Symbolism

      We live in a lost world deprived of a basic knowledge of the symbols that surround us. Like Attic Greek or Ancient Hebrew symbolism is a dead language even among Mormons. The word symbol in English comes from the Greek symbolon which is when 2 parties separate animal bones and bring them back together in a contract. It represents 2 separated parties becoming one. Symbols are replicas, patterns, shadows, mirrors, copies and models of more grand realities. The temple is the first symbol created on this earth because it was the first creation on this earth=the garden of Eden. The temple is the source of almost every aspect of culture we have today. Art, plays, music, government, architecture, universities, banks, etc. all had their origins in ancient temples. The word temple comes from the Sumerian word temen which means a sacred enclosure. Hence temenos walls surrounded all ancient temples. The word temp means to cut. The garden of Eden was the first temple on the earth and all other temples on the earth are miniature models of it. The word garden also means enclosure in Hebrew. Hence the temple encloses and gathers what is sacred and separates it from what is profane. The word profane comes from the Latin profanum; pro=outside of, fanum=temple.
      As a society we have lost our understanding and ability to discern between what is sacred and what is profane. Sacred means holy, set apart, pure, undefiled, eternal, reality, etc. The temple's purpose is to take us profane beings and step by step make us holy in stages in order to prepare us to be brought back to where we came from, the real temple in heaven. Yes, there is a temple in heaven (Revelation 14:17; 15:5; 16:17).  The temple on earth is a replica of the real temple in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5). Heaven is comprised of three degrees of glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-42). The temple in heaven is the Celestial glory or where God lives. The Celestial Kingdom or glory is comprised of 3 degrees (D&C 131:1). This is why the temple on earth has 3 sections or rooms-the courtyard, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies; because it is a miniature model or replica of the real temple in heaven. The temple on earth is what joins earth with heaven and is called by some to be the gate of God.
      The temple and everything in it represent or symbolize Christ. Since LDS temples have the priesthood or Christ's authority, both restored through Joseph Smith, the temple is one of the media by which we again meet God. The temple represents Christ-our mediator.
      So how do we come to understand the difference between sanctity and profanity? We must follow Christ, become like Him to come to know Him. It all starts with what we think about. We must rise above the mediocrity of the world and their lesser ways and thoughts compared with God's higher thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). We must prepare ourselves to take upon ourselves the name or authority of Christ in the temple by first believing in Him, having faith in His power to change us, repent of our sins, and prayer for the desire, the ability to change through Christ's atonement. After applying these principles, or teachings of truth, we must then receive ordinances, or sacred rituals performed by the above mentioned priesthood. We must show our willingness to receive Christ's name through the ordinances of baptism by immersion, by the priesthood, and after one is at least 8 years of age. Then we must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the cleansing agent God gives us to cleanse us of our sins and which motivates us to do good, and become more like Christ.
      After we have been faithful to these preliminary ordinances we must continue on to the temple to receive the fullness of the priesthood or the fullness of the name of Christ, for only under His name are we saved (2 Nephi 25:20). This is why temples are so important to the Mormons and this is why temples have always been important to all of God's prophets and their followers since Adam's time. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the first temple, and ever since them it is our duty to become worthy enough to reenter the temple, to go back where our first parents came from. Christ is our exemplar. He is our Savior, our Redeemer. It is only through His grace and merits and mercy that we are saved (2 Nephi 2:8). We must develop His attributes of charity, patience, hope, faith, temperance, brotherly kindness, long-suffering, diligence, virtue and godliness (2 Peter 1:5-7). In essence we must take off the fashions of the world (1 Corinthians 7:31) of pride, lust, greed, gluttony and sloth and put on Christ's attributes (Galatians 3:27) mentioned above in 2 Peter.
      Which temple should we strive to go to? There are many temples and temple means different things to different people. The word temple for many Christians is a church or even the very group of Christians. Temples dot the earth all over the world for almost every religion known to man. This is because the temple is such an ancient idea. The temple started with Adam and then His children ever since have been taught about it and many fell away and created apostate or false temples. These temples have been created ever since the first apostate temple-the Tower of Babel. The restoration of true temples of God have been brought back to every prophet, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses. Christ restored temple rituals in his day and they again were lost after his death and the death of his apostles. What is unique about the true temple of God is that it is restored by God and his angels, and that authority is given to God's prophets to allow these temples to function on earth as true media back to God.
       Joseph Smith was one of these true prophets that again was given the authority of God to restore the temple and its blessings through God after it was taken from the earth after the death of Christ and his apostles. The temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the only true temples of God on the earth because they are directed by the authority of Christ or the Holy Priesthood. It is in these sacred edifices and only there where we can receive all the necessary blessings and power we as God's children need to return to His presence as eternal families. I invite all that read this to learn about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through him and about the temples of the LDS church. Pray to God and ask Him directly to know if the LDS church is the only true church on the earth. I have done it and God has told me, just like he will tell you, through the power of the Holy Ghost that it is indeed true. Ask God directly and simply if it is true, and end the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ amen. Then wait for an answer. You won't see an angel or God like prophets do, but God will tell you through the Holy Ghost if it's true. Just pray with real intent, meaning that you will follow the answer that God gives you and be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after you know for yourself that it is the only true church. Go to mormon.org or lds.org to find out more.

