,,the ,,house ,,of ,,the ,,lord    ,a   
,,study ,,of ,,holy ,,sanctuaries       
,,ancient ,,and ,,modern    ,,including 
,,forty-,,six ,,plates ,,illustrative   
,,of ,,modern ,,temples        ,by      
,,james ,e4 ,,talmage    ,one of the    
,twelve ,apostles of the ,church of     
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day  ,saints  
,published by the ,church    ,salt ,lake
 ,city1 ,utah    #aiab        ,,preface 
iii ,among the numerous sects and       
churches of the present day1 the        
,latter-day ,saints are distinguished as
 builders of ,temples4 ,in this  respect
 they resemble ,israel of olden time4   
,it is not surprising that  great and   
widespread interest is manifest         
respecting this peculiarity  of the     
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day
 ,saints1 nor that questions  are       
continually arising as to the purpose   
and motive behind this great  labor1 and
 the nature of the ordinances           
administered in these modern  ,houses of
 the ,lord4 ,to answer some of these    

questions1 and to place  within the     
reach of earnest inquirers authentic    
information concerning  the doctrine and
 practise of ,temple ministration1 this 
book has been  written4    ,by way of   
affording means of easy comparison      
between the  ,temple-building           
achievements of past and those of       
current time1 a  brief treatment of the 
sanctuaries of earlier dispensations has
 been  included4 ,while detailed        
information pertaining to ancient       
,temples and  related sanctuaries is    
accessible to all1 through cyclopedias1 
,bible  dictionaries and works of more  
special scope1 but little concerning    
the ,temples of today and the sacred    
service therein rendered has  been      
published in separate form4 ,the        
official ,history of the ,church  of    
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints   
contains abundant data on the  subject2 
but the information is distributed      
through many tomes1 and is  of access to
 comparatively few4    ,among the       

special publications in this field1 most
 of which are  primarily devoted to the 
history and description of the ,temple  
at ,salt  ,lake ,city1 are the          
following3    iv ,temples3 ,descriptive 
and historical sketches of ancient and  
modern sacred edifices1 a pamphlet of   
#bh pages1 by ,j4 ,m4 ,sjodahl1 ,salt   
,lake ,city1 #ahib4 ,this covers the    
history of the ,salt ,lake ,city ,temple
  to the time of the laying of the      
capstone1 ,april1 #ahib4 ,the pamphlet  
contains outline drawings4    ,the ,salt
 ,lake ,temple1 an article by ,james ,h4
 ,anderson1 published in  ,the          
,contributor1 ,vol4 ,,xiv1 ,no4 #f1     
,april1 #ahic1 #fj pages with numerous  
illustrations of the ,temple at         
different stages1 together with details 
of construction1 and portraits of       
,church officials and others connected  
with the erection of the great          
structure4    ,historical and           
descriptive sketch of the ,salt ,lake   
,temple1 an  illustrated pamphlet of #cf

 pages published by the ,deseret ,news1 
,salt  ,lake ,city1 ,april1 #ahic4    ,a
 ,description of the ,great ,temple1    
,salt ,lake ,city1 and a statement      
concerning the purposes for which it has
 been built1 a pamphlet of  #dj pages1  
by ,d4 ,m4 ,mc,allister1 ,salt ,lake    
,city1 #aiab4 ,this contains  half-tone 
engravings of both exterior and interior
 views4    ,in the present undertaking  
the author has been the recipient of    
many  courtesies and much assistance    
from the officials of the several       
,temples1 the ,church ,historian and his
 assistants1 the general  authorities of
 the ,church1 and many others4 ,to all  
who have assisted in  the pleasing labor
 his obligations are respectfully       
acknowledged4    ,the photographs       
showing interior views of the ,salt     
,lake ,city ,temple are  the work of the
 ,c4 ,r4 ,savage ,company1 to whom      
thanks are tendered for  liberal1       
courteous1 and efficient service4       
,james ,e4 ,talmage    ,salt ,lake      

,city1 ,utah1 ,september #ba1 #aiab4    
,,contents      ,,chapter ,i4    ,a     
,,pre-,,view ,,of ,,the ,,subject4    ,a
 general view of sanctuaries of ancient 
and modern times4      ,,chapter ,,ii4  
,,sanctuaries ,,in ,,earlier            
,,dispensations4    ,the                
,testimony4--,provisional               
,tabernacle4--,third                    
,tabernacle4--,temple    of             
,solomon4--,temple of ,ezekiel's        
vision4--,temple of                     
,zerubbabel4--,temple of ,herod4        
,,chapter ,,iii4    ,,need ,,of         
,,temples ,,in ,,the ,,present          
,,dispensation4    ,necessity of        
obedience to the laws and ordinances of 
the    ,gospel4--,authority to labor in 
behalf of the dead4--,temples           
required for vicarious service4         
,,chapter ,,iv4    ,,modern ,,temple    
,,ordinances4    ,baptism for the       
dead4--,ordination and                  
endowment4--,salvation and              
exaltation4--,degrees of                

glory4--,sealing in marriage4--,other   
sealing ordinances4      ,,chapter ,v4  
,,modern ,,day ,,temples4               
,temple-site at ,independence1          
,missouri4--,kirtland                   
,temple4--,temple-site    at ,far ,west1
 ,missouri4--,nauvoo ,temple4           
,,chapter ,,vi4    ,,the ,,great        
,,temple ,,at ,,salt ,,lake             
,,city--,,historical4    ,beginning of  
the work4--,early description4--,laying 
of    the capstone4--,completion of the 
building and its                        
dedication4--,dedicatory ,prayer4       
vi    ,,chapter ,,vii4    ,,the ,,great 
,,temple ,,at ,,salt ,,lake             
,,city--,,exterior4    ,architectural   
style4--,general                        
description4--,emblematical stones4     
,,chapter ,,viii4    ,,the ,,great      
,,temple ,,at ,,salt ,,lake             
,,city--,,interior4    ,the             
,annex4--,corridors and rooms of the    
,temple4      ,,chapter ,,ix4           
,,temple ,,block4    ,the ,old          

,tabernacle4--,the                      
,tabernacle4--,general ,service ,plant  
,,chapter ,x4    ,,other ,,utah         
,,temples4    ,st4 ,george              
,temple4--,logan ,temple4--,manti       
,temple4      ,,chapter ,,xi4           
,,conclusion4    ,the ,lesser or        
,aaronic ,priesthood operative in       
ancient ,temples4--,the    ,higher or   
,melchisedek ,priesthood operative in   
,temples of today4      ,,plates4       
,illustrations of ,modern ,temples4     
,,chapter ,i    ,a ,,pre-,,view ,,of    
,,the ,,subject    #a ,both by          
derivation and common usage the term    
temple1 in its  literal application1 is 
of restricted and specific meaning4 ,the
  essential idea of a temple is and ever
 has been that of a place  specially set
 apart for service regarded as sacred1  
and of real or  assumed sanctity2 in a  
more restricted sense1 a temple is a    
building  constructed for and           
exclusively devoted to sacred rites and 
ceremonies4    ,the ,latin ,templum was 

the equivalent of the ,hebrew ,beth     
,elohim1 and  signified the abode of    
,deity2 hence1 as associated with       
,divine worship1  it meant literally the
 ,,house ,,of ,,the ,,lord4#a           
,structures regarded in their entirety  
as sanctuaries1 #b or enclosing         
apartments so designated1 have been     
reared in many different ages1 both  by 
worshippers of idols and by the         
followers of the true and living  ,god4 
,heathen temples of antiquity were      
regarded as abiding places of  the      
mythical gods and goddesses whose names 
they bore1 and to whose  service the    
structures were dedicated4 ,while the   
purlieus of such  temples were used as  
places of general assembly and public   
ceremony1  there were always inner      
precincts1 into which only the          
consecrated  priests might enter1 and   
wherein1 it was claimed1 the presence of
  the deity was manifest4 ,as evidence  
of the exclusiveness of ancient         
temples1 even those of heathen origin1  

we find that the altar of  pagan worship
 stood not within the temple proper1 but
 in front of the  entrance4 ,temples    
have never been regarded as places of   
ordinary public  assembly1 but as sacred
 enclosures consecrated to the most     
solemn  ceremonials of that particular  
system of worship1 idolatrous or        
,divine1  of which the temple stood as  
visible symbol and material type4    ,in
 olden times the people of ,israel were 
distinguished among nations as  the     
builders of sanctuaries to the name of  
the living ,god4 ,this service  was     
specifically required of them by        
,jehovah1 whom they professed to  serve4
 ,the history of ,israel as a nation    
dates from the exodus4 ,during  the two 
centuries of their enslavement in       
,egypt1 the children of ,jacob  had     
grown to be a numerous and powerful     
people2 nevertheless they were  in      
bondage4 ,in due time1 however1 their   
sorrows and supplications came  up      
before the ,lord1 and ,he led them forth

 by the outstretched arm of  power4 ,no 
sooner had they escaped from the        
environment of ,egyptian  idolatry1 than
 they were required to prepare a        
sanctuary1 wherein  ,jehovah #c would   
manifest ,his presence and make known   
,his will as  their accepted ,lord and  
,king4    ,the ,tabernacle1 which from  
the time of its construction in the     
wilderness and thence onward throughout 
the period of wandering and for         
centuries thereafter1 was sacred to     
,israel as the sanctuary of ,jehovah1   
had been built according to revealed    
plan and specifications4 ,it was a      
compact and portable structure as the   
exigencies of migration required4       
,though the ,tabernacle was but a tent1 
it was made of the best1 the  most      
prized1 and the costliest materials the 
people possessed4 ,this  condition of   
excellence was appropriate and fitting1 
for the finished  structure was a       
nation's offering unto the ,lord4 ,its  
construction  was prescribed in minutest

 detail1 both as to design and material2
  it was in every respect the best the  
people could give1 and ,jehovah         
sanctified the proffered gift by ,his   
divine acceptance4 ,in passing1 let  us 
be mindful of the fact that whether it  
be the gift of a man or a  nation1 the  
best1 if offered willingly and with pure
 intent1 is always  excellent in the    
sight of ,god1 however poor by other    
comparison that  best may be4    ,to the
 call for material wherewith to build   
the ,tabernacle1 there was  such willing
 and liberal response that the need was 
more than met3 ,for  the stuff they had 
was sufficient for all the work to make 
it1 and  too much4#b ,proclamation was  
made accordingly1 and the people were   
restrained from bringing more4 ,the     
artificers and workmen engaged in  the  
making of the ,tabernacle were          
designated by direct revelation1 or     
chosen by divinely appointed authority  
with special reference to their  skill  
and devotion4 ,the completed            

,tabernacle1 viewed in #d relation to   
its surroundings and considered in      
connection with the circumstances  of   
its creation1 was an imposing structure4
 ,its frames were of rare  wood1 its    
inner hangings of fine linen and        
elaborate embroideries with  prescribed 
designs in blue1 purple1 and scarlet2   
its middle and outer  curtains of choice
 skins2 its metal parts of brass1       
silver1 and gold4    ,outside the       
,tabernacle1 but within its enclosing   
court1 stood the  altar of sacrifice and
 the laver or font4 ,the first apartment
 of the  ,tabernacle proper was an outer
 room1 or ,holy ,place2 and beyond this1
  screened from observation by the      
second veil1 was the inner sanctuary1   
the ,most ,holy ,place1 specifically    
known as the ,holy of ,holies4 ,in the  
appointed order1 only the priests were  
permitted to enter the outer  apartment2
 while to the inner place1 the holiest  
of all1 none but the  high priest might 
be admitted1 and he but once a year1 and

 then only  after a long course of      
purification and sanctification4#c      
,among the most sacred appurtenances of 
the ,tabernacle was the ,ark  of the    
,covenant4 ,this was a casket or chest1 
made of the best wood  obtainable1 lined
 and overlaid with pure gold1 and       
provided with four  rings of gold to    
receive the rods or poles used in       
carrying the ,ark  during travel4 ,the  
,ark contained certain objects of sacred
 import1 such  as the golden pot of     
manna1 preserved as a remembrance2 and  
to this  were afterward added ,aaron's  
rod that had budded1 and the tablets of 
stone inscribed by the hand of ,god4    
,when the ,tabernacle was set up in  the
 camp of ,israel1 the ,ark was placed   
within the inner veil1 in the  ,holy of 
,holies4 ,resting upon the ,ark was the 
,mercy ,seat1 surmounted by  a pair of  
cherubim made #e of beaten gold4 ,from  
this seat did the ,lord  manifest ,his  
presence1 even as promised before either
 ,ark or ,tabernacle  had been made3    

,and there ,i will meet with thee1 and  
,i will commune  with thee from above   
the mercy seat1 from between the two    
cherubims  which are upon the ark of the
 testimony1 of all things which ,i will 
give thee in commandment unto the       
children of ,israel4#d    ,no detailed  
description of the ,tabernacle1 its     
appurtenances or  furniture1 will be    
attempted at this place2 it is          
sufficient for our  present purpose to  
know that the camp of ,israel had such a
 sanctuary2  that it was constructed    
according to revealed plan2 that it was 
the  embodiment of the best the people  
could give both as to material and      
workmanship2 that it was the offering of
 the people to their ,god1 and  was duly
 accepted by ,him4#e ,as shall yet be   
shown1 the ,tabernacle  was a prototype 
of the more stable and magnificent      
,temple by which in  course of time it  
was superseded4    ,after ,israel had   
become established in the land of       
promise1 when1  after four decades of   

wandering in the wilderness1 the        
covenant people  possessed at last a    
,canaan of their own1 the ,tabernacle   
with its sacred  contents was given a   
resting place in ,shiloh2 and thither   
came the  tribes to learn the will and  
word of ,god4#f ,afterward it was       
removed  to ,gibeon#g and yet later to  
the ,city of ,david1 or ,zion4#h    #f  
,david1 the second king of ,israel1     
desired and planned to build a  house   
unto the ,lord1 declaring that it was   
unfit that he1 the king1  should dwell  
in a palace of cedar1 while the         
sanctuary of ,god was but  a tent4#i    
,but the ,lord spake by the mouth of    
,nathan the prophet1  declining the     
proposed offering1 and making plain the 
fact that to be  acceptable unto ,him it
 was not enough that the gift be        
appropriate1  but that the giver must   
also be worthy4 ,david1 king of ,israel1
 though  in many respects a man after   
,god's own heart1 had sinned2 and his   
sin  had not yet found atonement4 ,thus 

spake the king3 ,i had in mine heart  to
 build an house of rest for the ark of  
the covenant of the ,lord1 and  for the 
footstool of our ,god1 and had made     
ready for the building3 ,but  ,god said 
unto me1 ,thou shalt not build an house 
for my name1 because  thou hast been a  
man of war1 and hast shed blood4#aj     
,nevertheless1  ,david was permitted to 
gather material for the ,house of the   
,lord1 which  edifice not he1 but       
,solomon1 his son1 should build4        
,soon after ,solomon's accession to the 
throne he set about the labor1  which1  
as heritage and honor1 had come to him  
with his crown4 ,he laid  the foundation
 in the fourth year of his reign1 and   
the building  was completed within seven
 years and a half4 ,with the great      
wealth  accumulated by his kingly father
 and specifically reserved for the      
building of the ,temple1 ,solomon was   
able to put the known world under       
tribute1 and to enlist the co-operation 
of nations in his great  undertaking4   

,the temple workmen numbered scores of  
thousands1 and every  department was in 
charge of master craftsmen4 ,to serve on
 the #g great  structure in any capacity
 was an honor2 and labor acquired a     
dignity  never before recognized4       
,masonry became a profession1 and the   
graded  orders therein established have 
endured until this day4 ,the erection   
of the ,temple of ,solomon was an       
epoch-making event1 not alone in the    
history of ,israel1 but in that of the  
world4    ,according to commonly        
accepted chronology1 the ,temple was    
finished  about #ajje ,b4 ,c4 ,in       
architecture and construction1 in design
 and  costliness1 it is known as one of 
the most remarkable buildings in        
history4 ,the dedicatory services lasted
 seven days--a week of holy  rejoicing  
in ,israel4 ,with fitting ceremony1 the 
,tabernacle of the  ,congregation and   
the sacred ,ark of the ,covenant were   
brought into the  ,temple2 and the ,ark 
was deposited in the inner sanctuary1   

the ,most  ,holy ,place4 ,the ,lord's   
gracious acceptance was manifest in the 
cloud  that filled the sacred chambers  
as the priests withdrew3 ,so that the   
priests could not stand to minister by  
reason of the cloud3 for the  glory of  
the ,lord had filled the house of       
,god4#aa ,thus did the ,temple          
supersede and include the ,tabernacle1  
of which1 indeed1 it was the  gorgeous  
successor4    ,a comparison of the plan 
of ,solomon's ,temple with that of the  
earlier  ,tabernacle shows that in all  
essentials of arrangement and proportion
  the two were so nearly alike as to be 
practically identical4 ,true1  the      
,tabernacle had but one enclosure1 while
 the ,temple was surrounded  by courts1 
but the inner structure itself1 the     
,temple proper1 closely  followed the   
earlier design4 ,the dimensions of the  
,holy of ,holies1 the  ,holy ,place1 #h 
and the ,porch1 were in the ,temple     
exactly double those  of the            
corresponding parts in the ,tabernacle4 

