What Was Happening on the Other Side of the Veil During Holy Week? | Temple & Easter

Send us Fan MailWhat if you studied Holy Week through the lens of the temple — and the spirit world? In this episode, host Tia Smith walks through the Savior's final week with a perspective many Latter-day Saints (LDS) haven't considered: how each day pointed to the temple, the promises made to the fathers, and the work of redemption unfolding on both sides of the veil.Day by day — Palm Sunday through Easter morning — Tia traces the temple imagery and spirit-world meaning woven through Holy Week: the "hosanna" (please save us) shout echoing on both sides of the veil, the cleansing of the temple as a call to sanctify ourselves, the anointing at Bethany seen through a priesthood-and-temple lens, and the Savior organizing His forces in the spirit world (D&C 138) to carry the gospel to those who waited thousands of years for their deliverance. Along the way she shows how we become "saviors on Mount Zion" through vicarious temple work — patterning our lives after the Savior's own sacrifice.The episode also explores the meaning and power of solemn assemblies — their scriptural pattern of protection, sanctification, and spiritual outpouring — as preparation for one about to take place, and celebrates Elijah Day (April 3), when Elijah restored the sealing keys in the Kirtland Temple.Q: What does it mean to study Holy Week "through the lens of the temple"?A: It means noticing how the events of the Savior's final week point to temple themes — sanctification, covenants, anointing, redemption of the dead, and the sealing of families — and how His atoning work opened the way for the vicarious temple work we do today.Q: What was happening in the spirit world during Holy Week?A: Latter-day Saint scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 138) teaches that between His death and resurrection, the Savior organized righteous messengers in the spirit world and commissioned them to preach the gospel to those who had died — beginning the redemption of the dead. Many had waited a very long time for that day of deliverance.Q: What is a solemn assembly and why does it matter?A: A solemn assembly is a sacred gathering — historically connected to temple dedications, sustaining new prophets, and receiving revelation. Scriptural patterns show them tied to sanctification, protection from the adversary, and outpourings of spiritual manifestations, often in times of crisis.Q: What is "becoming a savior on Mount Zion"?A: As taught by latter-day prophets, when we perform proxy temple work for those who cannot do it for themselves, we act in a small measure as the Savior did — offering a vicarious service that helps redeem others, and drawing closer to Christ in the process.Q: What is Elijah Day (April 3)?A: April 3, 1836 is when Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple and restored the sealing keys — the power that binds families across generations. It corresponds with the Passover, when Elijah's arrival is traditionally awaited.👉 Watch or listen to the full episode: [PASTE FULL EPISODE LINK]▶️ WATCH & LISTEN🎬 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thinningoftheveil🌐 Website: https://www.thinningoftheveil.com🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinning-of-the-veil/id1753511394🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jWCfMHkZXwnSwy2b98J4M🎵 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a0a45561-d4c2-46d3-af8d-a1e967a21a25📖 BOOKPatterns of Revelation — Spiritual Foundations for Hearing God's Voice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW36MG9B📱 CONNECTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinning.of.the.veilFacebook Group (Gathering of the Gatherers): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1429562078443774Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thinningoftheveil💛 SUPPORT THE SHOWVenmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thinningoftheveilPayPal: https://paypal.me/thinningoftheveil✉️ Have you had a thinning of the veil experience? Email [email protected] — your testimony may be exactly what someone needs to hear.#ThinningOfTheVeil #HolyWeek #Easter #TempleWork #SpiritWorld #SaviorsOnMountZion #ElijahDay #SolemnAssembly #LatterDaySaints #ComeFollowMeCITATIONS:Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Joyfully Receive the Unexpected Messiah”, BYU Devotional April 15, 2025Passover, Guide to the Scriptures, Solemn Assembly Church TopicsRussell M. Nelson, “Grateful to Gather”, Liahona, Jan. 2025Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Temple Blessings”, Ensign, August 2010Bruce A. Van Orden, "The Kirtland Temple And Endowment of Power" in We'll Sing and We'll Shout: The Life and Times of W. W. Phelps (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2018), 205–220.https://www.gotquestions.org/solemn-assembly.htmlJoel 1&2, D&C 128:22, Psalm 24:2-4, D&C 109:12, 3 Nephi 11:16-17Matthew 5:17-18, 3 Nephi 15:9 , 3 Nephi 16:5, D&C 138:1-4,11,14-18, 30-31, 36-37, 46-48, 52, 55-56, Mark 14:3, JST Mark 14:8, EXODUS 40:13-15, Isaiah 61:1, 3, Moses 1:39,Kristian Heal, “From End Times to Sacred Times”, Maxwell Institute, March 23, 2026Leland Gentry, “Redemption for the Dead (D&C 2),” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2004), 92–102.Marion D. Hanks, “Temple Worship the Key to Knowing God”, Ensign July 2016Thomas S. Monson, “Serve the Lord with Love”, Ensign, Feb. 2014Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Oct. 2024Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 406.Gordon B. Hinckley, “Closing Remarks”, Oct. 2024Bruce R. McConkie, “Celestial Marriage”, BYU, Nov. 6, 1977 Support the show