Lesson 57

Exodus 25–31

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. You will be ready to learn when your mind is alert and when your attention is focused. Show your willingness to be taught by the Spirit.

Begin your study with prayer.

Temples are being built all around the world to allow more people the opportunity to make sacred covenants.

Consider the experiences of these sisters from many parts of the world and how their lives have been impacted in positive ways through attending the temple.

Blessings of Building Temples

Take a moment to think about how you would answer the following question:

What blessings do we receive when temples are built?

As you study Exodus 25–31 today, look for insights that can help answer this question.

A Holy Place

We read in Exodus 25:1–8 that the Israelites were asked to willingly give offerings of precious materials to the Lord. The Lord wanted the children of Israel to build a sanctuary using these donations. A sanctuary is a holy place or a place of spiritual safety.

Read Exodus 25:8 to find out why the Lord commanded the Israelites to build a tabernacle.

A Sanctuary in Our Day

In our day, a temple is considered a sanctuary.

Based on what you read in Exodus 25:8, what truth can we identify about modern temples?

Closer to the Lord

One truth we can identify from Exodus 25:8 about modern temples is that the Lord commands us to build temples so He can dwell among us.

The sanctuary the Israelites were asked to build was called the tabernacle. It functioned under the law of Moses and was different from modern temples. However, the ancient tabernacle, like modern temples, served as a house of the Lord, where His people could feel close to Him.

1. Answer one or both of the following questions:

• Why do you think participating in temple ordinances can help someone feel closer to God?

• When have you felt closer to God because you visited the temple grounds or participated in temple ordinances?

You may want to copy your response in your Notes on LDS.org.

The Most Holy Place

We read in Exodus 25:9 that the Lord told Moses to build the tabernacle “according to … the pattern” that the Lord would show him. As recorded in Exodus 26, the Lord instructed Moses to build the tent of the tabernacle with boards, curtains, and a veil to divide the tabernacle into two rooms. These two rooms were called “the holy place” and “the most holy place” (Exodus 26:33–34). The most holy place was often called the Holy of Holies. According to Exodus 25:10–22, God instructed Moses to build an ark of the covenant (also called “the ark of the testimony” [Exodus 25:16]) and to set it in the most holy place (see Exodus 26:33–34). The lid, often referred to as the “mercy seat,” was made “of pure gold” (Exodus 25:17) and had “two cherubims” (or angels) on top (Exodus 25:18).

Read Exodus 25:21–22, looking for what would happen at the mercy seat.

Symbolism of the Tabernacle

To understand some of the symbolism of the tabernacle, watch the video “The Tabernacle” (7:18), in which a narrator walks viewers through a representation of how the tabernacle may have appeared.

To understand some of the symbolism of the tabernacle, watch the video “The Tabernacle” (7:18), in which a narrator walks viewers through a representation of how the tabernacle may have appeared.

You can find the video on LDS.org or the LDS Media Library app. You may want to start the video at time code 1:29, which is when the tour of the tabernacle begins.

How is the tabernacle symbolic of returning to God’s presence?

You may want to write your response in your journal or Notes on LDS.org.

Aaron’s Special Clothing

This picture shows Moses giving Aaron the priesthood. Notice that Aaron is wearing special clothing. The Lord revealed to Moses details about the sacred clothing that was to be worn by the priests who would serve in the tabernacle. The blue portion of Aaron’s clothing represents the “ephod” (an apron or vest), and the “mitre” (cap) in Aaron’s hands was to be worn on his head (see Exodus 28:4).

Read Exodus 28:4, looking for additional articles of clothing Aaron was to wear.

Sacred Temple Clothing

The rest of Exodus 28 gives details about the clothing that Aaron and the priests were to wear in the tabernacle and some of the symbolism associated with it.

We also wear special symbolic clothing when we participate in temple ordinances today. Such clothing, including the garments we receive in the temple, is sacred and should be treated and spoken of with reverence.

The video “Sacred Temple Clothing” explains some of the reasons why symbolism is used in religious clothing. You can find the video on LDS.org or the LDS Media Library app.

The video “Sacred Temple Clothing” explains some of the reasons why symbolism is used in religious clothing. You can find the video on LDS.org or the LDS Media Library app.

What can we be reminded of or taught through the symbolism of the sacred temple clothing we wear?

A Sign from the Lord

The Lord often uses signs or symbols to remind His children of what they have promised Him and what He has promised them.

Read Exodus 31:13–17, looking for a sign God uses to remind us of our relationship to Him and His promise to sanctify us.

Sanctification is “the process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Sanctification,” scriptures.lds.org).

The Sabbath Day

From Exodus 31:13–17 we can identify the truth that the Sabbath day and keeping it holy is a sign between us and the Lord.

2. Answer the following question:

• In what ways do you think the Sabbath day and keeping it holy is a sign and a reminder that God is our Lord and that He can sanctify us?

Choices about the Sabbath

President Russell M. Nelson explained one way that the Sabbath day can be a sign between us and the Lord.

“How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’ [see Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12, 20]. That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130).

What will you do to keep the Sabbath day holy as a sign to the Lord of your commitment to Him?

What Did You Learn?

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• The Lord commands us to build temples so He can dwell among us.

• The Sabbath day and keeping it holy is a sign between us and the Lord.

How are the truths in this lesson important to you? Take a moment to think about how these truths will impact the choices you will make.