,the glorious pre-eminence of this      
splendid structure was of brief         
duration4 ,thirty-four years after its  
dedication1 and but five years          
subsequent to the death of ,solomon1 its
 decline began2 and this  decline was   
soon to develop into general spoliation1
 and finally to  become an actual       
desecration4 ,solomon the king1 the man 
of wisdom1 the  master-builder1 had been
 led astray by the wiles of idolatrous  
women1  and his wayward ways had        
fostered iniquity in ,israel4 ,the      
nation was  no longer a unit2 there were
 factions and sects1 parties and creeds1
  some worshipping on the hill-tops1    
others under green trees1 each party    
claiming excellence for its own         
particular shrine4 ,the ,temple soon    
lost  its sanctity4 ,the gift became    
depreciated by the perfidy of the giver1
  and ,jehovah withdrew ,his protecting 
presence from the place no longer  holy4
    ,the ,egyptians1 from whose bondage 
the people had been delivered1 were     

again permitted to oppress ,israel4     
,shishak1 king of ,egypt1 captured      
,jerusalem--the city of ,david and the  
site of the ,temple--and he  took away  
the treasures of the house of the       
,lord4#ab ,part of the  aforetime sacred
 furniture left by the ,egyptians was   
taken by others1  and bestowed upon     
idols4#ac ,the work of desecration      
continued through  centuries4 ,two      
hundred and sixteen years after the     
,egyptian spoliation1  ,ahaz1 king of   
,judah1 robbed the ,temple of some      
remaining treasures1  and sent part of  
its remnant of gold and silver as a     
present to a  pagan king whose favor he 
sought to #i gain4 ,furthermore1 he     
removed  the altar and the font1 and    
left but a house where once had stood a 
,temple4#ad ,later1 ,nebuchadnezzar1    
king of ,babylon1 completed the         
despoiling of the ,temple1 and carried  
away its few remaining treasures4  ,he  
then destroyed the building itself by   
fire4#ae    ,thus1 about six hundred    

years before the earthly advent of our  
,lord1  ,israel was left without a      
,temple4 ,the people had divided2 there 
were  two kingdoms--,israel and         
,judah--each at enmity with the other2  
they had  become idolatrous and         
altogether wicked2 the ,lord had        
rejected them  and their sanctuary4 ,the
 ,kingdom of ,israel1 comprising        
approximately  ten of the twelve tribes1
 had been made subject to ,assyria about
 #gba  ,b4 ,c41 and a century later the 
,kingdom of ,judah was subdued by the   
,babylonians4 ,for seventy years the    
people of ,judah--thereafter known  as  
,jews--remained in captivity1 even as   
had been predicted4#af ,then1  under the
 friendly rule of ,cyrus#ag and         
,darius#ah they were permitted  to      
return to ,jerusalem1 and once more to  
rear a ,temple in accordance  with their
 faith4 ,in remembrance of the director 
of the work1 the  restored ,temple is   
known in history as the ,temple of      
,zerubbabel4 ,the  foundations were laid

 with solemn ceremony2 and on that      
occasion  living veterans who remembered
 the earlier ,temple1 wept with joy4#ai 
,in spite of legal technicalities#bj and
 other obstructions1 the  work #aj      
continued1 and within twenty years after
 their return from  captivity the ,jews 
had a ,temple ready for dedication4 ,the
 ,temple of  ,zerubbabel was finished   
#eae ,b4 ,c41 specifically on the third 
day of  the month of ,adar1 in the sixth
 year of the reign of ,darius the king4 
,the dedicatory services followed       
immediately4#ba ,while this ,temple  was
 greatly inferior in richness of finish 
and furniture as compared  with the     
splendid ,temple of ,solomon1 it was    
nevertheless the best the  people could 
build1 and the ,lord accepted it as an  
offering typifying  the love and        
devotion of ,his covenant children4 ,in 
proof of this ,divine  acceptance1      
witness the ministrations of such       
prophets as ,zechariah1  ,haggai1 and   
,malachi1 within its walls4    ,about   

sixteen years before the birth of       
,christ1 ,herod ,i1 king of ,judea1     
commenced the reconstruction of the then
 decayed and generally ruinous  ,temple 
of ,zerubbabel4 ,for five centuries that
 structure had stood1  and doubtless it 
had become largely a wreck of time4     
,many incidents  in the earthly life of 
the ,savior are associated with the     
,temple of  ,herod4 ,it is evident from 
scripture that while opposed to the     
degraded  and commercial uses to which  
the ,temple had been betrayed1 ,christ  
recognized and acknowledged the sanctity
 of the temple precincts4 ,the  ,temple 
of ,herod was a sacred structure2 by    
whatsoever name it might  have been     
known1 it was to ,him the ,house of the 
,lord4 ,and then1 when  the sable       
curtain descended upon the great tragedy
 of ,calvary1 when  at last the         
agonizing cry1 ,it is finished1 ascended
 from the cross1  the veil of the       
,temple was rent1 and the one-time ,holy
 of ,holies was  bared4 ,the absolute   

#aa destruction of the ,temple had been 
foretold by  our ,lord1 while yet ,he   
lived in the flesh4#bb ,in the year #gj 
,a4,d4 the  ,temple was utterly         
destroyed by fire in connection with the
 capture of  ,jerusalem by the ,romans  
under ,titus4    ,the ,temple of ,herod 
was the last temple reared on the       
eastern  hemisphere4 ,from the          
destruction of that great edifice onward
 to the  time of the re-establishment of
 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ in the   
nineteenth century1 our only record of  
temple building is such mention  as is  
found in ,nephite chronicles4 ,book of  
,mormon scriptures affirm  that temples 
were erected by the ,nephite colonists  
on what is now known  as the ,american  
continent2 but we have few details of   
construction  and fewer facts as to     
administrative ordinances pertaining to 
these  western temples4 ,the people     
constructed a ,temple about #egj ,b4 ,c4
 and  this we learn was patterned after 
the ,temple of ,solomon1 though greatly 

inferior to that gorgeous structure in  
grandeur and costliness4#bc  ,it is of  
interest to read that when the          
resurrected ,lord manifested  ,himself  
to the ,nephites on the western         
continent1 ,he found them  assembled    
about the ,temple4#bd ,the ,book of     
,mormon1 however1 makes no  mention of  
temples even as late as the time of the 
destruction of the  ,temple at          
,jerusalem2 and moreover the ,nephite   
nation came to an end  within about four
 centuries after ,christ4 ,it is        
evident1 therefore1  that on both       
hemispheres temples ceased to exist in  
the early period  of the apostasy and   
the very conception of a ,temple in the 
distinctive  sense perished amongst     
mankind4    #ab ,for many centuries no  
offer of a sanctuary was made unto the  
,lord2  indeed1 it appears that no need 
of such was recognized4 ,the apostate   
church declared that direct             
communication from ,god had ceased2 and 
in  place of ,divine administration a   

self-constituted government claimed     
supreme power4 ,it is evident that1 as  
far as the ,church was concerned1  the  
voice of the ,lord had been silenced2   
that the people were no longer  willing 
to listen to the word of revelation1 and
 that the government of  the ,church had
 been abrogated by human agencies4#be   
,when1 in the reign of ,constantine1 a  
perverted ,christianity had become  the 
religion of state1 the need of a place  
wherein ,god would reveal  ,himself was 
still utterly unseen or ignored4 ,true1 
many edifices1 most  of them costly and 
grand1 were erected4 ,of these some were
 dedicated  to ,peter and ,paul1 to     
,james and ,john2 others to the         
,magdalene and the  ,virgin2 but not one
 was raised by authority and name to the
 honor of  ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,among  
the multitude of chapels and shrines1 of
  churches and cathedrals1 the ,son of  
,man had not a place to call ,his  own4 
,it was declared that the pope1 sitting 
in ,rome1 was the vicegerent  of        

,christ1 and that without revelation he 
was empowered to declare the  will of   
,god4#bf    ,not until the ,gospel was  
restored in the nineteenth century1 with
 its  ancient powers and privileges1 was
 the ,holy ,priesthood manifest again   
among men4 ,and be it remembered that   
the authority to speak and act in  the  
name of ,god is essential to a ,temple1 
and a ,temple is void without  the      
sacred authority of the ,holy           
,priesthood4 ,in the year of our ,lord  
#ahbj1 ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet #ac  
of the latest dispensation1 then  a lad 
in his fifteenth year1 received a       
,divine manifestation1#bg in  which both
 the ,eternal ,father and ,his ,son1    
,jesus ,christ1 appeared and  instructed
 the youthful suppliant4 ,through       
,joseph ,smith1 the ,gospel  of old was 
restored to earth1 and the ancient law  
was re-established4  ,in course of time1
 through the ministry of the prophet1   
,the ,church of  ,jesus ,christ of      
,latter-day ,saints was organized1 and  

its establishment  was marked by        
manifestations of ,divine power4#bh     
,it is a significant fact that this     
,church1 true to the distinction  it    
affirms--that of being the ,church of   
the living ,god as its name             
proclaims--began in the very early days 
of its history to provide for  the      
erection of a temple4#bi ,the ,church   
was organized as an earthly             
body-corporate on the sixth of ,april1  
,a4 ,d4 #ahcj2 and1 in ,july of the     
year following1 a revelation was        
received designating the site of a      
future temple near ,independence1       
,missouri4 ,the construction of a temple
  on this chosen spot is yet delayed1 as
 is also the case with another          
temple-site in ,far ,west ,missouri1#cj 
on which the corner-stones were  laid in
 #ahch4 ,the ,church holds as a sacred  
trust the commission to  build the      
temples so located1 but as yet the way  
has not been opened  for the            
consummation of the plan4 ,in the       

meantime temples in other  places have  
been reared1 and already the modern     
dispensation is marked  by the erection 
of six such sacred edifices4    ,on the 
first day of ,june1 #ahcc1 in a         
revelation to the #ad ,prophet  ,joseph 
,smith1 the ,lord directed the immediate
 building of a holy  house1 in which ,he
 promised to endow ,his chosen servants 
with power  and authority4#ca ,the      
people responded to the call with       
willingness  and devotion4 ,in spite of 
dire poverty and in the face of         
unrelenting  persecution1 the work was  
carried to completion1 and in ,march1   
#ahcf1  the first ,temple of modern     
times was dedicated at ,kirtland1       
,ohio4#cb  ,the dedicatory services were
 marked by ,divine manifestations       
comparable  to those attending the      
offering of the first ,temple of olden  
times2 and  on later occasions heavenly 
beings appeared within the sacred       
precincts  with revelations of the      
,divine will to man4 ,in that place the 

,lord  ,jesus was again seen and        
heard4#cc ,within two years from the    
time of  its dedication the ,kirtland   
,temple was abandoned by the people who 
built it2 they were forced to flee      
because of persecution1 and with  their 
departure the sacred ,temple became an  
ordinary house1 disowned of  the ,lord  
to whose name it had been reared4 ,the  
building still stands  and is used as a 
meeting-house by a small and            
comparatively unknown  sect4    ,the    
migration of the ,latter-day ,saints was
 to the west2 and they  established     
themselves first in ,missouri1 and later
 in ,illinois with  ,nauvoo as the      
central seat of the ,church4 ,scarcely  
had they become  settled in their new   
abode when the voice of revelation was  
heard  calling upon the people to again 
build a house sacred to the name of     
,god4    ,the corner-stones of the      
,nauvoo ,temple were laid ,april #f1    
#ahda1 and  the capstone was placed in  
position #ae ,may #bd1 #ahde2 each event

 was  celebrated by a solemn assembly   
and sacred service4 ,though it was      
evident that the people would be forced 
to flee again1 and though they  knew    
that the ,temple would have to be       
abandoned soon after completion1  they  
labored with might and diligence to     
finish and properly furnish  the        
structure4 ,it was dedicated ,april #cj1
 #ahdf1 though certain  portions1 such  
as the baptistry1 had been previously   
dedicated and used  in ordinance work4  
,many of the ,saints received their     
blessings and holy  endowments in the   
,nauvoo ,temple1 though1 even before the
 completion  of the building1 the exodus
 of the people had begun4 ,the ,temple  
was  abandoned by those who in poverty  
and by sacrifice had reared it4 ,in     
,november1 #ahdh1 it became a prey to   
incendiary flames1 and in ,may1  #ahej1 
a tornado demolished what remained of   
the blackened walls4    ,on the #bdth of
 ,july1 #ahdg1 the ,mormon pioneers     
entered the valleys  of ,utah1 while yet

 the region was ,mexican territory1 and 
established  a settlement where now     
stands ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,four days    
later ,brigham  ,young1 prophet and     
leader1 indicated a site in the         
sage-brush wastes1  and1 striking the   
arid ground with his staff1 proclaimed1 
,here will  be the ,temple of our ,god4 
,that site is now the beautiful ,temple 
,block1 around which the city has grown4
 ,in ,february1 #ahec1 the area  was    
dedicated with sacred service1 and on   
the #fth of ,april following1  the      
corner stones of the building were laid 
to the accompaniment of  solemn and     
imposing ceremony4 ,the ,salt ,lake     
,city ,temple was forty years  in       
building2 the capstone was laid on the  
#fth of ,april1 #ahib1 and the          
completed ,temple was dedicated one year
 later4    ,of the four ,temples already
 erected in ,utah1 the one #af in ,salt 
,lake  ,city was the first begun and the
 last finished4 ,during its course  of  
construction three other ,temples were  

built by the ,latter-day  ,saints1 one  
at ,st4 ,george1 one at ,logan1 and one 
at ,manti1 ,utah4 ,add  to these the two
 earlier ,temples--at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 
and at ,nauvoo1  ,illinois--and we have 
six of these sacred structures already  
erected in  the present and last        
dispensation of the ,priesthood--the    
dispensation  of the fulness of times4  
,it is not the purpose of the present   
chapter to consider in detail any       
particular ,temple1 either ancient or   
modern2 but rather to show the          
essential and distinguishing features of
 ,temples1 and to make plain  the fact  
that in both ancient and modern times   
the covenant people  have regarded the  
building of ,temples as a labor         
specifically required  at their hands4  
,from what has been said it is plain    
that a ,temple is  more than chapel or  
church1 more than synagogue or          
cathedral2 it is  a structure erected as
 the ,house of the ,lord1 sacred to the 
closest  communion between the ,lord    

,himself and the ,holy ,priesthood1 and 
devoted  to the highest and most sacred 
ordinances characteristic of the age or 
dispensation to which the particular    
,temple belongs4 ,moreover1 to be       
indeed a holy ,temple--accepted of ,god1
 and by ,him acknowledged as ,his       
,house--the offering must have been     
called for1 and both gift and giver     
must be worthy4    ,the ,church of      
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints   
proclaims that it is  the possessor of  
the ,holy ,priesthood again restored to 
earth1 and that  it is invested with    
,divine commission to erect and maintain
 ,temples  dedicated to the name and    
service of the true and living ,god1 and
  to administer within those sacred     
structures the ordinances of the        
,priesthood1 the effect of which shall  
be binding both on earth and  beyond the
 grave4    ,,footnotes    #a4 ,in this  
connection it is interesting and        
instructive to consider  the            
significance of the name ,bethel1 a     

contraction of ,beth ,elohim1  as       
applied by ,jacob to the place where the
 presence of the ,lord was  manifest    
unto him4 ,said he1 ,surely the ,lord is
 in this place2 and ,i  knew it not4    
,and he was afraid1 and said1 ,how      
dreadful is this place6  this is none   
other but the house of ,god1 and this is
 the gate of  heaven4 ,and ,jacob rose  
up early in the morning1 and took the   
stone that  he had put for his pillows1 
and set it up for a pillar1 and poured  
oil  upon the top of it4 ,and he called 
the name of that place ,beth-el4        
7,genesis #bh3af-ai2 read verses        
#aj-bb47    #b4 ,exodus #cf3g4    #c4   
,hebrews #i3a-g2 ,leviticus chap4 #af4  
#d4 ,exodus #be3bb4    #e4 ,exodus      
#dj3cd-ch4    #f4 ,joshua #ah3a2 see    
also #ai3ea2 #ba3b2 ,judges #ah3ca2 ,i  
,samuel #a3c1 #bd2  #d3c1 #d4    #g4 ,i 
,chron4 #ba3bi2 ,,ii ,chron4 #a3c4      
#h4 ,,ii ,samuel #f3ab2 ,,ii ,chron4    
#e3b4    #i4 ,,ii ,samuel #g3b4    #aj4 
,i ,chron4 #bh3b1 #c2 compare ,,ii      

