I've tried to contemplate the feelings of our ancient brothers and sisters in Jerusalem,

who, after 371 years of having a glorious temple, watched as the temple was destroyed

by Nebuchadnezzar and his forces, and those who survived the destructions were taken

captive to Babylon. The temple was the holiest place for them, a place where they drew

near unto God, a place where they offered sacrifices and renewed their covenants and commitments

to Jehovah, how their hearts were broken, their hopes dashed in an instant. It seemed to

me like a far-gone, untouchable experience to contemplate, until one late Wednesday evening

on July 9, 2003. We started receiving urgent messages and devastating notes from Apia

Samoa. The temple was on fire and burning out of control.

Hello, we're Scott and Maureen Proctor, and this is Meridian Magazine's Come Follow Me

Podcast, where this week we are studying various chapters from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

First, a quick contextual background. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are considered by the Jews,

one book. Nehemiah being a continuation of Ezra. In our Bibliah, Hebraica, our 1833 edition

of the Hebrew Bible that we use, these two books are sandwiched between the Book of Daniel,

and the Book of First Chronicles. Ezra was a prominent and famous priest who had been living in

exile in Babylon and was commissioned by Cyrus the King to bring exiles back to Jerusalem

and organize and appoint magistrates and judges, and most importantly, to teach in Israel

statutes and judgments. In other words, to instruct them in the practice of the law of Moses,

to help the people learn the holy scriptures. Zruvabel was a governor who returned and would

oversee the rebuilding of the temple. Nehemiah was a later governor who would lead the work of

rebuilding the protective defensive walls around Jerusalem, and Nehemiah's name in Hebrew means

Jehovah is consolation. The Nehemiah route is the same as Nahum of Book of Mormon fame,

...