A Chosen Generation, A Royal Priesthood

 Peter describes the Saints


“Ye are a chosen generation,” Peter wrote to the Saints scattered throughout the Roman empire, “a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”

This is an oft-quoted seminary scripture. Have you ever taken the time to look up the words? I did and it was awesome to see the larger picture that emerged from examine the minuscule.

A Chosen Generation

Chosen “God does not have a list of favorites to which we must hope our names will someday be added,” Elder Bednar tells us in the talk Tender Mercies,  “He does not limit “the chosen” to a restricted few. Rather, it is our hearts and our aspirations and our obedience which definitively determine whether we are counted as one of God’s chosen.”

Generation Thus Peter reminded the Saints in his generation that they had chosen to rely upon the mercy of their Saviour and follow him.

A Royal Priesthood

Having made that choice and accepted the covenant to become a member of the Saviour`s church they were granted the ‘royal priesthood’.

Royal, “right belonging to a King or granted by a sovereign”.

Priesthood, the etymology suggests that `priest`comes from the root `divine, holy, sacred`. `Hood`means `state or condition of being`and before that (no longer surviving in our day) it meant `bright and shining’.

I like the image this definition gives—granted a divine state of being, a light, from the King of Kings—as James said this good gift comes down from `the Father of Lights`. And as Peter reminded the Saints they were called into light.

A Holy Nation

Holy, a title all members of the Godhead claim, generally means consecrated, godly or set apart as sacred. The old English root means “healthy, happy and whole.”

A holy person has being defined as ‘that which must be preserved whole or intact, that cannot be transgressed or violated,’ perhaps one reason Adam termed his Father the ‘Man of Holiness’.

Nation means ‘large group of people with common ancestry’.

A Peculiar People

Was Peter calling the Saints ‘odd’ when he referred to them (in the King James Bible) as peculiar? No. At the time the KJV was translated peculiar had another meaning—private or special property. Thus it would be more correct to say the Saints are the Lords property, even his treasure. As the Lord told the Saints of latter-days: “Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.”

(Why are we ‘jewels’ not ‘gems’—don’t they mean the same thing?  Etymology of ‘jewel’ suggests the root means an “article of value used for adornment” also that “which causes joy” whereas ‘gem’ is from word meaning ‘precious stone or bud’)

Summary

Having chosen to rely on the Saviour and entered into covenant the Saints were set apart as a nation, or family, different from the world.  They were gifted the condition of divine light originating with their royal King, light whose use was authorized by Him, as they continued to live their covenant. As the King’s own personal treasure, they were to shine reflecting his light, as jewels reflect the sunlight.

Thanks to http://www.etymonline.com for a good treasure hunt in this verse.

"Seeing the Promises Afar Off..."

Question: What do you do with questions about the endowment?

The Better Country

            The book of Hebrews recounts the faith of the early Patriarchs:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

“And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city...”

            How do we get to this better country?  The temple ordinances take us there symbolically through symbol, ritual and story. 

            John A. Widtsoe reminds us: “The temple ordinances encompass the whole plan of salvation...this completeness of survey and expounding of the Gospel plan, makes temple worship one of the most effective methods of refreshing the memory concerning the whole structure of the gospel.”

Gain Understanding of Culture and Customs

Symbols are divine short-hand—a wealth of inexhaustible meaning held by one delicate symbol. The temple instruction, like scripture, is given us through

• Symbols 
• Story
• Order
• Ritual

But unlike reading scripture we are interacting with it and this move from passive reception to active participation can be alarming— 

Left in our own cultural perceptions we would struggle to understand the symbols by our own reason.  But the culture we enter is not ours but belongs to “that better land.”  In scripture the Lord outlines how we can understand the language he uses in the temple ceremonies--

 “the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things...” the Lord says in one revelation.

And what does “quicken” mean?  The 1828 Webster’s dictionary provides us with these definitions:

• To communicate a principle of grace

• To revive; to cheer; to reinvigorate; to refresh by new supplies of comfort or grace

Interesting isn’t it?  Quicken implies both knowledge (principles of grace) and feeling (cheer, refresh, comfort).  

 Instead of using our finite reasoning and ending up frustrated trying to force understanding we are invited  instead to be “quickened” by the Spirit who “knoweth all things”

            Is this a fast, effortless and easy learning process?  No. Henry Ward Beecher assures us "A man’s religion is not a thing all made in heaven, and then let down, and shoved into him. It is his own conduct and life."

 “Coming to the Savior requires continual coming,” as Cheryl C. Lant reminds us.

Learned a Few Phrases

            How do we learn a few phrases of this new country we are entering into?  The language is symbol and the scriptures are full of them and their interpretation.

Familiar with the Neighbourhood

            If you were moving to a place you had never been before you might study a map to get where you are going and avoid detours that take you away from your destination. Likewise the scriptures outline our mortal journey.

Made a Few Friends

            Friends—people who know the country and culture you desire to visit and can give you tips—are great to cultivate before going to a unknown land. Likewise the scriptures are full of people who have seen an overview of the gospel plan.  See, for example, the stories of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Nephi and John the Revelator.  If you think they are a little archaic try your Conference Ensign instead.  Or local priesthood leaders. Know that they might just point you to the scriptures.  The stories are old but not outdated.        

In Sum

            What do you do with questions about the endowment?  You take them to the temple, you take them to the scriptures, you take them to Father in Heaven in prayer.  

            And then, seeing the promise afar off, you press forward “continually...”

Happy Journeys!

Culture Shock and the Temple

Question: The endowment seems strange to me! What’s wrong with me?

Culture Shock

            The temple ordinances, especially the endowment, can result in a form of ‘culture shock’.  Wikipedia defines this as “the difficulty people have adjusting to a new culture that differs markedly from their own.”

            Why would we experience culture shock in the Lord’s house?  Isn’t it supposed to be a haven of peace—apart from the world?  Yes!  But I think we live in the world so much, and are attuned to telestial attitudes and beliefs that learning in the Lord’s house—a celestial environment—can overwhelm and confuse us at times.

            Our Sunday meetings have taught us one way of learning the gospel—through the spoken word, music and discussion among members.  This model follows us into the home also with family home evenings, etc. 

The temple learning experience is markedly different.  In his abundance and grace towards us the  Lord has given us the ‘endowment’—a series of instructions, rituals, ordinances and covenants designed to empower us with ‘the power of godliness’, his strength to help us return to him and become like he is.  And he has clothed his teachings in symbolism (both visual and tangible). 

We are used to ‘plain and simple’...and suddenly we find ourselves handed what appears to be symbols and actions without a manual to interpret them. 

This can result in frustration.

“Excitement may eventually give way to unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger,” Wikipedia explains, “as one continues to experience unfavorable events that may be perceived as strange and offensive to one's cultural attitude”

            Hopefully no one has it that bad!

 “Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult and frustrating,” Julia Ferguson agrees, “but it can also be a wonderful, thought provoking time of your life during which you will grow as a person.

“Remember, you are a guest in another country. Avoid at all costs disparaging the host country's culture. Once you have gained an understanding of the country and its customs, learned a few phrases, become familiar with the neighborhood, and made a few friends you are on your way to overcoming culture shock..."

Next we will explore these helps to getting over culture shock. 

Further Reading

Culture Shock