,samuel #g3a-ac4    #aa4 ,,ii ,chron4   
#e3ad2 see also #g3a1 #b1 and compare   
,exodus #dj3ce4    #ab4 ,i ,kings       
#ad3be1 #bf4    #ac4 ,,ii ,chron4 #bd3g4
    #ad4 ,,ii ,kings #af3g-i1 #ag and   
#ah2 see also ,,ii ,chron4 #bh3bd1 #be4 
#ae4 ,,ii ,chron4 #cf3ah1 #ai2 see also 
,,ii ,kings #bd3ac2 #be3i4    #af4      
,jeremiah #be3aa1 #ab2 #bi3aj4    #ag4  
,ezra1 chaps4 #a and #b4    #ah4 ,ezra1 
chap4 #f4    #ai4 ,ezra #c3ab1 #ac4     
#bj4 ,ezra #d3d-bd4    #ba4 ,ezra       
#f3ae-bb4    #bb4 ,matt4 #bd3b2 ,mark   
#ac3b2 ,luke #ba3f4    #bc4 ,see ,book  
of ,mormon1 ,,ii ,nephi #e3af4    #bd4  
,see ,book of ,mormon1 ,,iii ,nephi     
#aa3a4    #be4 ,see the author's ,the   
,great ,apostasy1 chap4 ,,ix4    #bf4   
,see the author's ,the ,great ,apostasy1
 chap4 ,x4    #bg4 ,see the author's    
,the ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture ,i1  
and references  thereto4    #bh4 ,see   
the author's ,the ,articles of ,faith1  
specifically ,lecture ,i1  and notes    
thereon4    #bi4 ,see ,doctrine and     

,covenants #cf3h2 #db3cf2 #acc3b4       
#cj4 ,see ,doctrine and ,covenants      
#aae3g-af4    #ca4 ,see ,doctrine and   
,covenants1 ,section #ie4    #cb4 ,see  
,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,section #aji4
    #cc4 ,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 
#aaj3a-aj4        ,,chapter ,,ii        
,,sanctuaries ,,in ,,earlier            
,,dispensations    #ag ,as understood   
and applied herein1 the designation     
temple is  restricted to mean an actual 
structure1 reared by man1 hallowed and  
sanctified for the special service of   
,deity1 such service including  the     
authoritative administration of         
ordinances pertaining to the ,holy      
,priesthood1 and not merely a place1    
however sacred the spot may have        
become4 ,if sacred places were to be    
classed with sacred buildings as        
essentially temples1 the category would 
include many a holy ,bethel  rarely     
considered as such4 ,in the more        
extended application of the  term1 the  
,garden in ,eden was the first sanctuary

 of earth1 for therein  did the ,lord   
first speak unto man and make known the 
,divine law4 ,so  too1 ,sinai became a  
sanctuary1 for the mount was consecrated
 as the  special abode of the ,lord     
while ,he communed with the prophet1 and
  issued ,his decrees4 ,the sanctity of 
such places was as that of ,horeb1      
where ,god spake unto ,moses from the   
midst of the flame2 and where1  as the  
man approached he was halted by the     
command3 ,draw not nigh  hither3 put off
 thy shoes from off thy feet1 for the   
place whereon thou  standest is holy    
ground4#a ,a temple1 however1 is        
characterized not  alone as the place   
where ,god reveals ,himself to man1 but 
also as the  ,house wherein prescribed  
ordinances of the ,priesthood are       
solemnized4    ,,the ,,testimony    #ah 
,prior to the construction of the       
,tabernacle in the wilderness1 and      
indeed during the early stages of the   
memorable journey from ,egypt1  the     
people of ,israel had a certain         

depository for sacred things1 known  as 
the ,testimony4 ,this is definitely     
mentioned in connection with the        
following incident4 ,under ,divine      
direction a vessel of manna was to be   
preserved1 lest the people forget the   
power and goodness of ,god1 by  which   
they had been fed3        ,and ,moses   
said4 ,this is the thing which the ,lord
 commandeth1      ,fill an omer of it to
 be kept for your generations2 that they
 may      see the bread wherewith ,i    
have fed you in the wilderness1 when ,i 
brought you forth from the land of      
,egypt4        ,and ,moses said unto    
,aaron1 ,take a pot1 and put an omer    
full of      manna therein1 and lay it  
up before the ,lord1 to be kept for your
      generations4        ,as the ,lord 
commanded ,moses1 so ,aaron laid it up  
before the      ,testimony1 to be       
kept4#b    ,there appears little room   
for doubt that the ,testimony here      
referred  to was a material structure1  
and that its name is suggestive of      

,divine  witness as to its sacred       
character4 ,inasmuch as the account of  
the  exodus contains no mention of the  
making of such a structure1 and         
moreover as its existence and use were  
definitely affirmed before the  people  
had had time or opportunity to shape it 
in the wilderness1 it  would seem that  
they must have brought the sacred       
,testimony with them  from ,egypt4 ,this
 incident is of interest and importance 
as indicating  the existence of a holy  
sanctuary during the formative #ai      
stages of  ,israel's growth as a nation1
 and while the people were in subjection
  to idolatrous rulers4 ,this           
application of the term ,testimony must 
not  be confused with later usage by    
which the tables of stone bearing the   
divinely inscribed ,decalogue are so    
designated4#c ,it is to be noted        
further that the ,tabernacle1 wherein   
was housed the ,ark of the ,covenant    
containing the sacred tables of stone1  
is distinctively called the  ,tabernacle

 of ,testimony4 ,these several uses of  
the term lead to no  ambiguity if the   
context be duly considered in each case4
    ,,the ,,provisional ,,tabernacle    
,while ,moses communed with the ,lord on
 ,sinai1 the people1 left for a  time to
 themselves1 set up a golden calf in    
imitation of ,apis1 an  ,egyptian idol2 
and in consequence of their idolatrous  
orgies1 the  ,lord's anger was kindled  
against them4 ,during the period of     
their  consequent estrangement1 before a
 reconciliation had been effected       
between ,jehovah and ,his people1       
,divine manifestations ceased within    
the camp and only afar off could the    
,lord be found4 ,in connection with     
this condition we read of the           
establishment of a temporary place of   
meeting--possibly the dwelling tent of  
,moses1 which became sanctified  by the 
,divine ,presence4 ,thus runs the       
record3        ,and ,moses took the     
tabernacle1 and pitched it without the  
camp1      afar off from the camp1 and  

called it the ,tabernacle of the        
congregation4 ,and it came to pass1 that
 every one which sought the      ,lord  
went out into the tabernacle of the     
congregation1 which was      without the
 camp4        ,and it came to pass1 when
 ,moses went out unto the tabernacle1   
that      all the people rose up1 and   
stood every man #bj at his tent door1   
and looked after ,moses1 until he was   
gone into the tabernacle4        ,and it
 came to pass1 as ,moses entered into   
the tabernacle1 the      cloudy pillar  
descended1 and stood at the door of the 
tabernacle1      and the ,lord talked   
with ,moses4        ,and all the people 
saw the cloudy pillar stand at the      
tabernacle      door3 and all the people
 rose up and worshipped1 every man in   
his      tent door4        ,and the     
,lord spake unto ,moses face to face1 as
 a man speaketh unto      his friend4   
,and he turned again into the camp3 but 
his servant      ,joshua1 the son of    
,nun1 a young man1 departed not out of  

the      tabernacle4#d    ,that the tent
 here called the ,tabernacle of the     
,congregation#e is  not the elaborate   
and costly structure specially built as 
the ,lord  directed1 is evident from the
 fact that the greater and more enduring
  ,tabernacle had not been constructed  
at the time referred to in the          
scripture last cited4 ,unlike the later 
,tabernacle1 which was set up in  the   
center of the camp with the tribes      
massed about it in specified  order1    
this ,provisional ,tabernacle was       
pitched outside the camp--afar          
off--perhaps as an indication of the    
,lord's withdrawal following  ,israel's 
idolatrous turning away from ,him4 ,that
 the ,provisional  ,tabernacle was1     
however1 a holy sanctuary is attested by
 the personal  communion therein between
 ,jehovah and ,his servant ,moses4      
,,the ,,tabernacle ,,of ,,the           
,,congregation    ,from amidst the      
clouds1 and to the accompaniments of    
thunders and  lightnings on ,sinai1 the 

,lord gave unto #ba ,moses the law and  
the  testimony4 ,not alone did ,moses   
there talk with the ,lord in person1 but
  by ,divine command1 ,aaron and his    
sons ,nadab and ,abihu1 together with   
seventy of the elders of ,israel1 went  
up upon the mountain and did see  ,god1 
even the ,god of ,israel4 ,over ,sinai  
the glory of the ,lord abode  for many  
days3 ,and ,moses went into the midst of
 the cloud1 and gat  him up into the    
mount2 and ,moses was in the mount forty
 days and forty  nights4#f    ,when he  
descended ,moses bore with him the      
commission to call upon the  children of
 ,israel for contributions and offerings
 of their substance  and all their      
precious things1 such as would be       
suitable for the  construction of a     
sanctuary for service in the wilderness4
        ,and the ,lord spake unto       
,moses1 saying1        ,speak unto the  
children of ,israel1 that they bring me 
an offering3      of every man that     
giveth it willingly with his heart ye   

shall take      my offering4        ,and
 this is the offering which ye shall    
take of them2 gold1 and      silver1 and
 brass1        ,and blue1 and purple1   
and scarlet1 and fine linen1 and goats' 
hair1        ,and rams' skins dyed red1 
and badgers' skins1 and shittim wood1   
,oil for the light1 spices for anointing
 oil1 and for sweet incense1            
,onyx stones1 and stones to be set in   
the ephod1 and in the      breastplate4 
,and let them make me a sanctuary2 that 
,i may dwell among them4                
,according to all that ,i shew thee1    
after the pattern of #bb the            
tabernacle1 and the pattern of all the  
instruments thereof1 even so      shall 
ye make it4#g    ,the response of the   
people was so liberal and prompt that a 
surplus of  material was soon amassed4  
,and they spake unto ,moses1 saying1    
,the people bring much more than        
enough for the service of the work1     
which the ,lord commanded to      make4 
,and ,moses gave commandment1 and they  

caused it to be proclaimed              
throughout the camp1 saying1 ,let       
neither man nor woman make any      more
 work for the offering of the sanctuary4
 ,so the people were      restrained    
from bringing4        ,for the stuff    
they had was sufficient for all the work
 to make it1      and too much4#h       
,divine direction was manifest in the   
appointment of men who should be  in    
charge of the labor4 ,bezaleel1 the son 
of ,uri1 and ,aholiab1 the son  of      
,ahisamach1 were designated by          
revelation as the master craftsmen      
under whose direction the other workers 
should labor until all had  been        
finished in direct accord with the      
revealed pattern and plan4 ,and  when so
 finished it was the embodiment of the  
best in material and  workmanship4      
,the ,tabernacle stood in an outer      
enclosure or court1 walled in by  canvas
 screens with entrance curtains finely  
embroidered4 ,the curtains  that formed 
the walls of the court were suspended   

from pillars1 which  stood at intervals 
along the sides of an oblong4 ,the      
longer walls ran  east and west1 with   
the main entrance to the enclosure on   
#bc the  eastern side4 ,of the two      
squares within the curtains1 the        
easterly was  reserved for assemblies of
 the people1 while the square to the    
west  constituted the more sacred area  
pertaining to the ,tabernacle itself4   
,the entire space so enclosed covered   
one hundred cubits east and  west and   
fifty cubits north and south1 or        
approximately one hundred  and fifty    
feet by seventy-five feet4#i ,in the    
easterly section1  and therefore removed
 from the ,tabernacle1 stood the altar  
of  burnt-offerings4 ,between the altar 
and the ,tabernacle stood the  laver2   
this was a large vessel of brass        
standing upon a pedestal and  containing
 water for the ceremonial cleansing of  
the hands and feet  of the priests4 ,it 
is interesting to note that the laver   
and its  supporting pedestal were made  

by special contribution of the women1   
who gave their brazen mirrors for this  
purpose4 ,the ,tabernacle stood  with   
its longer axis east and west1 and with 
its entrance on the  easterly side4 ,the
 structure was but thirty cubits long by
 ten cubits  broad1 or forty-five by    
fifteen feet2 these are the dimensions  
given  by ,josephus1 and they are       
practically in accord with the          
description  in ,exodus1 which states   
that the walls comprised twenty boards  
on a  side1 each board one and a half   
cubits wide2 at the west end there were 
six boards1 each one and a half cubits  
wide or nine cubits in all2  these with 
the angle posts would make the entire   
breadth equal to that  given by         
,josephus1 ten cubits4 ,the boards of   
the walls #bd were held  together by    
tenon-joints having sockets of silver1  
two to each board2  the boards          
themselves were overlaid with gold and  
were provided with  rings of the same   
metal to receive the bars1 which also   

were overlaid  with gold4    ,it will be
 seen that the ,tabernacle was but a    
small structure1 entirely  unsuited to  
the accommodation of large assemblies1  
but it is to be  remembered that for    
such it was never intended4 ,within the 
,tabernacle1  only the appointed bearers
 of the ,priesthood officiated2 and of  
these  none but the few actually engaged
 in the service of the day could be     
admitted4    ,the ,tabernacle was       
divided by a curtain1 specifically      
called the ,veil1  into two             
compartments1 the outer of which was    
known as the ,holy ,place1  and the     
inner as the ,most ,holy ,place or ,holy
 of ,holies4 ,josephus and  some others 
state that the ,tabernacle comprised    
three parts2 the third  division1       
however1 was really outside the main    
tent and appeared as  a porch at the    
east end1 five cubits deep1 and         
extending across the  entire front4 ,the
 ,veil1 which separated the ,holy ,place
 from the ,holy  of ,holies1 was of fine

 workmanship1 of blue1 and purple1 and  
scarlet1  and fine twined linen of      
cunning work1 and was embroidered with  
cherubim4 ,it was hung upon four pillars
 of wood overlaid with gold2  the hooks 
were of gold and the sockets of silver4 
,the wood used for  these pillars1 as   
indeed that used in other parts of the  
structure1 was  the rare1 costly1 and   
durable shittim or acacia1 sometimes    
known as  thorn-wood4 ,beyond the ,veil 
the enclosure was most holy1 and therein
  was placed the ,ark of the ,covenant  
with its ,mercy ,seat bearing the       
sacred cherubim1 the description of     
which appears in the record as  follows3
        #be ,and ,bezaleel made the ark 
of shittim wood3 two cubits and a       
half was the length of it1 and a cubit  
and a half the breadth of      it1 and a
 cubit and a half the height of it3     
,and he overlaid it with pure gold      
within and without1 and made a          
crown of gold to it round about4        
,and he cast for it four rings of gold1 

to be set by the four      corners of   
it2 even two rings upon the one side of 
it1 and two      rings upon the other   
side of it4        ,and he made staves  
of shittim wood1 and overlaid them with 
gold4        ,and he put the staves into
 the rings by the sides of the ark1 to  
bear the ark4        ,and he made the   
mercy seat of pure gold3 two cubits and 
a half was      the length thereof1 and 
one cubit and half the breadth thereof4 
,and he made two cherubims of gold1     
beaten out of one piece made he         
them1 on the two ends of the mercy seat3
        ,one cherub on the end on this  
side1 and another cherub on the         
other end on that side3 out of the mercy
 seat made he the cherubims      on the 
two ends thereof4        ,and the       
cherubims spread out their wings on     
high1 and covered with      their wings 
over the mercy seat1 with their faces   
one to another2      even to the mercy  
seatward were the faces of the          
cherubims4#aj    ,outside the ,veil1 yet

 within the ,tabernacle1 was the ,holy  
,place2 in  this were placed the table  
of shewbread1 the altar of incense1 and 
the  golden seven-branched              
candlestick4#aa    ,the rich fabrics of 
delicate workmanship forming the walls  
and roof  of the ,tabernacle were       
protected by coarser hangings of goats' 
hair1  and these in turn by a covering  
of skins4 ,the structure as completed   
is referred to in the scripture         
sometimes as the ,tent of the #bf       
,congregation and at others as the      
,tabernacle of the ,congregation2 the   
former expression occurs thirteen times1
 the latter one hundred and             
thirty-three times2 yet notwithstanding 
this difference1 the original  in each  
case was ,ohel ,moed1 the best          
authenticated translation of  which is  
the ,tent of ,meeting4 ,let it not be   
supposed1 however1 that  this means in  
the ordinary sense a meeting-house1 for 
the meeting here  expressed is not that 
of a concourse of worshippers1 but the  

place of  communion between ,god and    
,his ,priesthood4 ,the ,tent of         
,meeting1 or the  ,tabernacle of the    
,congregation1 in ,israel1 was the      
,lord's tent wherein  ,he met the       
authorized representatives of ,his      
people4    ,on the first day of the     
second year following ,israel's exodus  
from  ,egypt1 the ,tabernacle was set up
 for the first time1 and all the sacred 
furniture was disposed according to the 
direct commands of the ,lord4  ,the veil
 was hung1 and the place was consecrated
 as a most holy spot1  ineffably sacred 
as the dwelling place of ,jehovah4      
,then1 even as on  ,sinai a cloud had   
shrouded the temporary abiding place of 
,god1 so was  it with the ,tabernacle3  
,then a cloud covered the tent of the   
congregation1 and the glory      of the 
,lord filled the tabernacle4        ,and
 ,moses was not able to enter into the  
tent of the congregation1      because  
the cloud abode thereon and the glory of
 the ,lord filled      the tabernacle4  

