[The Bible] is purely a creation of man to placate the ego’s fear of death and nothing more. All religion was invented to buffer the ego against the fear of death.

That’s certainly one way to think of death.  Another way to think of it is that religion gives meaning to life and death.  Hugh Nibley often quoted a poem by A.E. Housman about man’s preoccupation with death:

. . . men at whiles are sober
And think by fits and starts,
And if they think, they fasten
Their hands upon their hearts.

The prominent literary scholar Harold Bloom once said,

What is the essence of religion? ... Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion.

I recently came upon two vastly different modes of thinking about death.  The juxtaposition of these two starkly different views is very interesting.  

Raymond Kurzweil

Raymond Kurzweil

Ray Kurzweil is an American author, inventor, entrepreneur, scientist, and well-known futurist.  He’s been instrumental in the fields of OCR, text-to-speech synthesis, the flatbed scanner, speech recognition, and electronic musical keyboards.

He’s also on a quest to abolish death.  He takes 150 pills every day, consisting of supplements, vitamins, and other agents to hopefully slow down his body’s aging processes.  He explained why on a recent NOVA program “Can We Slow Aging?”

In my view, death is a great robber of all the things that give meaning to life.  It destroys knowledge, and wisdom, and relationships. And there is actually a lot of things you can do to slow down these aging and disease processes…  The goal right now is to live long enough to get to a future point where we will have technologies that will extend our longevity even further.

Ultimately, Ray hopes that a future day will come when our advances in science, medicine and technology will become so sophisticated that we will be able to completely do away with death and essentially become immortal, choosing if or when we die.

As with many secular scientists, he is extremely fearful of death.  In his view, the only way of overcoming it is by preventing it, with science.  Not only that, but in a future day he believes we may be able to bring people back from the dead through science and technology (either Jurassic Park-like and/or intelligence), as Raymond hopes to do with his late father.  His latest book is entitled Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever.

Monk from Mt. Athos, Greece

Monks of Mt. Athos

Contrast that view with that of the Orthodox monks of Mt. Athos in Greece.  Recently 60 Minutes did a special program (Part 1, Part 2) about these ultra-secluded monks; they visited them and interviewed them about their way of life.  One of the topics discussed with them was their view of death.

60 Minutes: Total union with Christ is only possible when they leave this world.

Monk: “The first thing a monk does is embrace and love death…”

60 Minutes: “Embrace and love death?”

Monk: “…because death is the ticket to the other life.  Without a ticket, you can’t travel.”

60 Minutes: “Where do you get the ticket?”

Monk: “In this life.  That’s what we do each day.  We prepare for death.  And we’re joyful about our journey to heaven.”

These monks are not fearful of death; it’s quite the opposite.  They embrace it, long for it, look forward to it, love it, and prepare every day for the time when they will take their journey to heaven to be with Christ again.  There is no need to overcome death because death, to them, is the passageway to Christ.  Death is not an end, but another glorious beginning.

Latter-day Saints

In Harold Bloom’s quote about men’s apprehension of death cited at the beginning, he also said,

Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator Joseph Smith.

Wow.  What was Bloom talking about?  Of all the religions he encountered, which were probably quite a few, the one that most defied and denied death was the religion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is quite a statement.  But why?  Why does Mormonism have such a strong position against death?

I think there are several reasons why, which form a framework of belief that makes death a necessary step in our progression, but otherwise is inconsequential:

• We believe in a physical, corporeal, resurrection from the dead. We believe that since Christ died and was resurrected, that ALL death was ultimately vanquished in Him (he reversed the effects of the Fall on our mortal bodies), and that ALL will rise from the dead some day. (Alma 40:23, Alma 22:14, Mosiah 16:7-8, Mormon 7:5, 1 Cor. 15:55)
• Sealing of eternal families. We believe that our relationships do not have to end at death.  We can be with our husband or wife, parents, brothers and sisters, children, grandparents, grandchildren, etc. for all of eternity.  We spend much of our most important time during our mortal lives tending to these precious relationships, and it makes perfect sense that a loving God would make a way for us to continue those relationships beyond the grave.
• Eternal life & exaltation. We believe this earth-life experience is a step in a much grander plan, and is a stepping stone for greater things to come.  Life goes on.  We believe that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can become heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ, and become like them (Romans 8:17, Gal. 4:7).  For those who follow God’s commandments, we may continue in our social and family relationships for all of eternity, and participate with God in the plan of salvation.

Besides the universal resurrection, these blessings are promised by God through the covenants and ordinances available in temples of God throughout the earth.

What are your thoughts on these vastly different views of death?  Why does the LDS faith have such a unique position on death?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Radically different views of Death

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. 

We visited the Peter Whitmore farm where the Church was organized on April 6, 1830.

We walked in the Sacred Grove and experienced the sacred feeling that is there 189 years after the Father and Son appeared to Joseph in that grove. We experienced the place where Joseph was visited by the resurrected being Moroni who told Joseph about the Book of Mormon buried in the hill not far from his home. We climbed that hill, even the Hill Cumorah, where the golden plates lay hidden for fourteen centuries. We walked in the very rooms of the Grandin Print Shop where the Book of Mormon was first printed.

The last place we visited was Kirtland, Ohio. I was very impressed with Kirtland as I came to realize all that transpired there. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve were first organized in Kirtland. The School of the Prophets was started there. Great manifestations of God happened there. Sixty-five revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants came to the Prophet while he lived in Kirtland, including the revelation to build the Kirtland Temple. This revelation came before the church was three years old.

The Church was new and the Saints were few when the Lord told Joseph to build him a house. It was while I was there in Kirtland that I came to realize that temples, temple worship, and Family History work have been a central reason for the Restoration of the gospel from the very beginning of the Restoration.