Spiritual Maturity

In today's world there is a grave need for more spirituality especially in the western culture as well as maturity. To put the two together or to be spiritually mature is a rare quality indeed. To be spiritually mature is to not complain when times get tuff. It is to obey God's commandments. It means to sacrifice for the things you want. It means to not envy or be jealous of others. It means to be spiritually minded and not carnally minded. This ultimately means that your thoughts and desires in life are centered on reality or what really matters eternally. Elaine L. Jack, a past General Relief Society president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "these things are real "...to know God’s plan, and to follow the Savior’s example of service...testimony, individuality, charity, families. . .These are real. And so are you. You are everywhere. I pay tribute to you (These Things Are Manifested Unto Us Plainly" Nov. 1990). How many of us can really say we are more concerned with our eternal nature than with our mortal condition? It is my lifelong goal to become more like Christ is being strictly concerned with things of eternal importance, i.e. family, serving others, learning and applying truth and learning how to love God and my fellow man more purely.

Food for Thought:
If we fail to overcome what has stopped our success in the past we plan on perpetually failing in the future.

We can't reach our potential divinity unless we overcome adversity that only the divinity within us can overcome.

We need to start believing we deserve all the success God wants us to have and is willing to help us receive if only we could believe in ourselves as he does.

Fear is not our friend so we must stop hanging out with it all of the time.

Not just fear, but anything that brings us down whether it be negative media, junk food, or anything else that doesn't uplift and make us better sons and daughters of God.

Let us rise up and live like the future kings and queens we are.

Self Cultivation

At the start of this blog, since its title is Self Cultivation, I thought I would share what I mean by self cultivation. This life has many purposes, among which are: to be tested to see if we will obey God or follow Satan, to learn and progress and grow in faith, wisdom and experience, and to receive a body of flesh and blood. How well we learn how to cultivate ourselves, to improve ourselves spiritually, intellectually and physically, using Brigham Young's idea of praying like everything depends on God and working like everything depends on you, will determine our success in cultivating the best within us and allowing our spirits to dominate and temper our outer shells we call the physical body. I served a two year service mission for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Buenos Aires Argentina where one of my mission presidents shared with me his philosophy in life. It is that if it doesn't uplift don't do it. I love that! It is so simple yet very hard to apply. It is my quest in life to use this philosophy in my personal pursuit to create my best self intellectually, spiritually and physically by applying my belief and knowledge that I am a child of God and that through the atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ all things are possible, and what that knowledge should make one do with his or her life. I am a follower of Christ, a soldier among his hosts in heaven and on earth. I acknowledge Christ as my Savior, and the Savior of all of God's children. I believe in Him and believe he can do what he says he can do for me and for you. I have faith in him by living up to my beliefs. Most importantly he helps me emulate his life. I strive each day to become a better disciple of Christ and to invite all of my brothers and sisters in this universe to do the same. I invite all those that don't know Christ to get to know him, and even if you are never Christian nor ever want to be, I still love you and so does Christ. All I want is for my brothers and sisters to take all the truth and goodness in their lives and bring it with them to the feet of Jesus, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings and see what He can add to their lives. I testify that Jesus is the Christ. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church on the earth. I testify that The Book of Mormon is true scripture and is a companion to The Holy Bible. I invite all to read from The Book of Mormon, to think about what they have read, and to ask God if it is true or not. God will tell you the truth of all things through the Holy Ghost. I am grateful for those that read this and hope it will be of value to strengthen you, to help you get closer to God even if you never want to be Christian let alone a member of the LDS church. What I do believe is that the LDS church has the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has what the Church in Christ's day lost due to the killing of the apostles with a restoration of priesthood authority, prophets, revelation and necessary ordinances like baptism done the way Christ did it, with his authority. What I also know is that the LDS church does not claim to have nor does it have a monopoly on truth. Truth is found in many religions and philosophies and science. I am a seeker of truth and respect all media that teaches truth. I hope to not be misunderstood and hope to be an instrument in God's hands to help strengthen my brothers and sisters through and because of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.
Sincerely,
your brother Andrew