Month: February 2008

The Power of Heaven – Inside the LDS (Mormon) Temple

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Here is another short video of the inside of LDS (Mormon) temples.  This video was found shared by Mike Batie, and was compiled from official published photographs by the LDS Church of the inside of temples.  Usually these photos are taken by the Church during its public open house, and before the dedication, after which the temple is closed to the public and set apart for performing sacred saving ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The excellent music is entitled “The Power of Heaven,” with words and music by Steven Kapp Perry, arranged by Greg Hansen, and from the 1999 album “As Temples Fill the Earth.”  The vocalist is Tammy Simister Robinson.  You can buy the album at the BYU Bookstore or at Deseret Book.

Harold Bloom on the Essence of Religion

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Harold Bloom

Harold Bloom

Today the LDS Newsroom has an article on life and death, following the passing of President Hinckley.  I like the quote that they gave from Harold Bloom:

Regarding the undaunted way in which Latter-day Saints confront death, well-known literary scholar Harold Bloom proclaimed the following: “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. … 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.”

The entire reason for religion is man’s apprehension of death.  Hugh Nibley was wont to quote a poem by A.E. Housman on this subject of man’s preoccupation with life and death:

. . . men at whiles are sober
And think by fits and starts,
And if they think, they fasten
Their hands upon their hearts. ((Qtd. in Nibley, “Prophets and Glad Tidings,” The World and the Prophets, 259-67, http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/bookschapter.php?bookid=54&chapid=515))

Man has not been able to get away from death.  Man has thought about it since time began, and it preoccupies his thoughts day in and day out.  It is part of the “terrible questions” as Nibley put it, that man has made since the start.  Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?  What is the purpose of this life?  What will happen to me after I die?  What will I do for eternity?  It is the subject of much art, literature, and religion since the beginning.  If there is one thing that man fears most, it is probably death, and the unknown that accompanies it.

But the Latter-day Saints know differently.  We thank God for a latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith, who restored the truths of the physical and bodily resurrection, of the sealing of eternal families, and the principles of eternal life and exaltation, and what eternity consists of, teachings we learn about and make a promised reality in the temples of the Lord.

Early Christian Orant Gesture in Prayer

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Saint Apollinare in the orant position of prayer

Saint Apollinare in the orant position of prayer

The word orant, or latin orans, is a noun form of the verb orare, to pray, and describes an early mode of prayer practiced by the first Christians ((http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/orant)). From Wikipedia we read:

Orant is a type of gesture during prayer in which the hands are raised, set apart, and the palms face outward. It was once common in early Christianity, and can frequently be seen in early Christian art, but has since become quite rare. The gesture is more common in Catholic worship, esoteric sects, and in certain forms of exorcism ritual. It is commonly used in small group renewal weekend settings such as Cursillo. This renewal weekend is offered by Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches. It is common in some charismatic churches during praiseful singing as well. ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orant))

The image above comes to us from the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare in Ravenna, Italy:

Saint Apollinare, the first bishop of Ravenna, is robed in a white dalmatic and purple tunic, embroidered with bees, symbolizing eloquence. He is in the early Christian “orant” position–with outstretched arms praying. ((http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/classe/santapollinare/santapollinare2.html))  [Read more…]

Gammadia at Ravenna

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Gammadia at Ravenna

Gammadia at Ravenna

There is an old church in Ravenna, Italy, called the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo. It was built in the late fifth or early sixth century, and was originally dedicated to Christ ((Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Sant’Apollinare_Nuovo)). One of the most singular and unique things about this church is the appearance of gammadia on many of the vestments of the religious figures in the mosaics. John Welch and Claire Foley have described the gammadia thus: [Read more…]

What Transcends the Temple?

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There is an interesting doctrinal discussion on a post by KC Kern over at Mormon Matters entitled “The Reason for the World.” In it, KC compares the lyrics of the song “The Riddle” by the group “Five for Fighting” to Mormon theology. It is an intriguing comparison in which he analyzes the song’s lyrics of what the purpose of this earth is and why we are all here. What he boils it down to is the principle of love. If it were not for love, the purposes of the earth’s creation would be utterly wasted (JS-H 1:38-39).

This made me think of a scripture in 1 Corinthians which also speaks of the ideals of love, [Read more…]