U.S. professional running champion, Bernard Lagat

It is fascinating to me all the places that I hear or see or read glimpses of temple theology, the ‘scattered fragments’ of ritual tradition¹.  As Nibley found out, and taught extensively, these remnants are found all around us, everywhere.  My wife was listening to the radio on the way to the grocery store last week, and heard part of a program on Classical 89 that related to the Creation song.  She came home and told me about it, and I was immediately interested, and tracked down the transcription.  I’m still studying that, and will write about it soon.  But today, again, I was reading the February 2010 edition of Runner’s World, of all places, and came across references to ritual initiation and rites of passage.  … [visit site to read more]

Running Champion Bernard Lagat and Nandi Initiation

1. Nibley, The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri: An Egyptian Endowment, xxvii

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Dr. Richard Bushman

The Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies and the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), in conjunction with Religious … [visit site to read more]

Hugh Nibley Weekly Lecture Series Beginning Tonight at BYU

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• New Lecture Series Announced: The Work of Hugh W. Nibley

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Example of a popup using the new Wordpress LDS Scripture Linker Plugin by DearScriptures.com

For some time I’ve been using the excellent LDS Linker WordPress plugin, developed by Joey Day, to automatically link all scripture references on TempleStudy.com directly to the Church’s online scriptures at scriptures.lds.org.  It worked very well, and continues to be one of the most popular WordPress plugins for LDS bloggers to link their scripture references to the online scriptures.

Recently I was thinking how much easier it would be to just hover your mouse over a scripture reference and see a popup with the scripture reference written out.  It would make reading the scripture references that much quicker in a blog post, rather than clicking a link to another site.  … [visit site to read more]

New WordPress LDS Scripture Linker Plugin for Bloggers

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soyfresh has added a photo to the pool:

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stephpowell has added a photo to the pool:

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Annunciation to the Shepherds, Abraham Hondius, 1663, oil on panel. (Click image for a larger view)

The Christmas story from Luke 2 reads in part:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:8–20)

Most of us are very familiar with these scriptures, as it is tradition in many families to read this story at Christmastime every year to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

But who were the shepherds?  Have you, like me, considered the angelophany to the shepherds in their fields something that was completely random?  Were the angels announcing the birth of the Savior abroad in the land, and this was just one of the accounts that was recorded in scripture?  Or was there a greater purpose to the angelic revelation specific to these shepherds?  … [visit site to read more]

Who were the Shepherds in the Christmas Story?

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A First Presidency meeting room in the Church Administration Building

Last Wednesday evening, a youth group from a ward had the opportunity to go downtown to the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City and receive a tour of some of the rooms where the First Presidency holds their meetings with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Presidency of the Seventy.  The invitation came from their bishop, Bishop Mortensen, who is an assistant secretary to the First Presidency.

The group was able to see several boardroom-style meeting rooms, ask questions, and take pictures.  They saw the door to President Monson’s office, but weren’t able to go inside.  The picture shown here is apparently the room where they meet most often for committee meetings, etc.

The blogger includes a fun anecdote of an exchange once between their bishop and President Monson:

…if you look in the photo, in the left corner is the door that leads to the Prophet’s office. Our Bishop has the responsibility to open it for the Prophet. The wood in the room was imported from Russia, and the door is at least 3 inches thick, so it is heavy and President Monson always jokes with our Bishop because it’s hard. One day they were joking and the Bishop mentioned he was doing push-ups to get ready to open it and Pres. Monson said: ‘Oh really? Well lets see!’ So Bishop Mortensen dropped down and gave the Prophet 10 push-ups and got up and Pres. Monson said: ‘I meant show me by opening the door!’

You can read more about the tour, and see a couple more pictures, at the link below:

TBUTT13 – ‘From the office of the First Presidency…’

The First Presidency Meeting Rooms is a post from: Follow The Prophet – The Activities of Gods Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

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Elijah Appearing In The Kirtland Temple, by Dan Lewis.

My father is on the High Council in the Riverton Utah Stake, and this past Sunday he was asked to speak in a ward about the temple and family history work.  He sent me his talk, and I thought it was good and thought provoking.  I thought you might like it too.  -Bryce

By Mark Haymond
November 15, 2009
Riverton 11th Ward

At the first of October, just last month, I had the privilege of traveling with other members of our stake and even President and Sister Higbee back to the important sites in early Church history. We visited the birthplace of Joseph in Sharon, Vermont. We visited Harmony, Pennsylvania, where the Prophet Joseph and Emma first lived after they were married. In the home in Harmony most of the Book of Mormon was translated and revelations were received. Just behind that home, not fifty yards, are the banks of the Susquehanna River where John the Baptist laid his hands on Joseph and Oliver’s heads and the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood was bestowed upon them. While Joseph and Emma lived in Harmony, the Apostles Peter, James and John came to the earth and laid their hands on the heads of Joseph and Oliver and bestowed upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood and the holy Apostleship.  … [visit site to read more]

The Promises Made to the Fathers

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Elder John A. Widtsoe (1872-1952)

Occasionally you encounter a talk or book or article that is a classic.  Elder John A. Widtsoe’s talk on ‘Temple Worship’ given at a meeting of the Genealogical Society of Utah at the Assembly Hall in Salt Lake on October 12, 1920, is one of those talks.  There are portions of this talk that many will recognize that are still frequently quoted today in connection with the temple.  His treatment of the temple is fairly basic, yet it is powerful in its plainness and insight.  Elder Widtsoe has given us a lot to ponder here.

