Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 93:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 93:5

"Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever."

This made me think of the words above all the temples "Holiness to the Lord". It's one of my favorite things to look at as I enter the temple. This thought made me look for when and where we were told to add that on our temples.

"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

(Exodus 28:36)

"And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD."

(Exodus 39:30)

It's mentioned in Exodus but that was part of the mitre, which appears to be Aaron's headband, cap or turban. There was also blue lace attached to it. This just left me with more questions. Why would the priest wear "Holiness to the Lord" on his head? Then I read this.

"That thy glory may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;

And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness."

(Doctrine and Covenants 109:12-13)

I think it was symbolic of the glory that would rest upon the people that entered the House of the Lord. Just like it rested upon Aaron's forehead. Now all that enter the House of the Lord can feel of His presence.

The Kirtland Temple has "House of the Lord" but not "Holiness to the Lord" on it, even though it's mentioned in the dedicatory prayer. The Nauvoo temple was the first to bare "Holiness to the Lord" upon it. All other temples after that have bore that inscription.

Day 2730