There is so much that has been written about holy temples and sacred places. Explicit details and instructions are given in the Old Testament for the building of the portable temple, as well as the temple of Solomon. Included in these instructions are the materials and accoutrements to be used, both inside and out, to complete this building. There is also the designated space upon which a temple is to be built, which requires serious consideration.
There is probably as much or more written about the human body. Yet there is so very little written that explains the statement made by the Apostle Paul when he said, Know Ye not that ye are the temple of God?[1] What is the best way to understand this statement?
In Proverbs 25:2, we learn, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter”. Obviously, we will have to search out this matter. Perhaps that is why it has been so difficult to make these connections. Maybe we have not been using all the tools to search for the understanding.
Moses did a phenomenal job explaining how things came about when he wrote the creation story in Genesis. He tells a story rich in symbolism.
Orson F. Whitney said, "The universe is built on symbols whereby one thing bespeaks another; the lesser testifying of the greater, lifting our thoughts from man to God. . . . God teaches with symbols; it is His favorite method of teaching. The Savior often used them."[2]
There is a plethora of opinion regarding numbers and symbols and their meaning. It has been my experience throughout my study of sacred geometry that every geometric symbol, in a form of progression, using number to label the shape, (the number 1 depicts a circle for it is one entire shape, 3 depicts a triangle because of the 3 sides, 4 is a square because of four sides, etc.) is teaching us profound truths; not coincidental in any way, shape, or form. The form testifies of the function. There is a pattern set about, and a witness confirmed especially by number.
Number comes into play at the very beginning in the explanation of the creation. Each time period or day as it is sometimes referred to, is numbered. Number is highly significant for the earth, the body, and the temple. Despite what anyone might say, number attached to an event holds deep symbolic meaning, even if we are unable to comprehend it. There is deep meaning in each number in the creation story as well as temple typology.
A great portion of the measure of the temple, referring to its quality to truth and good[3] and the body with regard to the same measure, as well as the meaning of progression through the temple is key to understanding the connection. So just how could you ever begin anything without beginning with the number 1?
First let us look at the Creator. The number ‘one’ explains who the creator is. One is one of the names of God, indicating his eternal nature. He calls himself, ‘One, the eternal I Am’. And since we know that an artist puts his signature on everything he makes, the pattern will constantly be testifying of the plan, the One and only, from the beginning.
What does the Creator use to build the temple and man? His building materials are the elements. we learn from the scriptures that, The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples.[4] (D&C 93:35).
How does he work with these elements? In Genesis 1:3-4 we read, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good…”
What is so good about light? LIGHT ORDERS ALL MATTER. Light ordered the elements in the heavens and Light ordered the elements to become the earth. The purpose and power of light is vastly underrated. The power behind light is the source for everything. It causes everything to operate, it is the force for all good. There are not words grand enough to describe the power and importance of light in our lives, in our world, in our temples, and in our bodies.
The study of the elements and how light acts upon them is a very important part of the discussion here. Light is the true builder of both the temple and the body, but for what purpose? We can see their form before our eyes. Moses understood this purpose most clearly when shown this earth and all that is in it. He recorded in the words spoken by Christ. It IS to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. The temple is an outward structure, a school as it were, that teaches us the inward pattern of light flowing through the smallest, most microscopic (both physical and spiritual) inward parts to bring us into becoming immortal and eternal, just like God.
Speaking in terms of symbols, how were these symbols decided upon? They are always created using the two tools of creation: the compass and right angle. Everything that is created can be designed using a compass and a right angle. These tools are an intricate part of the temple form, both in construction, function, and observances.
An ancient painting of Nüwa and Fuxi unearthed in Xinjiang, holding the tools of creation - compass and square. For a more detailed explanation of this picture, go to http://www.templestudy.com/2008/09/17/nuwa-and-fuxi-in-chinese-mythology-compass-square/. Geometric shapes and their frequency upon temples and bodies will be covered at greater length later on in this discussion.
Today we call builders by the name of architects, contractors, and carpenters. Donna Nielsen teaches us that carpenters were regarded as particularly learned. If a difficult problem was under discussion, the Rabbis would ask: "Is there a carpenter among us, even of the son of a carpenter, who can solve the problem for us?" Jesus was likely a carpenter who had learned the trade from Joseph, his earthly guardian.
The high esteem in which carpenters were held in Israel counters the common sentimental idyllic notion that Jesus and Joseph were only naive and amiable, simple manual workers. (Jesus' Jewishness, pg 162, Charlesworth, Crossroad Publishing, New York, 1996)[5]
Why would you call a carpenter when you had a problem of any kind other than a building question? How much is assumed about the role of the builder, the contractor, the architect, even the simple carpenter? Perhaps we have lost sight of the fact that they who built the temple would have been taught the rudiments of the numbers and symbols, their meaning in the building of the temple, and a deeper understanding of the importance of the construction in a way that has become unclear to us today.
Any great builder, constructing a building to last for the duration of time, will be most mindful of everything that goes into its creation to make it a monument for time and eternity. That builder will understand architecture, construction, foundational and support laws, as well as all the materials needed to complete such a structure to deliver the optimum beauty in its form as well as serve in some meaningful function. What is glossed over as a simple manual task of being a carpenter will be looked at more intensely throughout this work.
You may be familiar with the masons. Their tools are also the compass and right angle. Today we think of masons as brick or stone masons, like a carpenter.
This is not the place to talk about freemasonry. You can access all kinds of that information elsewhere[6]. However, the shapes made by the compass and right angle design geometric shapes, which are resplendent throughout the temple and the human body. There is more than meets the eye when looking at circles, triangles, squares, five, six, and eight pointed stars than you have ever imagined. Highly important to all of these shapes is the golden section, or the divine proportion. Included in all these shapes and measures is a magnificent story of progression.
So let us look at the building of the human body, the magnificence of man to the building of the temple using number, especially as it applies to the geometric shape that it represents.
We will take into consideration the materials used to build the temples. We will also cover spaces where the temples are built; dimensions of the Temples; spaces in the temples; light in the temple; observances in the temples; clothing worn in the temples; attendees at the temple, and most important of all, the goal of the temple.
Let’s review: The temple is the scale-model of the universe and the source of all civilization.
The Body is the temple, and will show all the same characteristics of the temple.
The elements are the tablernacle (temple) of God, yea, man is the tabernacle of God.
Light orders all matter.
Number and symbol teach the form and function of the body and the temple.
Let us continue onward to connect the purpose, form, and function of both the body and the temple.
[1] 1 Corinthians.
[2] Improvement Era, August 1927, p. 851.)
[3] Heaven & Hell, pg 123.
[4] For the time being, we will acknowledge that God ordered the elements that created this earth and all in it and all on it. Later on we will discuss the elements and the temple in greater depth.
[6] For a more extensive discussion on Masons, see Val Brinkerhoff, The Day Star, Digital Press.
