Teaching Choral Concepts

Review

     President David O. McKay said, at the time of the Los Angeles Temple dedication, "There are few, even temple workers, who comprehend the full meaning and power of the temple endowment. Seen for what it is, it is the step-by-step ascent into the Eternal presence. If our young people could but glimpse it, it would be the most powerful spiritual motivation of their lives!" 

This book focuses on the concept of what man must do, and how he must do it, to ascend into the presence of God. It is a broad synthesis of scriptural relationships. It creates a temple paradigm in the image of a mountain and our ascent of this mountain. The term scriptural temple, as used by the author in this book, refers to "scriptural verses that directly or indirectly refer to the nature of true temple worship." 

Concerning the benefits we derive from reading this book, he says, "The temple is a marvelous template for scripture study because if we enhance what we learn inside the temple walls with the rich temple teachings of the scriptures, temple worship will have great and glorious meaning in our lives. 

The Scriptural Temple will help us understand important concepts of true temple worship, such as the mighty change of heart, anointing with the Spirit, growing up in the Lord, the bond of perfectness, the redemption of Zion, eternal life, and many other important temple concept, and principles." 

The scriptural insights explained in The Scriptural Temple are life-changing in their scope and impact. They are presented herein with skill and loving care. Certainly, they in no way breach the sacred confidentiality of the temple service. They reach upward and provide a basis for continuing personal growth. When you read this book, you too will discover that "the scriptural temple keeps expanding as we are taught by the Holy Spirit." 

If you want temple attendance to continually be a personal growth experience, this book deserves a place at the top of your reading list! 

Table of Contents

Introduction, 11

Dedication, 12

1. The Temple Paradigm, 13
Temple Dropouts and Temple Inactives, 13
Few Comprehend the Full Meaning of the Temple Endowment, 14
The Term Scriptural Temple as Used in this Book, 14
A Whale of a Tale and its Message, 15
The Mighty Change: The Great Paradigm Shift of the Gospel, 18
Moroni's Heralding Call to Commune with God, 21

2. Seeking the Source of Temple Worship in the Holy Land, 24
Granite and Gossamer Veils, 25
Topographical Temples in Israel, 27
The Concept of a Holy Nation--Then and Now, 28
God: The "Primordial Source" of Temple Worship in all Civilizations, 29

3. The Mountain of Holiness, 31
The Image of a Holy Mountain, 31
The Tower of Babel: An Apostate Temple, 32
Eden's Temple: The Holy Mountain of God, 34
The Temples of Adam-ondi-Ahman, 35
Men to Match His Mountains, 35
Men Who Matched His Exceedingly High Mountains, 36
Mount Zion: The Cosmic Mountain, 39
Climbing the Spiritual Mountain Embodied in Physical Temples, 39

4. Ascending the Mountain of Holiness, 41
The Small and Large Steps of Spiritual Growth, 41
The Admission Requirement: A Defined Level of Spiritual Maturity and Obedience, 42
Pressing Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ, 43
The Temple Falls, but Ascending to It Lives On, 43
The Ascent from an Aaronic Priesthood Temple to a Melchizedek Priesthood Temple in
Jerusalem, 44
The Ancient Concept of the Celestial Ascent, 44
Ascending to the Great View, 46
The Lead Climber and His Rope, 47
The Great View of Ourselves, 49

5. The Camp of Israel: Base Camp of Mount Zion, 51
Israel Lost the Melchizedek Priesthood Ordinance and the Lord's Rest, 52
Receiving The Lord's Rest: A Preparation of the Heart, 53
The Preparatory Redemption, 56
Separating Covenant People from the World to Become the Lord's Jewels, 57
Put Away Strange Gods, Be Clean, and Change Your Garments, 58

6. Equipped for the First Ascent: Initiation to Mount Zion, 60
Modern Temple Preparations Follow Ancient Scriptural Patterns, 60
Covering Our Nakedness with the Power of the Atonement, 61
Discovering Our Spiritual Nakedness, 63
Anointing with the Spirit: A Preparation to be Taught in the Temple, 65
To Be Taught by the Holy Spirit We Must Become as Temples, 65
Understanding the Scriptural Concept of the Heart, 67
The State of the Natural Mind and Potential State of the Hardened Heart, 71
To Find God We Must Seek the Lord on His Terms, 73
The Power of the Holy Ghost Is Learning Truth in the Mind and Heart, 74
The Power of the Holy Ghost Is The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation of Jesus Christ, 75
The Power of the Holy Ghost Is the Power of the Word of God, 78
Symbolic Jewels: Pearls of The Spirit, 79
A New Name for a New Birth in a New Marriage Covenant, 84
The Meaning of Taking the Name of Christ Upon Us, 86
Bearing the Name of Christ Starts With a Seed Planted in the Heart, 87
The Temple Blessings for Taking Christ's Name Upon Us, 88
The New and Everlasting Covenant: A Covenant of the Heart, 90
Covenants for the Last Time in the Fullness of Times, 94

