I've been thinking a lot about feet lately. In a recent series of posts (especially this one), I connected Zion and the idea of being carried away by the Spirit. Part of that connection involves the concept of divine messengers (also known as angels) descending from on high to deliver the good news of the Gospel, preparing the earth for the Messiah. (Twice!)
In this post, I'll attempt to connect some of the dots surrounding the symbol of the foot and the preparatory work of salvation.
Several passages in scripture refer specifically to the feet of these divine messengers. Isaiah writes about it:
7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52)
Abinadi enhances this same language with a past/present/future rendition:
13 Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.
14 And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people; (Mosiah 15)
Notice the language in Ephesians and the related verses in the Doctrine & Covenants discussing the armor of God:
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6)
16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you; (D&C 27)
Finally, intriguingly, notice these words of John the Baptist, found in several places in the scriptures:
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing. (1 Nephi 10)
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3)
I'm convinced John makes a deliberate reference to Christ's footwear. I am not sure I understand this fully, but I find it very interesting. This is of course coupled with a parallel image of Christ washing the feet of his disciples at the last supper.
All of this connects. What do we learn?
The symbol of feet connects to the Preparatory Gospel and the Aaronic Priesthood. God desires a righteous people to engage in the work of salvation. He brings this about by sending His angels down to mortals to commit to them this preparatory gospel -- faith, repentance, and baptism.
More on this to come.