Gospel Doctrine: The Mount of Olives

by Nola Redd | More from this Blogger

07 Jun 2007 10:00 AM

In all honesty, I very rarely look at the setting as we study the New Testament (this despite all of my English major training to always keep it in mind!). However, as I reviewed some of my outside resources while studying the scriptures, the question was posed - What was the significance of the Mount of Olives?

You mean there was a reason Christ spoke there?

According to the Bible Dictionary, the Mount of Olives was a hill to the east of Jerusalem. The Savior visited here several times. When He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He stopped at the Mount of Olives and sent two disciples ahead to fetch an ass to ride into the city. He returned again after passing the first Sacrament and prophesied that the disciples would scatter. But these are the smaller happenings.

The western side held a well-known place - the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where the Savior took the sins of the world upon Himself. Here the Lord traveled after Peter swore he would never deny the Christ (Matt 26:35). Following His resurrected ministry, the Lord ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives (see Acts 1:12).

It is on this mountain that Lord traveled to in order to teach the disciples of the signs of the Second Coming. Although we have the Joseph Smith translation of that discourse, the Savior repeats and clarifies it further in D&C 45. In verse 16, He begins repeating the words He taught in Matthew 24. But in D&C 45:48, Jesus states that, when He comes again, He will "set His foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain." As He was then standing on the Mount of Olives, we must assume that this is the mountain referred to. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it; the chapter heading for D&C 45 and the Bible Dictionary both state this is the case. It took me a little digging to find the actual scripture, but now you can study it for yourself.

So the Mount of Olives is not your ordinary mountain. Here the Savior has or will accomplish three parts of His mission. He atoned for the sins of the world. He ascended to the earth, finishing His mortal ministry. And He will return to earth for the Second Coming. This certainly lends further weight to the things He taught on this mountain.

Looks like all of my English teachers were right. The setting can be very important, after all.

For other blogs on this week's Sunday School lesson, click on the Gospel Doctrine link at right.

Related Articles:

Gospel Doctrine: Prepare His Ways and Make His Paths Straight

RS/EQ Serving God Through Eternity

General Conference: Commitment to the Lord

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Freelance writer Nola Redd is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, with a fourth on the way.

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