The meaning of Poor in Spirit

I am really excited to begin my commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. We begin its study next week in Come, Follow Me. Here is a preview.

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Matthew 5:3 or 3 Nephi 12:3

Poor in spirit must denote a condition that exists separate from Christ, hence the clarification of those who come unto him. The poor in spirit must be those who lack the regenerating power of the Spirit. This would then connect with being rich in spirit, or delighting in fatness, or those who have the substance of light and truth in abundance.

"The phrase 'come unto me' appears five times in the Sermon at the Temple (3 Nephi 12:3, 19, 20, and 23 twice), but it never occurs in the Sermon on the Mount... The use of the phrase 'come unto Christ is consistent with the covenantal context of the Sermon at the Temple, and this connection is strengthened by the likelihood that the Hebrew phrase translated "come before the Lord" probably has cultic meanings of standing before Jesus' presence in the temple at Jerusalem. Stephen D. Ricks suggests that the phrase 'come unto me' in the Sermon at the Temple may be conceptually equivalent to the Old Testament expression translated "stand in the presence of the Lord," which is taught to be temple terminology." - John W. Welch (Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple and the Sermon on the Mount, p. 133-134)

The word "theirs" is significant because it means they are not mere citizens of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is theirs. Therefore, they are kings and priests.

In the Anchor Bible 'poor in spirit' is translated as Humble in spirit. These non-lds scholars expand even more on its meaning and suggest it more fully means, "Those living in uprightness or perfection".
D&C 59:8 puts the poor in spirit (contrite spirit) in the context of the temple. Therefore, this verse could be rendered as:

"Enjoying the state of the gods are the upright and make the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit, who come to where I am, for they are the sacral kings of the Kingdom of heaven." (Whom Shall Ascend the Hill of the Lord, p. 654-655)

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