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25 years ago
An exhibit featuring beehives, the Utah state symbol, was opened at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., on April 24, 1981, according to the May 2, 1981, Church News. The Washington exhibit was arranged by Hal Cannon, folk arts coordinator of the Utah Arts Council.
Following a special show at the Salt Lake Art Center the previous year, "A Smithsonian curator selected about 100 'beehive' items from the Salt Lake exhibit to occupy two rooms in the (Renwick) gallery located across the street from the White House," the article reported.
The exhibit included photos of the beehive atop the Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building), the perch of the Eagle on the Eagle Gate and the beehive on top of the Beehive House, all in Salt Lake City.
The article stated that the beehive had a long history as a symbol in most western cultures over the centuries, "a model of the perfect social system."
It continued: "Nineteenth century Church members easily agreed with the concept, said Cannon, 'though we don't know exactly when or where the beehive took hold of the Mormon imagination. . . .'
"Cannon . . . said President (Brigham) Young saw the beehive as 'analogous to the kingdom of God and the one symbol that united all Church members.' However, said Cannon, 'the symbol was always more social than sacred.' "
The article added: "The mention of honey bees in the Book of Mormon (Ether 2:3) also helped popularize beehives among Church members and brought the word 'deseret' (another name for honey bees) into common usage."
