Moses selected a man named Bezaleel to lead the work of building the tabernacle. He executed the vision Moses had received, restraining the donations and overseeing the work of skilled craftsmen. When the work was done, Moses saw that it had been completed exactly as the Lord had specified.
Building My Ark
When we feel overwhelmed, God can help us build vessels to carry us safely through deep waters, as He did for Noah, Nephi, and the brother of Jared. President Oaks identified four essential elements of those vessels: faith, humility, fellowship with other believers, and patience.
Two Trees: Lehi on Opposition and Agency
Lehi views the explusion of Eden not as a tragic loss but as a decision which enabled agency. Eve and Adam chose a bitter fruit which introduced sorrow and death, but which opened the door for the Mediator to offer happiness and life.
Family History and Belonging
Connecting with our ancestors can give us a sense of belonging and of contributing to an intergenerational project instead of merely pursuing individual ambitions. Lehi, Alma, Mormon, Joseph F. Smith, and M. Russell Ballard all expressed their deep connections with ancestors that shaped and enriched their ministries.
Your Most Holy Places
Nephi, the brother of Jared, and Moses all climbed mountains to speak with God. Joseph Smith entered a grove of trees for the same purpose. We build temples to give us similar spaces, where our prayers may be more easily answered and where we can draw closer to God and be changed by Him.
Creatures, Living Things, and Beasts
Three related Greek words appear in the book of Revelation: ktisma (creature), zóon (living thing), and thérion (wild beast). Recognizing the differences helps us understand the Lord's answers to Joseph Smith's questions in Doctrine and Covenants 77, and can help us better appreciate how God's love is manifest through His creations.
Reverence
Reverence is a fundamental characteristic of those who attain the celestial kingdom. We can grow in reverence by participating more intentionally in temple, home, and church worship and by avoiding distractions and worldly influences. As we fill our lives with practices that turn our hearts and minds to God, we reflect greater reverence toward Him.
Sacred Spaces
After Nephi arrived in the promised land, he and his people built a temple. I imagine him being inspired by King David's deep desire to build a house of the Lord as expressed in some of his psalms. Sacred spaces can help us grow closer to God.
Motivating Laman and Lemuel
Laman and Lemuel experienced a series of escalating wake-up calls before the fear of death finally persuaded them to untie their brother on the ship. We can often save ourselves a lot of grief by responding to early warnings before things get worse.
“That I May Make Tools”
God prepares a way for us to fulfill His commandments. That way becomes clear as we move forward. Nephi knew that he would have to build a ship. He asked for help with the first step: finding ore to forge the tools