The Garment of Adam
Why Noah Cursed Ham So, Noah got drunk and Ham saw him naked. Why did Noah curse Canaan (one of Ham’s sons), if Ham saw him naked? In the Book of Jasher (Sepir Ha Yasher or Book of the Upright), we find an interesting reason. When Adam left the Garden of Eden, he was given a coat of skins, or a special garment of authority. This garment represented Adam’s current plight on earth, but was a connection to Eden. It would symbolize the heavenly garment that Enoch, Isaiah and others would be dressed in during their heavenly ascensions. Adam’s garment allowed him to be able to speak with the animals and give each of them names. When he wore the garment, animals were not afraid to approach, because they saw him as the...
Sacred Space – the Modern Endowment
Previous posts on Sacred Space, can be found at these links: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, and part eight. In the previous articles, we’ve discussed ancient concepts of the endowment, sacred space, and entering into God’s presence. In this final post, we will discuss the modern endowment, how it has evolved, and the key concepts conveyed in its teachings. The Nauvoo Endowment After the great experiences of the Kirtland Temple dedication, things became hard on the saints. Kicked out of Kirtland by apostates, they tried to build a Zion people (defined as “the pure in heart”) in Missouri. Lands were dedicated for new temples in Independence and Far West, Missouri....
Sacred Space – the Kirtland Ohio Temple and the Day of Pentecost
Previous posts on Sacred Space, can be found at these links: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, and part seven. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was originally organized in the Northeastern U.S., where Joseph Smith received his First Vision, and translated the plates containing the Book of Mormon. But the Lord had bigger plans for Joseph and the Saints, and so called them via revelation to Kirtland, Ohio, just east of Cleveland. And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto me a righteous people, without spot and blameless wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you a commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law and there you...
Sacred Space – Sacred places in Mormon history
Previous posts on Sacred Space, can be found at these links: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, and part six. Before entering within the temple doors of modern LDS temples, we’ll look at some sacred locations in Mormon history and their significance to the series. The Sacred Grove For Latter-day Saints, the phrase “Sacred Grove” can mean either Jesus’ suffering among the olive tree grove of Gethsemane, or the place where Joseph Smith had his first spiritual experience. In 1820, Joseph Smith was a 14 year old boy living in upstate New York, near the town of Palmyra (not far from Niagara Falls). Joseph recalled that at the time, a religious revival was happening there, in what was then known as the...
Sacred Space – The Temple Experience in Ancient Jewish/Christian Texts
Previous posts on Sacred Space, can be found at these links: part one, part two, part three, part four, and part five. In previous articles, we’ve discussed sacred spaces and temple experiences from the Bible and Book of Mormon. We will now look at some of ancient texts related to Judaism and/or Christianity that also contain such themes. Please note that none of these are part of the canonized scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and most Mormons have probably never heard of them. It is interesting, however, to read about and see the commonalities of spiritual experiences of the prophets, whether in scripture or non-scriptural literature. The Ascension of Isaiah The Ascension of Isaiah is believed...
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