The Hidden Symbolism of the Temple Baptistry | Oxen, Water & the Reeds (LDS Temple Symbolism)

Send us Fan MailWhat does the temple baptistry actually symbolize — the 12 oxen, the font, the water, even the reeds? In this deep-doctrine Thinning of the Veil episode, host Tia Smith shows that the baptistry, often treated as the "vanilla" part of the temple, is layered with Latter-day Saint (LDS) symbolism that points to Jesus Christ and the gathering of Israel. She teaches that the baptismal font is a similitude of the grave, placed on the lowest level of the temple, and that going into and out of the water mirrors the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Tia unpacks who the 12 oxen represent — the tribes of Israel, the Savior on whose strength the work rests, our ancestors on whose shoulders we stand, and even ourselves as covenant members — and connects the font to Joshua's 12 stones at the River Jordan, the lowest body of fresh water where Christ chose to be baptized, the reeds that saved the infant Moses, the laver of Moses's tabernacle, the molten sea of Solomon's temple, and Ezekiel's healing waters. She closes with the circle and the square — the meeting place of heaven and earth. If you want to walk into the baptistry with new eyes and teach your children and grandchildren its symbolism, this episode is for you.Q: What do the 12 oxen under the temple baptismal font symbolize?A: In this episode, host Tia Smith teaches that the 12 oxen represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the strength and power on which God's work rests. She adds that they can also point to the Savior, to our ancestors on whose sacrifices we stand, and to each of us as covenant members who bear off the work of salvation.Q: Why is the baptismal font a "similitude of the grave"?A: Joseph Smith taught that temple baptismal fonts were instituted as a similitude of the grave and placed beneath where the living assemble. Tia explains that immersion in the font mirrors the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is why the work for the dead begins there — helping our ancestors break the bonds of the grave through the Savior.Q: How does the River Jordan connect to the temple baptistry?A: Tia connects the font to Joshua leading the 12 tribes across the River Jordan and setting up 12 memorial stones, and to Jesus choosing to be baptized in the Jordan — the lowest body of fresh water on earth. Citing Russell M. Nelson, she teaches this symbolizes descending beneath all things to rise above all things, just as the font sits on the lowest level of the temple.Q: What do the reeds around the baptismal font represent?A: Tia teaches that reeds set behind the oxen on many fonts recall the infant Moses, hidden in a basket among the reeds and drawn out of the water to become a deliverer. She connects this to the pattern of both Moses and Jesus Christ as deliverers, and to our own call to become "saviors on Mount Zion" by doing baptisms for the dead.▶️ WATCH & LISTEN🎬 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thinningoftheveil🌐 Website: https://www.thinningoftheveil.com🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinning-of-the-veil/id1753511394🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jWCfMHkZXwnSwy2b98J4M🎵 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a0a45561-d4c2-46d3-af8d-a1e967a21a25📖 BOOKPatterns of Revelation — Spiritual Foundations for Hearing God's Voice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW36MG9B📱 CONNECTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinning.of.the.veilFacebook Group (Gathering of the Gatherers): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1429562078443774Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572121559456💛 SUPPORT THE SHOWVenmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thinningoftheveilPayPal: https://paypal.me/thinningoftheveil✉️ Have you had a thinning of the veil experience? Email [email protected] — your testimony may be exactly what someone needs to hear.#ThinningOfTheVeil #SpiritWorld #TempleWork #FamilyHistory #LDS #LatterDaySaints #GatheringOfIsrael #MinisteringAngels #FamilySearch #PersonalRevelationCITATIONS:Joshua 4:1-7,  Matthew 3:13, Moses 1:6, Exodus 2:1-5,10, Exodus 30:17-18, 21, 3 Nephi 27:19-20, 1 Kings 7:23,25, Exodus 14:11, 13-14, 21-22, Ezekiel 47:1,8,10,13, D&C 128:22, D&C 3:1-2, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 8:1 David E. Sorensen, “Small Temples—Large Blessings,” Ensign, Feb. 2007Michael R. Morris, “Symbolism and Temple Preparation”,  Ensign, October Doctrines of the Gospel, Student Manual, Chapter 15, “The Covenant of Baptism” See Edward J. Brandt, “Why Are Oxen Used in the Design of Our Temples’ Baptismal Fonts?” Ensign, Mar. 1993, 55. Tonya, Forever Family Trees, Blog PostOld Testament 2022 Manual, Thoughts to Keep in Mind: The House of Israel Russell M. Nelson, (“Why Palestine?” Missionary Training Center, October 11, 1994) Friend, August 1988, “Baby Moses”Bible Dictionary, “Levites”Scripture Helps, Genesis 6–11; Moses 8Gerrit W. Gong, Liahona, May 2020H. David Burton, “The Living Water, of Jesus Christ”, BYU Speech Jan. 2000Peter B. Rawlins, "Endowed with Power," Religious Educator 13, no. 1 (2012): 125–139. Ask Gramps, “What does the arm raised to the square signify or mean?”, Sept. 7th, 2025Gerald E. Hansen Jr, “4 Symbols to Watch For the Next Time You are Outside Temples, LDS Living, Jan. 30, 2017Boyd K. Packer, “The Holy Temple,” 32 Support the show