DESCRIPTION:
I was contacted by a local congregation to create a design for their upcoming regional youth conference. The youth were going to travel to Nauvoo and they needed a logo and shirt design that kept the theme "The Covenant Path." Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that making and keeping sacred covenants are a part of God's plan for His children to return to Him. I wanted to design something that answered where can we find the covenant path and what covenants God asks his children to make without making a cliché design that most people make for church retreats.
First, where do we find the covenant path:
The first answer is that the covenant path is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because they have direct priesthood authority that is necessary to complete the ordinances and make covenants with God. While researching why the sunstone was used on the Nauvoo temple, I discovered that it represented the Bride of Christ (i.e., the Church). So I used the imagery of the sun, the moon and the stars in order to convey the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The order of architecture [on the Nauvoo Temple] was unlike anything in existence; it was purely original; being a representation of the Church, the Bride, the Lamb's wife. John the Revelator, in the 12[th] chapter [and] first verse of [the book of Revelation] says, 'And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.' This is portrayed in the beautifully cut stone of this grand temple.
Wandle Mace, autobiography, 207, L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Wandle Mace, autobiography, 207, L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Second, what does the covenant path consist of:
Right underneath the stars is the water symbol which signifies baptism. The next symbol is a very simple shape of the Nauvoo temple, and this represents all of the other ordinances that are performed in a temple. It covers Priesthood ordination for men, initiatories, endowments, and sealings.
The last symbol on the right of the temple is the infinity sign, which can also be used to represent the eternities. I believe that it can help signify that we are meant to keep trying and progressing forever. There is no end to our growth.
