A Saint, who is one in deed and in truth, does not look for an immaterial heaven but he expects a heaven with lands, houses, cities, vegetation, rivers, and animals; with thrones, temples, palaces, kings, princes, priests, and angels; with food, raiment, musical instruments, etc; all of which are material. Continue Reading

I find the following outline to be helpful when studying Romans 8:12-39 1. Five Characteristics of a Saint – Romans 8:12-17 A. Romans 8:12-13 A Saint Puts to Death the Natural Man B. Romans 8:14 A Saint is led by the Spirit C. Romans 8:15-16 Adopted into the House ofContinue Reading

The apostle John describes a massive perfect cube coming out of heaven, joining earth. There is only one cube I know of from the Bible, and that is the Holy of Holies (Vulgate, “Sanctum Sanctorum”; Hebrew “Ḳodesh ha-Ḳodashim,” or, more fully, “Bet Ḳodesh ha-Ḳodashim”) as described in the Old Testament.Continue Reading

Understanding Deuteronomy’s treatment of the Divine Council The ways that the Tanakh (Old Testament) was read by followers of Yahweh (Jehovah) over the centuries leading up to the life of Jesus Christ changed over time. Because the early Israelites that wrote their sacred texts had a view of a divineContinue Reading

Hebrews – An Introduction Today we will briefly examine the text of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament and what we think is going on this text. We will look at who we think wrote Hebrews, when it was written, etc. First of all we know that it’sContinue Reading

The Hymn of the Pearl and the Cosmic Myth The Cosmic Myth is a story that teaches of eternal truths even though it may or may not be totally historically accurate.[1]Michael Fishbane, Biblical Myth and Rabbinic Mythmaking, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 11. Fishbane stated, “we shall understand the word ‘Myth’Continue Reading

In John 14:1-2 we read: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. The word for mansions is used here μοναὶmone, a word that means to abide,Continue Reading

Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as an Ancient Temple Text John W. Welch This article is taken from the book Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple & the Sermon on the Mount, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, 1999, Chapter 4. In the limited time Jesus spent with the Nephites, heContinue Reading

THE PROBATIONARY TEST OF MORTALITY Elder Bruce R. McConkie Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Address given at the University of Utah Institute of Religion January 10, 1982 I’m very pleased and honored to have this opportunity to meet and worship with you on this special occasion. Earlier, PresidentContinue Reading