“God took Enoch,” illustrated by Gerard Hoet, 1728 Figures de la Bible
The Academy for Temple Studies in co-sponsorship with USU Religious Studies Program have announced a conference centered on the figure of Enoch and the temple. The keynote speaker will be George W. E. Nickelsburg, who is a well-known expert on 1 Enoch. Others will also present on Enoch literature and temple themes. The conference will take place in two locations, in Logan on February 19, and in Provo on February 22, 2013.
Brian Olson has put together a few items of interest for those who love the temple. First is an infographic that shows all of the LDS temples that have been built, side by side, showing how they compare in height, and explaining some of the differences between them. Secondly are 3D models of many of LDS temples, which he has used to make YouTube videos which show virtual flyarounds of each. He also has a good collection of temple photos he has taken.
See Brian’s sites, as he has done some excellent work here, similar to some things I’ve done in the past.
The LDS Church Public Affairs has just published a fantastic video explaining what temples are all about to Mormons. In it they have a conversation with Elder William R. Walker, Executive Director of the Church Temple Department. Elder Walker gives a great walkthrough tour of LDS temples, somewhat like a video walking tour through many of the rooms and parts of modern day temples, very similar to what you might see during an open house of a new temple. Some of the video shown of the interiors is some I’ve never seen before, including video of inside the Salt Lake Temple celestial room and baptistry. It is gorgeous, in full 1080p Hi-Def resolution.
I’m very pleased and excited about this new video from the Church. I’m glad that we are taking this opportunity now, with such a great spotlight on us as a people, to explain our beliefs, particularly about the temple, and have this kind of open “conversation.” We too need to learn how to similarly converse with others about the temple. There are so many misconceptions that abound, even still today, and it is great to see the Church use such innovative media to help explain things. Some believe that by taking our temple practices out of context, in exposé fashion, they might do damage to us. I have always felt that those who are honest in heart, who truly want to learn about something, will go to the source.
The video is unusually quite lengthy, at 15 minutes, which is great! I hope that everyone that sees this video shares it, and helps pass it on to others. I think things like this will go a long way in helping others learn what LDS beliefs truly are, and what the temple is all about. Watch the video below.
The Church has published this informative infographic about the differences between LDS temples and chapels. More can be read on the subject at the Church’s Newsroom site.
Today we are fortunate to be participating in “The Temple on Mount Zion” Conference in Provo, Utah, in memory of Matthew B. Brown, and sponsored by Interpreter Foundation. Of course, the theme of the entire conference is the temple. There have been some excellent presentations on numerous topics including noah, the ark, divine handclasps, egyptology, creation, Job, the Psalms, Dead Sea Scrolls, the “terrible questions,” Jacob’s sermon, axes mundi, Nephites and Mesoamerica, the Torah, the design of temples, and others.
