of divine love, to die for another. Simultaneous to His death on the cross, the veil of the temple was rent, symbolic of the way to God being opened unto all. His death thus brought the Tabernacle/Temple dispensations to an end. The veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. Matt 27:51: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top, from heaven, to the bottom, to earth.

The Book of Mormon contains eight scriptures mentioning a veil (7 presented here, 2 Nephi 13:23 discusses veils as articles of clothing):

Ether 3:6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.

Ether 3:19-20 And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him.

Ether 4:13-15
13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. 14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. 15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.

Ether 12:19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.

Ether 12:21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.

Alma 19:6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—

What is learned from these verses? There is a veil upon our eyes, a spiritual blindness. Once it is removed, we can see spiritually. The Brother of Jared then obtains "perfect knowledge", he has seen the Lord. Because of this perfect knowledge of God, the Brother of Jared cannot be kept from within or without the veil. In other words, he cannot be held back or prevented from seeing through the veil. We are commanded to rend the veil of our own unbelief. How does that happen? Perhaps part of it is having a truly broken heart and contrite spirit. Humility. The veil of unbelief allows us to remain in our awful state of wickedness, hardness of heart, and blindness of mind. Not very good things. We should be seeking to know how to rend our veils of unbelief and come closer to the presence of God. We must fill our minds and hearts with light (see Alma 19:6 above), the light of Christ. We must rid ourselves of as much sin and doubt and fear as possible, transforming the darkness within us into light through the atonement of Jesus Christ. There are four verses in the Doctrine and Covenants pertaining to the veil...only one is relevant to our discussion here, and it is extremely important:

Doctrine and Covenants 67:10 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. 

What an incredible passage of scripture! This is OUR privilege!...even OUR promise! We have been PROMISED by THE LORD! Have you been ordained to this ministry? YES! Otherwise I doubt you are reading this. Therefore, the promise applies! Here is what is necessary in order to have the veil of unbelief rent...it's not rocket science...but it could take a long time depending on how you go about it and how much faith and dedication you have to make this possible...

1) Strip yourself from jealousies;
2) Strip yourself from fears;
3) Humble yourself sufficiently.

Jealousies, what are these? It is covetousness, envy, wanting or desiring something that is not yours. It involves comparing what you have to what others may have. At its root is pride, not being adequately grateful for what the Lord has bestowed upon you. 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Fears, what are these? Fear of what? Why would fears keep us from rending the veil of unbelief? Do fears represent doubt? The only scripture that comes to mind is 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. As we seek to love the Lord and others perfectly, aren't our fears diminished? Do we have fear of what man can do? No, because as we have perfect faith in Christ, we trust Him to fight our battles, guide us, lead us safely home.

Being sufficiently humble. How do we know when we are sufficiently humble? Well, if we haven't rent the veil of unbelief, I guess that tells us something. How do we humble ourselves before the Lord? There are actually many examples of this in the scriptures. It involves repentance, recognition of one's dependence on God, that He delivers us, that He blesses us, that all we have comes from Him. Mosiah 4:11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

To demonstrate humility, remember the Lord, His greatness, goodness, long-suffering, and our nothingness...call on the name of the Lord daily, have faith. We can pray to know what jealousies and fears may be limiting us in our quest to rend the veil. We can pray to know how we can be more humble. As we strip away and are cleansed from jealousies and fears, and humble ourselves to the dust, what are the promises made in Doctrine and Covenants 67:10?

1) Veil shall be rent;
2) You shall see the Lord;
3) You shall know the Lord.

Your knowledge, like the Brother of Jared, will be perfect...and thus you will no longer be kept from within or without the veil and you will enter His presence. Amazing, truly. Let us all press on.

037. Good Friday

Matthew 27

 11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  



12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
 15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
 17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

 19 ¶When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.


 24 ¶When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 26 ¶Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29 ¶And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

 34 ¶They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
 36 And sitting down they watched him there;
 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

 39 ¶And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

 50 ¶Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

See also Mark 15 and Luke 23

036. Twisted Trees

Yesterday I hiked up the ridge of some nearby mountains. The trail started near a pond with a few trees around. These trees weren't overly lush or tall, but they were healthy, straight, and showed no evidence of struggle. The trail was steep all the way up...like climbing a staircase the entire ascent and the descent was all baby steps so as to not slip on the loose and rocky gravel.