This might seem obvious to us but it may be so obvious that we don't think about it. We seem to focus on the concept that the gospel was restored so we can become members of the true Church and be taught the true gospel, and temple work for the living and the dead is just another component of the Restoration. But, it started to become clear to me that this is not the correct way to view temples and family history work. The Prophet Joseph explained to us that the very purpose of the gathering of the Saints and the Restoration of the gospel was the building of temples.

Joseph said,

What was the object of gathering the Jews, or the people of God in any age of the world?… The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.

It was the design of the councils of heaven before the world was, that the principles and laws of the priesthood should be predicated upon the gathering of the people in every age of the world....

It is for the same purpose that God gathers together His people in the last days, to build unto the Lord a house to prepare them for the ordinances and endowments, washings and anointings, etc.

So, why the gathering of the Saints? So that there would be enough people with the right skills and enough resources to build a temple. What part did temple building play in the Restoration of the gospel? It has been a central reason from the very beginning.

Elder John A. Widtsoe, former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained this. He said,

When Joseph Smith was commissioned to restore the Gospel and to re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ, the building of temples and temple worship became almost the first and last issue of his life...  The main concern of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the restoration of the Gospel in these latter days was the founding, building, and completion of temples in which the ordinances "hid from before the foundation of the world" might be given.

In last month's Ensign, in an article entitled “Blessings of the Temple,” Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve quoted Joseph Smith,

The Church is not fully organized, in its proper order, and cannot be, until the Temple is completed, where places will be provided for the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood.

So, the Saints have been gathered, and the gospel restored, so that temples could be built. Why? So that we could receive the ordinances of the Priesthood that have been hid from before the foundation of the world. But not only this. It was so that the "promises made to the fathers" could be fulfilled.

God the Father made "promises" to our "fathers" in the flesh, and in fact to everyone in the human family.  God the Father's family, in the pre-mortal life, was promised that even if they lived on the earth when the gospel was not here in its fullness, and therefore priesthood authority would not be here, they would still have the opportunity to hear the gospel.  Missionaries would be sent to everyone in the spirit world, and once taught the gospel they would be able to have ordinances performed for them even though they would not have a body. The hosts of heaven shouted for joy at the prospect (Job 38:7). This "promise to the fathers" is apparently one of the major features, facets, concepts and reasons why God the Father wanted to restore the fullness of the gospel and the power of the priesthood.

Elder Widtsoe explained,

…the Lord declared repeatedly to the Prophet that unless temples were built and used, the plan of salvation could neither be in full operation nor fully accomplished...  The plan of salvation for eternal beings involves the principle that God's work with respect to this earth will not be complete until every soul has been taught the Gospel and has been offered the privilege of accepting salvation and the accompanying great blessings which the Lord has in store for his children. Until that is done the work is unfinished.

Let's think about what happened from the beginning of the Restoration.

In the very first visit of Moroni to Joseph Smith, Moroni quoted a modified version of Malachi 4:5

Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (D&C 2:1)

We know that Elijah was commissioned to bring the sealing power back to the earth which he did to the Prophet Joseph in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 (D&C 110). That sealing power is used in temples to seal families together and in fact all the binding and sealing work in the temple is done because of the authority brought back to the earth by Elijah.

Moroni also quoted the next verse in Malachi to Joseph with some modification.

And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. (D&C 2:2)

This is an obvious reference to temple work and family history work. This statement was made by Moroni in the very first visit to Joseph of a heavenly messenger after the visit of the Father and Son. Temple and Family History work must be very important for Moroni to tell Joseph about the "promises made to the fathers" right then in his first visit.

The Lord was anxious to get on with the work of fulfilling "the promises made to the fathers" right from the very beginning of the Restoration. He pressed the early Saints to build temples almost before they had enough people or resources to even build temples. Thus the "gathering" in the early Church from England and other places was commanded so that there would be people enough with skills enough to build temples.

Soon after the Saints arrived in Kirtland the Lord told Joseph to build Him a temple. One of the major reasons for the building of the Kirtland temple was so that there would be a special place for Elijah to come back to restore the sealing power of the priesthood.

The Prophet Joseph arrived in Nauvoo in 1840. In January 1841 the Lord again told the prophet to build a temple. The doctrine of baptism for the dead was revealed to Joseph in Nauvoo and the Lord explained that a suitable place needed to be built to perform these baptisms. Thus, a baptismal font for baptisms for the dead was built in the Nauvoo temple.

I am a product of the gathering for the purpose of building temples. My own Great Great Great Grandfather, William Warner Player, was among them. He and his family joined the Church in England in about 1840. They were the products of the missionary efforts of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and others in England. He was a skilled stone mason. He felt the need to gather with the Saints in America. After arriving in Nauvoo he quickly began working on the temple. His skills were great and he became the chief stone mason on the original Nauvoo Temple. This made him, effectively, the construction manager of the temple. He personally worked on the baptismal font and supervised the construction of the remainder of the temple.

Almost the first thing Brigham Young did after the Saints entered the valley was to designate the place for the temple. But this wasn't enough. The Salt Lake Temple was going to take 40 years to build, which is a long time. The Lord wanted to get on with temple work for the "fathers" so he had the Saints build temples in St George, Manti and Logan, all completed before the Salt Lake Temple.

As further evidence of the importance of fulfilling the "promises made to the fathers," think about the first thing Christ did after his crucifixion. Upon entering the spirit world he organized the missionary force to teach the gospel to those who had never heard it (D&C 138). That missionary force had operated in the spirit world for 1800 years. Everyone who heard and accepted the gospel would need the ordinances of salvation performed for them. By the time the Church was restored in 1830 there must have been a large backlog of people waiting for their temple work to be done.

