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Sustaining and Defending the LDS Temple

exaltation

The Apotheosis of Washington

June 27, 2009 by Bryce Haymond 8 Comments
The Apotheosis of Washington (detail), Constantino Brumidi, 1865, United States Capitol Building rotunda.

The Apotheosis of Washington (detail), Constantino Brumidi, 1865, United States Capitol Building rotunda.

I watched an interesting show last night, Secret America on Discovery, and learned some interesting things.  One of them was that there is a large fresco painted on the inside of the dome of the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building.  It is called “The Apotheosis of Washington” and was painted by an Italian Painter, Constantino Brumidi, in 1865 for the sum of $40,000.

What is interesting is what was painted in this profound location.   [Read more…]

Posted in: Artifacts Tagged: art, building, celestial, exaltation, fathers, government, hands, heaven, immortality, ordinances, president, signs, vicarious

The Importance of Temple Work

November 30, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 3 Comments
The sealing power has been compared to links in a chain which bind families together eternally.

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:  [Read more…]

Posted in: General Authorities, Temples Today Tagged: altar, ancestors, boyd k. packer, brigham young, bruce r. mcconkie, creation, elijah, eternal, exaltation, family, family history, genealogy, general conference, gordon b. hinckley, joseph smith, ordinance work, ordinances, organization, priesthood, seal, sealing

The Meaning of the Church of the First-Born

October 23, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 19 Comments
Truman G. Madsen

Truman G. Madsen

I was reading tonight a talk by Truman G. Madsen entitled, “Foundations of Temple Worship,” which he gave at a BYU-Idaho Devotional on October 26, 2004, shortly after the ordination of Elder David A. Bednar to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The talk is excellent, and highly recommended reading (or listening).  There was one point in particular that caused me to have an epiphany (which is an interesting word).  It was on the subject of the Church of the First-born.  This is the church that exists among those who so devote themselves to lifelong faithful service in the kingdom that they receive the higher ordinances of exaltation.  The Encyclopedia of Mormonism states in part:  [Read more…]

Posted in: Scholarship, Temples Today Tagged: BYU-I, celestial, exaltation, faith, firstborn, jesus christ, john, ordinances, priesthood, promises, seal, talk, truman g. madsen

Will The “Heathen” Most Likely All Be Exalted?

October 17, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 45 Comments

I had a conversation a few months ago about this question.  Those that I were discussing this with made the argument that the “heathen,” the term my correspondent used for those who’ve never heard a part or portion of the gospel in mortality, are without the gospel law in mortality, and therefore they will be judged very much like little children, and will most likely all be exalted.  Here is a followup that one of them recently emailed me:

I finally found the scripture I was thinking of when I wrote that “the heathen” who “died without law”, (that is, without having heard any form or portion whatsoever of the gospel) are still likely to be saved (and most likely even exalted) in the Celestial Kingdom.

In his discourse to his son about infant baptism, Mormon throws in those who “without the law” and puts them in the same category as those who die as infants, Moroni 8:22:

“For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.  For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing— ”

I’ll admit that there is still room for interpretation in light of Section 76, and of course Christ is the final judge of every individual.

I disagree with this interpretation of Moroni 8:22 (a similar scripture can be found in 2 Nephi 9:25-26).  I believe this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the gospel, which has serious repercussions to our understanding of God’s plan of redemption, and the work we do in the temple.  [Read more…]

Posted in: Temples Today, Texts Tagged: agency, atonement, baptism, bruce r. mcconkie, children, exaltation, garden of eden, gate, jesus christ, joseph smith, marriage, mortality, obedience, ordinance work, ordinances, presence, principles, redemption, repentance, salvation, vicarious

Many More Ordinances Including Resurrection

August 13, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 18 Comments
Brigham Young - June 1, 1871 - 70th birthday

Brigham Young - June 1, 1871 - 70th birthday

I came across a talk from President Brigham Young that was deeply insightful, and I want to share a portion.  It is from an address he gave on August 24, 1872 in Farmington, Utah, and reported by David W. Evans.  In it President Young describes the ordinances of the temple, and the many ordinances that we have yet to receive, including resurrection.

Now a few words to the brethren and sisters upon the doctrine and ordinances of the house of God. All who have lived on the earth according to the best light they had, and would have received the fullness of the Gospel had it been preached to them, are worthy of a glorious resurrection, and will attain to this by being administered for in the flesh by those who have the authority. All others will have a resurrection, and receive a glory, except those who have sinned against the Holy Ghost.

It is supposed by this people that we have all the ordinances in our possession for life and salvation, and exaltation, and that we are administering in these ordinances. This is not the case. We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would ask what they are. I will mention one.  [Read more…]

Posted in: Church History Tagged: authority, brigham young, crown, endowment, exaltation, keys, ordinances, priesthood, prophet, resurrection, salvation
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