InThe Early Christian Prayer Circle by Hugh Nibley, we are told, "the actual performance of such a rite [Prayer Circle] is described in a very old text, attributed to Clement of Rome and preserved in a seventh century Syriac translation entitled "The Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ as delivered orally by him to us the Apostles after his Resurrection following his death."
In celebrating the sacrificial death of the Lord, Max Pulver in his study "The Round Dance and the Crucifixion," tells how the bishop would:
make the sacrifice, the veil of the gate being drawn aside as a sign of the straying of the former people; he would make the offering within the veil along with priests, deacons, authorized widows, subdeacons, deaconesses, readers and such as were endowed with spiritual gifts. As leader the Bishop stands in the middle . . . [the men and women are assigned their places, north, south, east and west, around him]. Then all give each other the sign of peace. Next, when absolute silence is established, the deacon says: "Let your hearts be to heaven. If anyone has any ill feeling towards his neighbor, let him be reconciled. If anyone has any hesitation or mental reservations [doubts] let him make it known; if anyone finds any of the teachings incongenial, let him withdraw [etc.]. For the Father of Lights is our witness with the Son and visiting angels. Take care lest you have aught against your neighbor. . . . Lift up your hearts for the sacrifice of redemption and eternal life. Let us be grateful for the knowledge which God is giving us." The Bishop . . . says in an awesome voice: "Our Lord be [or is] with you!" And all the people respond: "And with thy spirit."(Ignatius Ephraem II Rahmani, ed., Testamenturn Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (Moguntiae: Kirchheim, 1899). The age of the work is discussed on pp. ix—xiv, 36—37.)
A sort of antiphonal follows with the people in the ring responding to the words of the bishop. Then the bishop begins the prayer proper, the people repeating these same things, praying. He thanks God for the Plan of Salvation, by which "thou hast fulfilled thy purposes by preparing a holy people, hast stretched forth thy hands in suffering, that they who have faith in thee might be freed from such suffering and from the corruption of death."
E. Louis Backman cites a passage from the Stromata in which Clement reveals that the initiates raised their hands in prayer during the dance: "So also we raise the head and lift the hands to heaven, and set the feet in motion at the closing utterance of the prayer." (Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 7.7, in ANF, 2:534.)
Similar descriptions of the ring dance/prayer circle are found in the writings of Gregory Thaumaturgus (A.D. 210—60) and Basileios of Caesarea (A.D. 344—407), as well as in the Gnostic Acts of John. (Backman, Religious Dances, 22—25; Max Pulver, "Jesus' Round Dance and Crucifixion according to the Acts of John," in The Mysteries, ed. Joseph Campbell, 173-93.)
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Sign of Peace is also the Sign of the Dove
In celebrating the sacrificial death of the Lord, Max Pulver in his study "The Round Dance and the Crucifixion," tells how the bishop would:make the sacrifice, the veil of the gate being drawn aside as a sign of the straying of the former people; he would make the offering within the veil along with priests, deacons, authorized widows, subdeacons, deaconesses, readers and such as were endowed with spiritual gifts. As leader the Bishop stands in the middle . . . [the men and women are assigned their places, north, south, east and west, around him]. Then all give each other the sign of peace. Next, when absolute silence is established, the deacon says: "Let your hearts be to heaven. If anyone has any ill feeling towards his neighbor, let him be reconciled. If anyone has any hesitation or mental reservations [doubts] let him make it known; if anyone finds any of the teachings incongenial, let him withdraw [etc.]. For the Father of Lights is our witness with the Son and visiting angels. Take care lest you have aught against your neighbor. . . . Lift up your hearts for the sacrifice of redemption and eternal life. Let us be grateful for the knowledge which God is giving us." The Bishop . . . says in an awesome voice: "Our Lord be [or is] with you!" And all the people respond: "And with thy spirit."(Ignatius Ephraem II Rahmani, ed., Testamenturn Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (Moguntiae: Kirchheim, 1899). The age of the work is discussed on pp. ix—xiv, 36—37.)
I believe that we come to the veil showing with uplifted hands, as a sign of Christ, which is also the sign or form of the dove and peace, and showing that the Holy Ghost is our constant companion, and which, The Prophet Joseph Smith said was instituted before the world, that Satan cannot come in the form of. This sign, the “Hands of Blessing” is also the example ascension into the Celestial realm with the Father (Luke 24:44-53)
Sign of Peace, Sign of the Dove
Dove, sign of).
7. Represents God [Elohim] sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove (See also: D&C 84:74; 1 John 5:7; John 14:18, 21, 23, 26). Where? See number 8 below.
“The Sign of the Dove”
“The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. … The sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence” (Joseph Smith, HC 5:261). See 1 Ne. 11:27; 2 Ne. 31:8; D&C 93:15; Abr., fac. 2, fig. 7.
Joseph Smith taught that the sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world as a witness for the Holy Ghost; therefore, the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove (or sign of peace).
Though we usually associate the sign of the dove with John the Baptist, from the latter reference we learn that it was manifested to Abraham also. We suppose that it has been similarly made known to other prophets on occasion since the time of Adam.
“Go in peace” seems to be a ratification of Holy Spirit of Promise upon the Words of the Jesus to Mary. It is a special message given from the Lord to the Soul and endorsed by the Holy Ghost and “this peace” cannot be duplicated by the devil.
The word Peace is used as a symbol. It is the symbol of the Dove, and is a sure witness of the Holy Ghost.
1. Abraham received it the sign of peace, in the form of a dove (peace). (Abr., fac. 2, fig. 7).
2. Jesus received it when he was baptized:
a. Spirit of God descending like a dove: Matt. 3:16 . ( Mark 1:10 ; Luke 3:22 ; John 1:32 . )
b. Abide upon him in the form of a dove: 1 Ne. 11:27 .
c. Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove: 2 Ne. 31:8 . ( D&C 93:15 .)
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