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THEOLOGY - MAGIC / OCCULT DERIVATIONS - TEMPLE ORNAMENTATION
East face of temple.
Click on a circled area for an explanation.
EXPLANATION OF MAGIC / OCCULT ORNAMENTATION
ON SALT LAKE CITY TEMPLE
Moroni is the final character from The Book of Mormon, and according to that book, sealed the "golden plates" into a stone box on the Hill Cumorah near Palmyra, NY around 420 A.D. Joseph Smith claimed that Moroni appeared to him, as an "angel of light," every year for four years from 1823 to 1827. His appearance to Smith was near the autumnal equinox.
The photo on the left is from the top of the Salt Lake temple. The drawing on the right is from the original drawings.
Forty large upright stars are found at the top of the east towers. Original plans show forty other stars on the west towers. These five-pointed stars are known as "pentagrams."
Ultimately, the pentagram can be traced back to being a symbol of the star, Sirius (from the Greek "scorching"). Albert Pike, premiere Mason and master occultist of 19th century America, identified the "blazing star" which is at the center of every Masonic lodge as the star, Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the heavens and is part of the constellation Canis Major ("Great Dog"). For this reason, among others, it is called the "dog star." Because of its brilliance, it was worshipped by the ancient cults of both Sumer and Egypt as a god. It was the center of the stellar tradition in Sumeria. Sirius was known to the Greeks as Sothis and to the Egyptians as Set. Set is the Egyptian religion's devil, and is represented as a dog-headed man. He is called by Masons and Rosicrucians the "Argentinium Astrum" or Silver Star, and is the patron of the highest three degrees (or spheres) of the magical Tree of Life (from the Cabala.) His reputation extends back in literature to the time of the Greek writer, Herodotus.
Sirius rises due east in Egyptian latitudes; hence, it is known as the "Eastern Star" among occultists because of its prominence and magic power. Masonic lodges and most occult lodges are oriented toward the east because because of the esoteric belief that their power ultimately flows from Sirius or Set.
Magical use: The pentagram is the figure of the microcosm - the magical formula of man. It is the one rising out of the four - the human soul rising from the bondage of the animal nature. It is the true light - the "Star of the morning." It marks the location of five mysterious centers of force, the awakening of which is the supreme secret of white magic. The pentagram has long been believed to be a potent protection against evil, a symbol of conflict that shields the wearer and the home. The pentagram has five spiked wards and a womb shaped defensive, protective pentagon at the centre. Here are five elements, four of matter (earth, air, fire and water) and THE quintessential - spirit. These may be arrayed around the pentagrams points. The word quintessential derives from this fifth element - the spirit. Tracing a path around the pentagram, the elements are placed in order of density - spirit (or aether). fire, air, water, earth. Earth and fire are basal, fixed; air and water are free, flowing.
The single point upwards signifies the spirit ruling matter (mind ruling limbs); is a symbol of rightness. With two points up and one (spirit) downwards, subservient, the emphasis is on the carnal nature of Man.
Up until medieval times, the five points of the pentagram represented the five wounds of Christ on the Cross. It was a symbol of Christ the Savior. This is in stark contrast to today where the pentagram is criticized by modern Fundamentalist Christians, as being a symbol of evil.
The church eventually chose the cross as a more significant symbol for Christianity, and the use of the pentagram as a Christian symbol gradually ceased.
In Mormon theology, the star is often used to illustrate the "telestial" glory, or the third heaven. (See D&C 76:81.)
Only two Cloud Stones adorn the entire temple. They are located high on the central tower of the east side, above the dedication plaque. Exact meaning behind these stones is unclear. Original designs showed a hand with a trumpet protruding below the cloud, pointing down at the earth. The granite walls of the temple did not allow the stonemasons to inscribe the detail called for in the plans.The actual stones have no horn, only rays pointing downward.
Photo on the left shows the actual stone on the temple; figure on the right is from the plans.
Above left: Saturn stones as they appear in plans. Above right: the final saturn stones on the SLC Temple.
Myth holds that there are 52 rays on each Sun Stone for the weeks in the solar year. This is not true. There are only 40 rays on each stone. Latter-day Saints associate the sun as a symbol of the Celestial Kingdom (see Corinthians 15:40-44; D&C 76; and JS-H 1:16-17).
