Looked at objectively, they seem quite unremarkable, really. Just four fingers and a thumb, with a similar set at the end of the other arm. What they do basically is grasp, touch and hold. But what a world of meaning the hand has, in both our spiritual and daily life.
Both the brain and the soul have claim upon the work of the hand. But we have to look to our language, and to scriptures, to find out just how important those connections are.Hands make things. "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." (Isaiah 64:8.)
Hands possess things. "Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?" asked the ancient prophet Mormon. (Mormon 5:24.)
Hands control things. ". . . after much tribulation the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands . . ." (Mosiah 23:9.)
Hands comfort. "And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long. . . ." (Jacob 6:4.)
Hands promise. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." (I. Tim. 4:14.)
Hands bless. "Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name." (D&C 20:70.)
Hands heal. "And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou are loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." (Luke 13:12-13.)
Hands confer authority. "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof." (Fifth Article of Faith.)
A nd much more. We refer to our hands constantly in our daily speech. We talk about responsibility being put in our hands. When we like what someone has done, we give him a hand of applause. We raise our hands in support. We look for hands of friendship, seal our agreements and greet each other with a handshake. We put our hands on each others' shoulders in support, and extend an open hand to people who need our assistance.
We look for a handhold when we start a new project or job. We hold our hands over our hearts in patriotic display, fold them in prayer, salute with them, hold them up to stop someone or to motion them to draw closer. We wave our hands in greeting and shake them in dismissal.
There's a great difference between going hand-in-hand and being told to keep our hands off. We can join hands, or not lift a hand. We can throw up our hands or clap our hands. Whether something is in hand or out of hand matters greatly.
What we do with our hands is pretty much up to us, but there is no doubt what the Lord expects of this great marriage of mind and body. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." (Psalms 24:3-4.)
Hands play an important role in some of the most important religious images, three of which encompass death, the Resurrection and the Restoration. First, who can not visualize the scene: "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." (Matt. 27:24.)
Another is the image of the doomed Stephen, soon to be stoned to death, "being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus, standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55.)
A third is the image conjured by the words of Joseph Smith, after he and Oliver Cowdery prayed about baptism: "While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us. . . ." With that touch of the hands the great work of the Restoration began.
Finally, we have the great testimony of the Lord to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, with instructions for us all: "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven." (D&C 6:37.)
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