,and when the cloud was taken up from   
over the tabernacle1 the      children  
of ,israel went onward in all their     
journeys3        ,but if the cloud were 
not taken up1 then they journeyed not   
till      the day that it was taken up4 
,for the cloud of the ,lord was upon the
 tabernacle by #bg day1 and      fire   
was on it by night1 in the sight of all 
the house of ,israel1      throughout   
all their journeys4#ab    ,the          
all-pervading and all-controlling       
thought in the erection of  this        
portable sanctuary was that of          
expressing the close association        
between ,jehovah and ,his people4 ,the  
people were to consider themselves      
specifically the people of ,god1 and    
amongst them should be ,his  dwelling1  
surpassing in a transcendent degree the 
presence of the gods  of wood and stone 
housed among the idolatrous nations with
 whom ,israel  had to contend4 ,this    
thought was expressed in the earliest   
commandment  respecting the building of 

the ,tabernacle3 ,and let them make me a
  sanctuary2 that ,i may dwell among    
them4#ac    ,even more truly            
indispensable than ,tabernacle or       
,temple1 in the  maintenance of close   
relationship with ,deity1 is the        
,priesthood4 ,it  was therefore to be   
expected that with the establishment of 
a holy  sanctuary1 appointments and     
ordinations should be made whereby men  
would be truly set apart to the sacred  
offices of the ,priesthood4 ,while      
,moses was the great high priest of     
,israel1 standing at the head of a      
distinctive dispensation of ,divine     
authority and power1 there were many    
priestly functions pertaining to the    
less exalted orders1 and unto  these    
,aaron and his four sons1 ,nadab1       
,abihu1 ,eleazer1 and ,ithamar1 were    
set apart4 ,as the ,tabernacle had been 
built under express direction  extending
 even into minute detail1 so the        
ministrations of the  ,priesthood were  
prescribed and the order of worship was 

established1  whereby the people should 
be reminded that amongst them dwelt #bh 
,jehovah1 before whom they should set   
none other gods4#ad    ,the ,tabernacle 
was prepared primarily for migratory    
service2 its parts  therefore were      
separately finished and so fitted as to 
permit of easy  putting together or     
taking apart4 ,when set up within its   
court1 the  ,tabernacle occupied the    
place of honor in the center of the     
camp4    ,on the east1 and therefore    
immediately before the entrance to the  
court1 were the tents of the ,priests2  
while on the other three sides  the     
,levites were encamped4 ,these1 being   
closest in attendance have been  likened
 to the body-guard of the ,great        
,king#ae whose throne was within  the   
sanctuary2 and beyond them were         
stationed the other tribes in order  of 
established precedence4 ,while          
dismantled and in transit1 when the     
people were on the march1 the           
,tabernacle still held the central      

place2  its bearers were the ,levites1  
and the whole army of ,israel was its   
guard4    ,until ,israel had become     
permanently established in the land of  
promise1  the ,tabernacle of the        
,congregation had but temporary resting 
places4 ,as  the people moved the       
sanctuary was carried1 until it found a 
somewhat  more permanent home at        
,shiloh4 ,there1 at the door of the     
,tabernacle1  the final apportionment of
 ,canaan among the tribes was made4#af  
,there it remained during the period of 
the ,judges1 and until after  the ,ark  
of ,god had been allowed to pass from   
the custody of ,israel  to that of the  
,philistines1 because of sin4#ag ,the   
glory of the  sanctuary #bi was largely 
lost1 and though the ,tabernacle        
continued  in existence its sacred      
service was in abeyance4 ,sadly was the 
truth  declared1 ,the glory is departed 
from ,israel3 for the ark of ,god is    
taken4#ah ,there is evidence that for a 
short time during the reign  of ,saul1  

the ,tabernacle was established at ,nob2
 for there we find the  priest          
,ahimelech maintaining the service of   
the shew-bread1#ai but  the ,ark of the 
,covenant was certainly not there4#bj   
,we next learn of  the ,tabernacle      
having been set up at ,gibeon1 though   
the conditions  resulting in its removal
 thither are not fully stated4#ba ,the  
,ark was  housed in another tent1 and   
finally both were brought into the      
splendid  ,temple of ,solomon by which  
all earlier sanctuaries were superseded4
    ,,the ,,third ,,tabernacle    ,yet  
another tent of sanctuary was made and  
used in ,israel prior to the  erection  
of the great ,temple4 ,this we may call 
for convenience the  ,third ,tabernacle2
 it was erected by ,david the king1 in  
his own city1 as  a shelter for the ,ark
 of the ,covenant4 ,as already cited1   
the scriptural  record tells of the     
capture of the ,ark by the ,philistines1
 and of its  return to ,israel4 ,this   
incident occurred during the latter part

 of the  administration of the ,judges1 
before ,israel had bowed to a king in   
,canaan4#bb    ,throughout the reign of 
,saul1 the ,ark remained under the roof 
of a  private dwelling2 wherein1        
however1 a priest was maintained for its
  care and ministry4 ,one of the early  
acts of ,david after he became king1    
was to #cj plan the removal of the ,ark 
to a more suitable situation4  ,in the  
course of this removal1 ,uzzah was      
stricken1 because without  authority he 
essayed to take hold of the sacred      
vessel2 and this  manifestation of      
,divine displeasure so affected ,david  
that he delayed  his purpose of setting 
up the ,ark in his own city and placed  
it in  another private house--that of   
,obed-edom the ,gittite4#bc ,while the  
,ark  remained beneath that roof the    
household was blessed and prospered4    
,in course of time the original plan was
 carried into effect and the  ,ark was  
set up in a tent specially prepared for 
its reception in the  ,city of ,david3  

,and they brought in the ark of the     
,lord1 and set it in  his place1 in the 
midst of the tabernacle that ,david had 
pitched for  it3 and ,david offered     
burnt offerings and peace offerings     
before the  ,lord4#bd    ,thus1 during  
the reign of ,david there were two      
places regarded as  sanctuaries2 and the
 worship of the people was divided4     
,solomon  appears to have acknowledged  
the sanctity of both places--the resting
  place of the ,ark at ,jerusalem and   
the place of the ,tabernacle of the     
,congregation at ,gibeon4#be ,through   
him both shrines were again brought     
together4#bf    ,,the ,,temple ,,of     
,,solomon    ,scarcely had the ,ark of  
the ,covenant been deposited at the     
capital  of the kingdom--the ,city of   
,david1--when the king became desirous  
of  erecting for its accommodation a    
more enduring shelter than the tent  in 
which it had #ca been installed with    
pomp and ceremony4 ,it appears  that the
 conscience of the king was troubled by 

the thought that he  was better housed  
than was the sanctuary of the ,lord3    
,now it came to  pass1 as ,david sat in 
his house1 that ,david said to ,nathan  
the prophet1  ,lo1 ,i dwell in an house 
of cedars1 but the ark of the covenant  
of the  ,lord remaineth under           
curtains4#bg ,it was ,david's desire to 
build a  suitable ,house for the ,lord  
and ,nathan the prophet at first        
encouraged  the undertaking4 ,the ,lord 
spake to ,nathan however1 and directed  
him to  decline the king's proffered    
gift4 ,although ,jehovah had been       
without a  fixed place recognized by the
 people as ,his1 though as ,he said ,he 
had  not dwelt in a house amongst       
,israel1 but had gone from tent to tent 
and from one tabernacle to another1#bh  
though as the context implies1  the     
,lord had been neglected in the long    
delay attending the erection  of a house
 to ,his name1 nevertheless ,david could
 not be honored with  the commission or 
even the permission to build such a     

house for he  was accounted a man of    
blood4#bi ,let us not undertake to judge
 the  extent of ,david's offending2 to  
do so would be to usurp the ,divine     
prerogative2 it is enough for us to know
 that even the gift of royalty  may be  
declined if there be aught requiring    
reconciliation between the  mortal and  
his ,god4 ,david1 however1 was permitted
 to provide means and  to gather        
material which afterward should be used 
in the erection of  the ,temple1#cj     
moreover1 the very site on which the    
great building  was subsequently erected
 was chosen and sanctified through his  
agency4  ,a great pestilence had fallen 
#cb upon ,israel1 and the ,angel of the 
,lord1 sent forth with the warrant of   
destruction1 was seen by ,david1        
standing1 sword in hand1 on ,mount      
,moriah at the threshing floor of       
,araunah the ,jebusite4#ca ,that spot1  
hallowed by the presence of a  heavenly 
messenger1 though that messenger was the
 ,angel of ,death1 was  marked by the   

erection of an altar1 as the ,lord      
directed through the  prophet ,gad4#cb  
,as ,david realized that his years of   
life were few1 he laid upon  ,solomon1  
his son and chosen successor1 the solemn
 charge to build the  house he had been 
forbidden to build4 ,the king dwelt     
pathetically upon  his own              
disqualification1 and then repeated the 
,lord's promise of  acceptance at the   
hand of ,solomon4 ,the scriptural record
 runs thus3        ,so ,david prepared  
abundantly before his death4            
,then he called for ,solomon his son1   
and charged him to build an      house  
for the ,lord ,god of ,israel4          
,and ,david said to ,solomon4 ,my son1  
as for me1 it was in my mind to         
build an house unto the name of the     
,lord my ,god3        ,but the word of  
the ,lord came to me1 saying1 ,thou hast
 shed blood      abundantly1 and hast   
made great wars3 thou shalt not build an
 house      unto my name1 because thou  
hast shed much blood upon the earth in  

my sight4        ,behold1 a son shall be
 born to thee1 who shall be a man of    
rest2      and ,i will give him rest    
from all his enemies round about3 for   
his      name shall be ,solomon1 and ,i 
will give peace and quietness unto      
,israel in his days4        ,he shall   
build an house for my name2 and he shall
 be my son1 and ,i      will be his     
father3 and ,i will establish the throne
 of his kingdom      over ,israel for   
ever4        #cc ,now1 my son1 the ,lord
 be with thee2 and prosper thou1 and    
build the house of the ,lord thy ,god1  
as he hath said of thee4        ,only   
the ,lord give thee wisdom and          
understanding1 and give thee      charge
 concerning ,israel1 that thou mayest   
keep the law of the ,lord      thy ,god4
        ,then shalt thou prosper1 if    
thou takest heed to fulfill the         
statues and judgments which the ,lord   
charged ,moses with concerning          
,israel3 be strong1 and of good courage2
 dread not1 nor be dismayed4            

,now1 behold1 in my trouble ,i have     
prepared for the house of the      ,lord
 an hundred thousand talents of gold1   
and a thousand thousand      talents of 
silver2 and of brass and iron without   
weight2 for it      is in abundance3    
timber also and stone have ,i prepared2 
and thou      mayest add thereto4       
,moreover there are workmen with thee in
 abundance1 hewers and      workers of  
stone and timber1 and all manner of     
cunning men for      every manner of    
work4        ,of the gold1 the silver1  
and the brass1 and the iron1 there is no
      number4 ,arise therefore1 and be  
doing1 and the ,lord be with thee4      
,david also commanded all the princes of
 ,israel to help ,solomon his      son1 
saying1        ,is not the ,lord your   
,god with you8 and hath he not given you
 rest      on every side8 for he hath   
given the inhabitants of the land into  
mine hand2 and the land is subdued      
before the ,lord1 and before his        
people4        ,now set your heart and  

your soul to seek the ,lord your ,god2  
arise      therefore1 and build ye the  
sanctuary of the ,lord ,god1 to bring   
the      ark of the covenant of the     
,lord1 and the holy vessels of ,god1    
into      the house that is to be built 
to the name of the ,lord4#cc    ,david  
gave ,solomon detailed instructions as  
to the design and  specifications of the
 house and its appurtenances1 the plan  
of the  porch and that of both the main 
#cd structure and the accessory         
buildings1 and the pattern of all that  
he had by the ,spirit4  ,furthermore he 
gave directions as to the ministry of   
the various  courses of ,priests and    
,levites1 and for all the work of the   
service of  the house of the ,lord1 and 
for all the vessels of service in the   
house  of the ,lord4#cd    ,the actual  
work of construction was begun in the   
fourth year of  ,solomon's reign1 and   
the ,temple was ready for dedication in 
the  twelfth1 or about #ajje ,b4 ,c4 ,at
 the inception of the labor1 ,solomon   

entered into an agreement with ,hiram1 a
 neighboring king1 whereby the          
resources of ,tyre and ,sidon were      
annexed in the great undertaking4       
,through this alliance the splendid     
forests of ,lebanon were made           
accessible2 cedar1 and fir1 and other   
trees were felled and floated by  the   
thousand to the most convenient point   
for land transportation to  ,jerusalem4 
,it had been previously explained to    
,hiram that the demand  would be a heavy
 one1 for1 as ,solomon had said3 ,the   
house which ,i  build is great3 for     
great is our ,god above all gods4#ce    
,sidonian  hewers were put to work1--the
 most skilful of all known woodmen2 and 
the timbers of ,lebanon were supplied in
 abundance4 ,the extent of the  demand  
may be judged from the enormous payment 
proffered and made by  ,solomon4#cf     
,israelitish workmen were employed in   
great numbers1 both in  co-operation    
with the ,sidonians and at home4 ,thus  
we read3        ,and ,king ,solomon     

raised a levy out of all ,israel2 and   
the levy was      thirty thousand men4  
#ce ,and he sent them to ,lebanon1 ten  
thousand a month by courses3      a     
month they were in ,lebanon1 and two    
months at home3 and ,adoniram      was  
over the levy4        ,and ,solomon had 
threescore and ten thousand that bare   
burdens1 and      fourscore thousand    
hewers in the mountains2        ,beside 
the chief of ,solomon's officers which  
were over the work1      three thousand 
and three hundred1 which ruled over the 
people that      wrought in the work4   
,and the king commanded1 and they       
brought great stones1 costly            
stones1 and hewed stones1 to lay the    
foundation of the house4        ,and    
,solomon's builders and ,hiram's        
builders did hew them1 and the          
stonesquarers3 so they prepared timber  
and stones to build the      house4#cg  
,for the successful employment of such  
great numbers of workmen an  effective  
system of organization was necessary2 we

 are not surprised1  therefore1 in      
reading that thirty-three hundred       
overseers were in  service4 ,the        
efficiency of the system is attested by 
the success  attending the great        
undertaking4 ,the ,israelites and the   
men of ,tyre and  ,sidon worked in      
harmony1 and much of the building       
material was shaped  by pattern and     
measurement in forest and quarry2       
therefore the house1  when it was in    
building1 was built of stone made ready 
before it was  brought thither2 so that 
there was neither hammer nor ax nor any 
tool  of iron heard in the house1 while 
it was in building4#ch    ,our primary  
source of information relating to the   
erection of the great  ,temple is the   
scriptural record contained in ,i       
,kings1 chapters #f and  #g2 a later    
account appears in ,,ii ,chronicles1    
chapter #c and #d1 which  account as #cf
 well as the description given by       
,josephus#ci appears  to have been      
derived from the record first cited4    

,in general1 the design of ,solomon's   
,temple was that of the specially       
constructed ,tabernacle of the          
,congregation1 though the dimensions of 
the ,temple were double those of the    
,tabernacle4 ,it will be remembered     
that the porch of the ,tabernacle was   
five cubits deep2 that of  the ,temple  
measured ten cubits in depth2 in each   
case the porch  extended across the full
 width of the house4 ,the ,holy ,place1 
or first  compartment within the walls1 
was twenty cubits long1 ten cubits wide 
and ten high in the ,tabernacle2 that of
 the ,temple was forty by twenty  cubits
 and twenty cubits high4 ,the inner     
sanctuary1 ,oracle1 or ,holy of         
,holies1 in the ,tabernacle was cubical 
and measured ten cubits each way2  in   
the ,temple this sacred enclosure was a 
cube of twenty cubits4 ,thus  the ground
 plan of the ,tabernacle covered        
thirty-five by twenty cubits1  and that 
of the ,temple seventy cubits by forty4 
,these measurements  do not take into   

account the side chambers1 which in the 
,tabernacle  were five cubits wide2     
those connected with the ,temple        
measured ten  cubits in extreme width2  
with these included1 the entire area of 
the  ,tabernacle was forty by twenty    
cubits1 and that of the ,temple eighty  
by forty cubits2 or1 at the usually     
accepted equivalent for the cubit1      
sixty by thirty feet for the            
,tabernacle1 and one hundred and twenty 
feet by sixty feet for the ,temple4 ,in 
height the same relation was            
maintained2 the ,tabernacle rose fifteen
 cubits and the ,temple thirty  cubits4 
,the ,temple porch appears to have      
towered above the height of  the main   
structure4#dj    #cg ,in the porch1     
standing as a guard at the threshold of 
the ,temple1  were two brazen pillars1  
of elaborate design1 and doubtless of   
emblematical significance4 ,they were   
regarded as of such importance  as to   
merit detailed description1 and the name
 of their maker was  inscribed in the   

