FHE Lesson 23 & 24

23

Temples and Their Functions
(Wedding Ring)

Temples are sacred buildings in which instruction is given and ceremonies and ordinances pertaining to exaltation in the Kingdom of God are performed. They are not public houses of worship, although nonmembers are permitted to visit the temples before they are dedicated to the Lord. Temple worthy members who attend regular temple “sessions” receive scriptural exaltation. Marriages are among the sacred ceremonies performed in the temples. In the usual civil or church ceremony, marriages are performed for time only, with the contract ending with the death of either party. Not so with Latter-Day Saint wedding ceremonies. In the temple a bride and groom, dressed in white to represent purity, kneel at an altar and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood are married for all eternity as well as for time. Thus, if they live worthily throughout their lives, the family unit will continue into the eternities.

D & C 132

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24

Esau and Jacob
(Goatskin Fur)

After many years of childlessness Rebekah gave birth to twin boys. The elder son was born with thick red hair all over his body and they named him Esau. The younger, born holding his twin’s heel, they named Jacob. Esau, whom Isaac loved best, grew up a strong and adventurous hunter, while Jacob, his mother’s favorite, preferred staying home. One day Jacob was cooking some lentil stew when his brother came in faint from starvation. Esau asked for some stew and Jacob told him that he might have some if Esau would give his birthright to Jacob. Esau gave his word that he would give up his birthright for some stew. Isaac, old, blind and near death asked Esau to shoot a deer and prepare it to eat. “I want to taste it one last time so that I may bless you before I die,” Isaac said. Rebekah overheard these words and determined that Jacob should be the one to receive Isaac’s blessing. She told Jacob to get two young goats. She told him that she would cook the dish and that he would take it to his father. Jacob told her that Isaac would know that he wasn’t Esau. He would know because Esau had a lot of hair and Jacob didn’t. Jacob was afraid that Isaac would know he was deceiving him and would put a curse on him. Rebekah said, “Do as I say, and all will be well.” And Rebekah dressed Jacob in his brother’s clothes and covered his hands and shoulders with goatskin. She gave him some bread and a bowl of stew made from goat’s meat. Then she sent him to his father. Isaac was puzzled and asked who he was. He asked for Jacob to come near him so he could feel him. He knew the voice was Jacob’s voice, but the hands were the hands of Esau. He asked Jacob if he was really his eldest son. Jacob lied and said that he was. So Isaac ate the food that had been brought to him, thinking that it was Esau who was with him. He blessed Jacob and promised that he should have everything due to the firstborn. Scarcely had Jacob left his father’s tent when Esau arrived home from the hunt. He prepared the dish of venison and took it to Isaac. Isaac asked who he was. Esau replied that he was Esau, his eldest son. Isaac asked who it was that had just been with him, to whom he had given his blessing. When Esau heard his father’s words he got angry. He realized a trick had been played and he begged his father to bless him and give him his rights. Isaac said he would bless him, but told Esau he couldn’t be blessed with what was already promised to his brother. Isaac knew the blessing was given before God and that it couldn’t be altered. Esau was filled with hatred for Jacob. He knew that Isaac would soon be dead, so he planned to kill Jacob as soon as the period of mourning for his father’s death was over. Rebekah heard of his plot and was able to warn Jacob. Rebekah told Jacob to leave the city and that he could stay with her brother in Haran until Esau calmed down.

Genesis 25, 27