This coming Sunday we will have the opportunity to participate in the dedication of the Provo City Center Temple. How fitting that this sacred and glorious dedication has been appointed to be on Palm Sunday. For FHE last night, we discussed the symbolism of Christ's entry into the ancient city and how He is entering our city today.- The Palm Branch = symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life
- Riding on a donkey = a symbol of peace and meekness. The horse was a symbol of war but donkeys were often used in peace treaties.
- He came from the east and up into Jerusalem = The names of the cities listed in the Gospels are of such an order to show this direction. He also ascended upward into the city since Jerusalem is on a hill. (The rising sun also comes from the east.)
- Hosanna - is a Greek form of the Hebrew expression for "Save us now," or "Save, we pray."... Note the rendering of the :Hosanna Shout: in the restored Church of Christ in the current dispensation on occasions of particular rejoicing before the Lord. (p. 523 Jesus the Christ)
- The first thing Christ did after entering the city was cleanse the Temple.
"The people were jubilant over the spectacle of Jesus riding toward the holy city... For the time being He was their king, and they His adoring subjects. The voices of the mulititude sounded in reverberating harmony: ;Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the hightest'; and again: 'Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.'" - James E. Talmage (Jesus the Christ p. 514)
We too feel blessed and are thrilled with the opportunity to rejoice and shout "Hosanna!" at this Temple dedication. To offer Him this Holy House and welcome Him to our city.
We really had a great time with the kids last night in our discussion but it has caused me some deeper reflection - so I want to take a little time to go slightly further into this story. You see, with the temple that Christ entered into in Jerusalem, it was a different event than ours here in Provo:
"Amidst all this jubilation, Jesus was sad as He came in sight of the great city wherin stood the House of the Lord; and He wept, because of the wickedness of His people, and of their refusal to accept Him as the Son of God; moreover He foresaw the awful scenes of destruction before which both city and temple were soon to fall. In anguish and tears, He thus apostrophized the doomed city: 'If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.' (Luke 19:42)" - James E. Talmage (Jesus the Christ p. 515)
We too feel blessed and are thrilled with the opportunity to rejoice and shout "Hosanna!" at this Temple dedication. To offer Him this Holy House and welcome Him to our city.
We really had a great time with the kids last night in our discussion but it has caused me some deeper reflection - so I want to take a little time to go slightly further into this story. You see, with the temple that Christ entered into in Jerusalem, it was a different event than ours here in Provo:
"Amidst all this jubilation, Jesus was sad as He came in sight of the great city wherin stood the House of the Lord; and He wept, because of the wickedness of His people, and of their refusal to accept Him as the Son of God; moreover He foresaw the awful scenes of destruction before which both city and temple were soon to fall. In anguish and tears, He thus apostrophized the doomed city: 'If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.' (Luke 19:42)" - James E. Talmage (Jesus the Christ p. 515)
In other words He lamented, "If you had only realized what would bring you peace, real peace... but you've closed your eyes and refuse to see."
How were their eyes closed?
Is there a clue to this answer by the Savior's first choice of action after he dismounts the donkey? What does He do? He immediately clears out the temple because they had turned it into a "den of thieves." - Luke 19:46 Perhaps He had some interest in real-estate, after-all, they had no right to do whatever they wanted in the Temple. This was HIS house. He was the owner, the possessor of this place.
Speaking of houses... what about the one we dwell in as a family.... Who is the rightful owner of our home? Is our home just a residence for ourselves or have we dedicated it to the Lord? What do we invite in on a daily basis and would He approve? How do we maintain the kind of atmosphere where His Spirit may dwell?
And what about our mortal tabernacle? Who possesses it?
Each day the Lord leaves it up to us to choose, but we must always remember Who bought us.
"The purchase price for our fullness of joy--body and spirit eternally united--is the pure and innocent blood of the Savior of this world. We cannot then say in ignorance or defiance, 'Well, it's my life,' or worse yet, 'It's my body.' It is not. 'Ye are not your own,' Paul said. 'Ye are bought with a price.'" - Jeffrey R. Holland
What kinds of things turn my own home "into a den of thieves"?
The way to peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come is to let the rightful Owner in our hearts, let Him in our home, and into our life! Let Him claim His rightful place and take ownership.... not partial... this isn't fractional real-estate.... but full and complete ownership.
How do I let Him in?
What does that look like in my daily choices?
What does that look like for me as a mother, a wife, a sister, and a neighbor?
Just some thoughts I've been having....
-Alicia
How were their eyes closed?
Is there a clue to this answer by the Savior's first choice of action after he dismounts the donkey? What does He do? He immediately clears out the temple because they had turned it into a "den of thieves." - Luke 19:46 Perhaps He had some interest in real-estate, after-all, they had no right to do whatever they wanted in the Temple. This was HIS house. He was the owner, the possessor of this place.
Speaking of houses... what about the one we dwell in as a family.... Who is the rightful owner of our home? Is our home just a residence for ourselves or have we dedicated it to the Lord? What do we invite in on a daily basis and would He approve? How do we maintain the kind of atmosphere where His Spirit may dwell?
And what about our mortal tabernacle? Who possesses it?
Each day the Lord leaves it up to us to choose, but we must always remember Who bought us.
"The purchase price for our fullness of joy--body and spirit eternally united--is the pure and innocent blood of the Savior of this world. We cannot then say in ignorance or defiance, 'Well, it's my life,' or worse yet, 'It's my body.' It is not. 'Ye are not your own,' Paul said. 'Ye are bought with a price.'" - Jeffrey R. Holland
What kinds of things turn my own home "into a den of thieves"?
The way to peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come is to let the rightful Owner in our hearts, let Him in our home, and into our life! Let Him claim His rightful place and take ownership.... not partial... this isn't fractional real-estate.... but full and complete ownership.
How do I let Him in?
What does that look like in my daily choices?
What does that look like for me as a mother, a wife, a sister, and a neighbor?
Just some thoughts I've been having....
-Alicia
by, Jeremy Camp
"In this obsession with the things this world says make us happy
Can't see the slaves we are in all the searching all the grasping
Like we deserve much more than all these blessing we're holding
So now I'm running free into an ocean of mercy unending
So come and empty me
So that it's you I breathe
I want my life to be
Only Christ in me
So I will fix my eyes
'Cause you're my source of life
I need the world to see
That it's Christ in me"
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