Leviticus 8

Aaron as type of the Great High Priest

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. Leviticus 8:6–9

Aaron did not make himself high priest; God called him, and he was washed, robed, and crowned. Hebrews says Christ was likewise called and glorified by the Father as our great High Priest.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

• interpreted by Hebrews 5:4-5 — Called of God, as was Aaron; so also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest.
• a type of what is in Hebrews 4:14 — A great high priest, Jesus the Son of God.

The Anointed

Messiah (Hebrew) / Christ (Greek) — the Anointed One

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. Leviticus 8:12

Aaron became an anointed one by having oil poured on his head. The titles Messiah and Christ both mean the Anointed One, and Jesus was anointed by God with the Holy Ghost and power.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Acts 10:38 — God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.
• alluded to by Psalms 133:2 — The precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon Aaron's beard.

Sin offering burned without the camp

And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. Leviticus 8:14–17

The sin offering made reconciliation and its body was burned outside the camp. Christ reconciles us to God and suffered outside the gate.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 13:11-12 — Beasts burned without the camp; wherefore Jesus also suffered without the gate.
• a type of what is in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 — God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.

Whole burnt offering

And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. Leviticus 8:18–21

The burnt offering was entirely given to God, nothing held back. Christ gave Himself completely, an offering of sweet savour to the Father.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Ephesians 5:2 — Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Consecrated by the blood

And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. Leviticus 8:22–24

Blood on the ear, hand, and foot consecrated what the priest would hear, do, and where he would walk. Christ's blood sanctifies the whole person for His service.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in Hebrews 13:12 — Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood.

Water, oil, and blood

And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. Leviticus 8:30

Aaron was washed with water (verse 6), then sprinkled with oil and blood. The Lord taught Adam that we are born again by water, Spirit, and the blood of His Only Begotten, and Alma taught that the holy order's garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

How we know: a footnote points to Him

• a type of what is in Moses 6:59-60 — By the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified.
• a type of what is in Alma 13:11 — Their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

Priest consecrated

And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. Leviticus 8:33–34

Aaron's consecration took seven days and needed atonement for him. Hebrews contrasts this with the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 7:28 — The law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; the oath maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the LORD, the eternal I AM

So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. Leviticus 8:36

Every step of the consecration is done 'as the LORD commanded Moses' (verses 4, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 36). The one directing it is Jehovah, the premortal Christ.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him