Questions: Members of the Restored Church speak
of a veil between heaven and Earth. Is
there really a veil? What do members of the Restored Church believe about the purpose and function of
the veil?
“But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the
veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not
abide the day.” Doctrine and Covenants 38:8
“The
veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.”
Doctrine and Covenants 110:1
Members of the Restored Church believe there
is a veil between heaven and Earth, and it exists to protect us and to keep
things hidden from us.
Veils in general have
many functions. Veils cover the sacred. Within the wilderness tabernacle, a
type of religious structure during the prophet Moses’ time, a veil separated
the holy place from the most holy place, the holy of holies.
“[T]he veil
shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” Exodus
26:33
The Holy Ark of the
Covenant which carried the Ten Commandments was also covered by a veil.
“And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony,
and cover the ark with the veil.” Exodus 40:3
There were also
veils within the temple in Jerusalem that had the same function as the ones in
the tabernacle.
“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom. …” Matthew 27:51
Women would often
cover themselves with veils.
“[T]herefore she took a veil, and covered herself.”
Genesis 24:65
Veils act as a
protection. God once warned Moses:
“Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all
times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon
the ark; that he die not: for I will
appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:2
Aaron had to stay
outside the veil at times within the tabernacle, so the appearance of the Lord
within it would not kill him.
Moses had an
interesting problem. When he went up
into the mountain to meet face to face with God, something happened to his
body. He had been physically changed, transfigured, and the skin of his face
shone. When he went down to the people
below he wore a veil to hide his face.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. ...” Exodus 33:11
“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw
Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh
him. … And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.” Exodus 34:30, 33
Why did he do this?
“[T]he children of Israel could not steadfastly behold
the face of Moses for the glory of his
countenance. …” 2 Corinthians 3:7
What had happened
to his body caused Moses’ face to shine so brightly that the children of Israel
had a hard time looking at him.
The veil over the Earth
covers all peoples of the Earth.
“And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the
covering cast over all people, and the veil
that is spread over all nations.” Isaiah 25:7
This veil causes
blindness, keeping things hidden.
“But their minds
were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil. …” 2 Corinthians
3:14
The veil keeps
things hidden from you. Many things are
hidden from you. They are hidden for
your benefit.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained
before the world unto our glory.” 1
Corinthians 2:7
They are hidden so you might search
them out.
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a
matter.” Proverbs 25:2
The veil makes God
hidden to us. God Himself is behind the veil.
He is in His heaven, a place you cannot see. Because He is invisible to
us behind the veil, unbelievers may mock those who believe, but God exists.
“[T]he invisible
God. …” Colossians 1:15
“Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their
God? But our God is in the heavens:
he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”
Psalms 115:2-3
“Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. …”
Matthew 13:11
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible. …”
Colossians 1:16
“LORD… thou
didst hide thy face. ...” Psalms 30:7
“Verily thou art
a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.” Isaiah 45:15
We need the veil to
live. Mortal human bodies are made of the Earth’s dust. If we were in the presence of God He would
literally burn us up as He is glorious. This is just as Moses was warned about
Aaron.
“For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29
Hagar, a woman in
the book of Genesis, was visited by an angel. Hagar, not understanding that it
was an angel who does not have God’s glory, thought it was God Himself. She marveled that she had been in the
presence of God and been able to see Him. Perhaps she was surprised that she
had not died.
“And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto
her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that
seeth me?” Genesis 16:13
Faith in God and
Christ can help you begin to pierce through the veil. Humanity as we are cannot
see God and live. By faith Moses was able to see the hidden God through the
veil, by faith his body was changed to help him bear it.
“By faith he
forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27
“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like
unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to
face.” Deuteronomy 34:10
Hidden things can
be revealed to you.
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:9
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them
unto babes.” Matthew 11:25
Heaven is hidden
from us because the things of heaven are sacred. Knowledge of these things is freely given to
those who are ready, who purify themselves, and acquire proper respect for the
sacred. These things are not given to
those who lack this respect or readiness. The veil exists to protect you and
help you grow. Growth happens when you
seek to find the hidden God and His wisdom. Spiritual knowledge is knowledge
that can only be understood by those who are humble enough to be teachable, or
in other words, the meek. Prideful
people and those who hungrily follow the lusts of flesh will not be able to
understand spiritual knowledge.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:14
God
is hidden from us. God is a mystery to us, but He has commanded us to seek Him.
We are supposed to search out God.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the
earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek
him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
And what will we
find when we at last find God? What will we find when we know Him and stand
before Him face to face, just as Moses did?
“But when that
which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child: but when I
became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:10-12
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