Holy of Holies

In terms of sacred space, Israelite and modern temples were designed to exhibit graded divisions of holiness. Moving from the most holy to profane space, these divisions for Israelite temples included the Holy of Holies, the holy place, the courtyard, the Israelite camp, and then a ceremonially profane periphery, wherein were located cemeteries, lepers, and more. Out of all of the graded divisions of holiness, the Holy of Holies designated the holiest of all holinesses.

Why a Holy of Holies? This signified a most holy place for God to visit and to reveal His sacred word to His prophets (see Ex. 25:22; Lev. 16:2) or to the high priest (see Judg. 20:26–28) who served in the ancient temple. With regard to the Holy of Holies of the Salt Lake Temple, President Boyd K. Packer wrote, “Hidden away in the central part of the temple is the Holy of Holies, where the President of the Church may retire when burdened down with heavy decisions to seek an interview with Him whose Church it is. The prophet holds the keys, the spiritual keys and the very literal key to this one door in that sacred edifice.”161

Doorknob of the Salt Lake Temple features “Holiness to the Lord” above symbol of a beehive.

The Holy of Holies represents the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, the place where God dwells on His throne. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can enter the Holy of Holies, or heaven itself: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).

Several temples, ancient and modern, feature a Holy of Holies, including the following:

(1) Tabernacle: The tabernacle’s Holy of Holies was a perfect cube—its height, width, and length were each fifteen feet. A veil separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement, and therein conducted Atonement-focused rituals (see Lev. 15). The ark of the covenant resided in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and later Solomon’s temple (see 1 Kgs. 8:1–8).

Model tabernacle Holy of Holies, viewing the ark and the veil from the inside.

(2) Solomon’s Temple: Two doors, made of olive wood, separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies, concealing this sacred space from unauthorized eyes. Carvings of cherubs, flowers, and palm trees decorated the doors—all of which were “overlaid . . . with gold” (1 Kgs. 6:31–32). Also, two very large cherubs made of olive wood, “each ten cubits high,” resided in the Holy of Holies. These cherubs were also overlaid with gold (see vv. 23–28).

(3) Kirtland Temple: Joseph Smith’s history refers to the Kirtland Temple’s “most holy place,”162 suggesting a space corresponding to the Holy of Holies.

(4) Salt Lake Temple: According to Elder Talmage, the Holy of Holies, located near the celestial room, is a room “of circular outline, 18 feet in diameter, with paneled walls, the panels separated by carved pillars supporting arches; it is decorated in blue and gold. . . . The ceiling is a dome in which are set circular and semicircular windows of jeweled glass.”163 Additionally, “On the south side of this room . . . is a window of colored glass depicting the appearance of the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ to the boy Joseph Smith.”164 The Holy of Holies is “among the smaller rooms of the temple, by far the most beautiful.”165