Opinion: Covenant symbols for covenant living - Finding the covenants in scripture

The 2nd (Hedlock’s wood) Facsimile of Abraham’s Hycephalus.

By Chadwick LaVerl Hyde

The most crucial aspect of our fundamental LDS religion is the temple covenants we make. As fundamentalist latter-day saints our beliefs reside with our families, our lives and our time. We know that the covenants of Abraham are our most important doctrines, yea our most important religion!    

They are the practice and the promise of eternal increase — the exaltation of celestial glory. These covenants were given to Abraham by our heavenly father as a blessing for keeping his commandment to “be ye therefore perfect as I the Lord am perfect.”

My hope here is to solidify faith, and not create contention. This article is not divulging anything. The temple covenant that those among us have made is “not to divulge the token, with its accompanying name and sign.” This is not done in this article. This article hopes to show us that we, LDS fundamentalists, are Abraham’s seed and Abraham’s hope of celestial increase. That is its purpose.

Our covenants are the way to perfection. They are the life of perfection because they require a high degree of perfection for their continued practice. Humility and repentance are required, to be sure, for mistakes and foibles. But perfection is the goal and the covenants are the methodology.

In this article I’d like to provide a few unique insights that Abraham provides for us in this regard. Several years ago a translation to the 2nd facsimile (or the Hedlock wood facsimile of the Hycephalus) of Abraham was given, and I’d like to use that translation to explain important facets of the Abrahamic covenant. While the Hedlock’s wood facsimile was originally incomplete for its time, a rework of the facsimile art was done when the original Hycephalus was rediscovered, thus rendering the symbols more complete and symmetrical. We have a clearer understanding.

First there are four basic principles and ordinances of the gospel. These are clearly listed on the Abrahamic 2nd facsimile at line 9, as follows:

The symbols, from the translation, suggest they are to be read from right to left sequentially on this line. The first symbol denotes “faith” (all these symbols denote the same meaning throughout the entire facsimile).  The second is “repent and turn away” or “repentance”, the third is a universal sign of water denoting “baptism”, and the fourth denotes “the holy spirit” meaning “the gift of the holy ghost.”  These symbols representing the basic principles and ordinances are the preparation for the next line below this which are the temple covenants as we shall see denoted by the tokens of their meanings.

These symbols are to be read from left to right, as the line above them finishes directly above the symbol on the left, as the translation suggests. The first symbol can be seen as knuckles on a hand.  This represents the first token of the Aaronic priesthood. The second symbol shows an identifying mark over the first two knuckles and represents the second token of the Aaronic priesthood. The third symbol represents a straight hand, another hand with an index finger and a thumb close together and pointed upward and a sign of a wound or mark for a hand, this is the first token of the Melchizedek Priesthood.  

Finally, the last symbol denotes a contorted hand with a curved index finger, two straight open middle and wedding fingers and a pinky finger slightly curved. This denotes the Second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood or the Patriarchal Grip. The last two symbols denote the symbol of a body (denoting the washings and anointings of the body) and a foot (denoting the second anointing or washing of the feet).   

Again, all these come from the translation that is being used.

Overall, this shows that Abraham knew of the need of the basic principles of the gospel leading to the more committed aspects of the Abrahamic covenant, and he shared them in this writing long, long ago.  The translation that was given explains this seamlessly and even shows that message it contains therein is the only way to attain to the right hand of God. Perhaps if there is enough interest, the full translation of the 2nd Facsimile could be included in an edition of “The Fundamentalist” as the writings appear to preach exclusively in favor of fundamentalist Mormon theology. Once you read it and have the symbols explained it becomes very difficult to not see and understand them again. They are that simple.

Why do I share this, and what is the significance of this? The most crucial takeaway here is that Abraham was given a series of covenants after accepting certain basic principles and ordinances — just like we did.  Our religion is identical to his and these writings show that Joseph Smith Jr and the other restoration prophets knew this perfectly. The tokens are clearly identified representing the necessary covenants. The discussed translation sheds further light on the importance of certain fundamentalist LDS doctrines being accepted and lived prior to the Lord’s second coming as well. In fact, the 2nd facsimile shows us in its symbols that those who break the law of consecration will ultimately be found on the left hand of God. I share this to help us understand that our religion is progressive one. Meaning that it seeks eternal progression, as each covenant leads to the next until exaltation or perfection is attained (worlds without end). All this was taught to us by Abraham! This is why this 2nd facsimile is so very crucial to our understanding of the covenants.

There are at least three of the four priesthood signs in the facsimile as well:

This is the first sign of the Aaronic Priesthood.

This is the second sign of the Aaronic Priesthood or first sign of the
Melchizedek Priesthood (depending upon which way the hands are held).

This is the second sign of the Melchizedek 
Priesthood (the hands raised and lowered).

Brothers and sisters, this information only serves to reinforce that we fundamentalist latter-day saints have the same principles, ordinances and covenants as those given to Abraham (our mutual father in the faith).  

In the Abrahamic covenants our celestial hopes are truly represented in these signs and tokens of our faith. If we have them, let us keep them and never abandon them. If we do not yet have them, let us seek them and claim them forever.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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