Anciently, Solomon’s temple gave prominence to flowers on the brazen sea (see 1 Kgs. 7:19, 24, 26), the holy place (see 1 Kgs 6:17–18, 29, 32, 35), the two brass pillars, and the molten sea’s brim (see 1 Kgs. 7:15, 22–26). Both worshippers and workers could view these decorations, which were likely elegantly beautiful, from various areas of the courtyard.
In the modern era, flowers belong to the decorative features of literally scores of temples, on both exterior and interior components—on walls and panels, decorations, doors, stained-glass windows, light fixtures, door hardware, railings, carpet sculptings, moldings and trim works, and elsewhere. Additionally, most temples feature flower beds and professionally appointed gardens. Flowers are conspicuously beautiful and vibrantly colorful, thus engaging the eyes to God’s amazing creations.
Many temples feature flowers that are indigenous to the area. For example, the syringa, Idaho’s state flower, decorates both the Twin Falls Idaho and Meridian Idaho Temples. The sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, decorates the Kyiv Ukraine Temple. The sego lily, Utah’s state flower, adorns the Draper Utah Temple (note also that the sego lily’s roots provided nourishment to the pioneers during their first winter in Utah); Alaska’s state flower, the forget-me-not, graces the Anchorage Alaska Temple. The hibiscus, Hawaii’s state flower, together with nuts and leaves from the kukui tree, decorate the Laie Hawaii Temple. And the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple gives prominence to the state flowers of five states—Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah—the five territories that the pioneers traveled through on their way to settle in Utah!
Flowers have multiple symbolic values. The flowers’ reproductive qualities remind us of God’s beautiful creations; and so, too, the temple dedicates certain portions of the endowment to the Creation narrative.