Where Are the All-Seeinga Eves? by Allen D
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Where Are the All-Seeinga Eves? by Allen D. Roberts A r "Wecannot argue with symbols; they find their way into our hmrts immediately or not at all. Symbols am more powetful than words. "1 he year was 1852. For t lifted his small finishing Tby three foot limestone block for weeks. With a few deft taps of his the final bits of Sanpete oolite and le diminutive square marking a period "DESERET."Rubbing his aching fingers be to ease the stiffness, he stepped back toins eyes traveled from left to right across th At the uppper left comer, within a triangular recess, were approval. Well done, Brother Ward. This suits ow kiqp two hands in a shaking grip. In the oppositecomer,a similar dom perfectly. See that you put it on the first ox traingoing triangle was overgrown with the luxuriant contents of a east," he red.A few days later the carefully cornucopia. Next came the central element of his composi- treasure bqgmitslong journeyto thenation'scapitolwh . tion: a large, semi-circular panel which featured under its it was ewntually laid up in the monolithic shaft of the arch a rope beehive, sitting on a squat bench, and above it, an Washingbn Monument along with carved stones from the all-seeing eye. Cutting through the rays emanating from other states and territories.2 the eye was the motto, "Holiness to the Lord." An assort- The fact that Ward's emblematic stoneisstillextantiacthe . ment of delicately carved flowers, leaves, and vines pro- WashingbnMmumentand that his experience as as^ vided ornamental borders without detracting from the naka was not uncommon among the Mormon artisms major emblems, nor from the "DESERET" established in between lWd the early twentieth century raises sm bold Roman letters along the bottom of the warm-colored interesting questions for Momorts today. What were the stone. Ward did not bask long in his accomplishment. majar LJX symbds? What were their ori@a adpw- : Covering the stone with a woolen tarpulin, he sent a young poses? What dad thcy htend to signify signify terns sbdm apprentice to fetch President Young. and vh?What mk did they play in the formation ard , 22 Sunstone .. .. - , . I. The Origin, Use I and Decline of Earlv Mormon - Symbolism AU&g cp maflu Ogdm Thk,1856 fmrni~llyof Pat Kirrgl understanding of Mormon theology andlor culture? And, Similarly, nineteenth-century Mormons felt the need to most importantly, is there value in symbolism and if so, how express their shared values in iconographic symbolism, does one account for the seeming absence of significant ranging from the didactic, institutionally sponsored sun, symbols in contemporary Mormondom? moon, stars and all-seeing eye on early temples and ZCMI Purposes and Value of Symbolism signs to quasi-religious symbols such as the beehive and Lewis Mumford has remarked that "By the ad of clasped hands whose function was primarily ornamental. detachment and abstraction, man gained the power of Early Mormons under Joseph Smith and Bngham Young dealing with the non-present, the unseen, the remote and were a heterogeneous lot. Diverse backgrounds and vary- the internal: not merelv his visible lair and his dailv ing levels of understanding and commitment presented a companions, but his ancekors and his dependents and th;! sun and the moon and the stars: eventually the concepts of Mormons had a predilection for eternity and infinity. .he reduced a thousand potential occasions in all their variety and flux to a slngle symbol that symbolism. As millennialists, they indicated what was common to them alL"3 Thus have regarded the visible world as a groups or individuals attempted to invest material objects, metaphor for religious truths. emblems or designs with a symbolic character, intended by their creators to represent meanings, principles, or ideas most perplexing problem: how to make persons who had not inherent in the things themselves. So, to the early migrated to unfamiliar surroundings feel as at ease as American gravestone artist a trumpet may represent the possible, to feel a part of the whole. One of the most day of judgment, to the Roman Catholic painter an straightforward ways of effecting thedesiredacculturation equilateral triangle may symbolize the Trinity, and to the was to display instructive visual symbols, so apparent as to Jewish engraver the six-pointed star may refer to God's be comprehended by everyone, regardless of backgrounds. attributes of power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy, and These symbols, in an immediate and uniform way, con- justice. veyed essential messages and reminders of community May-June 1979 23 the distinctiveness of themcommunity whileat h - time summatl~ng. certain truths important to MOM, The ornamental tra pings planned for belid. the Salt Lake TempP e demonstrated a continuing implementation of Joseph's Chigins of Mormon Sy~nbo1ism From the organization of the Church in 18~tlmmghh selected Masonic symbols. years in Kirtland, there