prophet – Page 2 – Temple Study

Seeing Through a Glass Darkly, and the Urim & Thummim

July 8, 2012 by Bryce Haymond 2 Comments

Lapis specularis, or specularibus lapidibus, is a variety of gypsum (selenite) that forms crystal sheets and they were used as window panes in the first and second centuries AD.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

This scripture from the New Testament has often been used to describe our current estate in life, our vision and perception being a bit muddled as we go about our daily lives. We don’t understand everything, we can’t see everything, we don’t know why some things are the way they are. We don’t live by perfect light and knowledge. Indeed, it is a good scripture on the topic of faith, and how we must live by imperfect understanding, having a feeling for things but unable to grasp them fully. It also well describes what our LDS doctrine calls the veil (also spelled vail), this semi-impervious cloak and covering over God and his dominion. In a future day, the curtain will be drawn, and we will see with perfect clarity, and our understanding will become as clear as day.

Why must we live by this faith, why the separation from God by the veil? Why doesn’t God reveal himself? This is often the cry of the atheists, who seek evidence of God’s existence. I appreciated Dan Peterson’s explanation of this in his talk on “Humble Apologetics.” He said: [Read more…]

Sanctuary Vesture: A Brief Overview and Comparison

February 24, 2011 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments

Ancient Israelite temple ceremonial clothing worn in the Mosaic Tabernacle, and succeeding Israelite temples of Solomon, Herod, et al.

I’m very pleased to welcome another guest post by Matthew B. Brown. Some of his writings, particularly his book The Gate of Heaven, are what inspired me to study the temple more in depth. He offers a wealth of insight and learning for the Latter-day Saints. ~Bryce

Matthew B. Brown holds a degree in history from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is the author of ten books and has published articles with the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU (aka FARMS). Matthew has served as a volunteer researcher, editor, and respondent for The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) and has spoken at several of their annual conferences. He is one of the directors of the upcoming EXPOUND symposium on May 14, 2011, and will also be a presenter (expoundlds.com).

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It is publicly acknowledged that Latter-day Saints who participate in the central temple rites of their faith dress in several layers of ceremonial clothing, consisting of a “white undergarment” (which is worn as part of everyday life) and “other priestly robes” (which are only worn during times of temple service).¹ [Read more…]

FollowTheProphet.net website launches!

November 24, 2009 by Bryce Haymond 3 Comments

FollowTheProphet.net logo, a portrait by LDS artist Ken Corbett of President Thomas S. Monson. Used with permission. KenCorbettArt.com

My brother and I are pleased to announce the launch of our latest project—the FollowTheProphet.net website! This new website has been in design and development for the past month, and we are happy to finally be able to announce today that it is available.

FollowTheProphet.net is a website that allows members of the Church to follow the living prophet more closely. We go from General Conference to General Conference often not hearing or knowing what the prophet is doing, saying, or teaching. Not long ago, the activities of the prophet were much more well known among the membership of the Church. The prophet and members lived very close geographically, and members could even meet personally with the prophet. Today, with over 13 million members scattered worldwide, the activities of the prophet are much lesser known. Members who don’t live in Utah may only know what the prophet is doing every six months at General Conference.

FollowTheProphet.net helps to fill that gap of knowledge. With advances in search technology, we are able to aggregate all public information we find about where the prophet is, what he is doing, saying, teaching, visiting, etc., and post it all in one central place at FollowTheProphet.net. Any talks or speeches he gives, we will post links to his words. Any trips he goes on, we will post information about his visits. Any temples he dedicates, we will inform you about the events. Hopefully this will help you feel a closer connection with God’s living prophet, and stay up-to-date about his activities and his counsel. We believe that in these turbulent times, we will be safe if we stay close to the living prophet of God and heed his word.

More information about the new website can be found on the About page at FollowTheProphet.net, such as the ability to “follow the prophet” via Twitter, RSS, email, or Facebook.

We are excited to bring you this new service, and hope you will enjoy it! Please give us any tips, suggestions, or feedback that you may have that would help us improve the site.

Temple Preparation

November 1, 2009 by Bryce Haymond 5 Comments

President David O. McKay (1873-1970)

One of the most frequent questions I receive from readers is “how should I prepare to go to the temple?” Or if it is not for them personally, “how do I help someone else prepare to go to the temple?” It is an important question, and one that should be carefully considered.

Preparing to go to the temple is one of the most important things someone can do, not only for the first time they go, but for the rest of our lives. The temple experience is incredibly rich in symbolism and meaning, and only a lifetime of study can reveal all its teachings. Elder Boyd K. Packer once related an experience he had with President David O. McKay in the Salt Lake Temple: [Read more…]

The Doctrine of Continual Revelation

October 23, 2009 by Bryce Haymond 15 Comments

President Thomas S. Monson

The emails I receive these days give me ample opportunity to teach the gospel. Below is my response to a fundamentalist.

I will explain why you do not understand the doctrine of continual revelation, and why it is leading you away from the truth.

First, a scripture:

And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. (2 Ne. 29:9-10)

Revelation can be a nebulous thing. It is not always so clear cut that it builds on top of prior revelations and is in harmony with them. Every prophet that has ever lived on the earth was rejected by his own generation because they thought he did not conform to the “old revelations,” that they changed them, and gave them something new. Joseph gave us the script. And I repeat. [Read more…]