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PRIESTS DUTIES IN THE TABERNACLE AND AMONG THE PEOPLE

PRIESTS DUTIES IN THE TABERNACLE AND AMONG THE PEOPLE. READ: Exodus 28:1. What did the Lord call Aaron and his sons to receive? According to these verses, how is a person called to the priesthood?.

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PRIESTS DUTIES IN THE TABERNACLE AND AMONG THE PEOPLE

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  1. PRIESTS DUTIES IN THE TABERNACLE AND AMONG THE PEOPLE

  2. READ: Exodus 28:1 • What did the Lord call Aaron and his sons to receive? • According to these verses, how is a person called to the priesthood?

  3. President David O. McKay: "This question of divine authority is one of the important factors which distinguish the Church of Jesus Christ from the Protestant creeds of Christendom. In plain, unmistakable terms the Church declares that 'a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.' (Articles of Faith, No. 5.) In this declaration the Church but reiterates the words of one who bore Christ's authority in the Meridian of Time, and who, in writing upon this very question, said, 'And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.' (Heb. 5:4.)" (Gospel Ideals [1953], 165).

  4. Exodus 28:1 is Aaron's and his sons' calling to be consecrated and anointed to minister in the priest's office.

  5. Elder Bruce R. McConkie : "Priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man on earth to act in all things for the salvation of men. … Unless the Lord's ministers actually have this authority from the Lord they cannot cast out devils, heal the sick, confer the Holy Ghost, perform a baptism that will be recognized in heaven, or do any of the host of things reserved for performance by legal administrators in the Lord's earthly kingdom. See Luke 9:1–6" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:748–9).

  6. READ: Exodus 28:2–4 • What can we learn from the fact that the Lord revealed what a priest should wear in the tabernacle? • Has the Lord made similar requests in our day?

  7. The pattern for the official clothing of the high priest, or presiding head of the Aaronic Priesthood (not the Melchizedek Priesthood office of high priest), like that for the tabernacle, was given by revelation and had symbolic as well as practical significance.

  8. READ: Exodus 28:6–8 • Ephod. "The ephod [pronounced ay'fode in Hebrew] was an article of sacred clothing worn by the high priests of the Levitical Priesthood. The Lord directed that they were not to wear ordinary clothing during their service, but they were to have 'holy garments' made by those whom the Lord had 'filled with the spirit of wisdom.' (Exod. 28:2–3.) These sacred garments were to be passed from father to son along with the high priestly office itself. (Exod. 29:29.) •  "The ephod (like an apron), worn over a blue robe, was made of blue, purple, and scarlet material, with designs of gold thread skillfully woven into the fabric.

  9. Blue - Heaven or home of Christ, rest & peaceGold – God-like splendor, Celestial Kingdom Purple - Royalty, the Priesthood Scarlet - Blood of lamb (Christ)Silver – moral purityLinen - Egyptian word meaning pure white Colors (repeated 24 times) and what they represent:

  10. This garment was fastened at each shoulder and had an intricately woven band with which it could be fastened around the waist. In gold settings on each shoulder were onyx stones engraved with the names of the 12 sons of Israel as a 'memorial' as the priest served before the Lord. (See Exod. 28:6–14 and 39:2–7). Fastened to the ephod was a breastplate into which the Urim and Thummin could be placed. (Exod. 28:15–30.)Aaron represents Christ and Israel is on his shoulder by covenant. The Savior bears us on his shoulders.

  11. "The exact function of the ephod is not known. As President Joseph Fielding Smith observed, information concerning these ancient ordinances 'was never recorded in any detail, because such ordinances are sacred and not for the world.' (Improvement Era, November 1955, p. 794.)" (Richard O. Cowan, "I Have a Question," Ensign, Dec. 1973, p. 33.)

  12. This "apron," as it is sometimes translated, signified a beautiful symbolic concept. With the two onyx stones, which fastened the ephod on the shoulders, the high priest (a type of Christ and also of his authorized representatives) entered the tabernacle (the house of the Lord, or God's presence) carrying Israel on his shoulders (see Exodus 28:12). 

  13. READ: Exodus 28:17-21&29

  14. Attached to the ephod with golden chains and ouches (sockets or fasteners) was the breastplate (see vss. 13-29). The breastplate worn by Aaron and subsequent high priests should not be confused with the one used by the Prophet Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon. Aaron's breastplate was made of fabric rather than of metal and was woven of the same material that was used in making the ephod (see vs. 15). It was twice as long as it was wide and when folded became a square pocket into which the Urim and Thummim was placed. Upon the exposed half of the breastplate were precious stones inscribed with the names of each of the tribes of Israel. Thus, the high priest bore "the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart … for a memorial before the Lord continually" (vs. 29). The breastplate.

  15. The typology of the high priest carrying Israel next to his heart lends added meaning to the promise that the Lord will some day select his "jewels" (D&C 60:4; 101:3).