,temple archives4 ,they were wrought by 
,hiram of  ,tyre1--not the king who bore
 the same name--but a master-artisan1   
skilled in the working of brass4 ,hiram 
fashioned the pillars1 each  twelve     
cubits in circumference and eighteen    
cubits high exclusive of  the massive   
chapiters1 which were ornamented with   
pomegranates and lily  work4 ,the pillar
 at the right of the entrance was named 
,jachin1 meaning  ,he shall establish1  
and that at the left was called ,boaz1  
signifying  ,in it is strength4#da      
,whatever deeper meaning may have been  
attached  to these massive columns1     
their suggestive symbolism of strength  
and  firmness is plainly apparent4 ,as  
to whether they actually supported the  
roof of the porch1 or were free1        
standing as embellishments and symbols  
alone1 the scriptural text is not       
definite4    ,the walls of the great    
,temple were of hewn stone1 yet on the  
inside no  stone was visible2 for the   
walls were wainscotted from floor to    

ceiling  with cedar1 richly decorated   
with carvings of flowers1 trees1 and    
other  designs1 and the flooring was of 
fir4#db ,moreover1 the interior was     
richly embellished with overlaid work in
 pure gold4 ,the partition by  which the
 ,oracle or ,holy of ,holies was divided
 off1 corresponding to  the veil in the 
,tabernacle1 was thus overlaid1 and was 
hung with chains  of gold4#dc ,the      
cherubim that stood as the symbol of    
guardianship #ch  over the ,oracle were 
of olive wood1 covered with gold1 the   
precious  metal being fitted upon the   
carved work4#dd    ,the vestibule or    
porch stood at the east end2 and this   
constituted the  only entrance to the   
,temple proper4 ,on the other three     
sides1 therefore  surrounding both the  
,holy ,place and the ,oracle1 were      
numerous small  chambers1 built in three
 tiers or stories4 ,the width of these  
was five  cubits in the lowest story1   
six cubits in the middle1 and seven     
cubits  in the top story2 this          

peculiarity in width increasing with    
height was  made possible by the        
decrease in the thickness of the walls4 
,by this  rebatement of the walls1 the  
cedarn chambers were well supported yet 
they formed no part of the main         
structure2 it was so designed that  the 
beams should not be fastened in the     
walls of the house4#de ,these  small    
apartments were therefore chambers round
 about1 against the  walls of the house1
 yet of independent construction4 ,from 
the mention  made by ,ezekiel#df these  
chambers are supposed to have numbered  
thirty1 though no precise specification 
is found4 ,they were probably  used for 
service required of the priests aside   
from the ceremonial  labor connected    
with the general ritual4 ,entrance to   
these chambers was  provided on the     
right side of the building with winding 
stairs leading  to the upper rooms4     
,above the level of the upper chambers  
were windows  by which the outer        
apartment or ,holy ,place was lighted2  

the ,holy of  ,holies1 however1 was     
without natural light4    ,the furniture
 within the ,temple comprised but few   
objects1 yet every  piece was of special
 design and for exclusive use4 ,in the  
,holy ,place  stood the table1 or a #ci 
series of tables to bear the sacred     
shew-bread4 ,mention is made also of an 
altar of gold1 and of ten  candlesticks 
of pure gold set in front of the        
entrance to the ,oracle1  five on either
 side2 furthermore there were tongs of  
gold1 bowls and  snuffers1 basins and   
spoons4 ,the ,oracle was prepared for   
the reception  of the ,ark of the       
,covenant1 and to overshadow that holy  
vessel there  were prepared the two     
great cherubim1 each ten cubits high2   
these were  of olive wood overlaid with 
gold4    ,the ,temple stood within      
walled enclosures1 generally spoken of  
as outer  and inner courts respectively4
 ,the wall of the inner court is        
described  as consisting of three       
courses of hewn stone1 in which was set 

a course  of cedar beams4 ,this         
corresponded to the single enclosure of 
the  ancient ,tabernacle4 ,inasmuch as  
all the specified measurements show  the
 ,temple to have been double the size of
 the ,tabernacle1 this court  may have  
been of corresponding proportion2 it is 
therefore generally  believed to have   
extended one hundred cubits north and   
south and two  hundred cubits east and  
west4#dg    ,within the court1 before   
the porch of the ,lord stood the altar  
of  sacrifice4 ,this was of brass twenty
 cubits square and ten cubits high4  ,to
 the service of the altar belonged many 
of the utensils such as  basins1 pots1  
and shovels1 specially made under the   
direction of the  master craftsman1     
,hiram of ,tyre4 ,another prominent     
object within the  court was the molten 
sea1 called also the brazen sea4#dh     
,this great  font measured thirty cubits
 in circumference and stood five cubits 
high1 and was richly #dj ornamented4    
,the walls were a hand-breadth  in      

thickness1 and the brim was embellished 
with flower work4 ,it was  mounted on   
twelve brazen oxen1 arranged in groups  
of three1 the groups  facing            
respectively north1 south1 east and     
west4 ,the great font stood  between the
 altar and the porch on the right side  
of the house1  eastward1 over against   
the south4#di ,associated with the      
molten sea  were ten smaller vessels    
called lavers1 mounted on bases of      
special  construction and provided with 
wheels to facilitate removal4#ej ,the   
lavers were used in connection with the 
service of the altar1 for the  washing  
of the offerings2 but the main font or  
molten sea was reserved  for the        
ceremonial cleansing of the priests4    
,when the ,house of the ,lord was       
completed1 elaborate preparations were  
made for its dedication4 ,first came the
 installation of the ,ark of the        
,covenant and its appurtenances1 the    
,tabernacle of the ,congregation1  and  
the holy vessels4 ,with great solemnity 

and to the accompaniment of  ceremonial 
sacrifice1 the ,ark was brought by the  
priests and placed  within the ,holy of 
,holies beneath the wings of the        
cherubim4 ,at this  time the ,ark       
contained only the two tables of stone  
which ,moses put  there4 ,the staves by 
which the ,ark was borne were so drawn  
out as to  be visible from within the   
,holy ,place1 and then it came to pass1 
when  the priests were come out of the  
holy place1 that the cloud filled the   
house of the ,lord1 ,so that the priests
 could not stand to minister  because of
 the cloud3 for the glory of the ,lord  
had filled the house of  the ,lord4#ea  
#da ,then ,solomon addressed the        
assembled multitude1 reciting the       
circumstances under which the building  
of the ,temple had been conceived  by   
his father ,david and executed by       
himself1 and proclaiming the mercy  and 
goodness of ,israel's ,god4 ,standing   
before the altar of the ,lord1 in  the  
court of the ,temple1 the king spread   

forth his hands toward heaven1  and     
offered the dedicatory prayer4 ,the king
 then blessed the people1  saying       
,blessed be the ,lord1 that hath given  
rest unto his people  ,israel1 according
 to all that he promised3 there hath not
 failed one  word of all his good       
promise1 which he promised by the hand  
of ,moses  his servant4 ,the ,lord our  
,god be with us1 as he was with our     
fathers3  let him not leave us1 nor     
forsake us4#eb    ,the principal        
services with the attendant festivities 
lasted seven  days1 and on the eighth   
day he sent the people away3 and they   
blessed  the king1 and went unto their  
tents joyful and glad of heart for all  
the goodness that the ,lord had done for
 ,david his servant1 and for  ,israel   
his people4#ec    ,for only a third of a
 century did this splendid edifice      
maintain its  supremacy and glory4 ,in  
the later years of his reign ,solomon   
had done  wickedly in the sight of ,god 
and the people had not been slow to     

follow  their king in evil paths4       
,israel had grown weak in their         
allegiance to  ,jehovah and had gone    
after strange gods4 ,following the death
 of ,solomon  the nation was disrupted4 
,in the fifth year of the reign of      
,rehoboam1  ,shishak king of ,egypt     
besieged the ,city of ,david and even   
despoiled  the ,temple #db and carried  
away part of the sacred treasures4      
,next1  ,jehoash1 king of one part of   
the divided nation1 took away gold and  
silver and sacred vessels from the      
,house of the ,lord and carried  them   
into ,samaria4#ed ,it is thus shown that
 the desecration of the  ,temple was not
 effected wholly by the enemies of      
,israel2 the people to  whom the ,house 
had once been sacred contributed to its 
profanation4  ,ahaz1 the wicked king of 
,judah1 removed the altar from its place
 and  substituted therefore another     
fashioned by his own order after the    
pattern of the altars of the heathen2   
moreover he took down the molten  sea   

and dismantled the lavers4#ee           
,mannasseh1 another evil king who       
reigned in ,judah1 followed after ,baal 
and set up idolatrous shrines  within   
the very precincts of the ,temple4#ef   
,the precious things of the  ,house of  
the ,lord were used as barter between   
kings4 ,so1 ,asa king of  ,judah        
purchased the aid of ,ben-hadad1 to     
fight against ,israel2#eg so  also did  
,jehoash purchase peace from ,hazael    
king of ,syria2#eh and so  did ,hezekiah
 strip the ,house of the ,lord for      
plunder wherewith to pay  tribute to the
 ,assyrians4#ei    ,some attempts were  
made to repair the worst of the ravages 
upon and  within the ,temple#fj but it  
seemed that the ,house had been         
abandoned  to its fate4 ,in the year    
#ehf ,b4 ,c41 ,nebuchadnezzar1 king of  
,babylon1  completed the destruction of 
the ,temple in connection with #dc his  
conquest of the kingdom of ,judah4      
,whatever of value was yet there he     
carried away1 and the building was      

destroyed by fire4#fa    ,there occurs  
yet one later mention of some of the    
vessels that had been  made for the     
service of ,jehovah1--when they were    
brought out to crown  the triumph of    
,belshazzar in his heathenish feast4    
,then was manifest  the displeasure of  
the ,lord1 and the trembling king heard 
from the  lips of ,daniel his doom1--for
 he had been unmindful of the fate that 
had overtaken his father1 and had lifted
 up himself against the ,lord  of       
heaven2 and had brought out the vessels 
of the house of ,god that he  and his   
lords1 his wives and his concubines     
might drink wine therefrom2  and he had 
praised the gods of silver1 and gold1 of
 brass1 iron1 wood1  and stone1 which   
see not1 nor hear1 nor know2 but the    
,god in whose hand  was his breath and  
whose were all his ways had he not      
glorified4 ,he had  been weighed in the 
balances and was found wanting2 and his 
kingdom was  taken from him4 ,that      
night1 ,belshazzar the king was         

slain4#fb    ,,the ,,temple ,,of        
,,ezekiel',s ,,vision    ,in the        
twenty-fifth year of the ,babylonian    
captivity1 while yet the  people of     
,israel were in exile in a strange land1
 the word of the ,lord  came to the     
prophet ,ezekiel2 the power of ,god     
rested upon him2 and he  saw in vision a
 glorious ,temple1 the plan of which he 
minutely #dd  described4#fc ,as to      
whether the prophet himself considered  
the design  so shown as one to be       
subsequently realized1 or as but a grand
 yet  unattainable ideal1 is not        
declared4 ,certain it is that the       
,temple of  the vision has not yet been 
builded4    ,in most of its essential   
features ,ezekiel's ideal followed      
closely the  plan of ,solomon's ,temple2
 so close1 indeed1 is the resemblance1  
that  many of the details specified by  
,ezekiel have been accepted as those  of
 the splendid edifice destroyed by      
,nebuchadnezzar4 ,a predominant         
characteristic of the ,temple described 

by ,ezekiel was the spaciousness  of its
 premises and the symmetry of both the  
,holy ,house and its  associated        
buildings4 ,the area was to be a square 
of five hundred  cubits1 walled about   
and provided with a gateway and arches  
on each  of three sides2 on the west    
side the wall was to be unbroken by arch
  or portal4 ,at each of the gateways   
were little chambers regarded as        
lodges1#fd and provided with porches4   
,in the outer court were other          
chambers4 ,the entire area was to be    
elevated1 and a flight of steps led  to 
each gateway4 ,in the inner court was   
seen the great altar1 standing  before  
the ,house1 and occupying the center of 
a square of one hundred  cubits4#fe     
,ample provision was made for every     
variety of sacrifice  and offering1 and 
for the accommodation of the priests1   
the singers1  and all engaged in the    
holy ritual4#ff ,the main structure     
comprised  a ,porch1 a ,holy ,place1 and
 an inner sanctuary or ,most ,holy      

,place1 the  last named elevated above  
the rest #de and reached by steps4 ,the 
plan  provided for even greater         
exclusiveness than had characterized the
  sacred area of the ,temple of         
,solomon2 the double courts contributed 
to this end4 ,the service of the ,temple
 was prescribed in detail2 the          
ordinances of the altar1 the duties of  
the priests1 the ministry of the        
,levites1 the regulations governing     
oblations and feasts were all set       
forth4#fg    ,the immediate purpose of  
this revelation through the vision of   
the  prophet appears to have been that  
of awakening the people of ,israel to  a
 realization of their fallen state and a
 conception of their departed  glory4   
,the prophet was thus commanded3        
,thou son of man1 shew the house to the 
house of ,israel1 that      they may be 
ashamed of their iniquities3 and let    
them measure the      pattern4          
,and if they be ashamed of all that they
 have done1 show them the      form of  

the house1 and the fashion thereof1 and 
the goings out      thereof1 and the    
comings in thereof1 and all the forms   
thereof1 and      all the ordinances    
thereof1 and all the forms thereof1 and 
all the      laws thereof3 and write it 
in their sight1 that they may keep the  
whole form thereof1 and all the         
ordinances thereof1 and do them4        
,this is the law of the house2 ,upon the
 top of the mountain the      whole     
limit thereof round about shall be most 
holy4 ,behold1 this is      the law of  
the house4#fh    ,,the ,,temple ,,of    
,,zerubbabel    ,for three score years  
and ten the ,jews had grieved and       
groaned under  ,babylonian rule4 ,the   
greater part of the once proud ,kingdom 
of ,judah  had been carried #df away    
captive1 and such as remained in the    
land  of their fathers had lost their   
national status and had become largely  
merged with the ,gentiles4 ,with        
dreadful exactness had been fulfilled   
the dire prediction of ,jeremiah4       

,through that prophet the ,lord had     
spoken1 saying3        ,therefore thus  
saith the ,lord of hosts2 ,because ye   
have not heard      my words1           
,behold1 ,i will send and take all the  
families of the north1 saith      the   
,lord1 and ,nebuchadrezzar              
,nebuchadnezzar the king of ,babylon1   
my servant1 and will bring them against 
this land1 and against the              
inhabitants thereof1 and against all    
these nations around about1      and    
will utterly destroy them1 and make them
 an astonishment1 and      an hissing1  
and perpetual desolations4              
,moreover ,i will take from them the    
voice of mirth1 and the voice      of   
gladness1 the voice of the bridegroom1  
and the voice of the      bride1 the    
sound of the millstones1 and the light  
of the candle4        ,and this whole   
land shall be a desolation1 and an      
astonishment2      and these nations    
shall serve the king of ,babylon seventy
      years4#fi    ,however1 the gloom  

of the saddening prophecy had been      
lightened by one  ray of hope and       
promise--the assurance that when the    
seventy years of  the ,lord's           
chastisement had been completed1 the    
people should return  to the land of    
their inheritance1 and once again be    
recognized as the  ,lord's own4#gj ,in  
the encouragement of that hope the      
people had lived2  by its inspiration   
their prophets1 even while in captivity1
 had sought  the ,lord1 and declared    
,his will to the people2 by its light   
,ezekiel had  seen in the #dg vision of 
seership the re-establishment of his    
people  and the possibility of a ,temple
 greater and grander than the first4 ,in
  due time the ,god of ,israel made good
 ,his word1 and vindicated anew ,his    
power as ,king of kings2 ,he ruled and  
overruled the passions of nations  and  
the acts of earthly rulers1 and once    
again brought ,his people  from the land
 of their bondage4 ,persia had become   
the controlling  power among the        

nations1 and by decree of the ,persian  
king1 ,judah was  emancipated4 ,behold  
the power of ,god in directing the      
rulers among  mortals3        ,now in   
the first year of ,cyrus king of        
,persia1 that the word      of the ,lord
 by the mouth of ,jeremiah might be     
fulfilled1 the      ,lord stirred up the
 spirit of ,cyrus king of ,persia1 that 
he made      a proclamation throughout  
all his kingdom1 and put it also in     
writing1 saying1        ,thus saith     
,cyrus king of ,persia1 ,the ,lord ,god 
of heaven hath given      me all the    
kingdoms of the earth2 and he hath      
charged me to build      him an house at
 ,jerusalem1 which is in ,judah4        
,who is there among you of all his      
people8 his ,god be with him1 and       
let him go up to ,jerusalem1 which is in
 ,judah1 and build the house      of the
 ,lord ,god of ,israel1 7he is the      
,god17 which is in ,jerusalem4          
,and whosoever remaineth in any place   
where he sojourneth1 let the      men of

 his place help him with silver1 and    
with gold1 and with      goods1 and with
 beasts1 beside the freewill offering   
for the house      of ,god that is in   
,jerusalem4#ga    ,under this gracious  
permission the people returned to the   
land of their  fathers1 and set about   
the work of building anew a ,house to   
the ,lord4  ,cyrus had issued his royal 
decree that the structure be worthy the 
great ,name to which it was to be       
reared--the foundations were to #dh  be 
strongly laid2 the height was to be     
three score cubits1 and the  breadth the
 same2 there were to be set three rows  
of great stones and a  row of new       
timber2 moreover1 the expenses were to  
be met by the royal  treasury4#gb ,the  
king restored to the people the vessels 
that had been  taken by ,nebuchadnezzar 
from the first ,temple1--all these1     
numbering  many thousands1 were formally
 delivered by the king's treasurer4#gc  
,so great was the enthusiasm of the     
people1 so strong their desire to  have 

