Viewing and Understanding Symbols Symbol By Omar Aguilar

Symbols and Us Symbols are typically viewed in a few ways. . . but all are understood within the framework of the viewer's own knowledge and understanding. Symbol My Understanding

Symbols and Us However, a symbol has multiple meanings (interpretations), and truth may be found in many of them. Those meanings far exceed our current understanding. Symbol My Understanding Symbol We can gain a deeper understanding of a symbol if we're willing to think beyond the boundaries of our own understanding (what some may call “Thinking Out of the Box”).

My Definition of a Symbol A SYMBOL is An encapsulation of principles, of ideas, That can be applied to many situations. • Ideas • Principles • Concepts • Models Symbols may be used to represent different things, and you must be in a mindset to see everything as symbols, as representations, of principles.

An Example Thinking out of the box with symbols The Norwegian Math Test = 100

An Example Ole wants a job, but the foreman won't hire him until he passes a little math test. Here is your first question, the foreman said, ”Without using numbers, represent the number 9. ” 'Without numbers? ' Ole says, 'Dat's easy. ' and proceeds to draw three trees. “What's this? ” the boss asks. “Vot! you got no brain? Tree and tree make nine, ” says Ole.

An Example 'Fair enough, ' says the boss. 'Here's your second question. Use the same rules, but this time the number is 99. ' Ole stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture that he has just drawn and makes a smudge on each tree. 'Dar ya go. ' The boss scratches his head and says, 'How on earth do you get that to represent 99? ' 'Each of da trees is dirty now. So, it's dirty tree, and dirty tree. Dat is 99. '

An Example The boss is getting worried that he's going to actually have to hire this Norwegian, so he says, 'All right, last question. Same rules again, but represent the number 100. ' Ole stares into space some more, then he picks up the picture again and makes a little mark at the base of each tree and says, 'Dar ya go. Von hundred. ' The boss looks at the attempt. 'You must be nuts if you think that represents a hundred!' Ole leans forward and points to the marks at the base of each tree and says, 'A little dog come along and pooped by each tree. So now you got dirty tree and a turd, and dirty tree and a turd, vich makes von hundred. ' 'So, ven do I start? '

Who woulda thunk? Betch’a didn’t know that Trees, dirt, and turds could be used To solve math problems now, did you?

To Understand a Symbol you need these…at least… Your Perspective & Your Understanding Proximity: Who or What is affected You Symbol Depth: To provide Guidance, Clarity, and Truth Holy Ghost How it’s affected; How it’s applied; Where it’s applied.

Depth: How deep do you want to go? What part of life does it affect? Social Sports / Entertainment Spiritual Level of Depth Relationships Symbol Financial Political Educational Depth Physical—------ Spiritual Superficial Deep, Profound Obvious----- Mysterious Tangible------- Abstract Exterior—------- Interior Cursory—----- Thorough Worldly—------ Celestial Natural / Physical

Humanity Symbol World Nation Community Church Neighborhood Family You Proximity: Who does it affect? Proximity To You Level of Proximity Personal –--- Impersonal Specific –-----General Certain –-----Indefinite Exact -------- Vague

Natural / Physical Social Political Financial Educational Relationships Sports / Entertainment Spiritual Humanity World Nation Community Church Neighborhood This may be why a symbol is interpreted differently by many people. Family The interpretation of a symbol may be seen as an intersection of Who’s affected and How they’re affected… the intersection of Depth and Proximity. You Interpretation

Holy Ghost Natural / Physical Social Political Financial Educational Relationships Sports / Entertainment Spiritual You Humanity World Nation Community Church Family You The Holy Ghost can teach you and point to you the interpretation best suited to your understanding, spiritual maturity, and circumstances at that time. Neighborhood Interpretation

Holy Ghost Natural / Physical Social Political Financial Educational Relationships Sports / Entertainment Spiritual You Humanity World Nation Community Church Family You The Richness of a symbol’s interpretation expands as we begin to see the many meanings it holds, not just for us, but for how the Lord teaches ALL of US. Neighborhood Interpretation

Have you ever considered… • When the Great and Spacious Building (Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon) is floating high up in the air…that its foundation is nothing. This “foundation of nothing” could be likened to Debt…where the world’s riches and materialism are built upon debt. . or money that isn’t there. What happened to that building? What’ll happen to us if we’re the same way? • Israel represents not only a chosen people, but also a political entity whose governing laws were first established by God. As a political entity, Israel could be a symbol of America. As a chosen people, Israel could be a symbol for the Church of Jesus Christ or even its members. It could even represent America. • Egypt…in the Old Testament…was the “world superpower” back then--militarily, culturally, economically, and politically. You could liken Egypt, in this manner, to the United States today. • Your own life’s experiences as symbols. For example, the experiences you had as a missionary could indicate what you could expect to come later in your life…a patriarchal blessing that you could experience in 3 D, if you will. Or consider those teaching moments as encapsulated principles to be applied in other times in your life.

Symbols in the scriptures • We must view the scriptures as an encapsulation of symbols. • There are explicit symbols—things we know are symbols—like: – the serpent on the stick – the Liahona – the iron rod – the mist of darkness – the different parables of Jesus – The stuff in the Book of Revelations, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel… – dreams and visions of people.

Symbols in the Scriptures • There also implicit symbols—they’re not obviously stated as symbols but can be treated as symbolic: • Experiences, events, patterns • The crossing of the Red Sea • The plagues of Egypt • The events at the garden of Gethsemane • Christ’s calming the storm • Christ’s feeding the multitudes

Symbols in the Scriptures Implicit symbols: • People, places, things • Captain Moroni • Stripling warriors • Anti-Nephi-Lehi (people of Ammon) • The Nation of Israel, the people of Israel • The promised land • The Savior, Redeemer • Shepherds, wise men, angels • The Holy Ghost

Symbols in the Scriptures Implicit symbols: • Ideas • The Atonement • Tithing • Baptism • The Role of the Holy Ghost • Christ’s Role as Savior • Faith • Repentance • The Sabbath day

Liken them to ourselves… • We can then find ways to apply these symbols to ourselves, to others, and further on outward…in different scenarios. • Sometimes, we think that we first have to understand a symbol in order to liken it to ourselves. • However, we can also liken the symbol to ourselves first…then we’ll be able to understand it. • Either way, we have to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts…and be willing enough to see differently.

In summary… • Symbols are encapsulated principles. • Their interpretation is an intersection of who’s affected and how/where it’s applied. • There are explicit and implicit symbols in the scriptures and all around us. • We need the Holy Ghost to get a clear, correct understanding of the symbol and its meaning in context with our current situation. • We have to be willing to think out of our box.