Welcome.

I’m not a huge animal person, although for as long as I can remember, I have wanted a monkey. I’m definitely a monkey person (until I own one I’d guess, ha ha!). I’m also a huge fan of little Lily.

Some animals are definitely just plain cute. Others are fun or funny, and still, most aid or bless humankind in meaningful ways. Debatable, I know, for wrecking your front yard moles, voles, gophers, and creepy bugs.

Spine-chilling animals aside, there are some really significant ones. Like those associated with Israel’s twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Thanks to our really remarkable stake patriarch and sealer (he has a double mantle, and it rests with noticeable power upon his shoulders) and the sealing of my friends he just performed in the temple, I have come away with a fervent desire to find the symbolic representation of Israel’s children in our temple via the animals we find there in the pictures that adorn those sacred walls or in the temple video itself.

On his deathbed, Israel blessed his sons, each a leader of a tribe. The Genesis account portrays Israel comparing some of his sons to animals. He said “Judah [was] “a lion’s whelp,” “Issachar [was] a strong ass,” “Dan [was] a serpent,” and “Benjam [was] a wolf.” (See Genesis 49: 9, 14, 17, 27)

According to the Midrash, each of Israel’s children has a symbol that is associated with his name and tribe, an animal relation, or both. Following is a list of such symbols as found in the Midrash.

Reuben: Symbol: rising sun, Animal: rooster

Simeon: Not listed

Levi: Not listed

Judah: Symbol: menorah, Animal: lion

Issachar: Symbol: sun and moon, Animal: donkey or bear

Zebulun: Symbol: ship

Dan: Symbol: scales of justice, Animal: snake, lion, or eagle

Naphtali: Symbol: shofar, Animal: female deer

Gad: Symbol: coriander seed, Animal: lion or goat

Asher: Symbol: olive tree

Joseph: Symbol: sheaf of wheat, pyramid, All-seeing Eye, Animal: lamb

Benjamin: Animal: wolf

Adding in Ephraim and Manesseh, the Midrash offers the following animal symbols for those two:

Ephraim: Animal: lamb (Joseph), bullcalf

Manasseh: Animal: unicorn 1

It’s been so fun lately searching the temple for symbols and animal symbols that connect me to Israel through one of his sons. Our temple has some really intriguing pictures throughout that signify connection to Israel’s sons.

Enroute to the third floor sealing rooms, there are two paintings in close proximity of one another of Mary and Joseph. In the first one, Mary, very near time to deliver, is pausing for what appears to be both rest and a moment of communication with Father in Heaven as both Joseph and a donkey wait nearby.

There’s Issachar.

In the second picture, Joseph is leading a very willing and obedient donkey as very pregnant Mary is mounted on top. They are making their way to be counted in the census. As they go, they pass a small onlooking shepherd boy herding a flock of sheep. He is going, and Mary and Joseph and donkey are coming.

Joseph. Ephraim. Issachar again.

Both pictures are incredibly lovely. I always pause and look at them, especially at Mary and Joseph’s faces, but recently, I’ve been looking at the donkey, too, and the sheep and considering anew my connection to Israel and through the great patriarchs of the Bible, back to Jesus Christ Himself.

In the marriage waiting room, there is a large, lovely framed picture of a wooded area with lots of trees and a looming mountain behind the forested valley. A cascading, winding river beautifies the floor of the valley, and crossing it is a family of deer. Father with large antlers in back, securing the rear for his little ones who still need his protection and mother in front, carefully leading in the most fertile areas.

There’s Naphtali.

This is exciting! Gathering Israel is awesome stuff, and our temples are chalk full of reminders that point us to Israel and his sons, heads of tribes that powerfully link us back to the six Abrahamic “p” promises: protection, posterity, priesthood, prosperity, presence (of the Lord), and a promised land.2

I love our temples. I love Israel. I love his sons. I love my connection to him through one of his sons. I love the “p” promises. I love the symbols and animals that connect us to Israel.

Unto all the world: I invite you to find the symbols and animals that connect you to Israel in your temple!

References:

1. See: https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/animals.html
2. I first heard the Abrahamic Covenant promises listed as the six “P’s” on a Meridian Magazine Come Follow Me Podcast by Scot and Maurine Proctor, year unknown.