The Tabernacle
This was the portable tent where the Israelites worshipped God while wandering in the desert.
What is the Tabernacle?
The Israelites sacrificed these to show the were devoted to God. Today, we take the Sacrament instead.
What are animals (or lambs)?
Two of these animals were used in the ritual: one for the Lord, and one to be sent away.
What are goats?
Leviticus 19:18 contains this famous commandment that Jesus said was the "second great commandment."
What is "Love thy neighbor as thyself"?
The High Priest wore a "breastplate" with 12 stones on it. These stones represented these 12 groups of people.
What are the Twelve Tribes of Israel?
To make the Tabernacle, the people donated so much jewelry and supplies that Moses actually had to tell them to do this.
What is stop giving?
To represent being clean, the animals brought for sacrifice had to be "without" these.
What are blemishes (or spots/defects)?
This is the name given to the goat that was sent into the wilderness to represent "carrying away" the people's sins.
What is the Scapegoat?
Farmers were told not to harvest the very corners of their fields so that these people would have something to eat.
Who are the poor (or strangers)?
In the tabernacle and in modern LDS temples, the "Veil" represents the space between us and this.
What is the presence of God?
This specific room inside the Tabernacle held the Ark of the Covenant and was considered the most sacred.
What is the Holy of Holies?
In LDS teachings, every animal sacrifice in the Old Testament was meant to point the people's minds toward this future person.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Only this one specific leader was allowed to go behind the veil into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.
Who is the High Priest?
Leviticus 19 tells the Israelites not to "bear any grudge." This means you should do this for people who hurt you.
What is forgive them?
Before entering the Tabernacle, the priests were washed and anointed with oil. In LDS temples, we have a similar ordinance called this.
What is the Initiatory?
Before entering the Tabernacle, priests had to wash at a brass basin, similar to how we are "cleansed" in this ordinance.
What is Baptism?
When someone brought an animal to the priest, they would lay their hands on the animal's head to show it was taking their place. This is called a "type" or "shadow" of this event in Gethsemane.
What is the Atonement?
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would symbolically put the people's "mistakes" on a goat and send it away. Another name for these mistakes or wrong choices is this.
What is Sin?
Leviticus 19:11 tells the people they shouldn't steal or do this—which means telling something that isn't true.
What is Lying?
The Tabernacle was very beautiful and decorated with this shiny, expensive metal.
What is Gold?
This phrase, which is written on the front of every LDS temple today, was also engraved on the gold plate on the High Priest's hat.
What is "Holiness to the Lord"?
Leviticus 4 talks about "sins of ignorance." This means sins you committed in this way.
What is by accident (or without knowing it was wrong)?
The word "Scapegoat" actually comes from combining two words: "Escape" and "Goat." This is because the goat was allowed to do this instead of being sacrificed like the first one.
What is escape into the wilderness (or go free)?
Leviticus 19:32 tells the youth to "rise up" when an elderly person enters the room. In our culture today, this is a way of showing this "R-word" to our grandparents and leaders.
What is Respect (or Reverence)?
In LDS theology, the items inside the Ark (the Law, Manna, and Aaron's rod) represent how God provides guidance, physical life, and this type of authority to His people.
What is Priesthood Authority?