By CORINNE MESSER
The Progress
A life-size replica of an ancient place of of worship is currently on display in St. George, Utah. This moveable Tabernacle described in the Old Testament is located at 1130 East Brigham Road until December 13.
Prior to coming to St. George, the Tabernacle had been set up in various locations in northern Utah. It is scheduled to be in Cedar City from March 11-21.
A short video begins the tour inside a nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel. The film gives insights into this ancient holy place and how it was used by the early Israelites.
Next, guests are led outisde to walk through 6 stations of the life-sized Tabernacle. At each station, there is a volunteer youth that explains the procedures that were established by Old Testament text for the Tabernacle.
One of the stops is at the Tabernacle’s colorful front gate. The tour guides explain the significance of its colors; blue for heaven, red for blood, purple for nobility, and white for heaven.
Inside the gate is an outer courtyard where stations for a large altar and a brass laver are located. The altar was the place where animal sacrifices were performed. The laver is a basin full of water where priests would wash their hands and feet before entering the tent of the tabernacle.
The tent has two rooms. The Holy Place was called the first room. It displayed the Menorah, a table of wine and shewbread, and an altar of incense. The rising smoke of the incense burning day and night was symbolic of prayers rising to heaven and the importance of praying day and night.
The second room, separated by a veil, was called the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant was located inside this chamber. Once each year, a high priest entered the room and appealed to God on behalf of the faithful. The Holy of Holies was also the location of Aaron’s rod, a bowl of manna, and the broken tablets that Moses received in Mt. Sinai.
After viewing the tabernacle, the tour returns to the inside of the church where there is a model of the High Priest’s sacred clothing as described in detail in the Old Testament. There is also a visitor’s center set up in the church to view a number of displays and learn more about the tabernacle.
The Tabernacle experience is being sponsored by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To make reservations go to tabernacleutah.com.
