Bee
folklore exists all around the world, as bees are kept for their honey and
byproducts across the globe. Being from Utah, I have been immersed with bee folklore. Utah's state emblem is the beehive.
When the Mormon (Latter Day Saints) Pioneers came across the plains, they came with very little of their possessions. They couldn’t bring most of their belongings, including their livestock, with them across the plains. When they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they were greeted with desert sagebrush and only the promise of religious freedom.
When the Mormon (Latter Day Saints) Pioneers came across the plains, they came with very little of their possessions. They couldn’t bring most of their belongings, including their livestock, with them across the plains. When they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, they were greeted with desert sagebrush and only the promise of religious freedom.
The
symbol of the beehive became one of importance to the Mormon Pioneers. Brigham
Young, the second prophet of the Latter Day Saint Church and Utah’s first governor,
needed to encourage the people to continue to establish their Zion in the
desert. Susan Easton Black, a professor at Brigham Young University stated, “The
beehive symbol was Brigham Young’s way to remind residents of the Jaredite
civilization in America.” In the Book of Mormon, the Jaredites are known
as one of the first groups of people to leave Egypt and travel to the Americas,
also called the Promised Land. The beehive represented unity and industry; much
like the honey bees themselves (Black).
Artwork
of beehives began to immerge from the Mormon Pioneers. Brigham Young’s house is
called “The Beehive House” (see figure 1) and is available for tours in downtown
Salt Lake. The home is filled with artifacts from Brigham Young’s family as
well as the original décor engrained emblematically with the beehive.
Figure 1. Brigham Young Beehive House photograph from "The Beehive House", 2018.
Brigham
Young was a man of many talents, one of them being carpentry. Walking through
the home, one can see beehives etched into the smallest of elements in the home.
The doorframes have bees etched into them (see figure 2). The doorknobs have a
beehive on the doorknob plate and a bee on the doorknob (see figure 3). The
banisters in Brigham Young’s house are capped with the symbolic beehive (see
figure 4).
Figure 2. Doorframe, Brigham Young Beehive House, photograph. Betsy Butler, 2011.
Figure 3. Doorplate and doorknob at Brigham Young Beehive House, photograph. Betsy Butler, 2011.
Figure 4. Banister, Brigham Young Beehive House, photograph. "The Beehive House", 2018.
Brigham
Young’s symbolic beehive became an inspiration throughout the Mormon Pioneers
in their new Zion. The symbol so meaningful to the Pioneers, they engraved it
into their holiest of places, their temple. The doorknobs on the Salt Lake City
Temple clearly state “Holiness to the Lord” with a beehive under the religious
mantra (see figure 5).
Figure 5. Salt Lake City Temple Doorknob, photograph. "Salt Lake Temple Doors." 2018.
Work
Cited
Black,
Susan Easton. “The Beehive and Seseret: Mormon Symbols in Salt Lake City.” Religious Studies Center, 2011, rsc.byu.edu/archived/salt-lake-city/7-beehive-and-deseret-mormon-symbols-salt-lake-city
Butler,
Betsy. “Spot Beehives, Eat Rolls, and Learn about Pioneer Life at Brigham Young's Beehive, Lion House and Historic Park.” Beesfirstapperance, 27 Sept 2011, beesfirstappearance.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/beehive-house/
“Salt
Lake Temple Doors.” LDS Media Library, 2018,
www.lds.org/media-library/images/salt-lake-temple-lds-661115?lang=eng
“The Beehive House: Step inside the historic
home of Brigham Young.” Temple Square,
2018, www.templesquare.com/explore/beehive-house/
