Modern temple worship has its roots in ancient practices patterned after God's eternal plan. Temple themes mirror the heavenly realm and point our souls "beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (Alma 37:45). Understanding such patterns can make our temple worship more meaningful. The basic concept of temple is the sacred space where heaven meets earth.
Creation Imagery
The first temple on this planet was the Garden of Eden. The prophet Ezekiel notes:
"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created" (Ezekiel 28:13).
Creation imagery becomes a key component of temple worship. Such imagery is woven into the construction of Solomon's Temple and is a permanent feature of the temple structure itself. The first instruction from God concerning the creation of the earth was, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3). Solomon made windows of narrow lights to illuminate the temple (1 Kings 6:4). A "molten sea" was created in similarity to the seas of the earth (1 Kings 7:23). The walls were carved with images of palm trees and open flowers (1 Kings 6:29,32). Carved lilies adorned the pillars, and the pillars were crowned with 400 pomegranates (1 Kings 7:22,42). Plant life became plentiful in the temple, and such reminders are present today.
The lilies reflect God's ability to naturally "clothe the grass of the field," begging the question: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30). The Greek word enduo, meaning to "sink into sacred clothing," is the root of the English word endowment. Pomegranates are noted for their numerous seeds, reminding us of the temple promise of the new and everlasting covenant, promising "a continuation of the seeds forever and ever" (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19).
Lions and oxen work their way into the creative process, as they appear between the ledges of the bases (1 Kings 7:29). With the molten sea and plant and animal life, only mankind remains to complete the creation process. The cherubims face one another, and in the midst is the lid of the Ark of the Covenant--the mercy seat, where God and man may commune.
Of course, the creation time is seven years to correspond with the seven days (or time periods) of earthly creation (see 1 Kings 6:38).
The Heavenly City
John, the Revelator, sees "a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Then John records, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Revelation 21:1-2). Interestingly, at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph Smith petitions the Lord as follows:
"That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;
"And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth" (D&C 109:73-74).
John describes the heavenly city as having twelve gates, with three gates facing each of the four cardinal directions--north, south, east, and west. This pattern would match the twelve oxen supporting the molten sea in Solomon's Temple (and modern temples), and would match the four heads of the river flowing out of Eden (see 1 Kings 7:25; Genesis 2:10).
The heavenly city is a perfect cube. John records:
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal" (Revelation 21:16).
The Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple was also cubical. The account in First Kings states, "And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof" (1 Kings 6:19-20).
A cube looks the same from top to bottom, regardless of what angle you view it from. Truth emanating from the presence of God is the same regardless of how it's viewed, and God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (see 1 Nephi 10:18). Godly truth is absolute, not relative.
Hosanna Shout
The timing of the dedication of Solomon's Temple is significant. It occurs in the feast of the seventh month, which would be the Feast of Tabernacles (see 1 Kings 8:2; also Leviticus 23:39-43). During this feast, palm branches were waved in connection with one of the Hallel Psalms. The Hallel Psalms were Psalms 113-118 and 136. They were sung at the required feasts. It is quite probable that Jesus and His apostles sang one of these hymns en route to Gethsemane in observance of Passover (see Matthew 26:30). The word "hosanna" comes from Psalm 118:25 and means "save now" (see Bible Dictionary, "Hosanna"). Thus, palm branches, symbolizing victory, were waved during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see John 12:13).
So palm branches were waved during the Feast of Tabernacles as Solomon's Temple was being dedicated. The Kirtland Temple was dedicated on a Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836. One of the petitions during the dedicatory prayer references palm waving and the Hosanna Shout of praise. The following verses are noteworthy:
"That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings" (D&C 109:76).
"And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!" (D&C 109:79)
At each temple dedication, the Hosanna Shout takes place. White handkerchiefs are used instead of palm branches. The color white also symbolizes victory. Remember when John sees the various horses in Revelation, chapter 6, the rider of the white horse had a bow and a crown and went forth conquering (Revelation 6:2).
One of those temple promises is also found in the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple. It goes as follows:
"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them" (D&C 109:22).
And thus, we may be victorious also!
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