  16. READ: Exodus 28:9-12 • The Urim and Thummim. As noted above, the Urim and Thummim was carried in the pouch formed when the breastplate was folded over (see Exodus 28:30). A urim and thummim has been given to many prophets in all ages and has a transcending effect concerning the further light and knowledge they obtain. • "A Urim and Thummim consists of two special stones called seer stones or interpreters. The Hebrew words urim and thummim, both plural, mean lights and perfections. Presumably one of the stones is called Urim and the other Thummim. Ordinarily they are carried in a breastplate over the heart. (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8.) …

  17. "… Abraham had them in his day (Abra. 3:1–4), and Aaron and the priests in Israel had them from generation to generation. (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 33:8, 1 Sam. 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65.) …"… Ammon said of these same stones: 'The things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.' (Mosiah 8:13; 28:13–16.)

  18. "The existence and use of the Urim and Thummim as an instrument of revelation will continue among exalted beings in eternity." (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 818–19.)The Urim and Thummim of Aaron was not the same as that used by Joseph Smith, for the Prophet received the Urim and Thummim used by the brother of Jared (see McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 819).

  19. READ: Exodus 28:31-32 The robe. This robe was blue and was woven without seams with a hole for the head to go through (see Exodus 28:31–32). Jesus, the Great High Priest, was clothed in a similar seamless garment prior to his crucifixion (see John 19:23). Along the hem of the robe were placed, alternately, bells and fringes woven to look like pomegranates.

  20. One scholar noted the significance of the robe and its ornaments: "[The robe was] woven in one piece, which set forth the idea of wholeness or spiritual integrity; and the dark-blue colour indicated nothing more than the heavenly origin and character of the office with which the robe was associated.

  21. Every Israelite is directed to make a fringe in the border of his garment, of dark-blue purple thread, and when he looks at the fringe to remember the commandments of God and do them. The bells were symbols of the sounding of this word, or the revelation and proclamation of the word.

  22. READ: Exodus 28:36-39 The golden diadem and the mitre. The mitre (or hat, or bonnet) was made of fine linen (see Exodus 28:39), and each priest wore one. In addition, the high priest wore a golden band on the front of his mitre, upon the forehead. Engraved on the band were the words "Holiness to the Lord" (vs. 36; see also vss. 37–38), signifying, first, that the high priest should be characterized by this attribute, and, second, that Christ, the Great High Priest, would be perfectly holy before God.

  23. Because the Israelites disqualified themselves for the higher ordinances, only the priests went into the most sacred parts of the tabernacle. The consecration and setting apart of priests symbolizes in many ways what all must do to prepare for temple work.

  24. Aaron and his posterity did six things to prepare for service in the tabernacle.

  25. Event 1: Exodus 29:4 Aaron and his sons were washed with water, representing being cleansed (see Moses 6:57).

  26. Event 2:Exodus 29:5-6 • Aaron and his sons put on sacred clothing, representing putting on the "new man" and becoming a new person in the Lord

  27. Event 3Exodus 29:7 Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil. Oil was used for light, representing the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is given to guide lives

  28. Event 4Exodus 29:10-14 Aaron and his sons offered a sin offering, representing the sacrifice of all unrighteousness (see Alma 22:18).

  29. Elder Neal A. Maxwell: "So it is that real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed! Such is the 'sacrifice unto the Lord … of a broken heart and a contrite spirit,' (D&C 59:8), a prerequisite to taking up the cross, while giving 'away all [our] sins' in order to know God (Alma 22:18); for the denial of self precedes the full acceptance of Him" (Ensign, May 1995, 68)

  30. Event 5Exodus 29:15-18 Aaron and his sons offered a burnt offering, representing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (see Alma 34:14–16

  31. Event 6Exodus 29:19-21 Blood was placed on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe of Aaron and his sons. The ear represents hearing, the thumb represents doing, and the toe represents walking. This was done to signify that they were to listen for the word of God, do what God would have them do, and walk in the way God would have them walk (see Deuteronomy 10:12–13).

  32. READ: Moses 6:57–60 Compare Adam's experience to that of Aaron and his sons. The Lord explained to Adam that we must be born again by water, the Spirit, and blood (see v. 59) and, by this process, be able to "dwell in his presence" (v. 57). Adam was told that "by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified" (v. 60).

  33. This pattern is seen in the consecration of Aaron and his sons: • They were washed, which symbolically allowed them to put on new clothes, or to become a new person. • They were anointed with oil, representing the Holy Ghost. After receiving this symbolic anointing of the Spirit, sacrifices were offered to justify them before God. • They were anointed with blood to sanctify them, or make them holy through the blood shed for them (in their case by an animal).

  34. Aaron and his sons ate the sacrifice "wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them" (see Exodus 29:31–34), which are reasons we partake of the sacrament today. The sacrament signifies the Atonement that was made for us, and partaking of it symbolizes making the Atonement a part of our lives.

  35. How is your participation in the covenants and ordinances of baptism and the sacrament similar to those expressed in the consecration of Aaron and his sons?

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