Rungs on the Ladder

Unit 3 Part 1 Podcast

Jacobs Dream of the Ladder

In the Old Testament, we learn about the choices of two grandsons of Abraham, who were brothers. One, Esau, sold his birthright for a bowl of porridge. Another, Jacob, valued the things of God, and there were other differences between Jacob and Esau as well. Esau made the decision to marry outside the covenant-two Hittite women, “which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah [his parents] (Genesis 26:34-35).  Jacob, on the other hand, took a long journey to Haran to take a wife from among the covenant people. While in Beth-el, (which means literally, house of God), Jacob dreamed of a ladder set up on the earth above which the Lord stood (Genesis 28:10-22). What did this ladder mean?

Covenants as Rungs on the Ladder

President Marion G. Romney had this to say about Jacob’s dream of a ladder.

“Jacob realized that the covenants he made with the Lord there were the rungs on the ladder that he himself would have to climb in order to obtain the promised blessings – blessings that would entitle him to enter heaven and associate with the Lord” (Marion G. Romney, “Temples- The Gates to Heaven,” Ensign, March 1971, p 16.)

Temples are to us all what Bethel was to Jacob. Even more, they are also the gates to heaven for all of our unendowed kindred dead. We should all do our duty in bringing our loved ones through them.