Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream (Daniel 2)

The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (Daniel 2:45)

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He called for some of his wise men to explain what the dream meant. (Daniel 2:1-3). The problem was that the king could not remember his dream. He ordered them to tell him both the dream and its meaning, threatening to kill them if they couldn't. When these men answered that no one could tell the king his dream, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all the wise men in Babylon be killed. (Daniel 2:5-6, Daniel 2:10-12).

Daniel, one of the captives the Babylonians had taken from Jerusalem, was among those who were to be slain. When he learned about the danger, he told the king's captain he would interpret the dream if the king would give him time. Daniel asked his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to pray with him. They asked Heavenly Father to show Daniel the dream, and the Lord revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision. (Daniel 2:13-23; Daniel 1:7).

Daniel went to the king's captain and told him he could interpret the dream (Daniel 2:24). The captain rushed Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar. After saying that God had shown him the dream, Daniel described the image the king had seen. The image's head was made of gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet of part iron and part clay. Daniel said that a great stone struck the image's feet and broke them. Then the stone grew and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:28-35).

Interpreting the dream, Daniel told the king, "Thou art this head of gold" (Daniel 2:38). Then he said an inferior kingdom, represented by the silver, would arise after Nebuchadnezzar's. A third kingdom would then rule the world, followed by a fourth. This last kingdom would be divided, like the feet of iron and clay: part strong and part weak. During the reign of these kings, God would set up a kingdom that would destroy all other kingdoms and stand forever. (Daniel 2:36-45).

When Daniel was finished, King Nebuchadnezzar fell down before him and said, "Of a truth ... your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets" (Daniel 2:47; Daniel 2:46).

The king made Daniel a ruler in Babylon, gave him many gifts, and made him the chief over all the wise men. At Daniel's request, the king also made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego rulers. (Daniel 2:48-49).

Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar had an important dream that he could not remember. He commanded some of his wise men to describe the dream and explain it. When they said this could not be done, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be killed. Daniel was one of those who would be killed. He and his friends asked the Lord for mercy, and the Lord showed Daniel the dream and its meaning. Daniel then described the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar and explained what it meant. The king was pleased, and as a reward he made Daniel and his friends rulers in Babylon.

Artist, Grant Romney Clawson

Three Men in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)

Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. (Daniel 3:25)

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made a large golden image and called all the princes, governors, captains, judges, and other rulers in the kingdom to come to the dedication of this image. As these people stood before the idol, one of the king's officials cried out that when the music played, everyone was commanded to fall down and worship the golden image. Anyone who didn't do this would be thrown into a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:1-6).

The music sounded, and the people fell down to worship the golden image. But among the group were three Jewish men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego—who would not worship the idol. They believed in Heavenly Father and knew that worshiping idols was wrong. Some of the rulers reported this to the king. (Daniel 3:7-12).

King Nebuchadnezzar was angry and commanded that the three men be brought to him (Daniel 3:13). He asked them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?" (Daniel 3:14). Then he said he would give them one more chance. The music would play again, and if the three men fell down to worship the image, all would be well. But if they still refused, they would immediately be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:15).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego told the king that they knew their God could deliver them from the furnace if He chose to. But even if He did not deliver them, they would never worship false gods or this golden image. (Daniel 3:16-18).

This made King Nebuchadnezzar even more furious. He ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual; then he commanded his mightiest soldiers to tie up the three men and throw them into the fiery furnace. The soldiers did as the king asked, and the fire was so hot that it killed them as they threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the flames. (Daniel 3:19-23).

Suddenly the king, who had been watching, jumped up and asked, "Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" (Daniel 3:24). His counselors answered, "True, O king" (Daniel 3:24). Then the king continued, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25).

King Nebuchadnezzar then came near the opening of the furnace. He called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth," and the three walked out of the fire (Daniel 3:26). The other rulers had gathered around and could see that not one hair on the three men's heads had been burned. They didn't even smell of fire. (Daniel 3:27).

When the king saw this, he praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego for delivering them from the furnace. He sent a decree throughout the land that no one was to speak against their God, and he promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to higher positions in Babylon. (Daniel 3:28-30).

Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden statue and commanded everyone to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew they should worship only Heavenly Father and refused to bow down to the idol. The king was angry and commanded that they be thrown into a fiery furnace. He was amazed then to see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego calmly walking in the hot fire with a fourth man whose form was "like the Son of God." The king called the three men out of the furnace. They were not harmed. He praised their God for saving them, and sent out a decree that no one should speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

Artist, William Maughan

Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6)

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me. (Daniel 6:22)

King Darius of Babylon chose 120 princes to rule his kingdom. He also chose three presidents over these princes. Daniel, a righteous man, was the first of the three presidents "because an excellent spirit was in him" (Daniel 6:3; Daniel 6:1-2).

