Understanding Religious symbols. Books Part 2
The Gate of Heaven by Matthew B. Brown is a book that devotes its topic to Insights on the Doctrines and Symbols of the Temple. Where Symbols in Stone focused on the symbology of architecture and decorative application, The Gate of Heaven touches upon the symbol of the work and doctrines taught in the temple ordinances throughout the ages. It does not go into specific detail of the modern endowment but instead looks into the historical and scriptural examples of temple work and worship.
It begins with the concept of the temple in Heavenly realms and then works it way through mans history, starting with the Garden of Eden.
This book is full of interesting information for all kinds of sources and has extensive foot notes. I personally enjoyed this book a bit more than Symbols in Stone, but only because I have a more difficult time remembering all the architectural symbols and their meanings where the ritual symbolism seemed to touch my mind a bit more. It is possible that I dont spend as much time pondering things of visual symbolism as much as I should where as I ponder more about the temple ordinances and why we worship in the temple more often. What ever the case both books are extremely valuable in the pursuit of understanding the symbols in our worship. Why are they given to us, and how can we learn from them are just a couple of the concepts that I have learned through the study of these books. Together they are a valuable tool both for the individual preparing to attend the temple and also for the person that has been many times and has learned how to be taught by the spirit during the ordinance work.
by Tanya