7. The Great Endowment: The Purifying Power of Mount Zion, 96
An Endowment Is Given When We Serve God upon His Mountain, 96
To Be Endowed Is to Be Covered with the Power of Christ, 97
Endowed with Power to Return to the Presence of God, 98
Endowed with Holiness through Covenants with the Lord, 99
Endowed with Knowledge to Understand the Gospel, 100
Accountability, 100
The Order and Age of Accountability, 100
Our Final Accountability to the Savior, 102
Sweetness of the Fruit, 102
The Need for Opposition: Tasting the Bitter to Prize the Sweet, 102
The Meaning of the Tree of Life, 103
The Reality of Partaking of the Fruit of the Tree of Life, 104
Heartburn from the Forbidden Fruit, 105
Exceedingly Great Joy: A Cure for the Heartburn of Sin, 106
Promptings and Gifts of the Spirit: A Cure for the Heartburn of Tribulation, 109
The Law of Agency Continues Through the Forbidden Fruit, 110
We Still Must Choose Between the Two Fruit Trees, 111
Fruit of the Olive Tree: The Pure Oil of Charity, 114
True Messengers, 115
God Calls on Men with True Messengers and Holy Works, 115
The Importance of Seeking True Messengers, 117
True Messengers with the Word of God Lead as Iron Rods, 118
The Compass as an Iron Rod and a True Messenger, 119
A True Messenger's Mark of Authority, 120
True Messengers On Both Sides and Between the Veils of Birth and Death, 124
Melchizedek Priesthood Holders Are Called as True Messengers, 124
Becoming True Messengers: Our Imperative Duty, 125
Becoming True Messengers in the Temple, 127

8. A Full View of Mount Zion, 128
From a Glimpse to a Full View: Parting the Veil of Clouds on Mount Zion, 128
To Know God: The Exceeding Height of Mount Zion, 130
The Full View of Mount Zion Is the Full View of Christ upon Mount Zion, 131
A Full Order: Receiving The Fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood, 132
Priesthood Power Is Given to Those Who Climb Mount Zion, 134
The Fullness of Priesthood Power Is for Both Men and Women, 136
The Spirit of Elijah: The Fullness of the Priesthood Restored on Mount Zion, 138
The Fullness of the Priesthood Leads to Eternal Life, A Full View of Mount Zion, 139

9. The Great and Last Promise: Reaching the Summit of Mount Zion with a Great and
Last Sacrifice, 141
A Glimpse of the Great and Last Promise, 141
The Other, or Second Comforter, 142
The Great and Last Promise of the Temple, 143
The Great and Last Promise Comes by Patiently Seeking the Lord, 145
A Comforting Assurance as a Great and Last Promise of the Temple, 145
A Great and Last Sacrifice for the Great and Last Promise, 147
The Sacrifice of a Broken Heart, 148
A Sacrifice of Sweet Savor, 150
Specific Sacrifices of the Broken Heart, 151
Our Great and Last Sacrifice for the Great and Last Promise, 153
The Mighty Change of Heart on Mount Zion: The Pure Love of Christ, 156
Climbing Mount Zion: Building an Edifice of Pure Love on a Sure Foundation, 161
Our Lead Climber: The Master of Grace and Truth, 164
A Contrast Between Priestcraft and Charity, 164
The Price to Summit Mount Zion: A Sacrifice for the Oneness of Pure Love, 166

10. Climbing up to the Summit of Mount Zion-Lord, How Is It Done?, 169
Climbing Up to the Summit by Growing Up in the Lord, 170
Growing Up in Grace and Truth, 171
Growing Up on Mount Zion of the Old Testament, 173
Grown-Up on Mount Zion: Endowed With Charity, 174
Growing Up in the Lord is Preparing to Meet God, 175
Growing Up in the Preparatory Redemption of Zion, 176
Zion's Redemption: The Rainbow Connection, 179

11. The Bond of Perfectness: The Only Way to the Summit of Mount Zion, 183

12. Sealing of Hearts: The Great Welding Link of Mount Zion, 184

Order Information