what I would like to do, if I could prevail upon the spirit, is to compare a few features of the latter day temple and it's ceremonies to the practices of the original temple of Solomon and the priests of Aaron, and their concurrence with the teachings of Christ.

First is the Brazen sea, originally it was used to wash the priests. In Latter day temple ceremonies it is now used to fulfill the commandments of Jesus Christ for those who never had a chance to be baptized.

John 3:5 "Jesus answered and said verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

When Paul speaks of the resurrection to the Corinthians he mentions the dead works; 1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" It is a precept given to the spirits in the hereafter as a key to unlock the door into heaven not withstanding that person is willing to open the door, the same guideline still stands as the savior still stands at the door and knocks.

Here we are justified by this ordinance with the power of the priesthood which is the ability to bind on earth the things which are bound in heaven and loose on earth the things which are loosed in heaven.

This specific ceremony along with the sealing and anointing ceremonies, given as priesthood keys through the prophet Elijah, binds families together for eternity. Thus in the spirit of Elijah fulfills the prophecy of Malachi, to "Turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers."

Below is a standard layout of what the ancient priests would wear as part of their ceremonial worship. Now in our modern day temples the priests adorne a similar type of clothing with a few variations as they wait to pass through a renewed veil which leads into what is called the celestial room. This most sacred room is the closest place to God as one could hope to enter on earth without seting foot in heaven.

Note that one is required to pass through a veil in order to enter this room, in the same way the ancient priests had to pass through a veil in order to enter the holy of holies.

This is the Nauvoo Temple which was destroyed after the saints were forced out of Illinois in 1846. It's fate is similar to that of Solomon's temple which was pilfered and polluted several times. The Nauvoo temple has since been restored to it's original form as such was the temple of Solomon until it was completely destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Although this part is not significant to the temple ceremony, it is a representation of the hardships and perseverance of the church, and like the prophet Joseph Smith whose testimony was sealed in his own blood, This temple saw some of the most notable miracles in our dispensation before it was destroyed.

This is the plan of exaltation, to unite families by the power of God which is eternal. In the beginning God created man, but man was not complete without woman, and so is life in the eternities to be sealed together as one.