Marvelous Wonder
In Revelation 12 we read that in the war in Heaven, the Savior’s followers overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. I don’t know exactly what that was like, but I can just imagine the most faithful and valiant spirits persuading many of us with their testimony of truth and light. I imagine this final battle between good and evil that’s happening right now will involve some of that. I think more and more of us will need to step up and confidently share the light we’ve been given.
Marvelous Wonder Podcast shares the message that the heavens are open, and revelation didn’t stop with Peter and Paul. Marvelous truths, like the Plan of Salvation and the Book of Mormon have been brought forth by the Lord to prepare us for His Second Coming.
On Marvelous Wonder, we will be taking a weekly dive into everything about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from the missionary lessons to the temple, to understand what we really believe, where it came from, and how our doctrine comes together in a theology that answers questions humans have had for ages, and brings each one of us into a personal relationship with God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. Episodes will rely on scriptural and prophetic authority to teach restored truths in a way that illuminates the covenant path back to our Heavenly Home, for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who want to take more advantage of what we’ve been given, and for nonmembers who are curious about what we believe and just what is so Marvelous and Wonderful about it.
Marvelous Wonder
The Temple Endowment | Freemasonry vs. History and Scripture
In this video, Preston Purnell examines the common claim that Joseph Smith simply copied Freemasonry when creating the LDS Temple Endowment. Preston offers two compelling reasons why the temple ceremonies are more than just repackaged Masonic rituals.
The discussion covers:
- How the pattern of the endowment existed in scripture long before Joseph Smith encountered Freemasonry
- Biblical examples including the Brother of Jared's experience at the veil and Enoch's mountaintop encounter
- Joseph Smith's First Vision as a possible endowment experience itself
- Modern research discovering striking parallels between ancient Israelite temple ceremonies and LDS temple practices
- How symbols like the compass and square existed in ancient Christian, Egyptian, Sumerian, and Asian contexts
- Why the temple endowment, like the Book of Mormon, requires an explanation that accounts for all its elements
Preston concludes that while some mechanics from Masonic practices may have helped Joseph Smith ritualize concepts, the temple endowment stands as a pillar of testimony on par with the Book of Mormon—a beautiful blessing that helps us understand "what's truly at stake in the plan of salvation."
#LDSTemple #Endowment #Freemasonry #JosephSmith #AncientRituals #Restoration #TempleWorship #MasonicSymbols #PlanOfSalvation #AncientOrigins
