Covenants & Symbols 08: Cherubim & the Flaming Sword

I am re-posting the Temple Symbols series under the new title, Covenants & Symbols. Minor edits have been made, but the first 20 episodes remain primarily the same. I will add new episodes on Temple Covenants.
Understanding symbols is a means, but not the end. The goal, as admonished by President Nelsons is “to seek-prayerfully and consistently-to understand temple covenants and ordinances.” He then gave the following promise to those who seek better understanding: “Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God’s angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation” (The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, Oct. 2021).
These videos are my attempt to follow apostolic direction to "to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth--messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy" (“To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” David A. Bednar, BYU Educational Week Devotional, 2014).
Disclaimer:
This video is NOT a production of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor of the Church Educational System nor of the Seminaries and Institutes Department.
The opinions expressed in this video are Bryce Dunford’s only.
Please visit the official church website:
www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
to clarify any doctrinal questions or to verify the Church’s stance on a symbol.
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I am diligently trying to follow Elder David A. Bendar’s counsel about speaking of the temple. He stated:
Many Church members are unsure about what appropriately can and cannot be said regarding the temple experience outside of the temple.
President Ezra Taft Benson described why this uncertainty exists:
“The temple is a sacred place, and the ordinances in the temple are of a sacred character. Because of its sacredness we are sometimes reluctant to say anything about the temple to our children and grandchildren.
“As a consequence, many do not develop a real desire to go to the temple, or when they go there, they do so without much background to prepare them for the obligations and covenants they enter into.
“I believe a proper understanding or background will immeasurably help prepare our youth for the temple … [and] will foster within them a desire to seek their priesthood blessings just as Abraham sought his.”
Two basic guidelines can help us achieve the proper understanding emphasized by President Benson.
Guideline #1. Because we love the Lord, we always should speak about His holy house with reverence. We should not disclose or describe the special symbols associated with the covenants we receive in sacred temple ceremonies. Neither should we discuss the holy information that we specifically promise in the temple not to reveal.
Guideline #2. The temple is the house of the Lord. Everything in the temple points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We may discuss the basic purposes of and the doctrine and principles associated with temple ordinances and covenants.
President Howard W. Hunter counseled: “Let us share with our children the spiritual feelings we have in the temple. And let us teach them more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say about the purposes of the house of the Lord.”
Across the generations, from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Russell M. Nelson, the doctrinal purposes of temple ordinances and covenants have been taught extensively by Church leaders. A rich reservoir of resources exists in print, audio, video, and other formats to help us learn about initiatory ordinances, endowments, marriages, and other sealing ordinances. Information also is available about following the Savior by receiving and honoring covenants to keep the law of obedience, the law of sacrifice, the law of the gospel, the law of chastity, and the law of consecration. All Church members should become familiar with the excellent materials available at temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
(Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing, April 2019).
If you feel that I have violated either of these guidelines, please let me know.

[@gordonandtamarakirkham543]

Bro. Dunford, your lessons are really opening my heart to so much more than what I have thought Father has in store for us. Thank you!

[@annfritz2753]

Thank you brother Dunford for your answer and taking your time to answer. God bless you and your family!

[@borntobeamom81]

Brother Dunford, I have watched ai far 8 of your videos. They are precious in intention and word, with scriptural evidence and I'm eternally grateful you took the time to create them. I have shared with friends and family members.
Heard about your videos from an I terrier you had with the True Millenial young couple. Thay I review was also amazing!!!
I wish you were the teacher of my kids when they are of seminary age.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and understanding. My most favorite videos that have opened my eyes even more were#3 and #4 and #8 (this one) so far.
Thanks to this expanded knowledge the temple service is a completely new and better, elevated experience for me.

[@RussellLegg]

Awesome video. I have a question, mostly academic. Why would God use the symbols of cherubim and a flaming sword to illustrate this concept? Why those 2 symbols specifically?

[@annfritz2753]

Brother Dunford, thank you so much for your great videos and insights. I really enjoy your lessons. Can you please explain why the probationary state is till the resurrection? I thought it was at death . Thanks, God bless you !

[@BryceDunford]

If this life only was our probationary state, what would be the point of doing the work for the dead? Currently about 99.8% of this world’s population leave this world without any knowledge of the gospel. But that’s OK because we know they have a chance to repent in the spirit world. The gospel will be presented to them and they will have a chance to accept it or rejected. That means the probationary state extends into the spirit world. That suggests to me that no one‘s memory of the pre-mortal life is restored at death. If it was, who wouldn’t accept the gospel in the spirit world and would it really be an act of agency? Or would remembering everything about the pre-mortal life taint that choice and it really wasn’t a choice?
“Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (D&C 138:32-34).
Furthermore, Joseph Smith taught:
“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel, you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Joseph Smith, HC, 6:306-307; Teachings, 348).