The Salt Lake Temple Doors
There are four sets of identical doors on the Salt Lake Temple. Two sets are between the towers on the East face, and two between the towers on the West face. The doors are made of solid oak, and are twelve feet high and four feet wide. The doors are patterned after the door of Temple of Solomon, and are adorned with several motifs and symbols.
As was mentioned on a previous page, the East and West towers represent the priesthood. Placing the doors between the towers is a metaphor of the necessity of passing through the priesthood ordinances, (such as baptism, confirmation, temple marriage, etc.) to enter God's Kingdom and His Presence.
The hinges on the Salt Lake Temple doors are designed to look like golden flowering vines. These vines are a biblical emblem that represents the Promised Land and God's covenant people. The vine motif is figurative of the LDS belief that Jesus is the true vine and that we are the faithful branches in the vineyard of God. (John 15:5)
The bottom panel on the door is an ornately designed squared circle. The squared circle symbol means "where Heaven and Earth meet", indicating that these doors lead to sacred space. The shield carving in the center is emblematic of God being our shield. The decorative lettering in the shield is HTTL, which stands for "Holiness To The Lord".
There are windows on the middle and top panels of the Salt Lake Temple doors. These repeat the squared circle motif. The windows are protected by bronze grills with an elaborate pattern, punctuated by a metal beehive and honeybees in the center. The beehive is a symbol of industry and harmony. The honeybee is symbolic of the Promised Land, which was described in the Old Testament as a land of milk and honey. These symbols testify that through our faithfulness in doing God's work we'll be admitted into His Kingdom, which is the true Promised Land.
