The Pentagrams (Five Pointed Stars)

The most sinister and obvious occult ornamentation of the Salt Lake Temple is the pentagram. This symbol is almost universally recognized as a symbol of witchcrafteven in its upright form. With the single point down it is called an inverted pentagram. When the lower point is longer than the others, we have the most generally recognized of all satanic symbolsthe inverted, elongated pentagram. The inverted pentagram is, in fact, the official emblem of the Church of Satan and has been associated with evil for centuries.(1)

Both forms of the star are found in abundance on the Salt Lake Temple. In fact, it might well be said that, with the exception of the beehive (also an occult, Masonic symbol), there is no more common motif in Mormon architecture from the Young period than the inverted pentagram. The inverted pentagram was also a strong part of the Nauvoo temple design.

Ultimately, the pentagram can be traced back to being a symbol of the star, Sirius (from the Greek "scorching"). Albert Pike, premiere Mason and master occultist of 19th century America, identified the "blazing star" which is at the center of every Masonic lodge as the star, Sirius.(2)

Sirius is the brightest star in the heavens and is part of the constellation Canis Major ("Great Dog").(3) For this reason, among others, it is called the "dog star." Because of its brilliance, it was worshipped by the ancient cults of both Sumer and Egypt as a god. It was the center of the stellar tradition in Sumeria. This cult was so evil and debauched that later rulers, including the pagan pharaohs of Egypt, did everything they could to wipe it out; destroying its temples and defacing its obelisks and monuments.(4)

The Star of Set

Sirius was known to the Greeks as Sothis and to the Egyptians as Set.(5) Set is the Egyptian religion's devil,(6) and is represented as a dog-headed man.(7) He is called by Masons and Rosicrucians the "Argentinium Astrum" or Silver Star, and is the patron of the highest three degrees (or spheres) of the magical Tree of Life.(8) His evil reputation extends back in literature to the time of the Greek writer, Herodotus.

Sirius rises due east in Egyptian latitudes. Hence, it is known as the "Eastern Star" among occultists because of its prominence and magic power.(9) Masonic lodges and most occult lodges are oriented toward the east because of the esoteric belief that their power ultimately flows from Sirius or Set. Today the emblem of The Order of the Eastern Star is an inverted pentagram.

The ancient worship of Set was so vile and debased that most pagans even shied away from it. It has only come to the fore again in the past two centuries or so, and involves acts of homosexuality and bestiality. The celebrated Satanist, bi-sexual and Freemason, Aleister Crowley did much to bring Set's worship back into prominence through his anti-Christian Thelema Cult which still exists to this day40 years after Crowley's death.(10) Set's (or Satan's) power is invoked or "turned on" by the inverted pentagram, and there are literally dozens all over the Salt Lake Temple! Those who visit the "Christus" room of the Salt Lake Temple Visitors' center are unaware that as they view the statue, they are surrounded from behind, by a ring of inverted pentagrams.

The magical use of the inverted pentagram is to draw the kingdom of Satan into manifestation on earth, to implement Satan's power more fully in the lives of those invoking it, and in the lives of people everywhere. It can thus have no other use than that of black magic!(11)

1. For further information and documentation, see Schnoebelen and Spencer, p.46-50 and notes. 2. Pike, Albert, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Charleston, 1871, 1917, pp. 14-15. 3. Oxford American Dictionary, Oxford, 1980, p. 636. 4. Kenneth Grant, The Magical Revival, Weiser, 1970, p. 70. i5. bid, pp. 43-44, 65. 6. Gardiner, Sir Arthur, Egyptian Grammar, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1927, 1978, p.624. See also Budge, Sir E.A.Wallis, An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, Dover, New York, 1920, 1978, vol. ii, p. 627. 7. For an illustration of Set, see Lehner, Ernst, Symbols, Signs and Signets, Dover, New York, 1950, p. 19, #19.8. Grant, p. 15. 9. Michell, John, The City of Revelation, Ballentine Books, New York, 1972, p.4. 10. See Crowley's official biography, The Great Beast, by Symonds, Johnif you can stomach it. 11. For extensive treatment of the relationship between Sirius, the Crowley cult, Satanism, drug cults and ancient religions, see Wilson, Robert Anton, Cosmic Trigger, Berkeley Press, 1977 , and/or Temple, Robert K.G. The Sirius Mystery (a sort of "thinking man's" Chariots of the Gods) St. Martin's Press, New York, 1976.