As I climbed I noticed the trees along the sloping mountainside were not like the trees at the base, even though they were the same species. These were twisted, leaning over, and sprawled out, with both dead and living branches on them. There were fewer trees here than below...more scattered and isolated. Some of their roots were exposed in many places, piercing up through the arid and rocky soil. They were generally not a pretty sight...wind-whipped and more coarse. It caused me to wonder how they subsisted here. Their roots must reach very deep to find water and sustenance.

The hike was strenuous, yet almost from the start there were butterflies flying nearby all along the trail. They'd land on the ground just before my feet, kissing the earth, but causing me to almost trip for fear of stepping on them. They'd circle dance around me in the air as I walked. It seemed like dozens of butterflies throughout the hike, appearing one or two at a time, but maybe it was the same one or two all along...like the angels who accompany us in our journey in this life.

As I climbed higher, I could see further and further in all directions...into the canyon, into the towns across the valley, across the valleys to other mountains. It was a beautiful view as I stood among those twisted trees. I thought of the contrast and was grateful for these trees.

We each have a choice to make as to what kind of a tree we will be. Whether it will be among the healthy and good looking trees at the bottom of the canyon that rely on the cool waters delivered to them by the pond, or a worn out twisted tree at the top of the summit among the butterflies, that relies on the heavens to pour out rain, and can see afar off from a vantage point enjoyed by few. I don't know which one I am, but I'm grateful we live in a time and place where we can make these kinds of choices and learn from our experience.

035. Following Him

1 Nephi 1:10 "And he also saw twelve others following Him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament."

034. Return of the Doves & Birds of Prey

Over the last several 7-10 years, I've noticed a tremendous increase in the populations of vultures, ravens, magpies, and starlings in my small Northern Utah town. These are scavenger birds, carrying disease and driving other birds away. They make unpleasant noises when they fly and communicate with one another. They are highly intelligent and work in groups or flocks, calling to one another about food and danger. They tear up our garden and harass our farm animals. Not only are these birds unattractive and a general nuisance, but they are also dangerous to the delicate balance of life in our ecosystem because of the diseases they carry that can spread to other birds and mammals.

We don't have many eagles where we live, but there are hawks, owls, and doves. An occasional eagle will be spotted high in the sky above the mountain range or very rarely along the freeway. It is a beautiful and awe-provoking sight. Hawks and owls are also rare, but I've seen more of them this year than in previous years. A magnificent red tailed hawk spent several days in some of the trees along our property a few weeks ago. For a time, groups of ravens would try to taunt him while he perched, and harass him when he'd fly. He seemed totally unfazed and behaved as if they did not exist. Eventually, all the other troublesome birds seemed to disappear while he was in residence. Last Fall, the owls returned and I could find them perched at night and calling quietly to each other in the darkness of night. More doves this year than ever before as well, particularly in the morning. A sign of peace. I observe these types of birds as mostly being alone, not part of a group, and are silent and graceful...although they sometimes come in pairs, especially the doves. They make pleasant sounds or none at all. The fly almost effortlessly, and quietly. They do not eat waste or carrion.

From afar, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish a hawk from a raven or a dove from something like a pigeon. Silhouetted against the sky, their head and body shapes are similar. You could say one species might have an opposite in the other species...counterfeits. You can distinguish them in several ways...by their sounds, what they consume, how they hold their heads, whether they are alone or not. Especially as you get closer you can tell.

I grew up in a home where birds were studied and appreciated. We learned how to identify various species. Birds have deep meaning to me. They represent something beyond this world, something unseen. I hope that the return of these birds of prey and the doves is a trend beyond my own little yard and hometown. If so, I wonder what it means? I welcome their increased presence as it gives me hope. I've learned much about myself and my spiritual path in life by watching the birds.


UPDATE 4/23/2014: This morning a small hawk took down a starling in our backyard, in the orchard. The photo is grainy, but it shows who the victor was. Things are happening indeed.