Clouds and Cloudstones

Clouds have a significant part in both temple settings and various sacred theophanies (manifestations of God to a woman or a man). Clouds are associated with God’s presence, and they could be interpreted to symbolize His glory (see D&C 84:2–5; see also 1 Kgs. 8:11; Isa. 4:5–6; Ezek. 10:4); indeed, cloud and glory are occasionally juxtaposed together in the scriptures, as many of the following examples indicate:

Mount Sinai: “Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai” (Ex. 24:15–16).

Solomon’s temple: “The cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kgs. 8:10–11).

Kirtland Temple: Oliver Cowdery “saw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like a mighty rushing wind.”55

Two cloudstones, Salt Lake Temple.

Other scriptural passages associate a cloud with God’s presence:

Moses: “As Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. . . . The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Ex. 33:9, 11); “The Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud” (Ex. 19:9); “The Lord descended in the cloud. . . . And Moses . . . bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped” (Ex. 34:5, 8).

Peter, James, and John: “Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5).

The brother of Jared: “The Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared; and he was in a cloud” (Ether 2:4; see also v. 14).

Pillar of light (representing the pillar of fire), tabernacle of Moses.

In association with the subject of clouds, two cloudstones are located on the Salt Lake Temple’s east, central tower, with the sun’s rays showing through clouds. The rays are evidence of God’s heavenly light pouring down upon earth’s inhabitants, blessing them through the restored gospel.