This Sunday at sundown begins the Jewish Holy Day called Rosh ha-Shanah. (or Feast of the Trumpets). Rosh Hashanah customs include sounding the shofar (a hollowed-out ram's horn) and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey. Three years ago I wrote a blog post about the significance of these Jewish Holy Days that occur around the Fall Equinox. Rosh ha-Shanah is said to also be the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, and their first actions toward returning back into the Presence of God.
Joseph Smith received the golden plates on the Israelite Rosh ha-Shanah on 22 September 1827 after receiving 4 yearly visits by an angel beginning on September 21, 1823. On this day ritual trumpet blasts signify the issuance of revelation and a call for Israel to repent and gather. The coming forth of The Book of Mormon is said to fulfilling such prophecies.
This holy day is set at the time of Israel's final agricultural harvest, the day also symbolizes the Lord's final harvest of souls. Furthermore, it initiates the completion of the Lord's time periods, the Days of Awe, and signifies the last time to prepare for final judgment and having your name written the Book of Life.
(Sidenote: NASA’s website indicates a partial solar eclipse will occur this Sunday as well but it will only be visible in South Africa and Antarctica.)
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Three years ago I took the below photo at the open house of the Brigham City Temple.
The temple was dedicated on September 23, 2012.
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Joel 2:1, 15, 32
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.... 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
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| Photo taken of the surnrise on September 13th, 2015 |
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| Photo taken on September 13th, 2015 of the mountain we hiked to listen to the blowing of the Shofar |
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| Photo of the sunset on September 13th, 2015 of the sunset. |
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| Photo taken on September 13th, 2015 symbolic of blowing the shofar. |