No wonder fulfilling "the promises made to the fathers," the building of temples, and the performing of temple ordinances has been a central reason for the Restoration of the gospel from the very beginning. Temple work is not an incidental part of the Restoration. It is a critical reason for the Restoration.

It continues to be critical to God's plan to this day. All of the prophets continue to stress the importance of temples and temple work. President Howard W. Hunter was only the President of the Church for a short season. But, during the time he was president he repeatedly stressed the temple.

President Hunter said,

It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of--and carry--a current temple recommend. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families.

Let us be a temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing.

Temples are being built increasingly faster. The Lord said, "I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:73). We all know that temple building and temple work was central to the work of President Gordon B. Hinckley. When President Hinckley became President of the Church on March 12, 1995 there were about 50 temples operating throughout the world. Today, just fourteen years later, there are 130 operating temples, with many more announced and under construction. Five more temples were announced by President Monson at the last General Conference.

The Lord continues fulfilling His promises made to the fathers. It continues to be central to the Father's plan. In fact it is growing in importance and it is hastening in its speed.

What part do temples and temple work play in our lives? In Elder Hales article in last month's Ensign he said, "The temple endowment blessings are as essential for each of us as was our baptism". The Prophet Joseph Smith said,

Let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as... they without us cannot be made perfect - neither can we without our dead be made perfect. (D&C 128:15)

We speak of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as having two parts. First, the suffering and sacrifice and resurrection of Christ broke the bands of death for every person who lives, who has lived, and who will yet live on the earth (Alma 11:40-41). Every person will be resurrected because of the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. But, the Atonement of Christ also makes it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins and be worthy to live in the presence of the God. Christ said, "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say ye have no promise" (D&C 82:10). If we obey Him, He will apply his atoning sacrifice on our behalf, cleanse us of our sins, and allow us to live in the presence of God. But, we don't just want to be with God. We want to be like God. This is what the gospel teaches us. The Lord said,

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase. (D&C 131:1-4)

We don't just want salvation, we want exaltation. In order to be like God we must receive the ordinances of exaltation. Those ordinances are received in the temple including the crowning ordinance of the gospel, sealing in the new and everlasting covenant of celestial marriage.

In order for God to fulfill his "promises made to the fathers" we must be involved in the work that is obviously so important to Him--temple work. To be involved we must make ourselves worthy to enter the temple, keep ourselves worthy and then return often to do the work for our fathers to whom the promises were made.

Surely what Elder Widtsoe said is even more true today than it was when he said it.

We need more workers to accomplish the wonderful work... for all I know, the day may come... when we shall keep the temples open twenty-four hours a day. We need more converts to temple work, drawn from all ages, from the young, from the middle-aged, and from the rich and poor, from among the busy and those of leisure. The time has come, I verily believe... to bring into active service all the people, of all ages. From the children doing baptisms, to the aged grandparents doing endowments for the dead, all the members of the family, if we do our duty well, must be brought into the work. Temple work is quite of as much benefit to the young and the active, as it is to the aged, who have laid behind them many of the burdens of life. The young man needs his place in the temple even more than his father and his grandfather, who are steadied by a life of experience; and the young girl just entering life needs the spirit, influence and direction that comes from participation in the temple ordinances... Temple work is for the young and the middle aged and for the aged for all and not for one specialized, separated class within the Church.

In addition to receiving the temple ordinances for ourselves, we must search out our ancestors, our "fathers," and receive the ordinances for them or submit their names to the temple so the work can be done for them.

The Lord is increasingly hastening his work of identifying those who have gone before. Family history work is increasing. The spirit of Elijah has already made genealogy research the most popular hobby throughout the land. Even among those who are not members of the Church, or especially among those who are not members of the Church, people are searching out their fathers like never before.

The Lord is making it increasingly easy to find and submit their names to the temples. The temples are being built throughout the world. They must be filled with the names of our fathers to whom the promises have been made. In August 2008 Elder Robert D. Hales gave a devotional address at BYU. In his talk he said that computer technology has been given to man to hasten the work of the Lord done in temples. Elder Hales said that,

…in the 1970's, Elder Theodore H. Burton presented the concept of computers being used for family records and research. “He was even bold enough to teach and proclaim that the computer technology was given to man for his use to hasten the day of family history, genealogy and temple work.” His proclamation was met with reservations about the size and expense of computers for personal use and how few Latter-day Saints would be able to afford or operate them. Other concerns were their complexity how to make them compatible with temple records. “All seemed to be reasonable reservations for their time,” he said, yet, “today, we are embarking on a new era of family history computer technology.”

Elder Hales then explained the New Family Search program.

Those reservations back in the 1970's are not true today. Many of us have computers and the work of finding our fathers has never been easier. The New Family Search program has just been unveiled here in our own stake [Riverton Utah Stake]. As of the first of November we can now do Family History work right from the comfort of our homes like never before.

All of us are now encouraged to go to the new web site new.familysearch.org, register by entering our member ID number and our confirmation date, and then start learning and using this powerful tool for fulfilling the "promises made to the fathers." If you do not know your member ID number or confirmation date you can obtain them from the ward clerk.

There are easy to follow tutorials right on the web site that will teach us what to do and how to do it. We don't have to be computer experts or genealogy experts. If we need help our Ward Family History consultants will help us. If we don't have a computer the ward house has a Family History room with people ready to help us. The Church has prepared the new Temple and Family History Course. In clear and easy to follow steps the work is explained.

