Temple Themes in the Psalms and in the Book of Mormon

There is much that we can learn about ancient Israelite temple theology and practices from the Old Testament Book of Psalms. Recent research suggests that some of the Book of Mormon prophets, including Nephi, Jacob and Alma, were more influenced by the Psalms than we generally recognize. Furthermore, although the temple is not usually discussed explicitly therein, a number of temple themes that are found in the Psalms can also be found in the Book of Mormon. In psalms such as Psalm 24, we can see references to a ritual ascent to the temple with the goal of seeing the face of God there. Nephi and Alma quote from this psalm and allude to its ritual setting in some of their teachings. There are a number of other examples of how the temple themes found in the Psalms turn up in the Book of Mormon in unique and insightful ways. When these connections to the Psalms become apparent, we can gain a stronger understanding of what the temple meant to the Book of Mormon prophets.