Towers

Several temples feature one or more towers. For example, the Cochabamba Bolivia, Oakland California, and Provo City Center Temples feature four corner towers together with a prominent central tower; the Salt Lake Temple has six towers; and the Manti and Logan Utah Temples each have two chief towers. Towers have multiple symbolic significances:

(1) With regard to the six towers of the Salt Lake Temple, President Brigham Young explained, “There will be three towers on the east, representing the President and his two Counselors; also three similar towers on the west representing the Presiding Bishop and his two Counselors; the towers on the east the Melchisedek priesthood, those on the west the Aaronic priesthood. The center towers will be higher than those on the sides, and the west towers a little lower than those on the east end.”311

Similar to those of the Salt Lake Temple, the east tower of both the Logan (170 feet) and Manti (179 feet) temples are more prominent in height than the west towers (Logan 165 feet, Manti 169 feet).312 And once again, the east towers of these two temples signify the Melchizedek Priesthood and the west the Aaronic Priesthood.

Six towers of the Salt Lake Temple; the three to the east are higher than the three to the west.

(2) Metaphorically, God Himself is our “high tower” (2 Sam. 22:3; Ps. 144:2)! He is “a strong tower from the enemy” (Ps. 61:3; see also Prov. 18:10); and “the name of the Lord is a strong tower” (Prov. 18:10; see also D&C 97:20). As a mighty tower, He has an exalted vantage point and perfect view of the happenings below; He also has the power to protect us from all categories of armies and marauders, whether they be evil spirits or mortal enemies. Like the towers of old that stood high above cities, villages, and castles—God (as a high tower) protects Zion’s inhabitants from evil and other destructive powers.