The hand or hands were regularly employed in ancient temple ritual—the laying on of hands of animals, filling the hands, cleansing the hands, the laying on of hands of persons, anointing with olive oil, clasping hands, sprinkling sacrificial blood, offering incense at the golden altar, the right hand, praying with uplifted hands, plus more. Additionally, the “wave offering” (Lev. 10:14–15; 23:17) and the heave offering (see Ex. 29:27–28, Lev. 7:13–14, 34) required the use of hands in ceremonial settings. In both ancient and modern temples, God instructs us perfectly through the utilization of hand rituals as we make covenants (consider, for example, the right arm to the square by the one conducting a baptism).
The Hebrew word yad denotes “hand” or “power.”143 When the laying on of hands is performed in various priesthood ordinations and rituals, the Lord’s power is manifest through the hands of the mortal administering the ordination or ritual. The Lord revealed to Edward Partridge, “I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon” (D&C 36:2), meaning, the laying on of hands by Sidney Ridgon is as if the Lord had laid His hands on Edward Partridge. Similarly, Brigham Young explained, “When I lay hands on the sick, I expect the healing power and influence of God to pass through me to the patient. . . . When we are prepared, when we are holy vessels before the Lord, a stream of power from the Almighty can pass through the tabernacle of the administrator to the system of the patient, and the sick are made whole.”144 In sum, the hand is an agent of power that is utilized in both ancient and modern ordinances; the power comes from God, of course.
Sometimes God specifically commands His temple workers to use the right hand in sacred ceremonies and ordinances. For example, putting blood on the right ear, thumb, and foot (see Ex. 29:20; Lev. 8:24–25; 14:14); putting oil on the right ear, hand, and foot (see Lev. 14:17, 27–28); and sprinkling oil with the right finger (see Lev. 14:16, 26–27). It seems that the right hand is used more often in making covenants than is the left. This reminds us of several scriptural passages that state that God’s right hand (versus His left hand) is the prominent one: The right hand of God is associated with righteousness (“Thy right hand is full of righteousness,” Ps. 48:10; see also Isa. 41:10) and power (“Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power,” Ex. 15:6; see also v. 12; Ps. 89:13). With His right hand, the Lord executes justice (see 3 Ne. 29:4, 9), dispenses the law (see Deut. 33:2), and saves His people (“O thou that savest by thy right hand,” Ps. 17:7; see also Ps. 20:6). With His right hand He created the heavens (“My right hand hath spanned the heavens,” Isa. 48:13), makes oaths (“The Lord hath sworn by his right hand,” Isa. 62:8), sustains (see Ps. 18:35), supports (see Isa. 41:10), and exalts (see D&C 109:71). In sum, “The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly” (Ps. 118:16).