individual part in the holy undertaking1
 that many who had been  careless of    
their heritage now claimed priestly     
standing2 but1 as  their genealogy had  
not been preserved1 they were debarred  
from the  priesthood1 though permitted  
to return with the rest4 ,the           
prerogatives  of the priestly order were
 denied them until one would arise with 
power  to declare their genealogy       
through ,urim and ,thummim4#gd          
,zerubbabel and ,jeshua had charge of   
the work2 and without delay they        
builded anew the altar of the ,god of   
,israel and re-established the  ritual  
of sacrifice1 and the observance of the 
sacred festivals4#ge  ,masons and       
carpenters1 workmen and artisans of all 
kinds and degrees  were brought into    
service2 again were ,tyre and ,sidon put
 under friendly  tribute1 and once more 
the wealth of the forests of ,lebanon   
was brought  to ,jerusalem4 ,priests and
 ,levites were marshalled in order as of
 old1  and the sound of trumpets and    

cymbals was mingled with the voices of  
the singers4 ,is there cause for wonder 
that #di as the foundations  were laid1 
old men who remembered the first ,house 
and its glory wept  aloud and shouted in
 their tearful joy8#gf    ,but          
adversaries arose who put obstacles in  
the way of the builders4  ,the people of
 ,canaan--,israelites who had forgotten 
their allegiance to  ,god1 and had      
mingled with idolaters1 took offense at 
the activity of  the returned ,jews4 ,at
 first they offered to assist in the    
work1 but  being refused recognition    
because of their idolatrous             
associations1  they became              
obstructionists1 and weakened the hands 
of the people of  ,judah1 and troubled  
them in building2 and hired counsellors 
against  them1 to frustrate their       
purpose1 all the days of ,cyrus king of 
,persia1  even until the reign of       
,darius king of ,persia4#gg ,the claim  
was made  that of old the people of     
,judah had been a trouble to other      

nations1  and that with the restoration 
of their ,temple they would again become
  seditious4 ,at last the protests and  
charges reached ,darius1 the  reigning  
monarch2 and he1 having investigated the
 whole matter1 issued  a decree1 that   
not only should the ,jews be free from  
interruption in  the building of the    
,temple1 but that a portion of the      
king's tribute1  the regular taxes of   
the land1 should be devoted to the work2
 and1 said  the king3        ,also ,i   
have made a decree1 that whosoever shall
 alter this word1      let timber be    
pulled down from his house1 and being   
set up1 let him      be hanged thereon2 
and let his house be made a dunghill for
 this4      ,and the ,god that hath     
caused his name to dwell there destroy  
all      kings and people1 that shall   
#ej put to their hand to alter and to   
destroy this house of ,god which is at  
,jerusalem4 ,i ,darius have made      a 
decree2 let it be done with speed4#gh   
,with such support the people soon      

completed the building4 ,though nearly  
twenty years elapsed between the laying 
of the foundation and the  finishing1   
the greater part of the labor was done  
during the last four  years4 ,the       
dedicatory services were solemn and     
inspiring4 ,for seven  days the ,feast  
of ,unleavened ,bread was observed2 the 
,passover was eaten  by those who had   
returned from captivity and by such     
others as had  separated themselves unto
 them from the filthiness of the heathen
 of  the land1 to seek the ,lord ,god of
 ,israel4#gi    ,this1 the second       
,temple1 was finished in the year #eae  
,b4 ,c42 it is  known in history as the 
,temple of ,zerubbabel4 ,in general plan
 it was  patterned after the ,temple of 
,solomon1 though in many of its         
dimensions  it exceeded its prototype4  
,the court was divided into a section   
for  priests only and another for the   
public2 according to ,josephus the      
division was effected by a wooden       
railing4#hj ,an alter of unhewn  stone  

was erected in place of the great brazen
 alter of old4#ha ,the  ,holy ,place was
 graced by but one candlestick instead  
of ten2 and by a  single table for the  
shew-bread instead of the ten tables    
overlaid with  gold which stood in the  
first ,temple4 ,we read also of a golden
 altar  of incense1 and of some minor   
appurtenances4 ,the ,most ,holy ,place  
was  empty1 for the ,ark #ea of the     
,covenant had not been known after the  
people had gone into captivity4    ,in  
many respects the ,temple of ,zerubbabel
 appeared poor in comparison  with its  
splendid predecessor and in certain     
particulars1 indeed1 it  ranked lower   
than the ancient ,tabernacle of the     
,congregation--the  sanctuary of the    
nomadic tribes4 ,critical scholars      
specify the  following features         
characteristic of the ,temple of        
,solomon and lacking  in the ,temple of 
,zerubbabel3 7#a7 the ,ark of the       
,covenant2 7#b7 the  sacred fire2 7#c7  
the ,shekinah1 or glory of the ,lord1   

manifested of old  as the ,divine       
,presence2 7#d7 the ,urim and ,thummim1 
by which ,jehovah made  plain ,his will 
to the priests of the ,aaronic order2   
7#e7 the genius  or spirit of prophecy1 
indicative of the closest communion     
between  mortals and their ,god4        
,notwithstanding these differences the  
,temple of  ,zerubbabel was recognized  
of ,god and was undoubtedly the site or 
seat  of ,divine revelation to duly     
constituted prophets4    ,the           
inferiority of the second ,temple as    
compared with the first is  generally   
conceded2 the difference1 however1 was  
rather in matter of  splendor than in   
point of size4#hb ,but even such glory  
as it did  possess was not to be long   
maintained4 ,again the people became    
recreant  to their ,god1 and the voice  
of the prophet was unheeded4 ,again did 
,jehovah permit the heathen to oppress  
,judah4 ,of the later history  of this  
,temple the ,biblical record gives but  
few details2 but from  other sources we 

learn of its vicissitudes4 ,in          
connection with the  ,maccabean         
persecution the ,house of the ,lord was 
profaned4 ,a ,syrian  king1 ,antiochus  
,epiphanes1 captured ,jerusalem 7#afh to
 #afe ,b4 ,c47 #eb  and perpetrated     
blasphemous outrage against the religion
 of the people4  ,he plundered the      
,temple and carried away its golden     
candlestick1 its  golden altar of       
incense1 its table of shewbread1 and    
even tore down the  sacred veils1 which 
were of fine linen and scarlet4 ,his    
malignity was  carried so far that he   
purposely desecrated the altar of       
sacrifice by  offering swine thereon1   
and erected a heathen altar within the  
sacred  enclosure4 ,not content with the
 violation of the ,temple1 this wicked  
monarch had altars erected in the towns 
and ordered the offering of  unclean    
beasts upon them4 ,the rite of          
circumcision was forbidden on  pain of  
death1 and the worship of ,jehovah was  
declared a crime4#hc ,as  a result of   

this persecution many of the ,jews      
apostatized1 and declared  that they    
belonged to the ,medes and              
,persians--the nations from whose       
dominion they had been delivered by the 
power of ,god4    ,among those who      
remained true to the religion of their  
fathers was  ,mattathias1 who was a     
priest1 and a man of prominence4 ,he was
 besought  to offer heathen sacrifice2  
not only did he refuse but in righteous 
indignation he slew those who did       
attempt the sacrilege4 ,this act  led to
 further strife and for three years the 
struggle continued4  ,judas1 son of     
,mattathias1 came into prominence and is
 known as ,judas  ,maccabeus1--the first
 of the ,maccabees4 ,under his          
leadership the  people returned to      
,jerusalem and found the ,temple        
deserted1 as it had  been left by the   
army of ,antiochus4 ,its gates had been 
broken down  and burned2 and within the 
walls weeds were growing4 ,judas tried  
to  cleanse and rehabilitate the ,house2

 he brought in new vessels1 and         
replaced the candlestick1 the altar of  
incense1 the table of shewbread1  and   
the veils1 #ec and built a new altar for
 burnt offerings4 ,then  in the year    
#afc ,b4 ,c4 the ,house was rededicated2
 and the occasion was  remembered in    
annual festival thereafter under the    
name of the ,feast of  ,dedication4#hd  
,in the interest of self-preservation   
the ,jews entered into an alliance  with
 the ,romans1 who eventually became     
their masters4 ,during the reign  of the
 ,maccabees the ,temple fell into decay1
 and when the last of that  dynasty had 
been succeeded by ,herod the ,great1 the
 ,house was little  more than a ruin4   
,nevertheless the priestly orders had   
been maintained2  and some semblance of 
ritualistic worship had continued4 ,the 
history of  the ,temple of ,zerubbabel  
is merged with that of the ,temple of   
,herod4    ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,herod  
,in the year #cg ,b4 ,c4 ,herod ,i1     
known in history as ,herod the ,great1  

was established on the throne as ,king  
of ,judea4 ,he had already served       
successively as procurator and tetrarch1
 and1 indeed1 had been king in  name for
 some time prior to his enthronement1   
during which period he  had been in     
hostile conflict with the people over   
whom the decree of  the ,roman ,senate  
had made him ruler4 ,he came to the     
throne noted for  arrogance and cruelty2
 and his reign was one of tyranny1 in   
which even  family relationship and the 
closest ties of blood proved unavailing 
to protect the victims of his           
displeasure4 ,in the early part of his  
reign he put to death nearly all the    
members of the ,sanhedrin1 the  great   
,jewish ,council1 and throughout he     
ruled with increasing severity4         
,nevertheless he was successful in      
maintaining peace with other #ed        
governments1 and by his ,roman masters  
was accounted an able ruler4  ,among his
 acts of cruelty was the slaughter of   
the babes of ,bethlehem1  a murder      

planned and executed in the hope of     
including among the  victims the ,child 
,jesus4#he    ,such is the character of 
the man who proposed to replace the     
time-worn  ,temple of ,zerubbabel by a  
new and more splendid structure4 ,can it
 be  thought that a proffered gift from 
such a donor could be acceptable to  the
 ,lord8 ,david had aforetime offered to 
build a ,house to the ,lord1  but had   
been restrained1 for he was a man of    
blood4 ,herod's purpose in  the great   
undertaking was that of aggrandizing    
himself and the nation1  rather than the
 rendering of homage to ,jehovah4 ,his  
proposition to  rebuild or restore the  
,temple on a scale of increased         
magnificence was  regarded with         
suspicion and received with disfavor by 
the ,jews1 who  feared that were the    
ancient edifice demolished1 the         
arbitrary monarch  might abandon his    
plan and the people would be left       
without a ,temple4  ,to allay these     
fears the king proceeded to reconstruct 

and restore the  old edifice1 part by   
part1 directing the work so that at no  
time was  the ,temple service seriously 
interrupted4 ,so little of the ancient  
structure was allowed to stand1 however1
 that the ,temple of ,herod must  be    
regarded #ee as a new creation4 ,the    
work was begun about sixteen  years     
before the birth of ,christ2 and while  
the ,holy ,house itself was  practically
 completed within a year and a half1    
this part of the labor  having been     
performed by a body of one thousand     
priests specially  trained for the      
purpose1 the temple area was a scene of 
uninterrupted  building operations down 
to the year #fc ,a4 ,d4 ,we read that in
 the  time of ,christ's ministry the    
,temple had been forty-six years in     
building2#hf and at that time it was    
unfinished4    ,the ,biblical record    
gives us little information regarding   
this the  last and the greatest of      
ancient temples2 for what we know       
concerning  it we are indebted mainly to

 ,josephus1 with some corroborative     
testimony found in the ,talmud4 ,in all 
essentials the ,holy ,house or  ,temple 
proper was similar to the two earlier   
houses of sanctuary1  though externally 
far more elaborate and imposing than    
either2 but in  the matter of           
surrounding courts and associated       
buildings1 the ,temple  of ,herod       
preeminently excelled4 ,in proceeding   
from the outer wall to  the innermost   
enclosure occupied by the ,holy ,house  
one would traverse  successive courts1  
each at a higher level than the last1 to
 which  arrangement the slopes of ,mount
 ,moriah were favorable4 ,the courts    
extended as enormous platform-terraces1 
supported by foundations of  massive    
masonry1 which rose vertically in some  
places seven hundred  feet from the foot
 of the hill4    ,the outer wall        
enclosing the entire temple area1 which 
approximated  the form of a square1     
measured four hundred cubits1 or one    
stadium1  7about six hundred feet7 along

 each side4 ,the east wall1 constituting
  the principal #ef defense of the city 
on that side1 was unbroken  by gates2 on
 each of the other three sides one or   
more large and  beautiful portals       
afforded passage through the            
fortress-like wall4  ,the four sides of 
the great enclosure1 immediately within 
the outer  wall1 were occupied by a     
series of magnificent porticoes1 of     
,grecian  design1 forming a covered     
colonnade in which every pillar was a   
massive monolith of white marble4 ,this 
colonnade was interrupted at  the       
north-west corner1 where the continuity 
of the wall was broken  by the ,tower of
 ,antonia1 in reality a fortified       
castle1 from which a  subterranean      
passage led into the inner enclosure    
where stood the ,holy  ,house4 ,the     
colonnade or line of porticoes along the
 south side was  particularly elaborate1
 and was known as the ,royal ,porch4    
,here were  four rows of huge columns1  
and consequently three corridors1 of    

which  the inner was forty-five feet    
wide and one hundred feet high1 while   
each of the side corridors measured     
thirty feet in width and sixty feet  in 
height4 ,the imposing effect of the     
,royal ,porch is dwelt upon by          
,josephus1 who states that its beauty   
was incredible to those who had  not    
seen it1 and amazing to those who       
beheld4    ,the east colonnade or row of
 porticoes was known as ,solomon's      
,porch1#hg the name having reference to 
a tradition that the porch  covered and 
included part of the original wall      
erected by the builder  of the first    
,temple4 ,within the colonnade was a    
spacious area1 to which  general        
admission was allowed2 this was the     
,court of the ,gentiles4 ,it  was in    
this court that money-changers and      
traffickers in animals used  for        
sacrifice had established their stalls  
at the time of our ,lord's  ministry1   
and from which #eg they were expelled   
through ,his righteous  indignation1 the

 while ,he declared3 ,it is written1 ,my
 house shall be  called the house of    
prayer2 but ye have made it a den of    
thieves4#hh    ,between the ,court of   
the ,gentiles and the inner courts rose 
a wall  twenty-five cubits high2 this   
marked the boundary of the more sacred  
precincts within which no ,gentile could
 be lawfully admitted4 ,at  intervals   
along the wall were inscription tablets1
 warning all who were  not of ,israel to
 enter not on pain of death4 ,a literal 
translation  of such inscription reads3 
,let no alien enter within the          
balustrade  and embankment about the    
sanctuary4 ,whoever is caught makes     
himself  responsible for his death which
 will follow4    ,the inner courts were 
accessible from the ,court of the       
,gentiles through  nine gates1 of which 
one was on the east1 and four were on   
the north  and south respectively2 as in
 the earlier ,temples the west wall was 
without a gate4 ,of these portals the   
principal one was on the east2  this was

 an elaborate structure built of the    
costly ,corinthian brass1  and known as 
the ,corinthian ,gate1 though sometimes 
called from the name  of its donor1 the 
,gate of ,nicanor2 furthermore this is  
held by many  authorities to be the     
,beautiful ,gate1 before which sat the  
lame man who  was healed through the    
ministrations of ,peter and ,john4#hi   
,part of the space within the inner     
courts was open to ,israelites of  both 
sexes1 and was known distinctively as   
the ,court of the ,women4  ,this was a  
colonnaded enclosure1 and constituted   
the place of general  assembly in the   
prescribed course of public worship4    
,chambers used  for #eh ceremonial      
purposes occupied the four corners of   
this court2  and between these and the  
houses at the gates1 were other         
buildings1  of which one series         
constituted the ,treasury wherein were  
set  trumpet-shaped receptacles for     
gifts4#ij    ,beyond the ,court of the  
,women and really a continuation        

thereof1 was a  section sufficiently    
described by its name1 the ,court of the
 ,men2 these  two courts are sometimes  
referred to as one and designated the   
,court  of ,israel4 ,within this court  
were numerous buildings reserved for the
  storage of sacred things or devoted to
 special assemblies4 ,within and  above 
the ,court of ,israel was the ,court of 
the ,priests1 wherein was  placed the   
great altar of sacrifice1 and to which  
were admitted none  but duly appointed  
priests and laymen who came to make     
offerings4 ,the  altar was a large      
structure of unhewn stones1 forty-seven 
feet square  at the base1 and           
diminishing upward to the hearth which  
was a square  of thirty-six feet4 ,the  
inclined way of approach was on the     
south  side4#ia ,a laver or font1       
reserved for the prescribed ablutions of
 the  officiating priests1 stood nearby 
on the west4    ,within the ,court of   
the ,priests1 on an elevation reached by
 twelve  steps1 stood the ,holy ,house1 

