My paper on Egyptians and Mormons!!
Leif James Erickson
Eternity in LDS and Egyptian Culture
In this paper I have been asked to discuss the concept of Eternity in LDS culture, as compared to the concept of Eternity in Egyptian culture. It is clear that the Egyptians at least had a strong idea of Eternity in their religion. Religion permeated the life of the Egyptians, as the system under which they lived can best be described as a theocracy. Similar to LDS beliefs, the Egyptians believed that their society was pre-planned by the gods. The similarity between this belief, and LDS beliefs, lies in the fact that in LDS culture, it is believed that the positions and responsibilities that men as individuals and as a society are placed, was pre-ordained for specific reasons. As a result of this belief found both in LDS and Egyptian society, both societies regard life as meaningful, purposeful, and specifically important because of the fact that it was planned, ordained, and designed to take place the way it does, more or less. One other similarity between Egyptian and LDS beliefs is their recognition of a leader on earth, of godly sanction and import. However, these leaders differ quite a bit in their role as religious leaders on earth. While the LDS Church proclaims the significance of a modern day prophet, who receives and relays instruction from Heaven, this prophet is neither a god, nor a political leader. In Egyptian life, the religious leader of the day was not only a revelator, he basically was the embodiment of God himself, and was of course the leader of the state. It is clear that the leader of the LDS Church about whom we are speaking is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that the great leader in Egypt about whom we are speaking is Pharaoh.
Perhaps the largest evidence we have today that argues to us that the men of ancient Egypt believed in and practiced a religion in which Eternity played a significant role, is the large tombs that were erected by the sweat and blood of thousands. These enormous edifices speak to us today as monuments to the concept of Eternity. It was believed that through these structures, the right of passage into the Eternities was granted, that those who were buried in them were granted and ensured that opportunity. History tells us that the Egyptians had a much brighter perspective on life than the Mesopotamians, where doctrines of doom permeated the mind of their society. And, as we compare the doctrines of immortality in ancient Egypt to the doctrines of immortality found in the modern culture of the Latter-day Saints, we see a difference between the two in that in the LDS Church the doctrine of Eternity had always applied to all righteous members regardless of class or status. However, in Egypt we see a gradation of requirements for immortality throughout the history of ancient Egypt. It is recorded in history that as the ages progressed in ancient history, the opportunity for immortality gradually extended from the elite class of rulers, and then to nobles, and then to virtually all Egyptian citizens. Also, whereas in the LDS Church righteousness is a very important and stated requirement for eternity, in the available readings we do not see such a criterion for eternal life in the Egyptian world.
Another interesting symbol in ancient Egypt that relates to immortality, albeit not as directly, is the great amount of figurines that have been recovered from the remains of the ancient world. The figurine I refer to is the one of the woman with enlarged features relating to reproduction and child-bearing. It is clear that this train of thought, from which the figurine sprang, had great influence on the formation of doctrines and ideas that thrived in ancient Egypt. The propagation of one's lineage through birth-giving and the cultivation of human life is closely tied with the great stress on immortality that the ancient Egyptians had. It is no coincidence that in LDS culture, an equal if not more significant emphasis on family life is present. In the Church it is viewed that a woman is to tend the children and the home, and surely this is consistent with the figurine found in the ancient world.
We have talked about some basic similarities of doctrine relating to Eternity found in both LDS and Egyptian culture. Now I would like to discuss the specific doctrines in the LDS Church that resonate in agreement with the ancient principles of immortality found in the ancient world of Egypt. We have briefly discussed the tombs that typify immortality as viewed by the ancients. Now let's take a look at the symbols of immortality found in the modern culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this culture, what is most immediately apparent as similarities are sought for between the two said cultures, is that in both culture, immortality is typified by structures. It is in the tombs that Egypt expresses their value on immortality, and it is well known that in the LDS Church, it is their construction and use of Holy Temples that symbolizes the great value they place on the doctrine of the immortality of the soul and it's potential for Eternal Life. Yet, despite this apparently similarity, we see the obvious difference in Tombs and Temples, in that the former is dedicated majoritively to one person, whereas Temples are designed to provide the passkey to immortality to as many people as possible. Also, Temples are built to serve men and guarantee their opportunity for Eternal Life not after the person seeking such a gift has died, but during his lifetime.
In LDS life, the promise of Eternal Life is not merely an additional doctrine that gives an added measure of brightness to one's perspective on life. Indeed, the promise of Eternal Life is, and is supposed to be, the prime motivating reason to perform the actions and accomplish the tasks and labours of one's life. It is by struggling each day to follow the plan of God as taught in LDS culture that one qualifies for Eternal Life, and the greatest blessings promised in the LDS Church for living the Gospel are always the gift of Eternal Life with a Heavenly Father.
We can see by viewing Egyptian and LDS life side by side that many similarities exist between the two in regard to the great value they each place on the pursuit of Eternal Life. Egyptians use the Tomb. Members of the LDS Church use the Temple. Both are meant to inspire men and both stand as edifices that glorify Man and God. It is my recommendation that perhaps the great value in them is that both suggest that one cannot glorify one without glorifying the other.
