This has been the Reform Mormon symbol since 2003. That means that this has been a symbol of Mormonism for more than 10% of the existence of Mormonism.
I wanted to know a bit more about the meaning of this symbol. I had remembered this being talked about briefly either on the archived ReformMormonism.org or on Rob Lauer’s Reform Mormon Gospel Doctrine site, but I couldn’t find an article that mentioned it. I reached out to Rob and asked him about it’s meaning. He told me:
“The circle represents eternity: the V is the compass, representing the course of progress. Together they represent progression through eternity.”
Once I realized it was a combination of these 2 Mormon symbols, I knew where I could go to find out more.
Circle
In Joseph Smith Jr.’s King Follett Sermon, he said:
“Is it logical to say that a spirit is immortal and yet have a beginning? Because if a spirit of man had a beginning, it will have an end, but it does not have a beginning or end. This is good logic and is illustrated by my ring. I take my ring from my finger and liken it unto the mind of man – the immortal spirit – because it has no beginning or end. Suppose you cut it in two – as the Lord lives there would be a beginning and an end. So it is with man.”
The ring that Joseph Smith used in this sermon looked like this:
I got a replica of this ring when I was in high school, and wore it for years. The circle took on this meaning of eternity because of this ring.
Compass
The Compass has been a Mormon symbol since the Nauvoo era, when it was put on the undergarments associated with the time. This symbol was lifted from Freemasonry, which there is a reminder “to circumscribe and keep us within bounds with all mankind” It is also interesting to note that the compass draws circles.
In 1883 John Taylor said that the Compass had now come to represented “a guide to the wearer as the North Star is a guide in the night to those who do not know the way they should go.” (Mysteries of Godliness, pg 111/170)
In 1926 David O. McKay said that it represents “an undeviating course leading to eternal life; a constant reminder that desires, appetites, and passions are to be kept within the bounds the Lord has set; and that all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole” (Mysteries of Godliness, pg 116/170)
The Endowment has said that the compass “[Suggests] to the mind an undeviating course leading to eternal life; a constant reminder that desires, appetites, and passions are to be kept within the bounds the Lord has set; and that all truth may be circumscribed into one great whole.”
The Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship’s “The Book of Remembrance” says that it is meant to symbolize mercy.
I myself in 2024 have said that the symbol “serves as a reminder to chart an undeviating course to exaltation.”
And so, the Reform Mormon symbol represents eternal progression.