A Woman Clothed with the Sun

1. A Woman Clothed with the Sun www.kevinhinckley.com

2. Symbolism MR Ducks MR Knot OS MR CM Wangs CM EDBD Eyes oIB MR Ducks

3. Our Gospel Doctrine Plan From the Book of Revelations: Today, Symbols Next week, the Second Coming The following week, the Millennium

4. Joseph McConkie Symbols are teaching devices. Symbols are the language in which all gospel covenants and all ordinances of salvation have been revealed. From the time we are immersed in the waters of baptism to the time we kneel at the altar of the temple with the companion of our choice in the ordinance of eternal marriage, every covenant we make will be written in the language of symbolism. Some are uncomfortable with the temple experience because they are not familiar with the language of symbolism. The better we understand the language, or ritual, or symbol, the richer the experience we have in the mountain of the Lord's house.

5. Orson F. Whitney The Universe is built on symbols, lifting our thoughts from man to God, from earth to heaven, from time to eternity… God teaches with symbols; it is His favorite way of teaching… Improvement Ira, 1927

6. Nauvoo Temple Star Stones Sun Stones Moon Stones Revelations 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

7. The mystery of the woman… Catholic Church Virgin Mary Protestant Churches The State of Israel Prominent “Last Days” experts The European Union

8. Ether 4:15-16 'Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which cloth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you – yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel. And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes all the people.'

9. Isle of Patmos Banished, probably around 95 AD Off the coast of Turkey A place for political prisoners Recorded the Book of Revelation Revelation, in Greek, means “apocalypse”

10. Elder McConkie "The issue, thus, in delving into the doctrines and truths of this great repository of revealed writ [the Book of Revelation] is to rightly divide the word of truth; it is to learn what God has revealed and unfolded in these apocalyptic writings and to lay the remainder aside, knowing that in our present state of understanding any speculation is worse than useless; such speculation not only leads to misunderstanding but so often becomes the basis of gospel hobbies which lead away from that sound view and perspective of all eternal truths which is an essential part of working out one's salvation." (DNTC 3:430)

11. Three Basic Reasons for Symbolism in the Scripture • To center attention on and testify of Jesus the Christ • To enhance and beautify the doctrines of the Gospel • To expand the knowledge and understanding of those who have “eyes to see”. Matthew Brown “Symbols in Stone

12. Clear Doctrine… Question: What could/would Lucifer accuse the “brethren” [Jehovah, Michael, Gabriel, etc] of in the Premortal Life? And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought against Michael; And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ. Neither was there place found in heaven for the great dragon, who was cast out; that old serpent called the devil, and also called Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth; and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth . . . for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Question: What kind of things does he currently accuse church members of?

13. Current Article… As Mitt Romney scours the South for endorsements from evangelical leaders, he is getting some unusual advice on how to explain his Mormon faith: Don't try to be one of us. "I told him, you cannot equate Mormonism with Christianity; you cannot say, 'I am a Christian just like you,"' said Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina, which is scheduled to hold the first primary among the Southern states. "If he does that, every Baptist preacher in the South is going to have to go to the pulpit on Sunday and explain the differences." Richard Land, a leader of the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention…says [Romney], has a lot more explaining to do. "When he goes around and says Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, he ticks off at least half the evangelicals," Land said. "He's picking a fight he's going to lose."(Bloomberg News 10/30)

14. Elder David B. Haight I bear witness that the devil is real. I have felt of his influence. The apostle Paul knew firsthand of his power. As Saul of Tarsus, he persecuted the Saints, locked them in prison, and spoke against them when they were put to death. Later, as the believer and great apostle, he encouraged the followers of Christ at Ephesus: "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:11-12).