While in the pre-mortal life, our Father in Heaven informed us that we had to conduct 5 saving ordinances during our mortal probation.
- Baptism
- Gift of the Holy Ghost
- Priesthood
- Endowment
- Sealing
In chiasmatic fashion, the priesthood is the catalyst to all of them. Baptism is symbolic of the Savior’s death and resurrection and in modern-day parlance, it is a signed contract of agency to the Savior. We agree to the terms of membership.
In ancient times, the Lord used the concept of cutting a covenant, (blood token) as a method of initializing an agreement. Like a notarized legal document where both parties sign at the bottom of the contract, baptism is the Lord’s version of that contract with the Holy Ghost as the notary, sanctifying the ordinance.
A temple sealing is the fulfillment of the baptismal covenant when we seal our covenant over an altar by becoming one with our spouse. At baptism, we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and promise to leave our will on the altar of Adam.
During the sealing ceremony, the wife takes upon her the name of her husband just as Adam and Eve became Adam, and they cleave unto one another as one in the Lord. The two (husband and wife) become one (bride) to the Savior.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is an added power of a permanent companionship. An endowment is a gift of knowledge and promise from God preparatory to entering the Lord’s university. Endowed from on high is a temporary gift until sanctification takes place.
The Holy Ghost is commonly referred to as the comforter. Like a warm quilt or something that consoles you. This traditional reference to the Holy Ghost is a passive approach to the Lord’s gift.
The root word for comforter is dunamis in Greek or power, dynamite, force, capacity in English. Think of the Holy Ghost as a permanent shot of dynamite, to be called upon as needed, like an inexhaustible supply of deified explosives. What greater comfort can one have?
Returning our minds back to pre-mortal life, the Lord has provided us with the tools that give us the highest probability of success that we can return to His presence. First he gave every person born a conscience, or the Light of Christ.
Then when 8 years of age, each of us can receive a piece of glorified dynamite to blow away evil thoughts, evil people, evil traditions, or anything not conducive to the presence of the Holy Spirit.
In summary, here is the breakdown of the saving ordinance chiasmus.
- Baptism Covenant taking on us the Lord’s name
- Gift of the Holy Ghost Permanent power from God
- Priesthood Catalyst that enables the saving ordinances
- Endowment Temporary power contingent upon worthiness
- Sealing Abrahamic covenant tying us to Jehovah
