The traveling tabernacle experience has been in Tremonton since last week.  During the first day of its operation, youth and other volunteers from Malad were on hand to help greet and educate visitors to the symbolic significance of the elements of the full-scale replica.  A multi-stake devotional was held after the Malad day, featuring local 70 Mike Hess and BYU Professor Donald Parry.  

According to materials provided throughout the tabernacle tour, the tabernacle was originally constructed as a mobile place of worship during the migrations of the camp of Moses during the exile.  The tabernacle itself was allegedly placed in the middle of the camp, surrounded by the twelve  tribes with the temple at their center.  The tabernacle is composed of an enclosed courtyard, which is surrounded by white barriers.  Donald Parry, Professor of Hebrew Bible, explained that the whiteness of the barrier is designed to separate the area from the material world.  That is, it creates a wall of symbolic purity into which users of the tabernacle would pass.  

The entrance itself is covered by a colored entry cloth, and leads into the inner courtyard, where the altar of sacrifice is located.  Before entering the Holy place, the “laver of water” is positioned to allow visitors to cleanse themselves.  The Holy place contains the Table of Shrewbread, the Menorah, and the Altar of Incense.  

The heart of the tabernacle is the Holy of Holies, which contains the Ark of the Covenant.    

The Malad stake was chosen for the first day of the Tremonton tour, as its youth had scheduled Trek for the same week.  Many familiar faces were on hand to guide visitors through the various places in the full-scale replica tabernacle, and they managed to stay smiling despite the unusual downpour.  

Following the tour, Dr. Douglas Parry spoke to the devotional crowd about the history and significance of the tabernacle to the history and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Mike Hess also addressed the audience, discussing how listeners were called upon to strengthen the stakes of Israel.

The touring tabernacle will be visiting a number of other locations in Utah until early November.

To see more pictures of the Malad stake at the tabernacle, visit the Enterprise website gallery at Idahoenterprise.com.