emilie jerusalem: Notes from Egypt

Random notes from Egypt:

Abraham 1:25-27 The Pharaoh's are seeking earnestly to imitate the priesthood. This passage shows the very first government is patterned after the patriarchal line. They imitated the Fathers. The religious system was patterned after the fullness of the priesthood from Adam's time.

Abraham 3:15 God is showing the Egyptians what they already know about astronomy. Why? He shows Abraham these things before he goes to Egypt so that he can know how to declare things that the Egyptians will understand, he speaks their "language," which in turn builds a relationship of trust.

Egyptians are obsessed with eternal life and power and authority for eternity (symbol of the Ankh is everywhere). Egyptians are trying to figure out how they can have power and authority for eternity so they manipulate it.

DJED: "May he or she have life, stability, dominion, protection, health, prosperity and eternal life."

Eternal life is often portrayed as the serpent--the ultimate good deity that was responsible for bestowing eternal life is often misused by Satan as well, think of the garden.

Egyptian Judgment scene: becoming like God requires satisfying sentinels by providing correct information. The only way one gets through the barrier (veil) to become a God is to put his hand through the barrier to come with deity. Veil is the boundary that separates them and those that have already become Gods. You must go through all of the barriers to become a God. Osiris, God of resurrection and judgment, himself had ascended the throne to become a god.

Holy of Holies: Importance of ritual washing and anointing to make one clean and pure before being able to kneel before Osiris or Amen (God). Placing the symbol of godhood upon his head.

Washing and anointing with veils. Being washed with the Ankh by eternal life so he c an have eternal life. The priests give him new clothes and then bring him to the barrier/veil. This was a big deal to the Egyptians, but it was demonstrated in many places and in many ways.

Representation of the Gods bestowing power and authority after they have been brought through the veil. Robes are tied on the right side with a sash.

Temple of Menubu has three divisions within the temple: You walk through three separate phases within the temple. All the while walking up toward the holy of holies. The Holy of Holies is the most sacred enclosure and often there are three division within the holy of holies as well. The wall around the temple is to show that there is a bearing on the universe and the sanctity of the temple that cannot be mingled with common life.

Tombs at Giza, the pyramids: Represent the ascent to the abode of God. It is more than a simple step pyramid but the intersection between heaven and earth.

Tomb of Tut III: Taking nourishment from the tree of life. Temples with gradation of Holiness. We saw associations with the bull or ox, which is the power of deity. If you look at the Hebrew version of Jacobs patriarchal blessing you read "the bull of Jacob" not "the God of Jacob." We saw the name Amen, interesting that we say Heavenly Fathers literal name, Amen, every time we pray.

Tomb of Tuthankomen: The high priest is performing the "opening of the mouth ceremony" the high priest touches the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears so that the mouth may continue to speak and taste in the next life. The eyes that they can continue to see, the ears to hear,...We know it is the high priest because he is wearing the leopard skin on the right shoulder.

What does all of this mean? That Joseph Smith could not have made a mistake. We have these ceremonies from Adam down to the other patriarchs. The Egyptians knew if they wanted eternal life they had to pursue the path, the ceremony and rituals that are displayed on the tombs in Egypt!

emilie jerusalem