The New Family Search program combines and replaces the ancestral file, the IGI (the International Genealogical Index) and Temple Ready. From the comfort of our own computer we can now:

• Add, correct, and manage family histories online
• See what temple work needs to be done for ancestors
• Prepare names for temple ordinance work at home over the internet
• Easily see ordinance information and status or work in progress
• Significantly reduce duplication or research and ordinance work
• Correct personal submissions/data in real time
• Work collaboratively with family members and relatives
• Find living relatives not known to exist
• Print temple ordinance sheets at home and then take them to the temple to do the ordinances

After we do the ordinances in the temple we can go home and check the New Family Search again and by the time we sit down at our computer the temple ordinance information will be updated in the computer.

We have three basic temple and family history responsibilities:

1. Receive our own temple ordinances and help immediate family members receive them.
2. Hold a current temple recommend and attend the temple regularly.
3. Participate in Family History work.

Family History work involves a simple process:

1. Gather information to identify your ancestors.
2. Record information about your ancestors in the New Family Search to link them into families.
3. Perform temple ordinances for your ancestors who have not yet received them.

The Lord does not expect us to submit thousands of names to the temple. Start with the pedigree chart in the Temple and Family History Course materials.

Much of the information on the pedigree chart can be filled out right from our own memory or records at home, or the memories of other family members. Fill out the information and submit it in the New Family Search. This will update the information about you and your family. You may find much of this information already there. Just complete it and then go on.

If you are the only member of the Church in your family it is important that you start there. If you and your family have been Church members for generations it is important that you start there.

Our youth who enjoy so much texting with their cell phones can do indexing work right from their cell phones or computers in their spare time and put their text messaging skills to work. So can the adults.

Our lives will be blessed for engaging in this work.

President Higbee last week in stake general priesthood meeting, and again while giving instructions to the High Council for preparing this talk, said that worshipping in the temple is the way we will protect ourselves in the difficult days ahead.

Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, emeritus member of the Seventy, gave similar counsel:

The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has and will unleash every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation is the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world; wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership alone in this Church will not guarantee it.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us... Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a time when even the elect will begin to lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure through their faith in Christ and within the temple walls. I believe the Saints will come to the temples not only to do vicarious work but to find a God-given haven of peace. The true and faithful Latter-day Saints will long to bring their children to our temples for safety's sake... There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Joseph told the brethren, "And I beheld that the temple was filled with angels" (History of the Church, vol. 2, page 428). I believe prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend the temples will feel their strength and companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Endowed faithful members of the Church who keep all their covenants including the sacred coverings will be safe as protected behind temple walls.

Everyone is being asked to participate in this great eternity spanning effort. Temples are now more accessible than ever before. Family History, i.e. genealogy work, is now more popular than ever before. Getting the names of our "fathers" in to the temple so their ordinances can be done is now easier than ever before.

God will fulfill "the promises made to the fathers."

The Promises Made to the Fathers

A Wordle created from all the text of TempleStudy.com posts in 2008. Click on the image to see a larger version. Made at http://www.wordle.net/

One year ago today I published my first post on TempleStudy.com, my first blog.  And it has been quite a year.  During 2008 I expanded my learning on the temple in leaps and bounds, and was able to share some of that with you as well as learn from you.  I met countless new people and made many new friends.  We shared new thoughts, interpretations, and discoveries with each other.  I attended for the first time several conferences and liveblogged them.  I’ve been humbled by your kindness and charity.  I was blessed to touch the lives of numerous people as you sent me emails expressing your thoughts and feelings.  You have touched me too, in multitudinous ways.  And the growth has been tremendous--nearly 100,000 people have visited the website from 170 countries around the world generating over 220,000 hits.  Over 500 people have subscribed by RSS feed, and another 254 have subscribed by email.  It’s been an amazing experience.  I hope your participation with me and our commenters has been fruitful for you, and has given you more insight into temple studies and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To commemorate this anniversary of TempleStudy.com my dear wife was very kind and made a Wordle of all the posts from this past year.  For those of you who are not familiar with Wordles, it is an online tool that you can use to input text and generate a word collage with the most commonly used words shown larger, kind of like a tag cloud.  So you can see in this image where our focus was this past year.  Fun to see.  My wife printed out a copy and framed it for me to hang on our office wall.  She’s the best!

For those who are wondering where I’ve been the last month or so, I haven’t left.  The blogging has slowed down a bit.  I think I can blame some of that on our beautiful new baby boy that was born at the end of September.  He’s been a joy to our family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  But it did shift my priorities a bit though, and gave me time to rethink things.  I will continue to blog about the temple, but it may not be as frequent.  I want to expand my learning into other areas, in addition to temples.  Not that TempleStudy.com will go too dormant, but I like the sentiments addressed by Sharon Otterman in her New York Times article on slow blogging.  Blogging is becoming a form of expression, and a channel of inquiry and thought, not a 140 character Twitter feed.

So while TempleStudy.com might not fill your daily appetite for news on the temple, hopefully the posts that are published here will be full of meaning.  I look forward to sharing new insights on the temple, and learning more from you throughout 2009.  Please feel free to send me your thoughts and findings.  I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for a wonderful year!

TempleStudy.com One Year Anniversary

The sealing power is compared to links in a chain which bind families together eternally all the way back to our father Adam.

Last week I was asked by our bishop to present a 10-15 minute portion of a lesson today on the importance of temple work in our combined priesthood/relief society meeting.

Our stake is preparing for a “temple month” theme for January, and our meeting today was meant to inspire us to be thinking about family history, genealogy and temple work and to do more of it.  Our bishop wanted me to present some general information about the reason for the temple and why the work performed there is of such supernal import. After my part of the lesson, two sisters were to give instruction on family history work, FamilySearch, indexing, and preparing and submitting names to the temple.

Since I only had about 10 minutes, I considered carefully what I wanted to present to introduce this topic.  Below are the notes from my portion of the lesson: 

Why is the temple so important?

