Sacred Walls: Learning from Temple Symbols

Both books and buildings have voices. But rather than the letters of an alphabet, buildings use towers and spires, columns and buttresses, mosaics and paintings, glass and geometric figures, and statues and friezes to speak volumes. However, even though architectural symbolism existed before the written word, the messages of a building is often difficult for most of us to recognize. For Latter-day Saints, temples are the most important and symbolic buildings in existence. Through temples the unique doctrines of the restored gospel are commuincated. Although the bulk of this instruction occurs inside the temples, temple exteriors also tell of these profound doctrines-when you understand how to read them. This unique and fascinating book is designed to help you see the House of the Lord with new eyes as you examine the voices of temple exteriors along with the voices of the Book of Mormon. Each chapter containes an examination of a sermon or vision in the Book of Mormon related to the temple. This is accompanied by a stunning photo essay of temple exteriors and enlightening commentary that examines the main symbolic motifs of a specific temple. As you learn how to read the messages hidden in plain sight, you will never look at temples the same way.

Jerry Hansen was Institute Director at Purdue University from 1984 to 1988, when he joined the religion department at Brigham Young University-Idaho. There he was head of the General Education Committee from 1990 to 1994. In 2008, Jerry joined the History and Political Sience department at BYU-Idaho. Val Brinkerhoff is an assoicate professor of photography in the Visual Arts Department at Brigham Young University. His research, photography, and writing are part of eight authored or co-authored books, twenty-five magazine articles, and numerous exhibitions.