I am truly fascinated with the Salt Lake Temple. From its ground breaking to its completion 40 years later. Every part of the exterior and interior of the temple are done with the best and greatest detail.
The Salt Lake Temple has such beautiful architecture and design, but look carefully and you can see all the magnificent and deatiled symbolism on the outside of the temple that many people miss or just don’t realize thats there. ( I myself barely found all this out 2 months ago! ) Here they are and with their meaning in symbolism:
Angel Moroni: Represnting Moroni, the Nephite prophet, and who, as a resurrected being, came in 1823 to the boy prophet Joseph Smith and delivered to him the message of the restored gospel, in acordance with teh prediction of the ancient Seer:
” And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7)
Earthstones: these stones are located at the bottom of each buttress representing earth, ” the footstool of God”. Although the earth is currently a telestial kingdom, it will transition to a terrestrial kingdom at the coming of the Millennium; and at the end of one thousand years, it will become a celestial kingdom.
Moonstones: these stones are located above the earthstones, and runs through a complete phase throughout the entire temple. This change can represent the stages of human progression from birth to resurrection or represent the patron’s journey from darkness to light.
Sunstones: Located directly about the moonstones, a symbol of the glory of the celestial kingdom.
” These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.” (D&C 76: 70)
Cloudstones: Above the sunstones are two clouds with descending rays of light This symbolism is found in the Old Testament. Once temples were dedicated in ancient Israel, they were filled with the “cloud of the Lord.”
” And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,” (Kings 8:10)
Starstones: Six-pointed stars represent the actual stars in the heaven. Upside-down five-pointed stars represent morning stars, compared to the “sons of God” in the scriptures. The large upright five-pointed stars may represent the governing power of the priesthood while the small upright five-pointed stars may represent the saving power of the priesthood for those who attach themselves to it.
Big Dipper: A constellation used by travelers for thousands of years to find the North Star. symbolizing that the temple guides us back home, or where we’re heading.
Handclasp: Identified as the “right hands of fellowship” (Galations 2:9), and the Lord using handclasps to denote covenant making
All seeing-eye: Representing God being able to see all things.
Battlements: Symbolizing a separation from the world as well as a protection of the holy ordinances practiced within its walls.
Many of this information has been derived from http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/saltlake/ and some images from http://talkingtree.org/2007/12/angel-moroni-on-top-of-salt-lake-temple/ also Salt Lake Temple picture is courtesy of Ben Earwicker, Garrison Photography
http://www.garrisonphoto.org/sxc
iammormon 