I ran across the word “token” in my reading of D&C 88,
and I wondered where else in the scriptures tokens are mentioned, so I did a
search. I was surprised to see how many instances there were.
The rainbow was made a token of the covenant God made with
Noah that He would not flood the earth and destroy all flesh. (see Genesis 9:12-15)
God made circumcision a token of the Abrahamic covenant to
Abraham and his seed after him. (see Genesis 17:10-11)
God’s presence with Moses and the promise that he and the
Israelite would serve God upon that mountain was to be a token to Moses that
God had sent him to Pharaoh. (see Exodus 3:11-12)
The lamb’s blood put upon the doorposts was to be Israel’s
token to God so that God would pass over them and not destroy them. (see Exodus
12:13)
Israel’s act to sacrifice their firstborn animals and redeem
their firstborn children was to be a token they remembered the Lord’s power
that brought them out of Egypt. (see Exodus 13:15-16)
Aaron’s rod that budded was to be kept in the tabernacle as
a token against those who rebelled against Moses and Aaron. (see Numbers 17:10)
Rahab, who sheltered Joshua’s two spies in Jericho, asked
for a “true token” that they would save her and her family from death. (see Joshua
2:12) The scarlet cord at her window was that token. (Almost like her own
special Passover, huh?)
David asked God for a token for good so that those who hated
him would be ashamed and see the Lord was helping him. (see Psalms 86:17)
Judas Iscariot plotted with the Jewish leaders that the one
he kissed should be a token so they would know who to capture. (see Mark 14:44)
Here’s one I have to quote directly:
And in nothing terrified by your
adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation,
and that of God. (Phil. 1:28)
Paul observed to the Philippians that their lack of fear was
considered a token of perdition to their adversaries, but to the righteous it
was a token of salvation. Interesting; it shows that signs and tokens may be
read differently, depending on the level of integrity and virtue of one’s
character.
Paul would add a personally written salutation in every
epistle as a token it was him. (see 2 Thes. 3:17)
In the Book of Mormon, after Captain Moroni made the Title
of Liberty, the people rent their garments and piled them at his feet in token
of their covenant. (see Alma 46:21)
The Lamanite king raised his bowing servants with his hand
as a token of peace… and was promptly assassinated by one of Amalickiah’s
goons. (see Alma 47:23-24)
The depraved Nephites devoured flesh of the daughters of the
Lamanites as a token of bravery after raping, torturing, and murdering them.
(see Moroni 9:9-10) Eeeeew.
The teacher in the school of the prophets was to offer
prayer on his knees to God before class in token or remembrance of the
everlasting covenant. (see D&C 88:130-131)
The teacher in the school of the prophets was also to greet
each brother entering and salute them in the name of Jesus Christ in token or
remembrance of the everlasting covenant. (see D&C 88:133)
The class members of the school of the prophets were to greet
the teacher with uplifted hands with the same prayer or covenant they were
greeted by, or by saying “Amen” in token of the same. (see D&C 88:135)
Those part of the United Order were to be given what they
asked for by the treasurer in token that they were in full fellowship and
faithful and wise stewards. (see D&C 104:75)
Obviously there are a few bad tokens in the list, but by and
large, tokens seem to have been little acts done to represent good faith,
commitment, assurance of things to come, as a memorial, or as a representation
of favored status before God.
I think tokens are a way of making intentions visible when
they would not otherwise be. They help do away with uncertainty in
relationships. (For instance, an engagement ring in our culture is a token of intent to marry.) Seeing how tokens work in the above scriptures makes me think of temple covenants, but also of the various
visible things we do that may also act as tokens to God and to each other of
our inward state and intentions.
As an example, we say taking the sacrament is a witness we
are renewing our covenants, and I suppose that makes it a token or sign. Same with baptism as a token we are making the covenant.
What other tokens can you think of that we give the Lord or
that He gives us?
0 comments:
Post a Comment