President Hinckley taught the following in the October 1995 General Conference:

These unique and wonderful buildings, and the ordinances administered therein, represent the ultimate in our worship. These ordinances become the most profound expressions of our theology. I urge our people everywhere, with all of the persuasiveness of which I am capable, to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the house of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein. I am satisfied that every man or woman who goes to the temple in a spirit of sincerity and faith leaves the house of the Lord a better man or woman. There is need for constant improvement in all of our lives. There is need occasionally to leave the noise and the tumult of the world and step within the walls of a sacred house of God, there to feel His spirit in an environment of holiness and peace.

If every man in this church who has been ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood were to qualify himself to hold a temple recommend, and then were to go to the house of the Lord and renew his covenants in solemnity before God and witnesses, we would be a better people. There would be little or no infidelity among us. Divorce would almost entirely disappear. So much of heartache and heartbreak would be avoided. There would be a greater measure of peace and love and happiness in our homes. There would be fewer weeping wives and weeping children. There would be a greater measure of appreciation and of mutual respect among us. And I am confident the Lord would smile with greater favor upon us.

Everything that we do in the Church points us to the temple.  It is where we perform the ordinances of exaltation, and learn those things that will help us keep the covenants of exaltation.  But not only for us, but every individual who has ever lived must comply with the ordinances of exaltation in order to receive a celestial inheritance and become like our Heavenly Parents.

All Must Obey the Same Laws and Ordinances

Why must every person obey these same ordinances in order to receive exaltation?

These are the cleansing and sanctifying ordinances which ultimately redeem us from our sins and bring us back into the presence of God.

Joseph Smith taught:

Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed.  All must be saved on the same principles. . . .

If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord. . . .

All men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the fulness of the ordinances of his kingdom; and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the fullness of that glory, if they do not lose the whole.

Sealing Power

Sealing ordinances are the ultimate blessings found in the temple.  All ordinances are preliminary and preparatory to coming to the altar to be sealed in the eternal family relationship.  Everything points us towards being sealed.

Two general ways we refer to sealings (which are related):

1. Sealing of ordinances – D&C 132:7
2. Sealing of persons (husband and wife, children to parents) – D&C 132:18

Dr. Andrew Skinner, dean of Religious Education at BYU, wrote recently about the power of the sealing authority:

The fulness of the authority of the priesthood includes the sealing power.  The sealing power is the highest authority and the greatest power on earth. . . .

Some aspects inherent in the sealing power of the priesthood are more perceptible and obvious than others.  One dramatic and visible aspect is control over the elements: the sealing and unsealing of the heavens and the invocation and revocation of famine.  Thus, the sealing power gives its possessor power over all things on earth and the right and ability to have his actions recognized and ratified in heaven by the Father.  It is stunning to realize that the sealing together of husbands, wives, and children is done by the same power that seals shut the heavens or changes the elements of the earth.

Once sealed, husbands, wives, and children are changed – they belong to each other.  In a way we cannot explain scientifically or even understand completely, the sealing power welds together a husband, wife, and children for eternity. The sealing power is a real power in the universe.  It affects the physical elements; it changes them, whether it be the heavens, the weather, the waters and seas, or the binding together of families.

Why Must we be Sealed?

Why are sealings so important?  Why must we be sealed together?  What are we ultimately doing when we seal people together?

Dr. Skinner writes:

Being sealed together as husband and wife and children is not just a nice thing to do, not just the customary pattern to follow.  Being sealed together as an eternal family is the very order of heaven.  It is the kind of life our Heavenly Parents live.  In other words, the family isn’t just the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity.

Elder McConkie also wrote:

All things gain enduring force and validity because of the sealing power.  So comprehensive is this power that it embraces ordinances performed for the living and the dead, seals the children on earth to their fathers who went before them and forms the enduring patriarchal chain that will exist eternally among exalted beings.

When we go to the temple and perform the sealing ordinances for ourselves and our ancestors, we are participating in forming and perpetuating that patriarchal family organization which exists among exalted beings.  As D&C 131 states, this is an “order of the priesthood” – it is called the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood – and it is only organized in the temple by sealing.  This is the very reason for the creation of this earth and our mortal life upon it.

Joseph Smith once read Malachi 4:5-6 [also found in D&C 2]:

“I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

Joseph continued:

Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal.  But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfilled?  The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion.

But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washing, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah.

Elijah appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 and restored the sealing authority and power to these presiding authorities of the Church.

Importance of Doing Temple Work for our Kindred Dead

Elder Nelson taught in a recent Conference address, “In God's eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; exaltation is a family matter”.

How extensive is that family?

In a very real sense, our own exaltation is dependent upon our performing temple ordinance work for our family and ancestors and establishing that patriarchal chain with them through sealings.

Joseph Smith taught:

Every man who wishes to save his father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends, must go through all the ordinances of each one of them separately, the same as for himself, from baptism to ordination, washing and anointings, and receive all the keys and powers of the Priesthood, the same as for himself.

As Dr. Skinner noted, “President Brigham Young taught that one of the greatest responsibilities we have as mortals is to ensure that temple ordinances are performed for those who have died, so that the chain of generations can be welded together” (Temple Worship, 142):

We are called, as it has been told you, to redeem the nations of the earth.  The fathers cannot be made perfect without us; we cannot be made perfect without the fathers.  There must be this chain in the holy Priesthood; it must be welded together from the latest generation that lives on the earth back to Father Adam, to bring back all that can be saved and placed where they can receive salvation and a glory in some kingdom.  This Priesthood has to do it; this Priesthood is for this purpose. . . .