Eternity in LDS and Egyptian Culture
In this paper I have been asked to discuss the concept of Eternity in LDS culture, as compared to the concept of Eternity in Egyptian culture. It is clear that the Egyptians at least had a strong idea of Eternity in their religion. Religion permeated the life of the Egyptians, as the system under which they lived can best be described as a theocracy. Similar to LDS beliefs, the Egyptians believed that their society was pre-planned by the gods. The similarity between this belief, and LDS beliefs, lies in the fact that in LDS culture, it is believed that the positions and responsibilities that men as individuals and as a society are placed, was pre-ordained for specific reasons. As a result of this belief found both in LDS and Egyptian society, both societies regard life as meaningful, purposeful, and specifically important because of the fact that it was planned, ordained, and designed to take place the way it does, more or less. One other similarity between Egyptian and LDS beliefs is their recognition of a leader on earth, of godly sanction and import. However, these leaders differ quite a bit in their role as religious leaders on earth. While the LDS Church proclaims the significance of a modern day prophet, who receives and relays instruction from Heaven, this prophet is neither a god, nor a political leader. In Egyptian life, the religious leader of the day was not only a revelator, he basically was the embodiment of God himself, and was of course the leader of the state. It is clear that the leader of the LDS Church about whom we are speaking is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and that the great leader in Egypt about whom we are speaking is Pharaoh.
Perhaps the largest evidence we have today that argues to us that the men of ancient Egypt believed in and practiced a religion in which Eternity played a significant role, is the large tombs that were erected by the sweat and blood of thousands. These enormous edifices speak to us today as monuments to the concept of Eternity. It was believed that through these structures, the right of passage into the Eternities was granted, that those who were buried in them were granted and ensured that opportunity. History tells us that the Egyptians had a much brighter perspective on life than the Mesopotamians, where doctrines of doom permeated the mind of their society. And, as we compare the doctrines of immortality in ancient Egypt to the doctrines of immortality found in the modern culture of the Latter-day Saints, we see a difference between the two in that in the LDS Church the doctrine of Eternity had always applied to all righteous members regardless of class or status. However, in Egypt we see a gradation of requirements for immortality throughout the history of ancient Egypt. It is recorded in history that as the ages progressed in ancient history, the opportunity for immortality gradually extended from the elite class of rulers, and then to nobles, and then to virtually all Egyptian citizens. Also, whereas in the LDS Church righteousness is a very important and stated requirement for eternity, in the available readings we do not see such a criterion for eternal life in the Egyptian world.
Another interesting symbol in ancient Egypt that relates to immortality, albeit not as directly, is the great amount of figurines that have been recovered from the remains of the ancient world. The figurine I refer to is the one of the woman with enlarged features relating to reproduction and child-bearing. It is clear that this train of thought, from which the figurine sprang, had great influence on the formation of doctrines and ideas that thrived in ancient Egypt. The propagation of one's lineage through birth-giving and the cultivation of human life is closely tied with the great stress on immortality that the ancient Egyptians had. It is no coincidence that in LDS culture, an equal if not more significant emphasis on family life is present. In the Church it is viewed that a woman is to tend the children and the home, and surely this is consistent with the figurine found in the ancient world.
We have talked about some basic similarities of doctrine relating to Eternity found in both LDS and Egyptian culture. Now I would like to discuss the specific doctrines in the LDS Church that resonate in agreement with the ancient principles of immortality found in the ancient world of Egypt. We have briefly discussed the tombs that typify immortality as viewed by the ancients. Now let's take a look at the symbols of immortality found in the modern culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this culture, what is most immediately apparent as similarities are sought for between the two said cultures, is that in both culture, immortality is typified by structures. It is in the tombs that Egypt expresses their value on immortality, and it is well known that in the LDS Church, it is their construction and use of Holy Temples that symbolizes the great value they place on the doctrine of the immortality of the soul and it's potential for Eternal Life. Yet, despite this apparently similarity, we see the obvious difference in Tombs and Temples, in that the former is dedicated majoritively to one person, whereas Temples are designed to provide the passkey to immortality to as many people as possible. Also, Temples are built to serve men and guarantee their opportunity for Eternal Life not after the person seeking such a gift has died, but during his lifetime.
In LDS life, the promise of Eternal Life is not merely an additional doctrine that gives an added measure of brightness to one's perspective on life. Indeed, the promise of Eternal Life is, and is supposed to be, the prime motivating reason to perform the actions and accomplish the tasks and labours of one's life. It is by struggling each day to follow the plan of God as taught in LDS culture that one qualifies for Eternal Life, and the greatest blessings promised in the LDS Church for living the Gospel are always the gift of Eternal Life with a Heavenly Father.
We can see by viewing Egyptian and LDS life side by side that many similarities exist between the two in regard to the great value they each place on the pursuit of Eternal Life. Egyptians use the Tomb. Members of the LDS Church use the Temple. Both are meant to inspire men and both stand as edifices that glorify Man and God. It is my recommendation that perhaps the great value in them is that both suggest that one cannot glorify one without glorifying the other.