Keywords

seals, sealing, ancient Near Eastern history, Biblical studies, Mormon studies

Abstract

When a Latter-day Saint encounters the terms seal and sealing, thoughts of temples and eternal marriage come immediately to mind. In a more secular context, we may look for the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" when purchasing certain products, and we obtain a notary's seal on important documents. What we may not realize is that our use of secular seals and our religious concepts of sealing have a history that can be traced back several thousands of years to the ancient Near East. Knowledge of the history of seals and sealing helps us to understand the figurative use of these terms in many passages of scripture and also to appreciate our own use of words and concepts that draw on millennia-old practices.

Original Publication Citation

“Seals and Sealing Among Ancient and Latter-day Saints,” in Thy People Shall Be My People and Thy God My God (1993 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium; Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1994), 101-117.