The Importance of Temple Work

I came across a talk today by Elder Neal A. Maxwell which he gave at a BYU devotional on October 10, 1978, entitled “Meeting the Challenges of Today.”  Some of the things he said are especially relevant “today,” particularly in the midst of all the turmoil over Proposition 8.  Here is some of his talk:

Discipleship includes good citizenship; and in this connection, if you are careful students of the statements of the modern prophets, you will have noticed that with rare exceptions–especially when the First Presidency has spoken out–the concerns expressed have been over moral issues, not issues between political parties. The declarations are about principles, not people, and causes, not candidates. On occasions, at other levels in the Church, a few have not been so discreet, so wise, or so inspired.

But make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters; in the months and years ahead, events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions (see 1 Kings 18:21).

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional, or political life” (CR, April 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ.

We are now entering a period of incredible ironies. Let us cite but one of these ironies which is yet in its subtle stages: we shall see in our time a maximum if indirect effort made to establish irreligion as the state religion. It is actually a new form of paganism that uses the carefully preserved and cultivated freedoms of Western civilization to shrink freedom even as it rejects the value essence of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage. . . .

Brothers and sisters, irreligion as the state religion would be the worst of all combinations. Its orthodoxy would be insistent and its inquisitors inevitable. Its paid ministry would be numerous beyond belief. Its Caesars would be insufferably condescending. Its majorities–when faced with clear alternatives–would make the Barabbas choice, as did a mob centuries ago when Pilate confronted them with the need to decide.

Your discipleship may see the time come when religious convictions are heavily discounted. M. J. Sobran also observed, “A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it” (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, p. 58). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain of people’s opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will soon be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.

In its mildest form, irreligion will merely be condescending toward those who hold to traditional Judeo-Christian values. In its more harsh forms, as is always the case with those whose dogmatism is blinding, the secular church will do what it can to reduce the influence of those who still worry over standards such as those in the Ten Commandments. It is always such an easy step from dogmatism to unfair play–especially so when the dogmatists believe themselves to be dealing with primitive people who do not know what is best for them. It is the secular bureaucrat’s burden, you see.

Am I saying that the voting rights of the people of religion are in danger? Of course not! Am I saying, “It’s back to the catacombs?” No! But there is occurring a discounting of religiously-based opinions. There may even be a covert and subtle disqualification of some for certain offices in some situations, in an ironic “irreligious test” for office.

However, if people are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold that grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would they be, anyway? Our founding fathers did not wish to have a state church established nor to have a particular religion favored by government. They wanted religion to be free to make its own way. But neither did they intend to have irreligion made into a favored state church. Notice the terrible irony if this trend were to continue. When the secular church goes after its heretics, where are the sanctuaries? To what landfalls and Plymouth Rocks can future pilgrims go? . . .

© Greg K. Olsen

It may well be, as our time comes to “suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41), that some of this special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship. Remember that, as Nephi and Jacob said, we must learn to endure “the crosses of the world” (2 Nephi 9:18) and yet to despise “the shame of [it]” (Jacob 1:8). To go on clinging to the iron rod in spite of the mockery and scorn that flow at us from the multitudes in that great and spacious building seen by Father Lehi, which is the “pride of the world,” is to disregard the shame of the world (1 Nephi 8:26-27, 33; 11:35-36). Parenthetically, why–really why–do the disbelievers … watch so intently what the believers are doing? Surely there must be other things for the scorners to do–unless, deep within their seeming disinterest, there is interest.

If the challenge of the secular church becomes very real, let us, as in all other human relationships, be principled but pleasant. Let us be perceptive without being pompous. Let us have integrity and not write checks with our tongues which our conduct cannot cash.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even these, however, must leave a record so that the choices before the people are clear and let others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, that others will step forward, having been rallied to righteousness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds–a majority which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves “summer is nigh” (Matthew 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.

(Neal A. Maxwell, “Meeting the Challenges of Today,” BYU Devotional, October 10, 1978)

Elder Maxwell Comments on Proposition 8… 30 Years Ago

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127)

Children Are An Heritage of the Lord

New Zealand Maori sharing in the sacred act of hongi, exchanging the ha or breath of life.

The title is a bit of a mouthful, but let me explain.

I have been a ballroom dancer since I was about 12 years old, or about 15 years.  It has been quite an experience being involved with this subculture of ballroom dance, which has made up a large portion of my life.  During the summer of 2005 I had the opportunity to tour with the BYU Ballroom Dance Company to the South Pacific, during which we visited Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti.  My wife was also fortunate to join us on the trip.  It was a singular experience which has burned a place in my memory.

Naturally, as part of these tours we were also able to learn much about the locations and people of the places we visited.  One of the places that really struck me for its beauty and uniqueness was New Zealand.  Going to New Zealand was like stepping into a different world.  The indigenous people of New Zealand are known as the Maori, and the customs and traditions of these people were quite different than what we were accustomed to.  Some of the things we experienced with the Maori were very spiritual in nature, which immediately caused me to ponder, and which I have had opportunity to think about for several years now.  Specifically, the Maori ceremonial greeting tradition that they conducted with our BYU group as we arrived in New Zealand was one of the most significant experiences I had with the group.  This rite or ceremony is known as the powhiri, and has insightful elements for Latter-day Saints to consider. 

The Maori term itself means “normal,” “natural,” or “ordinary” in the Maori language, “meaning man, human being, as distinguished from spirit, or god, &c.”.  Where they live is commonly called te ao maori, meaning “this common, familiar world, where men live, as distinguished from the dwelling-place of the gods”.  Thus, even this people’s self-identity and existence in this world takes into account the existence of a supreme being.

The Maori are said to have inhabited the Polynesian islands by way of the waka, or ship vessels, which are like giant ocean-going canoes.  They say that the “waka was our only means of going from A to B… Without waka the Maori certainly wouldn’t be here… Our ancestors were truly dependent on waka to get here”.  This migration is said to have occurred sometime between 800 and 1300 AD.  Ancient populations migrating by boat to different continents and islands is interesting to the Latter-day Saint because of our own narrative of Book of Mormon people doing the same.

