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by AjaJoy on November 13th, 2003

AjaJoy

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I have seen and heard of instances of usage of the inverted pentagram and beehives in and about Mormon practice. What meanings do these symbols hold in the Mormon tradition?

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  • by Kat Maye on December 20th, 2003

    Kat Maye

    Brigham Young, one of the early presidents of the church, used beehives to illustrate the way their communities should function. Well organized, each person helping out, using their time effectively.

    On the Salt Lake City temple, there are a series of stars on some of the columns. There are rows with stars pointing downward, representing the fall of man. Other rows feature stars pointing upward, symbolizing the priesthood building back up the church. This could possibly be what is referred to as pentagrams... I'm not entirely sure though.

    In response Shazzam:
    The question had nothing to do with masonic origins.

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  • by Alatea on November 26th, 2005

    Alatea

    "Deuteronomy 18:10-12, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:..."

    Mormon
    The beehive is also a Masonic emblem, found on the "Master's Carpet." According to William Schnoebelen, "The bee symbolism is integrated into witchcraft and Masonry. ...The bee is a common symbol in the sexual-phallic cults of Asia Minor, especially in the city of Ephesus."

    The Big Dipper (Ursa Major) constellation symbol is found on the west tower of the Mormon Temple and was known by the Egyptians as the "Dragon of the Seven Stars." It was also known in the second and third centuries A. D. as the "Seven-headed Beast" of Revelation 13:1 - the arch enemy of the church of God!

    The inverted pentagram is the consummate symbol of Satan. It is the official symbol of the Church of Satan. Universally known for its sinister and evil influence, it is also known as the "Goat of Mendez." In witchcraft, the inverted pentacle depicts the Devil's Goat and the Witches Foot. It is ultimately the symbol of the star Sirius (from the Greek word "scorching") or "dog star." It is known by the Egyptians as Set, or Satan. Identified by the Masonic Lodge as the "Blazing Star," it is found at the center of every Masonic Lodge and is the official emblem of the Order of the Eastern Star. The inverted pentagram is the second most common symbol used in Mormon architecture, being extensively used in exterior keystones.

    The Eagle Gate, erected in 1859, is a large archway presently located near Temple Square (on State Street) in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is capped with an immense 4,000-pound eagle with a 20-foot wing span. The large eagle is perched on a beehive and capstone (with inverted pentagrams embossed on both sides).

    The "navel mark" is a horizontal buttonhole sewn into the fabric of the Mormon undergarment. Along with the Masonic symbols of the square, compass, and knee marking, the navel mark is considered sacred.

    According to Chuck Sackett, author of What's Going On In There? and former Mormon Temple worker, the navel mark "recalls the need of constant nourishment for body and spirit. In the early Mormon Temple ceremonies some of the marks were cut into the garment with a small knife while on the patron's body, thus knicking his flesh and shedding his blood into the garment."

    The handclasp symbol (which is located on the east central tower of the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple) has significance to the Masons, Mormons, and Satanists alike. The symbol is associated with the similar and often identical blood oaths, signs, and penalties involved for violation of their secrets.
    In witchcraft, the grips are used for not only recognition purposes, but to stimulate energy by applying pressure to various acupuncture points or "great points." In the Mormon Melchizedek Priesthood, the grip is called the "Sure Sign of the Nail." In witchcraft, a closely guarded secret among Luciferian initiates discloses the code name for Satan, which is "The Nail."

    The Saturn Stone found on the Mormon Temple. "Saturn is a planet of darkness, long associated with grim, funereal and evil things. In astrology it is called the 'greater malefic' or greater evil. Saturn is named for one of the Greek titan gods of mythology, Kronos. Kronos was a singularly unsavory god who devoured his children."

    The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City
    The "all-seeing" eye of Horus is located over the window of the east central tower. It is known as the "evil eye" and is regarded by Satanists as the symbol of Lucifer!

    Beehives, handclasps, sunstones, cloudstones, and spires--all of which have sinister and occultic meanings and history."

    http://www.luciferlink.org/photos.htm

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  • by Nic Read on July 6th, 2004

    Nic Read

    THE BEEHIVE
    One of the most enduring of Latter-day Saint symbols, the early saints used the beehive to symbolize industry, cooperation, thrift and perseverance. Because of this icon, and the virtues it embodies, Utah is called the "Beehive State", and the symbol of the beehive can be seen in many places, from the State flag to carvings on the Salt Lake City temple.

    We can find the use of bee symbolism as far back as dynastic Egypt. Later we see various uses of bee, beehive, or honey used as symbols throughout classical Greek culture. The Egyptians connected the symbol of the honeybee with kingship, connotations to having a land "flowing with milk and honey", being of one (hive) mind, working together for the good of the community, etc. In their language it was called DSRT (no vowels), pronounced "deseret", which name features in The Book of Mormon as part of the history of the Jaredites (who became North American contemporaries of the South American Olmecs).

