Temple Implications in the Wise Men’s Gifts
FEATURES
- Who Is a Mormon? by Christopher D. Cunningham
- 746 Times: What a Word Cloud Revealed About the April 2026 General Conference by Patrick D. Degn
- Broadway’s Last Acceptable Bigotry by Joel Campbell
- An Experiment in Prayer: Ocean to Ice by Mike Loveridge
- Shamar: What It Means to “Keep” the Commandments in Hebrew by Steve Densley, Jr.
- What Joseph Smith Saw in Exodus That We’ve Been Missing by Alvin H. Andrew
- (Re)Discovering Lorenzo Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise” at the BYU Museum of Art by John Dye
- When You Only Have Five Minutes to Get Out by Carolyn Nicolaysen
- “All Things Point Us to the Savior’s Atonement”–Come Follow Me Podcast #19: Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 by Scot and Maurine Proctor
- When Symbols Become Idols: Remembering What Points Us to Christ by Spencer Anderson
















Comments | Return to Story
JohnJanuary 31, 2019
The theory that the wise men could have been from the America's, being Samuel the Laminate and Nephi and Lehi (brothers) make sense even more with the reasoning the gifts were for sacred ordinances. Prophets would have to bestow those ordinances with the right keys. The accounts of the Book of Morman and the disappearance of those prophets fall in line with the Biblical account.
Hildegard EralieDecember 29, 2017
Thank you for interesting, enlightening explanations of the uses of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Like so many of us I had focused on gold being the means to make the flight into Egypt possible, also providing the means to begin anew as far as home, profession etc. Maybe it is not too far fetched to think of the fact that Egypt was a land where kings ruled since ancient times, and now a true king would reside there for a time. Frankincense as a symbol for sacrifice and prayer is also a new thought to me, one worth pondering, as is the meaning of myrrh. However I hesitate to go so far beyond that into some of the inferred connections with Temple ordinances. Without becoming explicit I want to say that I agree in wonder with some of the ideas expressed, but some I just can't wrap my mind around. It would be lovely to have an explanatory discussion about these things in sacred surroundings. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings, adding to the special Spirit of Christmas.
John Nicholson.December 29, 2017
Originally, I came out of the Middle East, and as a Christian, heard about the wise men at Christmas time - but just slightly differently. Yes we do not know how many there were, but in Middles Eastern traditions there were four: and the fourth gift was precious stones. This could easily have been converted into trade or cash to supply there where with all for the necessities of life. I knew about the fourth wise man long before I heard about the three - and even longer before I knew about movie! So you see why your article interested me! Since I am a Latter-day Saint, I would be very interested how you would meld the fourth with the other three into the Temple? Your response would be most appreciated.
DarrelDecember 29, 2017
Have you watch the You tube on the topic God in Ancient China? It give a new idea on the Wise Men.
Karen hopkinsDecember 22, 2017
I have always imagined that myrrh symbolized or marked the anointed one—messiah, and that gold was needed and used for the trip to Egypt. But holy smoke, I was never sure what the frankincense was for!
JeffreyDecember 22, 2017
We don't know the meaning of all things for sure in this life. Maybe these gifts from these righteousness men, were used so the Lord could take care of his economical needs in mortality. we know Peter, James and John were somewhat prosperous and most likely assisted Jesus with his economical needs. I'm sure Lazarus, Mary & Martha must have also assisted him. I'm sure many other unnamed righteous good people assisted in his economical needs, he had to buy food and other necessities to survive. not important for our salvation, just a thought to think about.
ADD A COMMENT