The powhiri is a welcome ceremony and ritual which the Maori perform in order to greet visitors to their land.  There is a great documentary at NewZealand.com which explains this ceremony with multimedia.  It is described as the “embodiment of [Maori] spiritual and cultural being”.  This tradition is said to be very ancient, and has been passed down from Maori tribal ancestors.  Some of the purposes of the ceremony are “to ward off evil spirits and unite both visitor and host in an environment of friendship and peace”.  In this sense, it is a type of at-one-ment of strangers, bringing both into desirable harmony and unity with each other.  It is an initiation of sorts to become one and a part of the tangata whenua, or Maori people.

The term powhiri has been etymologically analyzed by Maori in order to describe what it means.  There are two parts to the word – po and whiri.  Po is described as “a venture into the ‘unknown’ or a new experience,” while whiri comes to mean “the act or experience of exchanging information and knowledge”.  And so the combined term could be interpreted as meaning a kind of mystical or novel act in which one gains and/or exchanges knowledge, not unlike the way we describe our temple experience.

Me standing in front of the marae where our BYU group experienced the powhiri ceremony. (click for a larger view)

The powhiri ceremony most often occurs in a marae, or the gathering place of the Maori, where “the past meets the present”.  There are typically several parts to a powhiri:

• Kawa – customs or protocols for greeting visitors.  These introductory instructions are first given to the manuhiri, or visitors, such that they may be guided “safely through the spiritual and physical realms,” and so “they understand what is expected of them”.
• Taki (or wero) – a challenge is presented, where warriors appear to determine the intentions of the visitors.  If the visitors’ intentions are peaceful, the warriors present a rautapu, or some sort of symbolic peace offering, which the visitors “nod and acknowledge that [they have]… received it”.  Once this is done, the warriors guide the visitors into the sacred marae.
• Karanga – the vocal call of a female begins which will be a kind a purifying preparation or “clear a spiritual pathway between the hosts and visitors… acknowledging the spirits of all our ancestors who have passed on into the veil of the world, without end.”.  It is a type of call to the Maori and visitors’ ancestors.
• Karakia – a prayer or blessing is offered to the gods to “bring everyone together. Asking assistance of a superior being to give spiritual protection to all those who are participating in the powhiri”.  This is a type of demon or devil cleansing such that everyone may be “free from any destructive spiritual influences”.
• Mihi – formal greetings and identification of who you are.  It is a recitation of your ancestors, history, family line (genealogy), and your relationship to one another.  These details were often only known by oral transmission and memory.
• Waiata – a spiritual song is sung.  “Traditional waiata of the ancestors were often aligned with spiritual events, which could include supporting karakia or prayer to evoke supernatural forces”.
• Koha – the act of gifting, in a very honorable, dignified, way.  Traditionally this was done by offering assistance in the gathering of food, or taonga, treasures.  Today it is usually a monetary-type gift. 
• Hongi – the unique and very sacred Maori physical embrace wherein the two sides become one.  “The hongi is the traditional greeting of nose pressing.  It is the exchange of the ha, or breath of life… This greeting makes the visitor at one with the tangata whenua [hosts]”.  “The most sacred part of the Maori is this portion here – the face and head.  When you make contact with a fellow human, it’s the embracing, the light touching of the noses.  Because you’re now dealing with the most sacred part of the person.  It’s the essence of life to mankind.  Where else does the breath of life enter man?”.  This is the portion of the ceremony in which the breath of life is exchanged and intermingled between host and visitor, and makes the visitors one with the Maori, ready to share in all responsibilities and duties.  This tradition is said to have come “directly from the gods”.  “In Maori folklore, woman was created by the gods moulding her shape out of the earth. The god Tane (meaning male) embraced the figure and breathed into her nostrils. She then sneezed and came to life. Her name was Hineahuone (earth formed woman)”.  Sometimes this embrace in the ceremony also includes the hariru, which is a handshake between hosts and visitors, and even a kiss or hug.  One website describes it thus:
  

  Direction will be given for manuhiri to go forward to hariru/shake hands, hug or hongi with tangata whenua. Whether you hariru, hongi, hug or do all three is entirely up to you at the time. We trust people will feel culturally comfortable whatever their choice. The action of performing hongi is associated with the hariru. The two people shake hands, each using the right hand. At the same time the left hand maybe placed on or near the other person's shoulder. The head is bent, the eyes closed, and sometimes foreheads touch as noses are pressed. Some choose to press once and some twice - both ways are of equal significance. Invariably, tangata whenua will indicate their kawa/ways by example. It is appropriate to say "tena koe"/"hello to you" or "kia ora"/"greetings" as part of the greeting. In this greeting our ancestors meet as we meet and together we share the breath of life. This physical contact between manuhiri and tangata whenua completes lifts the waewae tapu/sacredness of first time visitors, allowing us all to be one, as tangata whenua for the duration of this Gathering. The running of the marae, for the time of our stay, is now ours to share.

• Hakari – ritual feasting and sharing of traditional foods in a banquet to finish the binding together.  “At the conclusion of that you are finally part of the family.  And it’s a very happy occasion.  And you can feel it.  There’s a warmth in the room amongst everyone”.  Such a climax in the ritual reminds me of being in the Celestial Room of the temple with friends and family gathered round.  It also recalls the feasts and tabernacles of the Israelites, or the marriage feast of the Bridegroom in the scriptures (D&C 65:3; cf. Matt. 25).
• Poroporaoki (or Mihi-whakamutunga) – final speeches and farewell.  It is the returning of the esteem and authority of the Maori hosts back to them.  It is a time of reflection on becoming one or a part of the Maori people.