    INVERTED PENTAGRAMS
    Some critics of the LDS faith declare that Christians have never used the inverted five-pointed star as a symbol, but this is simply not true. There are many examples connected with mainstream Christianity, because the early Christians believed that Jesus Christ was the Star that was prophesied to rise out of the House of Israel.

    Why would the early Christians associate Jesus Christ with the five-pointed star? The Savior called Himself "the bright morning star" which is symbolized by the planet Venus. The pentagram within a circle is a design-iconic symbol for the planet Venus, because if you plot the point where the Morning Star first appears shortly before sunrise, mark its position in the zodiac, and then repeat this process until we
    have five positions of Venus as the Morning Star, you find that exactly eight years plus one day have passed (LDS theology affirms that little children don't need baptism until they are eight, when they become old enough to "follow the Morning Star" and be baptized). If we then draw a line from the first point marked to the second point marked, then to the third, and so on, we end up with a pentagram. Only the planet Venus possesses the five-pointed star sign. Not one of the innumerable stars above us can by its orbit recreate this sign.

    Therefore the pentagram symbol, though not used in the LDS faith other than as symbolic carving on the exterior of some temples, actually is a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Morning Star, whose houses the temples are. Truly even the heavens testify of the Savior, as the Bible says.

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  • by MouthOFbabes on October 25th, 2005

    MouthOFbabes

    Satan being the Father of all lies and best counterfit, twists things that are used for good slightly enough to confuse people.

    the star was used to represent knowledge from heaven, Christs birth.
    Satan: The pentagram to represent evil.

    Priesthood power to heal the sick, to cast out devils, to part the Red sea, to cause water to pore from a rock. Moses
    Satan: Priestcraft, Magic and sourcery, Tricks, falsehoods. Pharos Servents

    Seer stone for visions of God to his children and such stone as worn on the ephod for the tabernacle.
    Satan: Crystal balls for false prophecy, vain riches of the world.

    The beehive to represent industry, community.
    Satan hasnt to my knowledge corrupt this yet but he instigates Lazyness, Idle as well as idol ness.

    Crosses are not used as we focus more on his death and then resurrection of Christ and for all. So we use spires pointing to heaven. Displaying the weapon of which he died by, doesnt increase my joy which he wishes us all.

    Joseph Smith used the seer stones to translate the reformed egyptian text, not as i have heard from anti mormon tracts to find hidden treasure.

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  • by Keith Olson on February 28th, 2005

    Keith Olson

    I would like to cast a different perspective to symbols. If I were to draw a symbol of the swastika and ask the reader what it represents, many would say the evil that happened in WWII. But take a look at the history of the swastika. http://www.hostultra.com/~Exidor/Swastika/Swastika.html

    It becomes clear that the meaning of a symbol is arbitrary and that it can be used as a propaganda technique to stereotype people. Mormons use symbols as ways to remember their covenants they made with God.

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  • by Michael D on July 19th, 2004

    Michael D

    The inverted star is a common symbol in Christianity and was also featured on the temple in Nauvoo, IL. A temple that was built in the time of Jospeh Smith and thus the star is a classic symbol in the church being used all the way back to the days of the church's First Elder (Joseph Smith -also reffered to by some as the Founder of the LDS Church-, but reffered to by Latter Day Saints (mormons) simply as the prophet who restored the church).

    The symbol of the inverted star did not come into use as a satanic symbol until 1855 (11 years after the death of the prophet Joseph Smith)
    when Alphonse Luis Constant published his occult book "the ritual of transcendental magic". It was the first time that the inverted star (common in christianity) was used formally as a satanic symbol.

    The use of the inverted star also may signify at times - knowledge from heaven.

    The symbol is still used on the medal of honor, and can be found in many old cathedrals.

    The united states flag from 1837-1845 (called the great star flag)

    The offical seal of jerusalem also contains the symbol of the inverted star.

    As far as the Beehive is concerned; It is commonly used to symbolize the Saints (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and their industrious nature.

    Please refer to the following site for a full treatment of the topic of the inverted star in The latter Day Saint Religion. http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/Stars.pdf

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  • by gaycaleb on June 4th, 2004

    gaycaleb

    All religions use symbolism. The usefulness of symbols is that they have different meanings to different people. One rarely knows the intended purpose of that symbol. To say that any particular symbol is bad or good would have to address the purpose and intent for it. Because secrecy surrounds Mormon temples and the heirarchy in general, this leads people to make assumptions about their meaning.