Thank you, Steve, for sharing this talk with us! – Bryce

Temple Worship

My brethren and sisters, when those in charge of this work were planning the program, I urged upon them that they do not call this meeting for the Assembly Hall. I felt sure the congregation would be so small that we would all be unhappy. I am happily disappointed; and I am quite sure that neither the drawing power of Joseph Fielding Smith nor myself is the cause of this large attendance, but that the conviction in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints that all that pertains to temples and to temple work, to the salvation for the dead, is of tremendous worth. I regret, of course, that Elder Joseph Fielding Smith is not here tonight. I am sorry for those of you who came to hear him speak, for you will have to come again, because he speaks tomorrow. He is filling an important engagement, and we simply exchanged evenings. I regret, however, for my own sake, that he is not here, because what I have to say needs as a background the splendid talk that he has for us. He will deal with the spirit and the mission of Elijah. I was asked to speak about temple worship. He was to take up the great generalization, the great body of principles upon which this work rests; and I was to take one small part of the application of the work, for my theme. I feel just a little embarrassed to speak on temple worship without the background of Elder Smith’s discourse. I am embarrassed also because I realize how utterly impossible it is to deal with so vast and comprehensive a subject in the few moments that I can take tonight, especially in the presence of so many of you who have spent your lives in temple service and who understand the subject so well. But, like you I am willing to obey orders and to do the best I can; and with the assistance of your faith and your prayers, I shall try to discuss with you some of the high points pertaining to temple worship which all should understand, whether we have received the blessings of the temple or whether we are candidates for temple blessings. It is to be an elementary, non-technical discussion.  … [visit site to read more]

Temple Worship by Elder John A. Widtsoe

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The Anointing of David

David Larsen at Heavenly Ascents continues to provide excellent notes from his … [visit site to read more]

Anointing Rite in the Orthodox Church

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Elder Richard G. Scott

In the April General Conference earlier this year Elder Richard G. Scott spoke about the temple.  He said:

I have seen that many times individuals have made great sacrifices to go … [visit site to read more]

Poll – Top Things that Interfere with Regular Temple Attendance?

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Samuel anointing David. Stained glass.

My friend David Larsen has some great notes at … [visit site to read more]

Margaret Barker on The Holy Anointing Oil

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President David O. McKay (1873-1970)

One of the most frequent questions I receive from readers is ‘how should I prepare to go to the temple?‘  Or if it is not for them personally, ‘how do I help someone else prepare to go to the temple?’  It is an important question, and one that should be carefully considered.

Preparing to go to the temple is one of the most important things someone can do, not only for the first time they go, but for the rest of our lives.  The temple experience is incredibly rich in symbolism and meaning, and only a lifetime of study can reveal all its teachings.  Elder Boyd K. Packer once related an experience he had with President David O. McKay in the Salt Lake Temple:  … [visit site to read more]

Temple Preparation

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visit site to read more]

Ancient Israelite Temples Timeline (1300 BC—AD 100)

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Temple Square Panoramas

I’ve featured 360° panoramas of … [visit site to read more]

Excellent Panoramas of Temple Square

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President Thomas S. Monson

The emails I receive these days give me ample opportunity to teach the gospel. Below is my response to a fundamentalist.

I will explain why you do not understand the doctrine of continual revelation, and why it is leading you away from the truth.

First, a scripture:

And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. (2 Ne. 29:9–10)

Revelation can be a nebulous thing.  It is not always so clear cut that it builds on top of prior revelations and is in harmony with them.  Every prophet that has ever lived on the earth was rejected by his own generation because they thought he did not conform to the ‘old revelations,’ that they changed them, and gave them something new.  Joseph gave us the script.  And I repeat.  … [visit site to read more]

The Doctrine of Continual Revelation

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DearScriptures.com

I’m always looking for better ways of accessing, searching, and reading the scriptures.  They are truly the words of eternal life.  Whenever I hear of a new way of encountering the scriptures, I check it out.  DearScriptures.com is an online version of the scriptures that now allows you to text message (SMS) or instant message (IM) scripture references to it, or search for scriptures, and it will reply with the references and/or text of the scripture(s). It includes other great features as well.  And it’s all free! … [visit site to read more]

Access the Scriptures via SMS Text or Instant Message

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Accountability

I received an email today which highlights a serious error which I believe runs rampant among some members of the Church, especially those I encounter online. Here are some excerpts from the email which demonstrate the issue:

… You should allow this point to be made.  You can always oppose that point, but to suppress it altogether points to a lack of honesty, and integrity in the debate…

Being a fan of Nibley, you should recognize that all is not well in Zion, and it’s up to the inhabitants of Zion to make corrections.  … We have a duty to put pressure on our leaders …   … [visit site to read more]

Are Church Leaders Accountable to the Membership?

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Margaret Barker

The use of those two words together, resurrection in mortality, appears to be perfectly incongruous at first glance.  In our common parlance in the Church we understand resurrection to be something that can only happen after mortality.  The resurrection ‘consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided’¹.  This is an event which happens only after there has been a separation of the spirit body from the mortal body through the process called death.  In my reading over the weekend, however, I came across a fascinating perspective from Margaret Barker which gives added meaning to the word resurrection, and our understanding of it, a meaning which can apply to us while still in our mortal estate. … [visit site to read more]

Attaining the Resurrection in Mortality

1. ’Resurrection.’ LDS Bible Dictionary. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/r/28

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LDS Humanitarian Services

I received a comment this evening from YouTube user visit site to read more]

Temple Construction Costs vs. Humanitarian Aid?

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