Vestments, Sacred, Point to Jesus Christ and His Atonement

Sacred priestly vestments point directly to Jesus Christ and His Atonement. All things testify of Christ (see Moses 6:63; 2 Ne. 11:4), and the sacred vestments are no exception, containing Christ-centered types and symbols. Here are three examples—the high priest’s crown, breastplate, and washing the blood from the clothing.

Golden crown of high priest with words “Holiness to the Lord.”

(1) Anciently, the high priest wore a pure gold “holy crown” on his forehead that read “Holiness to the Lord” (but written in Hebrew; see Ex. 39:30). The high priest wore this crown for two reasons: it served as a visual reminder that the Lord and His temple are most holy, and the crown “shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead” (Ex. 28:38). This high priest’s holy crown foreshadowed the divine mission of Jesus Christ, who would become the ultimate High Priest.

(2) The linen breastplate, attached to the high priest’s ephod, bore twelve precious stones (see Ex. 28:15–30); the stones were attached to the face of the breastplate, each set in gold. The breastplate itself was an artistic work consisting of “fine twined linen,” made of the colors scarlet, gold, blue, and purple. These colors together with the twelve precious stones presented a magnificently beautiful article. Isaiah identified the breastplate with righteousness, “For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate” (Isa. 59:17).

The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were inscribed on the stones, each name on an individual stone. Each of the stones, therefore, signifies one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:29 states, “Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place.”

The high priest represents Jesus Christ, who symbolically carried the twelve tribes of Israel on His heart, the seat of emotion and love, into the temple and there made atonement for the tribes. The fact that the stones were precious indicates that the tribes were treasured unto the Lord. These things have direct application to each of us, especially when we learn of our tribal identification when we receive our patriarchal blessing.

High priest’s breastplate, featuring twelve precious stones with names of tribes (on a mannequin).

Onyx stone on left shoulder of high priest’s vestment; six names of tribes of Israel were inscribed on each stone.

(3) The washing of the blood of the vestments also speaks concerning Jesus and His Atonement. Sacrificing animals in the temple precinct was a bloody event, and blood often stained the priests’ vestments. The stained garments and subsequent cleansing signifies our repenting, coming unto Christ, and washing our own garments “white through the blood of the Lamb” (Alma 13:11; see also Rev. 7:14). So how does one wash his or her garments in Christ’s blood? “No unclean thing can enter his kingdom . . . save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end” (3 Ne. 27:19).