is little if bank notes, furniture, stationery, qualities to all viewers. Said Brigham Young: '1 will do my signs of self-amscious concrete s best to break down everything that divides. I will not have ideas which were to find expression in physical symbt&h disunion and contention, and I mean that there shallnot bea Nauvoo developed in Kirtland. Among them wem t& fiddle in the Church but what has 'Holiness to the Lord' concepts of mille~smand the three degrees of j$oq. upon it, not a flute, nora trumpet,norany otherinstrument Even more important was the reinstitution of the anderq of music."' concept of the temple.10 As Joseph Smith approached the The symbolic messages conveyed covered the spectrum budding of the first Mormon temple in Kirtland he saw his from implorings to deal honestly with manand God (Hisall- building as a legitimate successor to Solomon's Temple, seeing eye watches everyone)to reminders that the faithful described in the Old Testament. Even his deacriptwc would meet Christ and inherit his kingdom (clasped hands terminology, perhaps influenced by writings in I through the veil). One observer aptly summarized the linked the building to ancient scripture.Nevertheless, it wa# Mormon view of didactic symbolism: a temple without ostensible symbols. Why, then, within a space of ten years, was a d Mormons had a predilection for symbolism. As den- temple built that differed so greatly, not only in style,W$ nialists, they regarded the visible world as ametaphor for the presence of a symbolic decorative vocabdaqFt lt is religious truths, and saw in all objects in nature and very likely because in Kirtland neither Joseph Smithmwthe events in society the workings of divine purpose.5 temple's principal desmers, superintendents, and b&W Symbolist F. L. Brink suggests that Joseph Smith success- em-Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, and &tams fully created an "innovative and intricate symbology" that Milk-were yet involved in Freemasonry, an instiwm suited well the psychic needs of his followers.6 Following which, in Nauvoo, provided the primary graphic Ian- Smith's lead, scores of LDS artisans were guided by the far Morncon symbolism. principle that "If one is an artist, he is often a symbol maker While Mormonism's official connection with Masonry and uses his talents to propagate his ideas.'" began 15 March 1642 whenalodge was foundedinNauvao, A further objectiveof Mormon symbolism was to express many Mormons had been Masons before joining the the uniqueness (and, by implication, truth) of the restored Church. Joseph Smith himself had some farnibky with Church. The Lord instructed Joseph Smith to build the the sodety previous to Nauvoo. Hynun had received the Kirtland Temple "not after the manner of the world."8 first three degrees of Masonry while thefamilywaslivixtgin Truman Angell wrote of the Salt Lake Temple: "The whole Pdmyra and Joseph may have known Masonic martyrI structure is designed to symbolize some of the great Captain W&m Morgan, as he was one of the *em of a architectural works above."g Clearly Brigham Young and petition asking relief for the widow? Angell, Joseph Smith and William Weeks understood the Despite this earlier involvement with Masonry, the full dual value of symbols as a means of graphically expressing impact of the secret society was not felt by cdde 24 Sunstone Mormonism until the Nauvoo period. Within three months after the founding of the first lodge, eleven of the twelve Mormon ambivalence toward symbol- apostles had joined, including Brigham Young. In a short time, five Mormon lodges had been formed, claiming 1366 ism has penetrated the intellectual adherents. By 1844 a three-story Masonic temple had been community as well. constructed. About the same timeJoseph became immersed in Egyptian and Hebrew studies, both interests of Free- return it to its state of ancient perfection. His free use of masonry. Even at their martyrdom both Joseph andHyrum Masonic symbols, then, reflects Smith's feeling that he had were wearing Masonic jewelry.13 One Mormon scholar has a legitimate right to employ these divine emblems of been moved to make this controversial assertion:"l believe antiquity." that there are few significant developments in the Church Furthermore, the question of origins is virtually impos- that occurred after 15 March 1842 which did not have some sible to fathom. The beginnings of Masonry can be traced Masonic interdependence."l4 The remarkable similarities back to at least the early 18th century when several lodges between the Masonic temple ceremony and the Mormon were operating in Europe. Some Masonic historians allege endowment have led others to accuse Smith of plagiarism, that Masonry was founded by King Solomon about the time denying any divine inspiration in his work. his temple was built and that the 133,000 masons who It is true that the artwork, particularly in the literature of worked on the project later dissemanated a knowledge of the two groups, is sometimes amazingly indistinguishable.