Lds temple symbols

Why do temples have symbols? Where do symbols come from? Is all temple symbolism unique to Latter-day Saints? These and many more questions like them are answered in Jack M. Lyon's new book, Understanding Temple Symbols Through Scripture, History, and Art. Following is an excerpt that gives five tips to help Latter-day Saints better understand temple symbols.

Symbols are incorporated into the exterior of each temple. Understanding them can help enhance our spiritual experience. Here are some of the most common.

Reconciliation “In some traditions, the hexagram star is the great seal of initiates, signifying rising aspiration from below met by the descent of grace from above.” Michael S. Schneid…

Planetary symbols such as the sun, moon, and stars direct our attention to God and challenge us to contemplate matters of eternal significance as we work to emulate the life of our true Light, Jesus Christ. Many temples have earth, moon, sun, and star stones.

Jolynn Forman is a Latter-day Saint artist who researches the themes of different temples and incorporates those themes into her paintings. All artwork in this article is by Sister Forman.

"His way is ancient and rich with symbolism. We can learn much by pondering the reality for which each symbol stands."

The Sun has been used as a temple symbol from the second Latter-day Saint temple, the Nauvoo Temple. This symbol has a lot of meaning, and that meaning varies depending on how it is used on a particular temple. Sometimes the symbol may have multiple meanings on a given temple adding a rich depth of symbolism. I'm going to focus on sun stones mainly and skip over sun symbols in glass. The first sunstone was on the Nauvoo Illinois Temple. Three of the original thirty sunstones have survived…

“A new line about the sacrament was added to the Church Handbook in 2020. Here is why I think it’s significant.”

Circle in Square, Las Vegas Nevada Temple One common symbol found in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that of a circle inscribed in a square. This is a very simple symbol with a neat meaning. The circle in the square represent heaven and earth coming together (a great temple symbol). The heavens are often described as a bowl and often symbolized by a circle. In paintings, God is often depicted as laying out the heavens with a compass and the earth with a square…

Planetary symbols such as the sun, moon, and stars direct our attention to God and challenge us to contemplate matters of eternal significance as we work to emulate the life of our true Light, Jesus Christ. Many temples have earth, moon, sun, and star stones.