What do Latter-day Saint temples symbolize? Ep. 107

In this episode, Dave calls attention to some of the symbolic meaning behind Latter-day Saint temples today. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormon Church, builds temples in order to perform sacred ordinances, as were performed in ancient times. For more information about Mormon Temples, check out our playlist on Temples.

“The Great Symbol of Our Membership,” by President Howard W. Hunter: https://bit.ly/3p56zSv
“Symbols on the LDS Salt Lake Temple,” Temple Square blog: https://bit.ly/2UcJWxy
“Temples: Meanings and Functions of Temples,” by Hugh Nibley, Encyclopedia of Mormonism: https://bit.ly/2U84gQD
A brief history of Latter-day Saint architectural symbols: https://bit.ly/3p45s5K
“Nuwa and Fuxi in Chinese Mythology: Compass and Square,” by Bryce Haymond: https://bit.ly/3pdgwxp
“The Creation, God Introducing Adam and Eve—An Illustration by Jean Fouquet,” by Bryce Haymond: https://bit.ly/2UcvPbi
Original architectural drawings of Salt Lake City Temple (note that not all of the symbols in the drawings made it to the finished product): https://bit.ly/3pbVFL1
“5 Types of Stars You’ll Find on LDS Temples (+ The Fascinating Meaning Behind Them),” by Jannalee Sandau (LDSLiving): https://bit.ly/3eHldL7
“The Salt Lake Temple Squared Circle Motif,” Moroni10.com: https://bit.ly/3nbNFaO
“Why Are There Inverted Stars on Some Mormon Temples?” by yours truly: https://bit.ly/3peytM4
Suggested reading: “Sacred Symbols,” by Alonzo L. Gaskill. “Temple and Cosmos,” by Hugh Nibley (particularly chapters 1-4). “Mormonism and Early Christianity,” by Hugh Nibley (particularly chapter 8).

Notes:

-When I was a kid I remember sometimes hearing the phrase, “You’re never lost when you can see the temple,” (see https://bit.ly/3kgd15O) when we were on vacation in Utah (where temples are abundant). The idea was that because temples are so recognizable (large, white, tall buildings oftentimes built on hilltops), you always had a point of reference with which you could take your bearings. In a way, temples are meant to fulfill that same purpose on a cosmic, spiritual scale. If you keep your eye on the temples and the promises made there, through Jesus Christ you’ll be able to find your way back to your heavenly home. Just as the sacrament is a constant reminder of our Savior Jesus Christ, temples serve as a constant reminder of the heavenly home we are all invited to return to.

-Sometimes I wonder if it’s appropriate to interpret symbols in a way different from what the original artist/architect may have intended. On this subject, I like this quote from Pablo Picasso: “It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.”

-Why are there similarities between ancient Egyptian temple practices and our temple practices? Note that in the first chapter of the Book of Abraham (Latter-day Saint scripture) we read, “Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even in the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the priesthood.” If the Egyptians tried to imitate the order of the priesthood, it should be no surprise that vestiges of the Latter-day Saint endowment show up there (though, what they had was only a shadow of the real thing). See also: Hugh Nibley’s, “The Message of the Joseph Smith papyri: An Egyptian Endowment.”

-In the Bible, Christ pleads with the Father that we may become one with Him. Through sacred ordinances and covenants, the temple is where that is supposed to happen. It’s the place where the heavenly veil is parted, and the earthly and the heavenly become one.

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