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  • by Helix42 on May 3rd, 2005

    Helix42

    Joseph Smith used "magic" and other occult pratices to treasure hunt in his early days in NY. He was arrested for using "seer stones" and other occult practices around the time he had his alledged "first" vision. It is not surprising then to find this type of symbology in Mormonism (Sun stones, Moon Stones, Pentagrams...)

    The pentagram was essentially a pagan symbol that had nothing to do with Venus. It was adopted by various ancient cultures (as early as 3500 BC) and religons. They each adapted its meaning to symbolize elements of their particular faith. The early chruch (well after the great apostasy according to Mormons) adopted the upright pentagram its five points representing the five wounds of Christ (this is not the only use but seems to be one of the most popular).

    I find it strange that Mormons reject the cross as a sign of the apostate church but embrace the pentagram. If the cross is a sign of the apostate church why then wouldn't the other symbols adopted by that same church also be a part of this "great apostacy".

    The pentagram generally comes in two flavors single point up (upright) and single point down (inverted). In some pagan cultures the upright pentagram represented summer while the inverted symbolized winter. The point here is that the upright and inverted pentagrams represented opposites. In the 19th century am man named Levi (first name escapes me) adopted the inverted pentagram as a symbol of evil. The early church used the upright pentagram. The Mormon pentagram is inverted. It is the opposite of the one previously used as a Christian symbol. But, you can't make too much out of this, because there were Christians who used both flavors as well.

    There is an obvious connection however, with Joseph Smith's occult practices and the use of psuedo-pagn and pagan symbols in the Mormon Temple (Moon stones and Sunstones etc).

    [Reponse to Bob Blaylock:] Its easy to say "All wrong" in a blanket statement when in fact only one portion of what I've said is wrong. The man I refer to in the 19th century began to use the inverted pentagram as a sign of evil. Sorry my use of the term satanism was incorrect - Anton LeVay is the founder of modern satanism and that term, to my knowledge, was not in use in the 19th century. I should add that this "Levi" character's writings were not around when the Mormon church was founded. He did not make his alledged association until (I think) the 1840's. One error does not equal "All wrong".

    Smith's treasure digging and use of stones is a recorded fact, in his own mother's history and the testamony of a large number of his contemporaries. His arrest is public record. Pentagrams do not have anything to do with Venus. They are a pagan symbol adopted by Christianity, Free Masonry, you and whole bunch of others. The most common use in Christianity is of the upright pentagram and symbolized the 5 wounds of Christ. In some pagan cultures the upright and inverted pentagrams did carry opposite meaning. I don't think you can make too much of the use of the pentagram in Mormonism, and you do use other occultic symbols: sunstones moonstones and the like in the construction of your temples. You can rate the answers that don't agree with the party line wrong all you like, but it will not change the character of your founder (Smith) nor will it erase his occult practices before, during and after his founding of the Mormon church. To say that these practices did not influnce his choice of symbology is patently false.

    An I appoligize for mie miss spelings

    [Kevin] He was convicted and fined. Also, I have not been able to fully verify it from a second source, but he was said to have been expelled from the local Methodist church for his practices as well. - I say again Smith's occult practices are well documented, even by his own mother!

    I understand that this hits a nerve with Mormons - but unless there is something factually wrong with what I am saying I don't see how you can rate the answer as wrong?

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  • by Anonymous on May 2nd, 2007

    Anonymous

    Humans run scared when questioned. Not just one from any or no religion. People in general do not like to be wrong. It is in our nature to question and debate. It is what makes us intelligent.

    I have read every post writen on this forum and I have seen many true and false statements. More than facts I have seen opinions and questionable statements. I have studied theology, anthropology, science, philosophy, psychology as far back as I can remember being alive. All of these subjects can be woven together like fabric to form the most beautiful blanket of information.

    I do not judge or blame you all for questioning. As I said, it is in your nature to do so. In a way it drives us to learn more. None of you are completely right or wrong.

    I would very much like to travel to Utah to see and learn first hand but I feel what I would have to say would probably get me into trouble or (at the very least) dispised by many; so I refrain from doing so. I have so much to say yet every time I open my mouth to speak I am turned away.

    Anyways, enough about me and my burdens and back to my point; which is this:

    A symbol on the wall is not important. What it means is not important. What you do with it however, IS. A word, a symbol, and an image are all very powerful things. They carry something with them, and like any physical object of power, they should be used with caution and wisdom.

    Remember, a good thing (like fruit) can be spoiled with time.

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  • by Anonymous on October 9th, 2009

    Anonymous

    You have to know that mormons are trying to portray themselves as real Christians to the whole world- and anything that undermines that, is either overlooked, denied, debated, or called irrelevant. But the Bible says in the end many will say "Lord, Lord, Didn't we do all these things in your Name?"

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  • by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 9th, 2009

    Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here

    It means that they're Freemasons.
    http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/symbolism/index.html

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