The other presidents and princes were jealous of Daniel. They tried to find a reason to complain to the king about him, but they could not. (Daniel 6:4).

Finally, the other rulers decided on a plan to get Daniel in trouble. They knew that Daniel prayed every day. So they asked King Darius to sign a decree that for the next 30 days no one could ask a favor of any God or man, except of the king. Anyone who disobeyed the decree would be thrown into a den of lions. King Darius signed the decree. (Daniel 6:5-9).

Though Daniel heard about the decree, he continued to pray three times a day in his home, as he had done before (Daniel 6:10). The jealous rulers saw Daniel praying (Daniel 6:11). They went to King Darius and reminded him, "Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The thing is true" (Daniel 6:12). They then informed the king that Daniel had been praying to his God (Daniel 6:13).

The king loved Daniel and did not want him to be killed. He tried to find a way to save Daniel, but he could not change the decree. (Daniel 6:14-15). So Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. The sorrowful king told Daniel, "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee" (Daniel 6:16). A large rock was placed over the opening to the lions' den (Daniel 6:17).

King Darius spent the night fasting. He could not sleep. Early in the morning he hurried to the den of lions. (Daniel 6:18-19). The anguished king cried out, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" (Daniel 6:20).

From within the den came Daniel's voice: "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me" (Daniel 6:22).

The king was joyful. He commanded that Daniel be taken out of the den. Because of Daniel's faith, God had protected him. (Daniel 6:23).

The men who had accused Daniel were thrown into the den and were killed by the lions (Daniel 6:24). King Darius signed another decree that everyone in his kingdom should fear and tremble before Daniel's God Daniel 6:25-27).

Summary

Powerful men were jealous of Daniel, who was favored by King Darius. These men tricked the king into signing a law which said that anyone who prayed, except to him, would be cast into a den of lions. Daniel knew this but still prayed to God three times a day. When Daniel was caught praying, King Darius tried to save Daniel but could not. Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. Early the next morning the king ran to the lions' den. Daniel was safe. He had been protected by an angel sent from God.

Artist, Clark Kelley Price

Temple Used Anciently (Exodus 25:8; 1 Kings 6:12-13; Psalm 24:3-4; D&C 124:26-44)

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like those in ancient times, are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple, also called the house of the Lord, is a place where worthy Church members receive sacred ordinances and make solemn covenants with God. In these holy temples, families are sealed together forever. Although design and location vary, the work accomplished in each of the Lord's temples is the same.

Heavenly Father established a plan so that the blessings of the temple could be offered to all His children. Those people who have received their own ordinances are encouraged to return to the temple often to act as proxies for those who have died without having the opportunity of going to the temple for themselves.

When the Lord has a people on the earth ready to live His higher laws, they are commanded to build temples and are given the opportunity to receive eternal ordinances (D&C 124:26-44). Ancient temples, in both the old and new world, were considered places for the pure in heart (Psalm 24:3-4) to draw closer to God and receive revelations and blessings from Him.

These sacred places were literally the house of the Lord, where He could dwell or where He could send His messengers (Exodus 25:8; 1 Kings 6:12-13).

Summary

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are holy buildings dedicated to the Lord. A temple is also called the house of the Lord. It is a place where worthy Church members receive saving ordinances and make sacred covenants with God. In temples families can be sealed together forever. Ancient temples were considered places where people could come to draw closer to God and receive revelations and blessings from Him.

Adam and Eve Teaching Their Children (Moses 5:1-2, Moses 5:5, Moses 5:10-12, Moses 5:58; Moses 6:1)

And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. (Moses 5:12)

After Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, they began to work to feed and clothe themselves. They also had a large family with many sons and daughters. (Moses 5:1-2).

The Lord gave Adam and Eve commandments, and they obeyed them (Moses 5:5). They realized that their family was a blessing and knew that if they lived worthily, they would once again see Heavenly Father and be able to live with Him (Moses 5:10-11).

"Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and [taught] all things ... unto their sons and their daughters" (Moses 5:12). They taught their children the gospel, to have faith in Jesus Christ, and to repent (Moses 5:58; Moses 6:1).

Summary

After Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden to live in the world, they worked very hard to provide for the needs of their children. They had many children and taught them the gospel and the ways of the Lord.

Artist, Del Parson