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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Hebrews 8–10

The Tabernacle
and the Veil

“By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil.” Hebrews 10:20

Hebrews walks us through the ancient tabernacle, piece by piece, from the altar to the veil. Every piece pointed to Jesus Christ, the High Priest who opens the way into God’s presence.

Enter the courtyard ↓ Read Hebrews 9:1–14 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of the tabernacle from above: Moses on a mountain receiving a plan, the courtyard gate with colorful hangings, a bronze altar with smoke, a bronze basin of water, the golden lampstand and table of loaves, a small golden incense altar, a heavy embroidered veil with light behind it, and the golden ark of the covenant bathed in warm light.

Before you begin

The story in brief

When Israel camped in the wilderness, the Lord showed Moses a pattern for a holy tent, the tabernacle. Inside the courtyard stood an altar of sacrifice and a basin of water for washing. In the first room were a golden lampstand, a table of bread and an altar of incense. Behind a heavy veil was the Holiest of all, with the ark and its mercy seat. Only the high priest went in, “once every year, not without blood.”

Hebrews teaches that all of it was “the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Jesus Christ is the true High Priest: “by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” When He died, “the veil of the temple was rent in twain.” Now we can enter “by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil.”

Who’s who

  • Moses: who received the pattern
  • The high priest: who entered once a year
  • Jesus Christ: the great High Priest and the way through the veil

Where and when

The ancient tabernacle, explained in a letter to Hebrew Christians.

Watch for the Savior

Watch how every piece points to the Savior.

Read it yourself: Hebrews 9:1–14

Part 1 of 7

The tabernacle, mapped

Eight stops from the pattern on the mount to the mercy seat. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: the courtyard, the holy place, the veil rent in twain and the new and living way. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. Hebrews 9:1“a sanctuary”
    2. Hebrews 9:2“the ”
    3. Hebrews 9:4“the golden ”
    4. Hebrews 9:5“the ”
    5. Hebrews 9:22“no ”
    6. Hebrews 10:20“which he hath for us”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders or Church resources. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you?

    Outside the gate, getting clean, praying, or through the veil. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Walk through the tabernacle

    Walk from the gate toward the Holiest of all, one piece at a time. A light goes ahead of you. At the veil, you choose.

    “Let us draw near with a true heart.” Hebrews 10:22

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us picture the tabernacle and the Day of Atonement. Outside sources are labeled.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Once a year

    “Once a year on the Jewish holy day called the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest was permitted to enter into the Holy of Holies.”9

    Only one man, one day.

    Scripture · Leviticus 16

    Not at all times

    Aaron was told to “come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat.”5

    God’s presence was holy.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Once for all

    “The high priest offered sacrifices in this manner every year … Christ offered His sacrifice ‘once for all.’”9

    His sacrifice never needs repeating.

    Church resource · Student manual

    The real sanctuary

    “Jesus Christ our Mediator entered the sanctuary of heaven itself.”9

    The earthly one was a shadow.

    Word study · Greek

    katapetasma καταπέτασμα · “veil” (Hebrews 9:3; Hebrews 10:20)

    Bible Hub: “a curtain (the inner veil of the temple).”10 Outside · lexicon

    The same word is used when the temple veil is torn at the Savior’s death.7

    Word study · Greek

    hilastērion ἱλαστήριον · “mercyseat” (Hebrews 9:5)

    Bible Hub: “propitiatory,” translated “mercy seat.”11 Outside · lexicon

    The place where atonement was made, on the lid of the ark.1

    What the text does not say

    The story does not say the old tabernacle was useless. Paul calls it “the example and shadow of heavenly things,” made by a pattern God showed Moses. It was a teacher, and its lessons all pointed to Christ.2

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    He is the sacrifice, the High Priest and the way through the veil into the presence of God.

    “The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple.”

    President Russell M. Nelson, quoted by Elder Allen D. Haynie8
    “Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ.”
    President Russell M. Nelson, quoted by Elder Allen D. Haynie8
    “Even though we are imperfect, we are invited as His guests into His house.”
    Elder Allen D. Haynie8
    “The ordinances performed by ancient Levitical priests foreshadowed the Atonement made by the Son of God.”
    New Testament Student Manual9

    Exodus

    That I may dwell among them

    “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

    Exodus

    The glory filled it

    “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask in prayer

    What is one step I can take to draw nearer to God’s presence? Hebrews 10:22

    Ask Heavenly Father which part of the path you’re on right now: the altar, the laver, the holy place or the veil. Then take the next step with the Savior.

    Try it today

    One step inward each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “A new and living way.”

    Read Hebrews 10:19–22 slowly. Picture the Savior holding the veil open for you. Thank Him for making a way home. Hebrews 10:19–22

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. What was the first thing people saw when they came through the tabernacle gate?
    2. Who could go behind the second veil, and how often?
    3. What happened to the temple veil when Jesus died?
    4. How do we “draw near” to God today?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Seventy

    Elder Allen D. Haynie, “Meeting Jesus Christ in the House of the Lord” (2025)

    How the Savior is the heart of the temple, and how imperfect people are invited as His guests.8

    Read the article →
    Church resource

    New Testament Student Manual: Hebrews 7–13

    The Day of Atonement in detail, “without shedding of blood is no remission,” and the veil as Christ’s flesh.9

    Read the chapter →
    Scripture

    Building the tabernacle

    The pattern given to Moses, the incense altar, and the day the glory filled the tabernacle.4

    Exodus 25 →   Exodus 40 →
    Scripture

    Leviticus 16: the Day of Atonement

    The high priest’s yearly entry “within the veil before the mercy seat,” step by step.5

    Leviticus 16 →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Why might the Lord have placed the altar of sacrifice first, right inside the gate?
    • What does it mean that the veil was torn “from the top to the bottom”?
    • How is the temple today like and unlike the ancient tabernacle?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. Hebrews 9: “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place.”
    2. Hebrews 8:1–6: “The example and shadow of heavenly things.”
    3. Hebrews 10:19–22: “A new and living way … through the veil.”
    4. Exodus 25:8–9; Exodus 30:1–8; Exodus 40:30–34: the tabernacle, the incense altar and the laver.
    5. Leviticus Hebrews 16:2: “Within the veil before the mercy seat.”
    6. Psalm 141:2: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.”
    7. Matthew 27:51: “The veil of the temple was rent in twain.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. Elder Allen D. Haynie, “Meeting Jesus Christ in the House of the Lord”, Liahona, March 2025 (digital only).
    2. New Testament Student Manual, “Hebrews 7–13”, Gospel Library.

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 2665, katapetasma, Bible Hub lexicon.
    2. Strong’s 2435, hilastērion, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 11, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “A new and living way”

    Draw near. Jesus Christ has opened the way into the presence of God. Hebrews 10:20

    Back to this week: November 1–7 Earlier: The Anchor of the Soul Next story: Heroes of Faith All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The teachings are in Hebrews 8–10 with Exodus and Matthew 27; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.