April 22, 2026

Inside Noah's ark, his family was saved - they found life.

Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the ten commandments (covenant), the rod of Aaron (priesthood), and a jar of manna (Bread of Life). Inside the Ark was found life. Inside the Ark were symbols of the sacred things that Christ gives to help save us.

The priesthood is the power of God in earth, given to man to do His work. His work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Eternal life is knowing God. Knowing ("yada" in Hebrew) God is being in a covenant relationship with Him (need the priesthood to enter these covenants). Christ atoned for us all in Gethsemane and on the cross. He overcame physical and spiritual death. He is the Bread of Life. He is found in the Ark. We come to know Him through covenantal living.

The ark in our day that houses these vital elements of salvation and exaltation is the great Ship Zion - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Exodus 31

Sabbath, covenant, our covenant relationship is knowing God, we come closer to God by worshipping on the Sabbath. Not keeping the Sabbath leads to not knowing God. Not knowing God is spiritual death -similar to the garden of Eden - in the day you partake of the fruit, you shall surely die (spiritual death).

We reflect on the creation and fall regular in the gospel. It is at the core of our temple worship. President Nelson taught that we must understand the fall in order to appreciate the Atonement.

While Egypt was no Garden of Eden, the children of Israel were provided for while there. They had food, water, and their necessities. Then they had to leave and wander in a lone and dreary wilderness where the purpose was to come to know God. I love how this echos the past and reiterates the symbolism of the fall and purpose of life.

Add to this the similarity of Lehi's family. Their wilderness chapters strongly reflect the Israelites in the wilderness.