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The Seal of Melchizedek – Part 5

July 14, 2012 by Bryce Haymond 16 Comments
The seal of Melchizedek as seen on the entrance doors of the Salt Lake Temple

The seal of Melchizedek as seen on the entrance doors of the Salt Lake Temple. (Click for larger view)

(Continued from Part 4)

It’s been a long time coming, since September 2008 to be exact, and I’d like to finally complete this series of posts on the seal of Melchizedek.  It is probably one of the most trafficked series of posts on this website.  It’s drawn a lot of attention, and may have even been part of what compelled a BYU scholar, Alonzo L. Gaskill, to publish an article about it in The Religious Educator at BYU in 2010, which article I’d like to talk about.

But first, there are a few other artifacts related to the symbol that I’d like to share.  As I pointed out in Part 2, this seal is most prominently found as displayed in the mosaics and iconography in the basilicas of Ravenna, Italy.  Indeed, this is very likely where Hugh Nibley saw this symbol originally, as perhaps did Michael Lyon, and where he may have coined the name the “seal of Melchizedek.”  The symbol is shown on the altar cloths in these mosaics, shown next to Melchizedek, Abel, and Abraham, in making sacrificial offerings to God.  The altar cloth also shows gammadia in the corners, right-angle marks like the Greek letter gamma, which is also very interesting, and worthy of a study in and of itself.

To begin, I want to note again that to date I have not found any evidence for this symbol being called the “seal of Melchizedek” by any other scholar, historian, or historical figure in recorded history before Hugh Nibley and Michael Lyon.  That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but it is likely a conception that began with the Latter-day Saints, making a logical connection between the symbol and the Biblical figure found adjacent to it in the mosaics. [Read more…]

Posted in: Artifacts, Scholarship Tagged: alonzo gaskill, altar, andrew skinner, BYU, catholic, circle, compass, daniel c. peterson, dome of the rock, earth, egypt, egyptian, fayum, gammadia, garments, heaven, hinduism, holy of holies, hugh nibley, jerusalem, joseph smith, margaret barker, markings, marks, masonry, melchizedek, new name, offerings, origin, painting, priesthood, prophet, representation, royal, sacrifice, salt lake temple, source, square, star, symbolism, symbols, veil

Sanctuary Vesture: A Brief Overview and Comparison

February 24, 2011 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments
Ancient Israelite temple ceremonial clothing

Ancient Israelite temple ceremonial clothing worn in the Mosaic Tabernacle, and succeeding Israelite temples of Solomon, Herod, et al.

I’m very pleased to welcome another guest post by Matthew B. Brown.  Some of his writings, particularly his book The Gate of Heaven, are what inspired me to study the temple more in depth.  He offers a wealth of insight and learning for the Latter-day Saints. ~Bryce

Matthew B. Brown holds a degree in history from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is the author of ten books and has published articles with the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU (aka FARMS). Matthew has served as a volunteer researcher, editor, and respondent for The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) and has spoken at several of their annual conferences. He is one of the directors of the upcoming EXPOUND symposium on May 14, 2011, and will also be a presenter (expoundlds.com).

~~

It is publicly acknowledged that Latter-day Saints who participate in the central temple rites of their faith dress in several layers of ceremonial clothing, consisting of a “white undergarment” (which is worn as part of everyday life) and “other priestly robes” (which are only worn during times of temple service).1 [Read more…]

Posted in: Practices, Scholarship Tagged: anointing, bible, cap, clothing, endowment, garments, history, initiation, israelites, joseph smith, markings, marks, Matthew B. Brown, oil, ordinances, priest, prophet, research, rite, rites, ritual, rituals, robe, robes, royal, sanctuary, scholar, scholars, solomon, symbols, symposium, tabernacle, vestments, washing

The Egyptian Ankh, “Life! Health! Strength!” – Part 3

June 23, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 1 Comment

(Continued from Part 2)

The ankh symbol appears frequently with several other hieroglyphics in certain formulas and invocations that immediately call our attention.  These are wedja, seneb, djed, & was.

This table summarizes the different possible explanations for these hieroglyphics that I have been able to find:  [Read more…]

Posted in: Artifacts, Scholarship, Texts Tagged: ankh, bible, coronation, egyptian, embrace, endowment, hieroglyph, hugh nibley, initiate, life, priesthood, rituals, rosetta stone, royal, symbols, translation

The Pope Receives a New Name

March 12, 2008 by Bryce Haymond 6 Comments

Pope Benedict XVIThere is an established practice throughout history and in many areas of the world when someone is elevated to royal, or otherwise elevated status and position — they are given a new name. This name is often referred to as a regnal name, or a reign name, and is different than the given name at birth. This practice is particularly well known in the Roman Catholic Church, where the Pope, upon being elected to his position, is called upon to give himself a new name. This process goes something like this: [Read more…]

Posted in: Practices, Texts Tagged: benedict XVI, covenant, crown, endowment, initiation, name, new name, pope, Practices, priest, royal, throne

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