Temple Themes in the Scriptures

Allusions to temple themes can be found throughout the scriptures, but it is not always easy to recognize them. Efforts have been made to bridge this gap through books that explain the meaning of specific symbols used in scripture and temple worship. However, most of us not only struggle with the meaning of individual concepts and symbols, but also—and perhaps more crucially—in understanding how these concepts and symbols fit together as a whole system. The symbols and concepts of the temple are best understood, not in isolation, but within the full context of temple teachings to which they belong.

My purpose is to explore ancient and modern perspectives that seem to shed light on the meaning and significance of Latter-day Saint scripture and temple worship.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

News and Events

Breaking news

“Not by Bread Alone”: Formal Announcement of a New Film Series at the FAIR Conference (August 3) and the Interpreter Birthday Celebration (August 5)

This week we will formally announce a new film series, “Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in the DR Congo.” The series will explore the lives of Saints who thirsted for tranquility and found personal peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ. For more details see NotbyBreadAloneFilm.com.

“AI: Then and Now”: New Presentation on Discussing Recent Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Their Implications:

Bradshaw, Robert W., and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. “AI: Then and Now.” In Presentation to International Research Training Group 2057. Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, 2023. https://www.dropbox.com/s/fllqxf19ipjiix6/230621-Robert%20and%20Jeff%20Bradshaw-AI-Then%20and%20Now-IRTG-Asilomar-1080p.mp4?dl=0. (accessed June 25, 2023).

For related presentations, see Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence.

New, updated, and upcoming presentations and publications

Bowen, Matthew L. and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. “From Jared to Jacob: The Motif of Divine Ascensus and Descensus in Genesis, the Book of Moses, and the Enochic Tradition.” In Proceedings of the Sixth Interpreter Foundation Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference, 4–5 November 2022, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. Temple on Mount Zion 7, in preparation. Orem and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2023. Video

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. “The Book of Moses as a Temple Text.” In The Temple: Symbols, Sermons, and Settings. Proceedings of the Fourth Interpreter Foundation Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference, 10 November 2018, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. Temple on Mount Zion 5, in preparation. Orem and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2023.

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. “An important new study of Freemasonry and the Latter-day Saints: What’s good, what’s questionable, and what’s missing in Method Infinite (13 January 2022).” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scripture 54 (2023): 223–332. Link PDF

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Emer Harris and Dennison Lott Harris: Owner of the First Copy of the Book of Mormon and Witness of the “Last Charge” of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City, UT: Eborn Books, 2023.

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M., and Matthew L. Bowen. “Jacob’s temple journey to Haran and back.” In Proceedings of the Sixth Interpreter Foundation Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference, 4–5 November 2022, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. Temple on Mount Zion 7, in preparation. Orem and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2023. Video

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Bounded Flexibility in Adjustments to Temple Ordinances, Meridian Magazine, 14 February 2023. Link PDF

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Freemasonry and the Origins of Latter-day Saint Temple Ordinances, Salt Lake Federal Heights Ward, 9 October 2022. Video

Lost Saints of the DR Congo. Teaser for an episode of the upcoming Interpreter film on “Stories of the Saints in the DR Congo.” 15 September 2022. Video

Lynch, John. “Examining the Origins of Temple Worship.” Review of Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Freemasonry and the Origins of Temple Worship. Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, 17 September 2022. Interpreter. PDF 16 September 2022. FAIR PDF

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Freemasonry and the Origins of Latter-day Saints Temple Ordinances. Orem and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2022. Link

Nielsen, Chad. “Masonry and Mormonism.” Times and Seasons, 1 August 2022. Link PDF

Hutchinson, Terry, Martin Tanner, and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. Discussion of Freemasonry and the Origins of the Latter-day Saint Temple Ordinances. Interpreter Radio Show, 31 July 2022. Link MP3

Hutchinson, Terry L. “The Great Jewel of the Restoration” Review of Cheryl L. Bruno et al. Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw Freemasonry and the Origins of Temple Worship. Meridian Magazine, 29 July 2022. Link PDF

Manwaring, Kurt. “What is the Relationship Between Freemasonry and the Temple Endowment?” From the Desk of Kurt Manwaring, 26 July 2022. Link PDF

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Is Eyewitness Testimony Reliable? Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, Insights Episode 18, 20 August 2022. Link Video Audio PDF

Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. “A church with one member”: The religious art of James T. Harwood, in preparation.