Is Baptism or The Temple The Gate?

I have always loved the scripture passage in 2 Nephi 31 which clearly explains the Doctrine of Christ:

16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

One thing that has always plagued me with this passage however, is the reference of baptism being the gate. In another place in the scriptures, another prophet Jacob uses the reference of the temple or Bethel, as the “gate of Heaven.”

Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

While speaking at the dedication of the Logan Utah Temple site, President Taylor shared with the congregation the feelings he experienced when he visited the St. George Utah Temple, the first temple completed in the Utah Territory:

“When I visited that holy Temple, accompanied by my brethren who were with me, we experienced a sacred thrill of joy and a solemn, reverential sensation. As we entered its sacred portals, we felt that we were standing on holy ground, and experienced, with one of old, ‘Surely this is the house of God, and the gate of heaven.’ [See Genesis 28:17.] That is not simply a metaphorical expression, but a reality, for it is in that House, and it will be in the House to be built on this ground, that the most sacred ordinances of God are to be performed, which are associated with the interest and happiness of the human family, living and dead. I felt to rejoice in my heart that we had been thus far successful in the building of one temple to the name of our Father and God.”

Is this a conflicting doctrine that baptism is the gate, and yet, the Temple is also the gate?

As I was studying in the book of 2 Samuel I came across a passage that described the area that King David waited in while waiting for word concerning his people in battle and the state of his son’s life.

Look at where David sat:

2 Samuel 18:24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

That was it! There were two gates in a fortified city. Further research led me to this information:

“As the gate was especially subject to attack (Ezekiel 21:15,22), and as to "possess the gate" was to possess the city (Genesis 22:17; 24:60), it was protected by a tower (2 Samuel 18:24,33; 2 Chronicles 14:7; 26:9), often, doubtless, overhanging and with flanking projections. Sometimes an inner gate was added (2 Samuel 18:24).”

Can’t you just picture this clearly now?

When one enters in at the first gate of baptism, they must proceed forward towards the second gate of the temple. All the while, the watchman is on the tower giving direction and warning of danger.

Such a beautiful picture... don’t you think?

Three Veils of Water

My friend Shawna asked me to post my crazy ideas about water so here goes….

I believe that we will pass through three veils of water in this life.

The first veil of water that we all have to pass through is that of birth. It is by water that we are all brought into this world and given our physical bodies. Each woman is given the priesthood responsibility of providing physical birth and this process is done through, water and blood. In essence, she becomes the veil. I believe this is illustrated beautifully in the process of Temple worship. Thus, she is pronounced “clean”, or in other words, she has fulfilled her portion of the covenant in regards to life.

The second veil of water that one may pass through is that of Baptism. This process is done by immersion by one who has the authority to provide spiritual birth. Baptism by immersion represents death of the old man and birth, similar to the birthing process itself, of the new. A righteous priesthood holder must provide this service for one who requires baptism, and thus through the act of magnifying his priesthood duties he “may become clean”, or in other words, may fulfill his part of the covenant with regard to spiritual life. Being cleansed at Baptism is only made possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, thus blood is also involved in this birthing process too.

I believe that the third veil of water that will be passed through is done through the process of death and resurrection. This water is the living water that is referred to by Christ when he explained to the women at the well, “The water that I shall give … shall be … a well of water springing up into everlasting life”

The prophet Jeremiah gives an analogy of Israel being like clay in the hands of the potter. I believe we can personalize this even more and consider ourselves as clay in the hands of the potter. We can be pliable and molded to the shape the potter desires, but at some point the pot is still not perfect. It must be crushed and ground down to its original form as the “dust of the earth”. Once again the potter adds the missing ingredient of water to the dust and the clay becomes a work of art in His hands. We are all simply a work in progress for the potter, until in the end; we are sanctified through His blood, by Him the living water.

An interesting question might arise… what does not burn? WATER! Specifically vessels filled with living water.

Don’t you just love water?