Endowed with Power

by Mike Richardson

In a Sunday school lesson not long ago the teacher described a prophecy of Ezekiel in which waters flow from under the temple, rising as they flow toward the desert and the dead sea. These are healing waters which bring life to everything they touch. The end result of this flow of living water will be a great harvest of fish for the fishermen who spread there nets there.

"These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

"And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

"And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many" (Ezekiel 47:8-10).

I actually heard this lesson twice, at two different Sunday school meetings. In both cases the teacher indicated that this prophecy had yet to be fulfilled. Perhaps there is a literal fulfillment of this prophecy in which a temple to be built at Jerusalem will have waters flow from it to heal the desert and dead sea. However, as these teachers spoke I felt that this prophecy was being fulfilled spiritually even at the present time.

Jesus Christ must have been aware of this prophecy when he told the woman of Samaria that he had living water that would bring everlasting life (John 4:10). Similarly, this dramatic prophecy must not have been far from his mind when he called fishermen and told them that he would make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).

These living waters are linked to a temple in Revelation wherein white robed (Revelation 7:13) worshipers serve in God's presence:

"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

"For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 7:15-17).

Temple worship is also linked to the great commission to preach the gospel (i.e. share living water) as Christ sends forth his disciples to preach following his resurrection, but tells them to tarry first at Jerusalem until they are "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). As instructed, the disciples return to Jerusalem where they are found "continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:53).

This link between an endowment of power and temple worship, and temple worship and the flow of living waters throughout the earth should be familiar to Latter-Day Saints.

"Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high;

"For this is the promise of the Father unto you; therefore I command you to tarry, even as mine apostles at Jerusalem" (Doctrine & Covenants 95:8-9).

"Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit;

"And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken" (Doctrine & Covenants 43:15-16).

Latter-day Saints know that in the temples we receive life giving truths that flow to a parched world, and bring new life even to a sea of the dead.