Our BYU group experienced all of this ceremony among the Maori soon after our arrival in the country.  It was a wonderful experience.  The hongi was a particularly moving and beautiful experience, as each of us pressed our noses and foreheads with each of our Maori hosts in the marae, and shared the breath of life with each.  It was a very sacred yet friendly moment of becoming acquainted with our new friends, being welcome in their country, and becoming part of their family.

There is YouTube example of a powhiri at the 2008 Parahaka Peace Festival.  The exchange of the hongi embrace begins at about 7:00 into the clip.  The taki can also be seen in this clip from Queenstown, New Zealand.

We participated in at least two powhiri while we were in New Zealand.  Little did we know the significance of what we were doing at the time.  But we grew into the culture throughout our visit, and were eventually fully participating with the Maori even in the haka dances.  I would love to do a more in-depth study of the powhiri ceremony and the spiritual traditions of the Maori at some point.  It is a fascinating culture, and we can learn much from them.

Pōwhiri and Hongi of New Zealand’s Māori: a Sacred Ritual

Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve gave the devotional address at the beginning of Education Week at Brigham Young University today.  Deseret News reported on his talk.

His talk was mainly about gaining knowledge through a lifetime of learning, especially spiritual knowledge.  He used the example of Michael Phelps Olympic gold records were only possible by building on previous accomplishments.

One of the points he particularly noted was that by increasing our knowledge and capabilities throughout life, we can bless the Church and its work.  He gave an example of family history work.  Deseret News reports:

In the 1970s, Elder Theodore H. Burton presented the concept of computers being used for family records and research. “He was even bold enough to teach and proclaim that the computer technology was given to man for his use to hasten the day of family history, genealogy and temple work.”

His proclamation was met with reservations about the size and expense of computers for personal use and how few Latter-day Saints would be able to afford or operate them. Other concerns were the complexity how to make them compatible with temple records.

“All seemed to be reasonable reservations for their time,” he said, yet “today, we are embarking on a new era of family history computer technology.”

He then related details about the New FamilySearch which is being put into place as we speak, and is currently available in half of temple districts around the world.

The lesson in that story is simple, he said. “Never dwell or hold on to the past or attempt to protect your comfort zone against the inevitable changes that will be required to meet future advancements. … Our endings only usher in our new beginnings. The ending of one era ushers in a new era. Lifelong learners do not dwell on the past.

“Past learning creates a valuable foundation of experience upon which to build, not a comfortable place to dwell for a lifetime.”

He then said some valuable words to mothers, that they too can be lifelong learners.  I recommend you read the story at Deseret News.  I look forward to a transcript of his talk.

[Update 8/20/08: An mp3 (audio) format of his talk is now available here.]

[Update 9/8/08: A video (wmv) format of his talk is now available here.]

[Update 11/17/09: Here is the transcript of his talk.]

Computer Technology Given to Mankind for Temple Work

As most people know, it is a tradition in many parts of the world to bake up a birthday cake for a friend or family member celebrating a birthday.  Typically this cake is decorated nicely and topped with birthday candles, one for every year of the celebrant’s life.  When the time comes to eat the cake, there is a tradition that the candles are lit and the birthday boy or girl makes a silent wish and then blows out the candles.  If they are successful in their comedic (and sometimes spittled) extinguishing, it is said that the wish that they made will come true within the year.

Well, as with most things, there is more here than meets the eye. Last night my wife and I were casually watching what I believe was the Food Network, and they had an episode which was highlighting cakes and the history and traditions surrounding them.  They made a statement that caught our attention.  It was something like this:

The blowing out of the candles on the birthday cake originated from an early tradition that believed that the smoke from the candles would take one’s wish or petition up to God.

Of course, such a tradition fits squarely within many other religious incense beliefs around the world, which we’ve briefly visited before here, here and here.  The beliefs are that burning incense, a form of candle which often produces a fragrance or aroma, is a spiritual purificatory rite that has any number of benefits:

• practical use (obscure odor, particularly in funerary ceremonies to cover the scent of decay)
• chronological measurement
• repel mosquitoes or other insects (Zen Buddhists use this technique when meditating)
• indulgence for the sense of smell
• sacrificial offering to deity

It is in this final sense that we find most usage in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and in the Bible.  Our Bible Dictionary teaches:

The preparation of incense is described in Ex. 30:34-36; the duty of offering it twice daily fell upon the high priest (Ex. 30:7-8), but in the second temple the privilege was extended to all the priests, and the lot was cast each day to decide who should offer (Luke 1:9). Live coals were brought from the brazen altar of burnt offering, and placed on the golden altar of incense; then the priest to whom the lot had fallen entered alone into the Holy Place, carrying in a censer the incense, which he cast on the fire. Then, bowing reverently toward the Holy of Holies, he returned to the congregation, who were praying outside, and pronounced the blessing in Num. 6:24-26. The choir of Levites at once started to sing the daily psalms. On the Day of Atonement there was a special offering of incense. See Rev. 5:8; Rev. 8:3-4; cf. Ps. 141:2; Mal. 1:11.

Such an offering of incense by the priests gathered around altars set before the veil in the tabernacle or temple was believed to carry the prayers of the Israelites as smoke up to the throne of God, such that they would be heard by Jehovah more effectively.

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Ps. 141:2)

Something to keep in mind the next time you are blowing out your birthday candles.

Blowing out Birthday Candles

I just posted my review of the Disney/Pixar movie WALL-E over at Millennial Star.  See it here.  Be forewarned – I didn’t like it much.

Update (7/14/08): And, of course, since the issue is environmentalism, it eroded quickly.

“WALL-E, the Religion of Environmentalism” at Millennial Star