Image on the left is an enlargement of the sun stone as it appears on the SLC temple; the image on the right is a sun stone from the Nauvoo temple.
The All-Seeing Eye is located over the window directly above the Hand Clasp Stone. Jehovah said in 1 Kings 8:29 and 9:3 that His eyes would be on the Temple of Solomon always. Heavenly eyes are said to be filled with "light and knowledge" (D&C 77:4; 88:67). On each side, the eye looks out from a veil. It is said that the Lord can see our actions from behind the veil separating mortal man from God. It is a reminder that Mormons are a covenant people and that God is watching.
Located about 20 feet off the ground are the Moon Stones. 50 separate Moon Stones circle the temple, each adorned with one of the four major phases. Throughout history, the moon has represented many things. To ancient Israel, the moon was the means of keeping track of time so they could know when to perform sacred rituals. Each Moon Stone represents one week of the lunar year. To Latter-day Saints, the moon is most commonly associated with the Terrestrial Kingdom (see Corinthians 15:40-44, D&C 76). The moonstones were ordered carved and positioned by Orson Pratt to coincide with the phases of the moon for the year 1878.
Right: Close up of moon stone on SLC temple.
The Hand Clasp is located directly below the Alpha and Omega Scroll on both east and west central towers. Mentioned in Galatians 2:9, these are the "Right Hands of Fellowship." Jeremiah 31:32 compares the hand clasp to entering into a covenant with God. Those familiar with the Endowment Ceremony will likely see the similarity between this symbol and the ritual; it is also similar to Masonic symbols.
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Top left: Illustration of a keystone, showing inverted pentagram. Lower left: photo from SLC temple, showing placement of keystone and inverted pentagram. Right: Photo of Logan temple, showing slightly different keystone, with inverted pentagram.
Upside down stars are found on the keystones of the arched windows and doorways of the main body of the temple. Similar stars were found on the Nauvoo Temple and called Morning Stars (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:23).
During the Middle Ages the pentagram was associated with magic and Antichrist - the Devil. It was used in Nordic countries, where it was drawn on doors and walls as protection against trolls and evil. When the sign is turned so that two of its ends are pointing upward it represents the Devil - at least, it is recognized almost universally as the "sign" of the devil. The inverted pentagram has come to be seen by many pagans as representing the dark side and it is abhorred as an evil symbol. Fundamental Christians, indeed, see any form of pentagram as such. However, these are recent developments and the inverted pentagram is the symbol of Gardnerian second degree initiation, representing the need of the witch to learn to face the darkness within so that it may not later rise up to take control.
More on Pentagrams and how they are viewed by various occult and religious groups.
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Top left: design for the earth stones. Bottom left: the earth stones as they were finalized on the SLC temple. Right: Blue arrows show the placement of the earth stones relative to the moon stones (red arrows.)
The scriptures refer to the earth as the "Footstool of God" (see Isaiah 66:1, Matthew 5:35; 1 Nephi 17:39). A footstool is where a king sets his feet while on his throne.
BIG DIPPER
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Left: Arrows indicate the engravings of stars
that form the big dipper constellation. Other
marks are naturally occurring blemishes in
the granite. The Big Dipper is an easily overlooked feature of the west center tower.Small stars forming the shape of the Big Dipper (marked by arrows) are seen high on the tower, above two Sun Stones, and the All-Seeing Eye Stone. The temple has been called a place to receive sacred instruction. The instruction sets one on a course to return to live with God. The Big Dipper has historically been a way of orient one's self when lost. Its presence represents the lessons taught in the temple and the eternal direction they give to life. Further, the symbol of the big dipper is oriented so the traditional system of used to find the actual North Star can be used when standing in front of the temple. Follow an imaginary line formed by the last two stars of the cup of the dipper (marked in blue). This leads one to the actual North Star. |
STATUES
Above: statue that once appeared on the SLC temple.
Small statues of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith once appeared in specially designed niches of the SLC temple. They have been removed.
PLACEMENT OF TEMPLE SYMBOLS VS CABALIC "TREE OF LIFE"
- material on this page compiled from Stone Symbols on the Salt Lake Temple and The Mormon Temple Tour.
