Symbolism |
The Book of Life, by Alfred Raymond Wright (1949, carved pine, 40" high). Among the symbols included in this wood carving are twelve oxen, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel, with a temple baptismal font resting on their backs; the four standard works of LDS scripture; a beehive, symbol of industry; spheres representing the telestial (stars), terrestrial (moon) and celestial (sun) kingdoms of glory; and a replica of the Salt Lake Temple, representing the attainment of the highest degree in the celestial kingdom. Church Museum of History and Art.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Todd Compton
Gospel understanding and literature is gloriously enhanced and beautified by the abundant use of symbols and figurative expressions. Since Christ is the center of the gospel system and the one through whom salvation comes, most of the basic symbolical representations tie into him and his atoning sacrifice. "Behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me." (Moses 6:63.)
By way of illustration: Sacrifices were performed in "similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father." (Moses 5:7.) We partake of the sacrament in remembrance of the broken flesh and spilled blood of our Lord. (Luke 22:13-20; D. & C. 20:77-79.) Baptism is performed by immersion to typify the death, burial, and resurrection of our Redeemer. (Rom. 6:1-6.) Moses lifted the brazen serpent before Israel to point their attention forward to the day when their God would be lifted up upon the cross. (John 3:14-15; Hela. 8:13-15.) The manna, or bread from heaven, was sent to foreshadow and bear record of the coming day when Christ, the Bread of Life, would come down from heaven. (John 6:30-58.) Indeed, the whole Mosaic Law, in all its parts and portions, was so ordained as to bear record of the future coming of Jehovah in the flesh. (Mosiah 13:29-35.)
Abraham was obedient to the command to offer up Isaac, "which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." (Jac. 4:5.) The Sabbath Day, from Adam to Moses, bore record that Christ the Creator had rested from his labors on the 7th day (Ex. 20:8-11); from Moses to Christ's mortal ministry, it pointed attention to the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage by the power of the Holy One of Israel (Deut. 5:12-15); and from the day of his resurrection to the present, the Lord's Day has been holy in commemoration of his coming forth as the firstfruits of them that slept. (D. & C. 59:9-17.) And so illustrations might be multiplied at great length -- all showing how various gospel ordinances and performances bear record of Christ or of some great truth that centers in him.
Mormon Doctrine, p.774
Copyright by Bookcraft
The word "symbol" derives from the Greek word súmbolon, which means literally "something thrown together"; this word can be translated "token." Contracting parties would break a súmbolon, a bone or tally stick, into two pieces, then fit them together again later. Each piece would represent its owner; the halves "thrown together" represent two separated identities merging into one. Thus this concept of "symbol" (unity; separation; restoration) provides a model for love, the Atonement, separation and reunification, our original unity with God, our earthly separation, our eventual return to the divine presence and renewed perfect unity with God (see Deification). Furthermore, this meaning of symbol shows that understanding any symbol requires the "throwing together" of an earthly, concrete dimension and a transcendent, spiritual dimension. Plato's idea that knowledge is remembrance (of a premortal existence) (Meno 81c-d) has relevance here.
Symbolism plays a significant role in LDS life. The overriding theme is that all things bear record of Christ, "both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me" (Moses 6:63). The use of symbols among the Latter-day Saints expresses religious roots, cultural connections, and modes of life. More connected to Hebrew traditions than most Christian churches and at the same time eschewing many traditional Christian symbols, LDS symbolism is unique among modern religions.
Since LDS worship services are nonliturgical and, except for Christmas, Easter, and the Sunday Sabbath, do not adhere to the usual Christian calendar, many Christian symbols are absent from LDS religious practices. Thus, although the Atonement and crucifixion of Jesus Christ are at the heart of their scriptures and theology, traditional symbols such as the cross and the chalice are not prominent. Nor are the rich iconographic materials associated with the traditional churches, especially the emblems, signs, colors, patterns, and symbols that developed during the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance.
The Church embraces biblical symbolic rituals such as baptism (with its attendant associations with death, burial, and rebirth), the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (with its connection to the blood and body of Christ), and marriage (which signifies both human and divine unity).
