The Star of David, like other symbols, encapsulates many layers of meaning. Even tho it is a 6 pointed star it represents the number 7 because it has 7 compartments: each of the 6 points plus the center. Thus it represents all the things that 7 stands for (the 6 days of the week plus the sabbath, the 6 cardinal directions plus the center, etc.)
The upward and downward facing triangles also represent the union of male (upward) and female (downward), or the union of God (downward) and man (upward), and thus represent the idea of covenants.
The ancient alchemical symbols for the 4 elements also made use of triangles. Water is the downward triangle (think of a cup) and fire is the upward (think of a single flame). Thus their overlap is a symbol of baptism (water and fire). In 1 Nephi 20:1 the waters of baptism are called (or equated with) the waters of Judah, and I think the Star of David is a beautiful representation of this. In fact, I just baptized my daughter last month, and one of my instructions to her was to remember her baptism, and the covenant she made, every time she sees the Star of David.
Interesting - I've heard some of that before, but not all. I think that's why a lot of saints enjoy symbolisms - they are very flexible and can be applied to different situations. I grew up without religion and then joined the mainstream church after church hopping so I never really learned much about symbology until I found it on my own.
The Star of David, like other symbols, encapsulates many layers of meaning. Even tho it is a 6 pointed star it represents the number 7 because it has 7 compartments: each of the 6 points plus the center. Thus it represents all the things that 7 stands for (the 6 days of the week plus the sabbath, the 6 cardinal directions plus the center, etc.)
The upward and downward facing triangles also represent the union of male (upward) and female (downward), or the union of God (downward) and man (upward), and thus represent the idea of covenants.
The ancient alchemical symbols for the 4 elements also made use of triangles. Water is the downward triangle (think of a cup) and fire is the upward (think of a single flame). Thus their overlap is a symbol of baptism (water and fire). In 1 Nephi 20:1 the waters of baptism are called (or equated with) the waters of Judah, and I think the Star of David is a beautiful representation of this. In fact, I just baptized my daughter last month, and one of my instructions to her was to remember her baptism, and the covenant she made, every time she sees the Star of David.
Interesting - I've heard some of that before, but not all. I think that's why a lot of saints enjoy symbolisms - they are very flexible and can be applied to different situations. I grew up without religion and then joined the mainstream church after church hopping so I never really learned much about symbology until I found it on my own.