A Linguistic Connection Between Power and Temples

Sometimes during my lunch breaks at work I pull out my set of Biblical Hebrew flashcards. I like to review key words that tend to resurface throughout the Old Testament, and one of those I came across a few weeks ago was the word for temple, hey-KHAL (הֵיכָל). The great thing about this and many other words in Biblical Hebrew is that often you’ll find common consonant combinations that reveal associated meanings.

In the case of hey-KHAL (הֵיכָל), we see the three letter root yod-khaf-lamed ( ל+ כ + ׳). This root appears is many words related to the idea of power and ability, including the noun יְכוֹלֶת (yeh-KHOH-leht), which signifies “power, ability, capability, capacity, competence, possibility” and the verb לִיכוֹל (lee-KHOHL), which means “to be able to, capable of, possess power to”. Lastly, the Hebrew term for “almighty” or “omnipotent” is kohl yah-KHOHL (כֹּל יָכוֹל), literally translating to “all-powerful, all-capable”.

After reviewing this word, I thought about how temples have been a focal point in God’s relationship to mankind over the centuries, and that whenever the Lord has established His covenant relationship with people in various times and places throughout history, He has always commanded them to build temples. One of the Lord’s key promises as part of this covenant relationship is that He will manifest His presence and power in temples as long as His people live worthy of these blessings.

The temple-power connection resurfaces throughout the scriptures, especially when temples are dedicated. The first example we have is related to the tabernacle that Jehovah commanded Moses and the people of Israel to build while in the wilderness. Shortly after the tent and all its contents were consecrated and dedicated to the Lord, He demonstrated His power in various ways to the wandering Israelites.

“And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.”

Numbers 9:15-16

Later, at the dedication of the Temple of Solomon, Jehovah again showed His acceptance of the structure and the sacrifices made by His people to build a House of God through manifestations of His power.

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” 

2 Chronicles 7:1-3

The last example comes from the prayer given to the Prophet Joseph Smith by revelation prior to the dedication of the Kirtland (Ohio) Temple, the first temple constructed during the “dispensation of the fullness of times” (see Ephesians 1:10). This prayer was first read publicly at the initial dedicatory session on March 27, 1836. The brief except I’ve included below references the temple-power connection in several places.

“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. And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them.”

 Doctrine and Covenants 109:13, 22

Later that evening, during a priesthood session that took place inside the temple, various demonstrations of Divine power were poured out on the church members. The Prophet Joseph described them in this way:

“A noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place. This continued until the meeting closed at eleven P.M.”

History of the Church, 2:428

The personal take-away for me is that I'm reminded each time I attend our modern-day temples that I and every other person who is there can have access to God's power (according to our desires) in overcoming challenges and unholy influences in the world.