the ,temple itself4 ,in comparison with 
its many and massive outliers1 this was 
a small edifice1 but in the             
architectural plan it was made the most 
impressive1 if not the most  imposing   
feature of the whole4 ,it has been      
properly described as a  glittering mass
 of white marble and gold4#ib #ei ,like 
the earlier  ,temples1 this comprised   
,porch1 ,holy ,place1 and ,most ,holy   
,place or  ,holy of ,holies4 ,the ,porch
 measured one hundred cubits both in    
width  and height4 ,the ,holy ,place was
 forty by twenty cubits1 as in the      
,temple of ,zerubbabel1 but its height  
was increased to forty cubits4  ,by     
adding side chambers1 with a passage    
between them and the main  building1    
,herod made the new ,temple greater and 
grander than either  of its             
predecessors4 ,the ,holy of ,holies     
retained the original form  and         
dimensions1 making it a cube1 twenty    
cubits in each measurement4  ,between   
this and the ,holy ,place hung a double 

veil1 of finest material1  elaborately  
embroidered4 ,the outer of the two veils
 was open at the  north end1 the inner  
at the south2 so that the high priest   
who entered  at the appointed time once 
a year could pass between the veils     
without  exposing the ,holy of ,holies4 
,the sacred chamber was empty save for a
  large stone upon which the high priest
 sprinkled the sacrificial blood  on the
 ,day of ,atonement2 this stone occupied
 the place of the ,ark and  its ,mercy  
,seat4 ,outside the veil1 in the ,holy  
,place1 stood the altar of  incense1 the
 seven-branched candle-stick1 and the   
table of shewbread4    ,that the ,temple
 of ,herod was by far the grandest      
structure ever erected  as a ,temple in 
any age is generally admitted2 yet its  
beauty and  grandeur lay in             
architectural excellence rather than in 
the sanctity of  its worship or in the  
manifestation of the ,divine ,presence  
within its  walls4 ,its ritual and      
service were largely man-prescribed2 for

 while  the letter of the ,mosaic ,law  
was professedly observed1 the law had   
been supplemented and in many features  
supplanted by rule and priestly         
prescription4 ,the ,jews professed to   
consider it holy1 and by them it  was   
#fj proclaimed as the ,house of the     
,lord4 ,devoid though it was  of the    
,divine accompaniments of earlier       
shrines accepted of ,god1 and  defiled  
as it was by priestly arrogance and     
usurpation1 as also by the  selfish     
interest of traffic and trade1 it was   
nevertheless recognized  even by our    
,lord the ,christ as ,his ,father's     
,house4#ic ,therein the  ,boy ,jesus was
 presented as required by the ,law1#id  
thereto came ,he  with ,his people at   
the time of the ,passover2#ie within its
 precincts  ,he declared ,himself and   
the ,father who sent ,him4#if ,when at  
last1  rejected by ,his own1 and by them
 brought to the cross1 ,he wrought the  
sacrifice through which salvation was   
made possible to man1 the veil of  the  

,temple was rent by an unseen power and 
the last vestige of supreme  sanctity   
departed from the place4#ig    ,as long 
as it stood1 however1 the ,temple was   
held by the ,jews in high  veneration4  
,an utterance of the ,savior1 construed 
by the dark-minded as  an aspersion upon
 the ,temple1 was used against ,him as  
one of the chief  accusations on which  
,his death was demanded4 ,when the ,jews
 clamored  for a sign of ,his authority 
,he predicted ,his own death and        
subsequent  resurrection1 saying1       
,destroy this temple1 and in three days 
,i will  raise it up4#ih ,they blindly  
regarded this remark as a disrespectful 
allusion to their ,temple1 a structure  
built by human hands1 and they  refused 
to forget or forgive4 ,that this        
veneration continued after the          
crucifixion of our ,lord is evident from
 accusations brought against  ,stephen1 
and still later against ,paul4 ,in their
 murderous rage the  people accused #fa 
,stephen of disrespect for the ,temple1 

and brought  false witnesses who uttered
 perjured testimony saying1 ,this man   
ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words  
against this holy place4#ii  ,and       
,stephen was numbered with the martyrs4 
,when it was claimed that  ,paul had    
brought with him into the temple        
precincts1 a ,gentile1 the  whole city  
was aroused1 and the infuriated mob     
dragged ,paul from the  place and sought
 to kill him4#ajj    ,for thirty or more
 years after the death of ,christ1 the  
,jews continued  the work of adding to  
and embellishing the temple buildings4  
,the  elaborate design conceived and    
projected by ,herod had been practically
  completed2 the ,temple was well-nigh  
finished1 and1 as soon afterward        
appeared1 was ready for destruction4    
,its fate had been definitely  foretold 
by the ,savior ,himself4 ,commenting on 
a remark by one of the  disciples       
concerning the great stones and the     
splendid buildings on  the ,temple hill1
 ,jesus had said1 ,seest thou these     

great buildings8  ,there shall not be   
left one stone upon another that shall  
not be thrown  down4#aja    ,this dire  
prediction soon found its literal       
fulfilment4 ,in the great  conflict with
 the ,roman legions under ,titus1 many  
of the ,jews had taken  refuge within   
the temple courts1 seemingly hoping that
 there the ,lord  would again fight the 
battles of ,his people and give them    
victory4 ,but  the protecting presence  
of ,jehovah had long since departed     
therefrom  and ,israel was left a prey  
to the foe4 ,though ,titus would have   
spared  the ,temple1 his legionaries1   
maddened by the lust of conflict1       
started  the conflagration #fb and      
everything that could be burned was     
burned4  ,the slaughter of the ,jews was
 appalling2 thousands of men1 women and 
children were ruthlessly butchered      
within the walls1 and the temple  courts
 were literally flooded with human      
blood4 ,this event occurred  in the year
 #gj ,a4 ,d42 and according to          

,josephus1 in the same month  and on the
 same day of the month as that on which 
the once glorious  ,temple of ,solomon  
had fallen a prey to the flames kindled 
by the king  of ,babylon4#ajb ,of the   
temple furniture the golden candlestick 
and the  table of shewbread from the    
,holy ,place were carried by ,titus to  
,rome as  trophies of war2 and          
representations of these sacred pieces  
are to be  seen on the arch erected to  
the name of the victorious general4     
,since the destruction of the splendid  
,temple of ,herod no other  structure of
 the kind1 no ,temple1 no ,house of the 
,lord as the terms are  used            
distinctively1 has been reared on the   
eastern hemisphere4 ,sometime  between  
#cfa and #cfc ,a4 ,d4 the ,roman emperor
 ,julian1 surnamed because  of his      
reversion from ,christianity to paganism
 ,julian the ,apostate1  attempted to   
reconstruct the ,temple at ,jerusalem4  
,his purpose was  not that of devotion  
to nor love for ,god2 but that of       

controverting  prophecy1 and thus       
proving false the ,christian belief4#ajc
 ,so ends the  category of ,temples     
reared to the name of the living ,god   
prior to the  dispensation of the       
fulness of times4    ,,footnotes    #a4 
,exodus #c3e4    #b4 ,exodus #af3cb-cd4 
#c4 ,see ,exodus #ca3ah2 #be3af2 #cb3ae2
 #cd3bh1 #bi4    #d4 ,exodus #cc3g-aa4  
#e4 ,in the ,authorized ,version of the 
,holy ,bible this sanctuary is called   
the ,tabernacle of the ,congregation2 in
 the ,revised ,version it is  designated
 the ,tent of ,meeting2 preponderance of
 authority is in favor  of the latter   
reading4    #f4 ,exodus #bd3i1 #aj1 #ah2
 read the entire chapter4    #g4 ,exodus
 #be3a-i4 ,for details of the building  
and furnishings of  the ,tabernacle of  
the ,congregation see ,exodus chapters  
#be-ca1 more  particularly chapter #be1 
which account is in part repeated in    
#cf3h-ch4    #h4 ,exodus #cf3e-g4    #i4
 ,the cubit is an ancient measure of    
length1 the value of which  varied in   

different countries and at different    
times4 ,as the term  occurs in the      
,bible1 it denotes varying lengths4 ,in 
line with modern  encyclopedias1 ,bible 
dictionaries1 etc41 the length herein   
adopted  is one foot six inches4 ,see   
,encyclopaedia ,britannica4 ,smith's    
,bible  ,dictionary1 etc4    #aj4       
,exodus #cg3a-i2 compare #be3aj-bb4     
#aa4 ,see ,exodus #cg3aj-bi2 compare    
#be3bc-dj4    #ab4 ,exodus #dj3cd-ch4   
#ac4 ,exodus #be3h4    #ad4 ,see ,exodus
 chapter #bh4    #ae4 ,see ,smith's     
,dictionary of the ,bible 7,barnum's    
ed471 art4  ,tabernacle4    #af4 ,joshua
 #ah3a-c2 #ai3ea2 see also #ba3b2       
,judges #ah3ca2 ,i ,sam4 #a3c1 #bd2     
#d3c1 #d4    #ag4 ,see ,i ,samuel       
#d3aj-ah4    #ah4 ,i ,samuel #d3bb4     
#ai4 ,see ,i ,samuel #ba3a-f4    #bj4   
,see ,i ,samuel #g3a1 #b4    #ba4 ,see  
,i ,chron4 #ba3bh-cj2 compare ,,ii      
,chron4 #a3c-f4    #bb4 ,i ,samuel      
#d3aj-bb2 also chapters #e and #f2 and  
#g3a-b4    #bc4 ,,ii ,samuel #f3a-ab2   

see also ,i ,chron4 chapter #ac4    #bd4
 ,,ii ,samuel #f3ag2 see also ,i ,chron4
 #ae3a1 and #af3a4    #be4 ,see ,i      
,kings #c3ae and ,,ii ,chron4 #a3c1 #d4 
#bf4 ,see ,i ,kings #h3a-d4    #bg4 ,i  
,chron4 #ag3a2 see also ,,ii ,samuel    
#g3a1 #b4    #bh4 ,i ,chron4 #ag3d1 #e4 
#bi4 ,see ,i ,chron4 #bb3h2 compare     
#bh3c2 and ,i ,kings #e3c4    #cj4 ,see 
,i ,chron4 #bb3a-e4    #ca4 ,,ii ,samuel
 #bd3ae-be2 see also ,i ,chron4         
#ba3ae-ag2 and ,,ii ,chron4 #c3a4       
#cb4 ,see ,i ,chron4 #ba3ah-cj2 compare 
,,ii ,samuel #bd3ah-be4    #cc4 ,i      
,chron4 #bb3e-ai2 see also #bh3a-h2     
#bi3a-g4    #cd4 ,i ,chron4 #bh3aa-ac4  
#ce4 ,,ii ,chron4 #b3e2 see also the    
entire chapter4    #cf4 ,see ,i ,kings  
#e3aa2 and ,,ii ,chron4 #b3aj1 #ae #ae4 
#cg4 ,i ,kings #e3ac-ah4    #ch4 ,i     
,kings #f3g2 compare ,deuteronomy #bg3e1
 #f4    #ci4 ,josephus1 ,antiquities of 
the ,jews1 ,book ,,viii3 chaps4 #b1 #c1 
#d4    #dj4 ,see ,,ii ,chron4 #c3d4     
#da4 ,see ,i ,kings #g3ac-bb4    #db4 ,i

 ,kings #f3ae-ah1 #bi4    #dc4 ,verses  
#ai-bb4    #dd4 ,verse #ce4    #de4     
,verses #e1 #f4    #df4 ,ezekiel #da3f1 
#g4    #dg4 ,for specifications as to   
the courts1 see ,i ,kings #f3cf2 compare
  #g3ab2 see also ,,ii ,kings #bc3ab2   
,,ii ,chron4 #d3i2 #cc3e #cc3e4    #dh4 
,i ,kings #g3bc-bf2 ,,ii ,chron4 #d3b2  
see also ,,ii ,kings #be3ac2 compare    
,jeremiah #eb3ag4    #di4 ,i ,kings     
#g3ci4    #ej4 ,i ,kings #g3bg-ci2      
compare ,,ii ,chron4 #d3f4    #ea4 ,i   
,kings #h3aj1 #aa4    #eb4 ,i ,kings    
#h3ef1 #eg2 for the dedicatory services 
in full see the  entire chapter4    #ec4
 ,verse #ff4    #ed4 ,,ii ,kings #ad3ac1
 #ad4    #ee4 ,,ii ,kings #af3aj-ah3 see
 also ,,ii ,chron4 #bh3bd4    #ef4 ,,ii 
,kings #ba3a-g2 see also ,,ii ,chron4   
#cc3a-g4    #eg4 ,i ,kings #ae3ah4      
#eh4 ,,ii ,kings #ab3ah4    #ei4 ,,ii   
,kings #ah3ae1 #af4    #fj4 ,see ,,ii   
,kings #ab3b-ad2 compare ,,ii ,chron4   
#bd3g-ad2 see also ,,ii ,kings  #bb3c-g2
 compare ,,ii ,chron4 #cd3h-ac4    #fa4 

,,ii ,kings #bd3ac2 #be3i-ag2 ,,ii      
,chron4 #cf3g1 #ai2 compare ,isaiah     
#fd3aa2  ,jeremiah #bg3af1 #ai-bb2      
#bh3c2 #eb3ac1 #ag-bc2 ,lamentations    
#b3g2 #d3a2 and  ,ezra #a3g4    #fb4    
,see ,daniel1 chapter #e4    #fc4 ,see  
,ezekiel1 chapters #dj to #dc4    #fd4  
,so designated in the ,revised ,version4
    #fe4 ,ezekiel #dj3dg4    #ff4       
,verses #dd-df4    #fg4 ,ezekiel1       
chapters #dd-dh4    #fh4 ,ezekiel       
#dc3aj-ab4    #fi4 ,jeremiah #be3h-aa2  
see also #bi3aj4    #gj4 ,see ,jeremiah 
#be3ab-ad4 ,see also the author's ,the  
,articles of  ,faith1 ,lecture ,,xvii1  
,the ,dispersion of ,israel4    #ga4    
,ezra #a3a-d4    #gb4 ,ezra #f3c-d4     
#gc4 ,ezra #a3g-aa4    #gd4 ,see ,ezra  
#b3fa-fc4    #ge4 ,ezra #c3a-f4    #gf4 
,ezra #c3h-ac4    #gg4 ,ezra #d3a-f2 see
 also verses #g-bd1 and chapter #e4     
#gh4 ,ezra #f3aa1 #ab2 see also verses  
#g-aj4    #gi4 ,ezra #f3ba4    #hj4     
,josephus1 ,antiquities of the ,jews3   
,,xiii1 #ac3e4    #ha4 ,compare ,exodus 

#bj3be2 ,deut4 #bg3e2 ,joshua #h3ca4    
#hb4 ,see ,haggai #b3a-d2 compare ,zech4
 #d3aj4    #hc4 ,see ,josephus1         
,antiquities of the ,jews1 ,book ,,xii1 
#e3c-e4    #hd4 ,see ,josephus1         
,antiquities of the ,jews1 ,book ,,xii1 
chaps4 #f and #g2  and ,,ii ,maccabees  
#b3ai2 #aj3a-h2 see also ,john #aj3bb4  
#he4 ,see ,matt4 #b3a-aj1 #af-ah4 ,a    
little child made the great ,herod      
quake upon his throne4 ,when he knew    
that the magi were come to hail  their  
,king and ,lord1 and did not stop at his
 palace1 but passed on to  a humbler    
roof1 and when he found that they would 
not return to betray  this child to him1
 he put to death all the children in    
,bethlehem that  were under two years   
old4 ,the crime was great2 but the      
number of the  victims1 in a little     
place like ,bethlehem1 was small enough 
to escape  special record among the     
wicked acts of ,herod from ,josephus and
 other  historians1 as it had no        
political interest4--,smith's           

