Primitive man regarded himself as being in debt to the spirits, as standing in need of redemption. As the savages looked at it, in justice the spirits might have visited much more bad luck upon them. As time passed, this concept developed into the doctrine of sin and salvation. The soul was looked upon as coming into the world under forfeit — original sin. The soul must be ransomed; a scapegoat must be provided.
The head-hunter, in addition to practicing the cult of skull worship, was able to provide a substitute for his own life, a scapeman.
The Jewish people saw sin as a Levitical ritual, an act. Sinfulness to them did not include thoughts or rational behaviors. According to Mosaic Law, a reconciliation with God was necessary for forgiveness of sins of all kinds and duration, harm to self or others, or contractual.
Following the building of the tabernacle in the desert (Exodus), the Old Testament book Leviticus sets forth the sacrificing of living animals as payment for human transgressions, in order to appease and comfort the god of the Jews – Yahveh. This ancient sacrificial system was a type and shadow of the crucifixion and atonement of Christ.
The marvelous thing about the series of holy days of Judaism and the restored temples is that the ancient temple sacrifices, washings, anointings, and ordaining ceremonies fulfill the promises and the meanings of all the sacred rituals of the Jews. Think about that. The essential meaning of each feast is echoed and enlarged upon through participation in temple ordinances. The Gospel in its fullness is to be enjoyed only in our sacred temples.
For those who fully repent, who sacrifice their pride to obtain humility, and who come unto Christ in his church, there is offered the very greatest gift that mankind can ever hope for. Those gifts are found in the increasing number of Latter-day Saint temples that now circle the earth. They are the physical and spiritual culmination of thousands of years of spiritual wanderings without a home for the spirit of mankind. The temples of God have been restored. They are the Lord’s houses of spiritual peace, comfort, education, equanimity.
And there will be thousands of them. Their purpose is to offer to those who make themselves ready and worthy, the complete canon of blessings from the Father through His Only Begotten Son. It is a place where worthy LDS people can go to make sacred covenants involving Christ and his Gospel. Joseph Smith taught that this is the dispensation of the fullness of times. The Heavenly Priesthood is uniting with the earthly, to bring about those great purposes, to roll forth the kingdom of God and those blessings and covenants are to be had by worshipping and working in these temples that have been built for us .
Marlena Tanya Muchnick, LDS speaker, author, researcher
[email protected]. www.jewishconvert-lds.com and blogsites
True Doctrines Restored by Jesus Christ
Priesthood restored as it was in the primitive Church
Baptism by immersion
Gift of Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands
True nature of the Godhead
Resurrection for mankind through the Atonement of Jesus Christ
Continuous revelation
Temple work for living and dead
Opportunity to live with Heavenly parents in Celestial glory