Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-02

From the historical works Of Moses
but little Is known about the religious
condition Of Israel wilhelm bondage in
Egypt. Not long after the death Of
Joseph the country changed rulers. The
Hyksos kings. who had rcigned as
victorious invaders for about five humid.
red years were overthrow, after 4 series
of battles for independence on the part
Of the Egyptians, and a new king arose,
who was under no obligation to the de.
scendnnis Of Jacob. On the contrary,
as matter Of policy, he took measures
10 cxtetmina,c them. sic made their
lives bitter with hard labor in mortar,
and In brick, aud OF all manner Of labor
In the field" and deereed al las, that all
their male infants should be killed.
That people so situated were unable
to devote their time to the rearing Of
temples Is Obvious. Yet, there is every
reason to believe that during the hap
pier part OF their sojourn ~ strangers in
the land OF Goshen they had erected
some kind ola sanctuary, and, under
the guidance Of their father and their
illustrious brother, both inspired men,
had organized system Of worship,
which, however, would necessarily be
much neglected When the persecution
ragged, This may be inferred rom the
fact that when Moses was sent to liber-
ate them they had Elders 10 represent
them and could hold conferences on the
divine message to be delivered TO
Pharaoh. IT'S repeatedly stated that
Moses gathered the Elders OF Israel.
This prc'supposes place Of gathering
and an organized, representative body
but no description Is given of either.
The sanctuary may have been tent,
since Israel did not expect to remain
permanently In Egypt and II seems TO
have been brought out OF the country
when the people left. II Is called the
Testimony (EN.. xvi, so, probably as a
"reminiscences Of the serviiude in Egypt,
and to It's sacred furnisige WIS soon
added Theoretically closed vessel con-
tanning mama, to be kept Tor future
generations as an evidence Of the power
and goodness OF God.
II ~ important 10 Holf Ailt thlnANf1Af
OF such sanctuary rs early rs before
the exodus Of Egypt, because it proves
that the hiItory OF sacred places dates as
llr back as the history OF the people Of
God, Us nation.
Il Is remarkable fact, as will appear
IN the following sketch, that the history
OF the temples reflects the condition OF
tie people OF God itself Sanctuaries
erected under the supervision OF the Al
mighty are more than specimens oil
architecture. They are types OF the
Church on earth. The tabernacle Of the
Wilderness, with the glorious presence OF
me Sheknah, was symbol Of the pill
grim church, guarded by day and bynight
by the angel Of Jehovah; the gorgeous
temple OF Solomon was reflex Of the
people At that time; the inferior building
Of Leubbabel reelected the condition OF
the Jews returned from captivity, and
The tempel OF ilcrod, with It's splendid
exterior but without the most sacred
implements Of worship. was m equally
true symbol Of the deporable religious
condition OF the Jews at that time. We
may draw the analogy further, and
notice that the absence Of any temple
a Ter the fall Of Jerusalem Indicates the
absence from the earth OF the true
Church, while the rearing Of temples IN
ihls'age again proves that God has q
people on earth. For the lesson Of his
tory Is that when the temple fcll the
people OF God were scattered, aud wher
u again rose from It's ruins the people
gathered.