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1 Kings

Is the Spirit of Elijah a Healing Power in Addition to Being a Sealing Power? (Gospel Doctrine Lesson 28A)

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Elijah Slays a Priest of Baal, Mount Carmel, Israel. Photograph by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, 9 May 2014

An Old Testament KnoWhy relating to the reading assignment for Gospel Doctrine Lesson 28: “After the Fire a Still Small Voice (1 Kings 17-19) (JBOTL28A)

 

Question:Is there more to the “Spirit of Elijah” than the formal work of family history and temple ordinances for sealing?

Summary:The keys restored by Elijah were not given simply to enable priesthood ordinances to be performed with authority. In the performance of family history work and sealing ordinances, estranged family members may be brought together through the love and forgiveness that should accompany that service.

 

The full article may be found at the Interpreter Foundation website: KnoWhy OTL28A — Is the Spirit of Elijah a Healing Power in Addition to Being a Sealing Power?

Why Does “Holiness To the Lord” Appear on LDS Temples? (History, Meaning, and Purpose) (Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26A)

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. Stephen T. Whitlock: View of the Jerusalem Archaeological Park (Ophel Walls site) from the southwest corner, 2017

An Old Testament KnoWhy relating to the reading assignment for Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26: King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness (1 Kings 3; 5-11) (JBOTL26A). A video version of this article is available on the FairMormon YouTube channel.

Note: Jeff and his wife, Kathleen, have just returned from their mission to the DR Congo. He will be presenting at the upcoming FairMormon 2018 Conference on “Stories of the Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” This series of Old Testament KnoWhy articles will resume sometime in the first half of August.

Question: Why does “Holiness to the Lord” appear on LDS temples? Was the phrase used on buildings anciently?

Summary:The Wikipedia article on LDS temples asserts that the phrase “Holiness to the Lord” was inscribed “on the Old Testament Temple of Solomon.” However, so far as we know, the phrase was never used as part of any ancient building. It is unique to modern temples. In this article we will address three questions:

  1. How did the practice of inscribing LDS temples with the words “Holiness to the Lord” begin?
  2. What was the meaning of the phrase in the Old Testament?
  3. What is the purpose of modern temples?

The full article may be found at the Interpreter Foundation website: KnoWhy OTL26A — Why Does “Holiness To the Lord” Appear on LDS Temples?

A video version of this article is available on the FairMormon YouTube channel