Symbolism in the LDS Church

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While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses many scriptural and ceremonial symbols in its theology, its leaders teach that as the Apostle Paul taught, "the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (KJV, 1 Corinthians 2:10,14) The Book of Mormon prophet Alma also taught: "It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only ... according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries;" (Alma 12:9,11)

Thus, one of the many important uses of symbolism is to enable spiritual discernment of the "deep things of God" in a way that becomes veiled from the "natural" or intellectual mind of man, but reaches the inner heart and soul in a memorable way that may provide new levels of understanding through meditation, prayer, heed and diligence.

As with much of Christianity, baptism is considered a vital symbolic ceremony or ordinance. The sacrament of bread and water also is reflective of renewing each member's baptismal covenants, and is available in Sacrament meeting, as part of the typical Sunday worship service.

Scriptural symbols in Mormonism include the tree of life (also representing the love of God and eternal life, 1 Nephi 11:8-22), the iron rod (the word of God, 1 Nephi 11:25)), the tame and wild olive trees (the House of Israel, Book of Mormon Jacob 5), a tree seed (the word of God planted in one's heart, Alma 32:28), the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16,17), the many symbols of Christ and His mission as the Savior of mankind (for example, Isaiah 53:7, 55:1, John 6:35), the symbol of an angel with a trumpet (the everlasting gospel, Revelation 14:6), and many others.

The mainstream LDS Church in general practice does not use the cross as a religious symbol, although its members revere the Savior's suffering and death and His infinite atonement. Partaking of the sacrament of bread and water administered each Sunday memorializes His broken body and His redemptive blood, and the covenants members make with Him. His life, the light of His love, and His resurrection are also emphasized and memorialized, and the tree of life symbolizes these aspects of His divine mission. A statue of the Christus in the Salt Lake City visitors' center shows the scar marks on His hands and feet that are symbolic of the atonement, but such a replica is not worn individually by LDS adherents.

All of the symbolic elements involved in the LDS temple endowment ceremonies are considered to be very sacred and are thus not discussed publicly. Two symbolic ideas that are discussed in temple open houses before they are dedicated are as follows:

  • Members who enter the temple change in private lockers into white "temple clothing" to remind them of leaving outside the cares of the world, and of becoming one with each other by being dressed in similar clothing that symbolizes purity and "holiness to the Lord."
  • Each temple includes a baptismal font similar to the "molten sea" described in Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:23-26). The font is placed below ground level, signifying a place of symbolic burial of the carnal individual and a renewal of life as a "born again" individual who has covenanted and become clean through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The font is placed on twelve oxen, three facing each direction, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel whose descendants are scattered throughout the earth. The LDS belief is that as each baptism for the dead occurs, the person being represented by proxy may accept the baptismal ordinance in the Spirit world and thus be joined with the House of Israel in an eternal covenant with Jesus Christ.

[edit] References

  • McConkie, Joseph Fielding, Gospel Symbolism, 1985.
  • McConkie, Joseph Fielding and Parry, Donald W., Guide to Scriptural Symbols, 1990.
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