Some LDS symbols derive from the Book of Mormon. For example, the iron rod (1 Ne. 8:19) symbolizes the word of God as man approaches the tree of life (1 Ne. 11:25); the Liahona, the compass or pointer used by the Nephites in their travels (1 Ne. 16:10; Alma 37:38-39), symbolizes guidance through sensitivity to the Spirit; the large and spacious building stands for the corruption of worldly values (1 Ne. 8:31); though the cosmic tree is a universal symbol, the Book of Mormon describes it uniquely as the love of God (1 Ne. 11:21-23).
The Church's history, especially the period of the exodus from the Midwest and the settlement of the Intermountain West, has been a fountainhead of symbols. The covered wagon and the handcart symbolize the faith, courage, and sacrifice of the pioneers; the seagull, the miraculous delivery from a natural disaster; the tabernacle, the quest for sanctuary; and the beehive, the industry and ingenuity required of true disciples.
The architecture of most LDS meetinghouses is plain and uniform. There are spires, but no crosses; few buildings have cruciform design; and very few have stained-glass windows. Again, reflecting plain, New England-style origins, the interiors of LDS churches contain no crosses or other religious symbols. The Sacrament or communion table is plain and adorned only with white tablecloths. It usually rests at the same level with, and is generally adjacent to, the pews, reflecting emphasis on a lay ministry and congregational principles.
LDS temples, both in their structure and ordinances, reflect the glory of God. Their entrances are inscribed, "The House of the Lord/Holiness to the Lord," symbolizing both a sanctuary from the world and heaven itself. The Nauvoo Temple had a frieze consisting of sun stones, moon stones, and star stones, symbolizing degrees of glory. Temples built in pioneer Utah had elaborate spires and pinnacles, bas-relief, and stained-glass windows, most of which contained symbolic materials. Often temples are built on a hill and near water to suggest not only their elevation from the world, but also their separateness from it and the beauty of the living water of Christ's redemption and exaltation.
The interiors of the temples, too, are highly symbolic, suggestive of the progressive stages of the Plan of Salvation. By the use of films and murals, symbolic presentations are given of the creation of the world, the Garden of Eden, the telestial or present world, the postmortal terrestrial world, and the Celestial Kingdom where God dwells. Also associated with the temples are the symbols of the all-seeing eye and the handclasp. Like many Mormon symbols, these have Masonic parallels, though they are by no means original to Masonry, and have different meanings in an LDS context.
Temples contain baptismal fonts that rest on the backs of twelve oxen symbolizing the Twelve tribes of Israel. The rooms where marriages and family sealings are solemnized contain altars and mirrored walls in which participants can see their reflections multiplied to infinity, symbolizing the eternal nature of marital love and the family unit. At the conclusion of the temple service, those participating in the Endowment ceremony pass from the terrestrial room to the celestial room through a veil, which symbolizes the transition from time into eternity.
The temple ceremony is richly symbolic, with sacred symbolism in the signs, tokens, clothing, covenants, dramatic enactment, and prayer circle. The unifying connection of this symbolic material is the idea of centering. Everything in the temple is suggestive of centering oneself on Christ. The enactment of this privilege precedes the symbolic entrance into the celestial world and the presence of God.
Because it has some unique scriptures and theology and because it has both correspondence with, and independence from, its Judeo-Christian roots, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will continue to have its own unique symbolic system.
Bibliography
Andrew, Laurel B. The Early Temples of the Mormons. New York, 1977.
Eliade, Mircea. Patterns in Comparative Religion. Cleveland and New York, 1958.
Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane. New York, 1959.
Hamilton, C. Mark. The Salt Lake Temple: A Monument to a People. Salt Lake City, 1983.
Lundquist, John, and Stephen Ricks, eds. By Study and Also By Faith, Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, 1990. See esp. Hamblin, pp. 202-21; Parry, pp. 482-500; Porter and Ricks, pp. 501-22; Compton, pp. 611-42.
Madsen, Truman G., ed. The Temple in Antiquity. Provo, Utah, 1984.
Nibley, Hugh. The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri. Salt Lake City, 1976.
Nibley, Hugh. "Treasures in the Heavens." Nibley on the Timely and the Timeless, pp. 49-84. Provo, Utah, 1978.
Paulsen, Richard. The Pure Experience of Order, pp. 45-55. Albuquerque, N.M., 1982.
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 3, Symbolism
Copyright © 1992 by Macmillan Publishing Company
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