Honey Bee Folklore

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.

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/