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Nephi’s Temple Experience on the Mountain

August 12, 2012 by Bryce Haymond 8 Comments
Nephi was caught away in the Spirit to "an exceedingly high mountain"

Nephi was caught away in the Spirit to “an exceedingly high mountain,” where he conversed with the Spirit of the Lord. Artist: Clark Kelley Price.

If you have not had the opportunity to read David Bokovoy’s inaugural article in the new Interpreter journal, I recommend it. It discusses Nephi’s experience in 1 Nephi 11 when he was caught away to “an exceedingly high mountain” where he had a question and answer exchange with the Spirit of the Lord, and thereafter was given higher spiritual knowledge.

High mountains have always been traditionally associated with temples, and as sacred spaces.  Indeed, their physical height and altitude alone contribute to this symbolism; ascending the mount gets one closer to God on high. Many times throughout the scriptures, the prophets ascend high mountains to seek spiritual refuge and converse with God. Such is the case with Moses ascending Mount Sinai, for example. Whenever a prophet or other individual in the scriptures goes to, or is taken to, a high mountain, it is well to pay careful attention to what is taking place, as it is almost always a sacred temple-type experience.

The question and answer exchange format that precedes an endowment of further light and knowledge is also a pattern often found within these scriptural accounts. Bokovoy explains that these exchanges were often to consider the worthiness and faith of the individual who had approached God, and so that there could be a divine witness, or seal by the Holy Spirit of Promise, of such righteousness before higher mysteries were given by God to that individual. At the ancient Israelite temple, such question and answer exchanges also preceded even entering a temple, when those ascending to the temple would encounter the priests at the gate, and be interrogated as to their worthiness to enter there.

I’ve been impressed for some time by the many prophets we read about in the scriptures who have apocalyptic visions of the history of the earth, the creation story, it’s purpose, the reason for our mortal lives, and concluding with visions of the heavenly temple and God’s throne. I’ve often wondered if these prophets were, in fact, witnessing the same heavenly ascent vision, as it almost always includes the same or similar elements.  It would be interesting to compare further these accounts.

What were some of your impressions of Bokovoy’s article? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Posted in: Scholarship, Texts Tagged: book of mormon, creation, earth, endowment, experience, faith, gate, heaven, light, moses, mountain, mysteries, nephi, pattern, question, recommend, righteousness, sacred space, scriptures, seal, worthiness

The New FARMS – Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture

August 3, 2012 by Bryce Haymond 47 Comments
Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture

Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture. (Click on graphic to go to MormonInterpreter.com)

I have been through quite a range of emotions the last few weeks. I’ve felt utter despair, grief, and sorrow, as well as bitterness, confusion, and great disappointment. Through it all I’ve been blessed with comfort from our Heavenly Father beyond measure, and by experiences too sacred to share. It’s been a roller coaster of a time with everything that has happened at the Maxwell Institute. I make no bones about it—FARMS had an immense impact on my life, most particularly as it relates to my testimony and faith in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently one of our dear readers asked me what so inspired me about Hugh Nibley, what so captivated me emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually about his scholarship and writings? Here was my response:

[Read more…]

Posted in: Announcements, Scholarship Tagged: apologetics, atonement, audio, bible, blog, book, book of mormon, books, BYU, collaboration, conference, consecration, D&C, daniel c. peterson, education, el salvador, facebook, fair, farms, following, forgiveness, friends, history, honor, hugh nibley, jesus christ, joseph smith, joseph smith papyri, journal, joy, learn, literature, love, maxwell institute, media, mobile, money, MP3, multimedia, nephi, new name, news, ordinances, organization, papers, philosophy, print, profit, publication, purpose, religion, repentance, research, rites, ritual, rituals, RSS, sacred, scholar, scholars, scriptures, service, store, study, support, technology, testimony, text, twitter, university, website, websites, william hamblin, work, youtube, zion

Preview: “The Sermon on the Mount in the Light of the Temple,” by John Welch

September 27, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 8 Comments
Detail from Sacrament, by Minerva Teichert (ca. 1935).  On display in the JSB at BYU.

Detail from Sacrament, by Minerva Teichert (ca. 1935). On display in the JSB at BYU.

Last night at the Third Nephi conference held at BYU, Professor John W. Welch gave the keynote address.  His topic was “New Insights Into the Temple Setting of the Sermon on the Mount in Reference to the Sermon at the Temple.”  It was an excellent address, after which Paul Y. Hoskisson, the director of the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies, remarked that he was overwhelmed by what he just heard.  You can read my notes on the conference last night here.

One of the things Professor Welch did was give a free handout to all those who were in attendance to outline some of the things he was going to cover, and topics he has written about in an upcoming book.  I have included this handout embedded at the end of this post.  Professor Welch has been studying this topic since about 1988 when he first wrote a FARMS Update article entitled “The Sermon at the Temple,” in which he wrote of 3 Nephi 11-18 as a text which “offers clues to connect the [Sermon on the Mount] with the making of covenants at the temple” ((FARMS Update, March 1988.)).  [Read more…]

Posted in: Scholarship, Texts Tagged: bible, book of mormon, BYU, conference, covenant, farms, john welch, literature, minerva teichert, nephi, non-lds, pattern, psalms, scholar, sermon at the temple, sermon on the mount, willes center

Liveblog: Third Nephi Conference at BYU – Part 2

September 26, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 2 Comments

Part 2 of liveblogging the Third Nephi Conference at BYU.

Posted in: Scholarship, Tidbits Tagged: bloggernacle, blogging, book of mormon, BYU, conference, jesus christ, nephi, university

Liveblog: Third Nephi Conference at BYU

September 26, 2008 by Bryce Haymond Leave a Comment

This is a liveblog of the conference entitled “Third Nephi: New Perspectives on an Incomparable Scripture,” which is taking place at Brigham Young University on September 26-27, 2008, from 6:30pm on the 26th to about noon on the 27th.  See my previous post on the subject, or the program of the conference here.  Note: Those reading this in an RSS feed or an email will have to visit TempleStudy.com to see the liveblog feed below.  Press the play button below to load the liveblog. In the liveblog window, you can participate live with me by entering your name, your question/comment, and clicking on send.  Enjoy!

Posted in: Scholarship, Tidbits Tagged: bloggernacle, blogging, book of mormon, BYU, conference, jesus christ, nephi, university
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