Google maps now uses the temple icon for Kingdom Halls

[Juan Silva]

I noticed that Google Maps started using the “temple icon” for Kingdom Halls. Until recently, I remember that the “cross icon” was used. Does anyone know when this change was made?

 

Btw, I’m not sure if the new symbol is the best one to represent Kingdom Halls, but I still think it’s better than the old one.

 

[Sheep]

20 minutes ago, Juan Silva said:

I noticed that Google Maps started using the “temple icon” for Kingdom Halls. Until recently, I remember that the “cross icon” was used. Does anyone know when this change was made?

 

Btw, I’m not sure if the new symbol is the best one to represent Kingdom Halls, but I still think it’s better than the old one.

Hhmm. I never noticed that. (So I don't know when it was changed.) Did they change all religious symbols on Google Maps? No. It seems that churches still use a cross, synagogues use a star of David symbol, and mosques use a temple like ours. (I noticed that some Kingdom Halls in my area don't even have a symbol, or anything to indicate a religious edifice.)

 

Is the temple symbol a better choice? Well, being in the same class as Muslims...?

[Parale]

1 hour ago, Juan Silva said:

Btw, I’m not sure if the new symbol is the best one to represent Kingdom Halls, but I still think it’s better than the old one.

 

This is an interesting one. Using a limited number of map icons - which people are familiar with; or using a large number of icons - many which people simply don't know what they really are.

 

People generally understand that a symbol with a cross on it indicates a 'Christian' place of worship - catholic, protestant, non-conformist etc etc. And thus people also generally understand/presume that a place of worship on a map, indicated without a cross is therefore, not Christian.

 

Interestingly the Google Map marker for LDS/Mormon meetinghouses was actually recently changed from a unique symbol - the Angel Moroni blowing a trumpet - to a cross 🤔 even though the LDS do not generally use the cross as actively as many other 'Christian' do.

 

The apparent reasons for doing so are interesting.......

 

"The Church has been working for some time to improve our presence on Google Maps. One of the items that was chosen to improve the findability of our Church buildings was to join the broader category of 'Christian Churches' instead of being in a category all by ourselves.

 

"Why did the Church make this Google Map pin move?

 

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is interested in findability and always has been. We want people to find us (whether online or in-person, and worship and serve with us). We discovered that Google had assigned Latter-day Saint chapels with a custom Google maps pin that featured Moroni as the icon, while all other Christian denominations are visually identified by a cross. This visual and categorical distinction was limiting our findability for those looking for a Christian church. We are a Christian Church. By making this distinction in Google maps, all meetinghouse map pins were changed or will be changed to a cross.

 

"Our hope is that those searching for Christian churches will have the opportunity to find the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

"Additional (More Technical) Context:

 

"All Google Map locations are assigned a “primary category”. This category determines which icon is used on the marker that appears on the map. Google creates these icons and there is no process by which a request can be made to change it.

 

"Many years ago, Google assigned a Moroni-themed marker to the category “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” This icon was not requested or approved by the Church. Of the 50+ Christian denomination categories, ours was the only one not assigned a cross-themed marker. After a thorough analysis of search data, it was determined that this visual and categorical separation was limiting the visibility of Church meetinghouses in search results for terms like “churches near me” and “Christian churches near me.”

 

"With the approval of the Church Communication Executive Committee, meetinghouses are now assigned the primary category “Christian church” to increase their findability, with “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and “Religious organization” as additional categories. As a result, the Google-assigned icon changed from Moroni to the cross.

 

"This change is specific to meetinghouses only. Other Church-owned properties may continue to display the Moroni marker, including temples or administrative offices."

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/lds/comments/165qjkd/the_church_updates_its_icon_on_google_maps_to_a/jyh5mth/

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Parale

[carlos]

Some time ago I was surprised to see a place on Google Maps which had a swastika pin. I did some research and found that is the symbol they used for Buddhist temples, since the swastika was a Buddhist sacred symbol long before it was adopted by the Nazi party. I had a look now and it seems that symbol has been replaced with a wheel, named a dharma wheel. That sounds like a clever move.

[Parale]

FWIW below are the symbols that openstreetmap uses for religious places of worship - looks like the cross is for trinitarian Christian places, while the kneeling praying person is used for non-trinitarian Christian places (and other unspecified)?? - not sure how many of the 'general public' would be familiar with that distinction though 🤔 🤷‍♂️

 

 

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Parale said:

the symbols that openstreetmap uses

Ya it used to be a cross for Kingdom Halls but I asked them to change it, explaining how offensive it is for JWs, and they did 

[Juan Silva]

3 hours ago, Sheep said:

(I noticed that some Kingdom Halls in my area don't even have a symbol, or anything to indicate a religious edifice.)

Afaik it only uses the temple symbol when the place has the label “Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses”. In some places the KHs are labeled as “religious organization” so no symbol is displayed

[Juan Silva]

3 hours ago, Parale said:

the Angel Moroni blowing a trumpet

I have seen this icon before. Imo, it was a nice, unique symbol, but I think Mormons don’t feel the same way... 

I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to do that for Kingdom Halls (maybe using the watchtower symbol or just 'JW,' although I'm not sure if those could be used since I believe they are trademarked or something like that).

 

2 hours ago, Parale said:

while the kneeling praying person is used for non-trinitarian Christian places

I think the praying guy symbol is better than the current Google maps icon. Not perfect but better than a temple.