Like our homes reveal who we are, temples can reveal who God is.
Since the Old Testament times, God has encouraged his people to “seek His face in the temple,” as BYU Professor Andrew C. Skinner says in his article “Seeing God in His Temple: A Significant Theme in Israel’s Psalms.” Professor Skinner finds that the Psalmist and other biblical writers were “consumed by the idea” of seeing God in the temple. For them, “seeking the face of the Lord was the quest of mortality.”
Many prophets in the Old Testament—like Amos and Isaiah—testified that they had the privilege of seeing God inside the temple. In the Doctrine and Covenants, God gives this promise: “Inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord,…my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God” (Doctrine and Covenants 97: 15–16). But how are we supposed to actually see God? I have never been blessed with visions like Amos and Isaiah, so instead of seeing God in his temple, I choose to see God through his temple.
Photo by Karola G
Every time I set foot inside a temple of God, a feeling of awe washes over me, and it is clear to me that God’s hand guides the construction of his temples. I find myself constantly looking around at the paintings, the walls, the carpets, the ceiling, and even the lighting! Part of the reason I do this is because I like looking at beautiful things, but a bigger part is because the temple is how I see God.
Just as our homes are filled with items and pictures that reveal who we are, God’s home is similarly filled. There are more obvious things like paintings and design elements (like motifs that reflect local landscapes), but there are also more subtle details. I particularly love searching for the symbolic use of the number three in temple architecture—each time I find it, I learn something about the three members of the Godhead. In the baptistry of my home temple, the Cardston Alberta Temple, three pillars stand in each corner of the room. This detail may seem small and even unimportant, but to me it testifies that God is dependable, trustworthy, strong, and supportive.
Every detail in the temple can point us to God if we choose to open our eyes. From the ceremonies performed inside to the intentional architectural design, the temple can teach us who God is and what he values. We can gain greater understanding of God by learning about temple details, searching for symbols, and looking to see God through his holy house.
To learn more about the significance of seeing God in the Old Testament, read Andrew C. Skinner’s article “Seeing God in His Temple: A Significant Theme in Israel’s Psalms.”
Source: Religious Studies Center
—Katelyn Uibel, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Find more insights
Learn more about what goes into building a temple in the Ensign article, “To Build a Temple”
Look up your favorite temple on ChurchofJesusChrist.org using this template in the search bar: “[City] Temple Fact Sheet.”
Discover the “Symbolic Beauty in Design and Structure” of the first modern temples—the Cardston Alberta and Laie Hawaii temples.