The Mormon religion was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844). Smith claimed that he had been led to a set of golden plates buried on a hill near his home by an angel named Moroni. These plates were said to be inscribed with an account of ancient inhabitants of America and their dealings with God, who, in Christian theology, is the Supreme Being and Creator of all things.
In today’s post, we will be delving into the symbolism of the Mormon Church. So, here is the list of all Mormon symbols with their meanings.
Jesus Christ
As with other Christian churches, Jesus Christ is the central figure in the Mormon faith. The Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is their Savior and Redeemer.
They also believe that He is the Son of God and the only one who can make salvation possible for humankind.
The symbol of Jesus Christ has been used commonly by the Mormon Church since its founding in 1830, with a current emphasis on the use of a single image representing Jesus as opposed to multiple images or symbols.
Angel Moroni, One of The Most Prominent Mormon Symbols
Another important symbol of the Mormon faith is angel Moroni. It is believed that he appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823 and instructed him how to find a set of buried golden plates that were written by ancient inhabitants of America.
The plates contained an account of Jesus’ life and teachings, which later were translated to become the Book of Mormon.
Joseph Smith was instructed not to show anyone the plates until he had translated them into English with God’s help.
After four years, Joseph showed these plates to 11 witnesses and they testified that they had seen them with their own eyes and that they had been translated correctly by Joseph Smith.
Because of his critical role in these revelations made to Joseph Smith, angel Moroni is a prominent Mormon symbol.
The Beehive As an LDS Symbol
The next item on our list of LDS symbols is the beehive. The beehive is a symbol of industry, diligence, and unity which is often used as a metaphor for the Mormon Church and its members.
The beehive has been used to describe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its people since it represents the industry and enterprise of their people.
As a symbol, the beehive is displayed in some Mormon buildings such as temples, meeting houses, and chapels.
Iron Rod Representing The Teachings of God
The iron rod, which is a metaphor for following the teachings of Jesus Christ, is another Mormon symbol.
The iron rod represents the word of God and His teachings, which are straight and true; it points to heaven as well as to earth, indicating that those who follow it will receive guidance from both worlds.
That is why “holding onto an iron rod” is representative of holding onto the word of God as guidance.
The rod in this sense can be seen as an analogy for a straightforward set of moral guidelines, which are also known as “the law.” This law can be used as a guide during life’s journey through difficult times.
The Salt Lake City Tabernacle Organ
The Tabernacle organ in Salt Lake City, Utah is another very specific symbol of the Mormon faith.
The organ was first installed in 1867 to accompany choir singing at these gatherings. It is believed to have its own unique sound that has been described as “celestial” or “heavenly”.
Mormon Tree of Life As A Mormon Symbol
The Mormon Tree of Life is a symbol that is often used to represent the love and knowledge of god has for his children.
The tree of life is also believed to represent man’s relationship to God, the gospel plan and its fruitfulness, a path to eternal life and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Golden Plates
The golden plates Joseph Smith found with the help of angel Moroni are another prominent symbol of the Mormon Church representing the spiritual foundation of the faith.
The plates, the location of which was revealed to Joseph Smith by angel Moroni, were said to contain ancient writings, which Smith translated into what we now know as The Book of Mormon today.
This wraps up our post on Mormon symbols and their meanings. If you enjoyed reading the article, you should definitely check our article on the Lion of Judah here and the seven deadly sins and their symbols here. Thanks for reading on Symbols and Meanings!