,comprehensive  ,dictionary of the      
,bible1 art4 ,jesus ,christ1 page #dff4 
#hf4 ,john #b3bj4    #hg4 ,see ,john    
#aj3bc2 ,acts #c3aa2 #e3ab4    #hh4     
,matt4 #ba3ab-ac2 see also ,mark #aa3ae2
 ,luke #ai3de2 ,john #b3ad4    #hi4 ,see
 ,acts #c3b1 #aj4    #ij4 ,see ,mark    
#ab3da-dd4    #ia4 ,compare ,exodus     
#bj3bf4    #ib4 ,see ,encyclopaedia     
,britannica1 #aath ed41 art4 ,temple4   
#ic4 ,matt4 #ba3ab2 compare ,mark       
#aa3ae2 ,luke #ai3de4    #id4 ,see ,luke
 #b3bb-ch4    #ie4 ,luke #b3db-ej4 ,see 
also ,john #b3ac-bc2 #e3a2 #ab3ab-bj4   
#if4 ,luke #ai3dg2 ,john #aj3bb-ci4     
#ig4 ,matt4 #bg3ea2 ,mark #ae3ch2 ,luke 
#bc3de4    #ih4 ,john #b3ai-bb2 see also
 ,matt4 #bf3fa2 #bg3dj2 ,mark #ad3eh2   
#ae3bi4    #ii4 ,acts #f3ac4    #ajj4   
,see ,acts #ba3bf-dj4    #aja4 ,mark    
#ac3a1 #b4 ,see also ,matt4 #bd3a1 #b2  
,luke #ba3e1 #f4    #ajb4 ,josephus1    
,wars of the ,jews1 ,book ,,vi2 #d3e1   
#h4 ,for a detailed and  graphic account
 of the destruction of the ,temple see  

chapters #d and #e  in their entirety4  
#ajc4 ,he actually began excavations1   
but his workmen were driven in  great   
panic from the spot1 by terrific        
explosions and bursts of flame4  ,the   
,christians regarded the occurrence as  
miraculous2 and ,julian  himself1 it is 
certain1 was so dismayed by it that he  
desisted from the  undertaking4--,p4 ,v4
 ,n4 ,meyers1 ,general ,history1 page   
#ccd4        ,,chapter ,,iii    ,,need  
,,of ,,temples ,,in ,,the ,,present     
,,dispensation    #fc ,among the        
numerous sects and churches professing  
,christianity1  the ,church of ,jesus   
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints stands   
alone in the  teaching and practise of  
temple ministration4 ,the devotion of   
this  people to the sacred labor of     
building temples and administering      
therein the saving ordinances of the    
,gospel has attracted the attention  and
 aroused the wonder of both philosopher 
and layman4 ,it is not  enough to       
attempt an explanation of this singular 

and stupendous  sacrifice by ascribing  
it to assumed and unproved fanaticism2  
the  earnest investigator1 the careful  
observer1 and even the cursory  reader1 
indeed1 if he be honest1 admits that    
beneath this devotion is  a             
deeply-seated and an abiding faith4 ,it 
cannot be affirmed that the  ,latter-day
 ,saints build temples as monuments of  
communal wealth nor  in the pride of    
human aggrandisement2 for we find them  
thus arduously  engaged even while bread
 was scarce and clothing scant among    
them2 and  throughout their history the 
people have looked upon their temples   
as edifices belonging to the ,lord1 and 
upon themselves as stewards  entrusted  
with the custody of the consecrated     
properties4 ,nor can it  be said that   
this ,church builds temples as other    
sects erect chapels1  churches1         
cathedrals1 and synagogues2 for the     
,church has the equivalent  of these1   
and indeed the meeting-houses and places
 of public worship  maintained by the   

,latterday ,saints are proportionately  
greater in  number than #fd are those of
 other denominations4 ,moreover1 as     
already  stated1 these temples are not  
used as places of common assembly1 nor  
as  houses of general and congregational
 service4    ,why1 then1 does ,the      
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latterday 
,saints build  and maintain temples8 ,in
 answer let the following pertinent     
facts be  carefully considered4         
,,necessity ,,of ,,obedience ,,to ,,the 
,,laws ,,and ,,ordinances ,,of ,,the    
,,gospel    ,as part of its declaration 
of faith1 the ,church proclaims3    ,we 
believe that through the atonement of   
,christ1 all mankind may be  saved1 by  
obedience to the laws and ordinances of 
the ,gospel4#a    ,while professing     
belief in the possibility of a universal
 salvation1  the ,church affirms that   
salvation is assured only on condition  
of  individual compliance with the      
requirements established by the         
,redeemer1 without whose atoning        

sacrifice none could be saved4 ,the     
atonement wrought by the ,christ on     
,calvary was a vicarious offering1 in   
the beneficent results of which all     
mankind are made partakers4 ,as to      
redemption from the thrall of mortality 
incident to the transgression  in ,eden1
 the sacrificial death of ,christ met in
 full the exactions  incident to the    
broken law2 and none but ,adam shall be 
held accountable  for ,adam's           
disobedience1 nor for any results       
thereof4 ,in the just  judgment to which
 every mortal shall come1 all conditions
 of inherited  weakness1 temptation due 
to #fe environment1 the capacity to     
choose  and to act1 the measure of      
knowledge to which the subject has      
attained1  the meed of truth he has     
accepted or rejected1 the opportunities 
he has  used aright or wrongly spurned1 
the fidelity with which he walked in    
the light or the depravity through which
 he wandered in the forbidden  paths of 
darkness1--these and every other fact   

and circumstance  entering into the     
individual life will be duly weighed and
 considered4  ,at the bar of ,god the   
distinguishing feature of ,divine mercy 
will  be1 as in the affairs of mortal   
life it now is1 not an arbitrary        
forgiveness of sin nor unearned         
annulment of the debts of guilt1 but    
the providing of a way whereby the      
sinner may be enabled to meet the       
requirements of the ,gospel1 and so in  
due course pass from the prison  house  
of sin to the glorious freedom of a     
righteous life4    ,there is but one    
price set on forgiveness for individual 
transgression1  and this is alike to    
all1--to poor and rich1 to bond and     
free1 to  illiterate and learned2 it    
knows no fluctuations1 it changes not   
with  time2 it was the same yesterday as
 today it is1 and even so shall be      
forever1--and that price1 at which may  
be bought the pearl beyond all  price1  
is obedience to the laws and ordinances 
of the ,gospel4    ,hear this further   

declaration of faith taught by the      
restored ,church3    ,we believe that   
the first principles and ordinances of  
the ,gospel  are3--7#a7 ,faith in the   
,lord ,jesus ,christ2 7#b7 ,repentance2 
7#c7 ,baptism  by immersion for the     
remission of sins2 7#d7 ,laying-on of   
hands for the  ,gift of the ,holy       
,ghost4#b    #ff ,faith in the ,lord    
,jesus ,christ is the fundamental       
principle of  the ,gospel1 the first    
letter in the alphabet of salvation with
 which  are spelled the words of life   
eternal4 ,yet who can have faith in     
aught  of which he knows nothing8       
,knowledge is essential to faith1 and   
faith  impels its possessor to seek     
further knowledge1 and to make of that  
knowledge1 wisdom1 which is but         
knowledge applied and put to use4 ,to   
preach ,christ and ,him crucified#c is  
the one and only way by which  faith in 
,him may be taught through the medium of
 either precept or  example4 ,while     
knowledge and faith are thus closely    

associated1 the two  are not identical1 
nor is the one an assured outgrowth of  
the other4 ,a  man may have learned the 
truth1 and yet may ignore it4 ,his      
knowledge1  far from developing within  
his soul the faith that leads to right  
action1 may but add to his condemnation1
 for he sins without even the           
mitigation of ignorance4 ,evil spirits  
have testified of their knowledge  that 
,jesus is the ,christ1 nevertheless they
 remain the fallen followers  of        
,satan4#d ,as living faith develops     
within the soul of man it leads  its    
possessor to seek a means whereby he may
 rise from the thraldom  of sin2 and the
 very thought of such emancipation      
inspires a loathing  for the evil       
contamination of the past4 ,the natural 
fruitage of that  glorious growth is    
repentance4    ,repentance1 as a        
requirement made of all men1 constitutes
 the second  principle of the ,gospel of
 ,christ4 ,it comprises a sincere sorrow
 for  the sins of the past1 and a       

resolute turning away therefrom with    
the solemn determination to endeavor by 
,divine assistance to return  thereto no
 more4 ,repentance comes as a gift from 
,god #fg to him who  has treasured and  
nurtured the earlier gift of faith4 ,it 
is not to be  had for the careless      
asking2 it may not be found upon the    
highway2 it  is not of earth1 but a     
treasure of heaven1 and is given with   
care1 yet  with boundless liberality    
unto those who have brought forth works 
that  warrant its bestowal4 ,that is to 
say1 all who prepare themselves for     
repentance will1 by the humbling and    
softening influence of the ,holy        
,spirit1 be brought to the actual       
possession of this great gift4 ,when    
,peter was charged by his               
fellow-worshippers with a breach of law 
in  that he had associated with         
,gentiles1 he told his hearers of the   
,divine  manifestations he had so       
recently received2 they believed and    
declared  ,then hath ,god also to the   

,gentiles granted repentance unto life4 
,paul  also1 in writing to the ,romans1 
teaches that repentance comes through   
the goodness of ,god4#e    ,wilful      
persistency in sin may lead to the loss 
and forfeiture of the  ability to       
repent2 and for man to procrastinate the
 day of repentance  is to invite and    
eventually to insure such forfeiture4   
,the ,divine word  through the mouth of 
a modern prophet is thus explicit3      
,for ,i the ,lord cannot look upon sin  
with the least degree of      allowance2
        ,nevertheless1 he that repents  
and does the commandments of the        
,lord shall be forgiven2        ,and he 
that repents not1 from him shall be     
taken even the light      which he has  
received1 for my ,spirit shall not      
always strive with      man1 saith the  
,lord of ,hosts4#f    ,the ,latter-day  
,saints believe and teach that          
repentance #fh will  be possible1 and   
indeed required to the yet unrepentant1 
even after  death2 and they affirm that 

this doctrine is supported by scripture 
both ancient and modern4 ,we read that  
while the body of our ,lord lay  in the 
tomb1 between the evening of the day of 
crucifixion and the  glorious           
resurrection morn1 ,he was engaged in   
ministerial labor in the  world of      
disembodied spirits4 ,peter specifically
 declares that our  ,lord went and      
preached unto the spirits in prison2    
which sometime  were disobedient1 when  
once the long-suffering of ,god waited  
in the  days of ,noah4#g ,the context   
with which appear these words of the    
inspired apostle1 shows that the event  
referred to occurred prior to  the      
,savior's resurrection4 ,furthermore1 it
 will be remembered that one  of the    
condemned malefactors1 whose cross of   
death stood alongside  that of ,jesus1  
manifested faith and even some degree of
 repentance1  and received from the     
suffering ,christ the benediction and   
assurance  ,today shalt thou be with me 
in ,paradise4#h ,it cannot be maintained

  that this promise implied the passing 
of the repentant sinner directly  from  
the cross into ,heaven--the abode of the
 redeemed in the presence  of ,god2 for 
surely there had been no opportunity for
 the suffering  penitent to put his     
repentance into effect by complying with
 the  established laws and ordinances of
 the ,gospel1 and without such          
compliance1 even as to the single       
requirement of water-baptism alone1  the
 man could neither enter nor see the    
,kingdom of ,god1 or the word of        
,christ would have been proven false4#i 
,moreover1 as conclusive proof  of the  
fact that between the time of ,christ's 
death and resurrection1  neither ,he nor
 the contrite #fi sinner had gone to the
 abode of ,god1  we have the words of   
the ,risen ,lord to the sorrowing       
,magdalene3 ,i am  not yet ascended to  
my ,father4#aj    ,in view of scriptural
 affirmation that the disembodied       
,christ did visit  and minister among   
the spirits who had been disobedient1   

and who1  because of unpardoned sin were
 still held in duress1 it is pertinent  
to  inquire as to the scope and object  
of our ,savior's ministry among them4   
,his preaching must have been purposeful
 and positive2 moreover1 it is  not to  
be assumed that ,his message was other  
than one of relief and  mercy4 ,those to
 whom ,he went were already in prison1  
and had been there  long4 ,to them came 
the ,redeemer1 to preach1 not to further
 condemn1  to open the way that led to  
light1 not to intensify the darkness of 
despair in which they languished4 ,had  
not that visit of deliverance  been long
 predicted8 ,centuries before that      
fateful time ,isaiah had  prophesied of 
proud and wicked spirits3 ,and they     
shall be gathered  together1 as         
prisoners are gathered in the pit1 and  
shall be shut up in  the prison1 and    
after many days shall they be           
visited4#aa ,and again1  referring to   
the appointed ministry of the ,christ1  
the same inspired  voice of prophecy    

declared part of that work to be to open
 the blind  eyes1 to bring out the      
prisoners from the prison1 and them that
 sit in  darkness out of the prison     
house4#ab ,david1 filled with the       
emotions  of contrition and hope1 sang  
in measures of mingled sadness and joy3 
,therefore my heart is glad1 and my     
glory rejoiceth3 my flesh also  shall   
rest in hope4 ,for thou wilt not leave  
my soul in hell4#ac    #gj ,from these  
and other scriptures we learn that the  
ministry of  ,christ was not confined to
 the few who lived in mortality during  
the  short period of ,his earthly life1 
nor to them and the generations  then   
future2 but to all1 dead1 living1 and   
yet unborn4 ,it cannot be  denied that  
myriads had lived and died before the   
meridian of time1  and of these         
multitudes1 as of the many since born1  
unnumbered hosts  have died without a   
knowledge of the ,gospel and its        
prescribed plan of  salvation4 ,what is 
their condition1 as indeed what shall be

 the state  of the present inhabitants  
of earth1 and of the multitudes yet     
future1  who shall die in ignorance and 
without the faith that saves8 ,let us   
ask  again1 how can those who know not  
,christ have faith in ,him1 and how1    
while lacking both knowledge and faith  
can they avail themselves of the        
provision made for their salvation8     
,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of       
,latter-day ,saints affirms that the    
plan of salvation is not bounded by the 
grave2 but that the ,gospel  is         
deathless and everlasting1 reaching back
 into the ages that have  gone1 and     
forward into the eternities of the      
future4 ,the ministry  of the ,savior   
among the dead doubtless included the   
revelation of  ,his own atoning death1  
the inculcation of faith in ,himself and
 in  the divinely-appointed plan ,he    
represented1 and the necessity of a     
repentance acceptable unto ,god4 ,it is 
reasonable to believe that the  other   
essential requirements comprised within 

the laws and ordinances  of the ,gospel 
were made known4    ,to the less        
thoughtful reader it may appear that to 
teach the  possibility of repentance    
beyond the grave may tend to weaken     
belief  in the absolute necessity of    
repentance and reformation in this life4
  ,a careful consideration #ga of the   
matter1 however1 will show that  this   
doctrine affords no reason for such     
objection4 ,to reject or ignore  in any 
degree a gift of ,god is to forfeit to  
the corresponding extent  one's claim   
upon that gift4 ,to the soul that has   
wilfully neglected the  opportunities   
for repentance here offered1 repentance 
in the hereafter  may be1 and indeed it 
is reasonable to believe will be1 so    
difficult as  to be long unattainable4  
,this conception is justified by        
scripture1 as  witness the words of     
,amulek1 a ,nephite prophet1 who thus   
admonished the  ,church on the western  
continent four score years before the   
birth of  ,christ3        ,for behold1  

this life is the time for men to prepare
 to meet ,god2      99 99 99 therefore1 
,i beseech of you1 that ye do not       
procrastinate the      day of your      
repentance until the end2 99 99 99 ,ye  
cannot say1 when ye      are brought to 
that awful crisis1 that ,i will repent1 
that ,i will      return to my ,god4    
,nay1 ye cannot say this2 for that same 
spirit      which doth possess your     
bodies at the time that ye go out of    
this      life1 that same spirit will   
have power to possess your body in that 
eternal world4 ,for behold1 if ye have  
procrastinated the day of      your     
repentance1 even until death1 behold1 ye
 have become subjected      to the      
spirit of the devil1 and he doth seal   
you his4#ad    ,baptism by water is     
taught by the ,church in this           
dispensation as an  essential ordinance 
of the ,gospel4 ,baptism is the gateway 
leading into  the fold of ,christ1 the  
portal to the ,church1 the established  
rite  of naturalization in the ,kingdom 

of ,god4 ,the candidate for admission   
into the ,church1 having obtained and   
professed faith in the ,lord ,jesus     
,christ1 and having sincerely repented  
of his sins1 is properly required  to   
give evidence of this spiritual         
sanctification by some outward          
ordinance1 prescribed #gb by authority  
as the sign or symbol of the  new       
profession4 ,the initiatory ordinance is
 baptism by water1 to be  followed by   
the higher baptism of the ,holy ,spirit2
 and1 as a result of  this act of       
obedience1 remission of sins is         
granted4#ae    ,that baptism is         
essential to salvation is attested by   
many specific  scriptures2 yet even     
without such its essentiality appears in
 view of  the unconditional requirement 
of repentance1 and the evident fact that
  to be of value and effect repentance  
must imply obedience to the ,divine     
requirements1 which include baptism by  
water4 ,be it remembered that  ,jesus1  
the ,christ1 though untouched by the    

taint of sin1 submitted in  person to   
this ordinance1 which was administered  
by the ,baptist in the  waters of       
,jordan4 ,the burden of ,john's teaching
 was ,repent ye2 for the  kingdom of    
heaven is at hand1 and to such as came  
to him professing  repentance he        
administered baptism by water immersion4
 ,then came ,jesus  unto ,john1 to be   
baptized of him2 and the ,baptist1      
regarding ,him as one  without sin1     
demurred1 saying3        ,i have need to
 be baptized of thee1 and comest thou to
 me8        ,and ,jesus answering said  
unto him1 ,suffer it to be so now3 for  
thus it becometh us to fulfil all       
righteousness4 ,then he suffered        
him4        ,and ,jesus1 when he was    
baptized1 went up straightway out of the
      water3 and1 lo1 the heavens were  
opened unto him1 and he saw the         
,spirit of ,god descending like a dove1 
and lighting upon him3        ,and lo a 
voice from heaven1 saying1 ,this is my  
beloved ,son1 in      whom ,i am well   

pleased4#af    #gc ,it is evident from  
the foregoing that the baptism of ,jesus
 was  acceptable unto the ,father1 and  
was by ,him characterized as an act of  
humility and obedience on the part of   
the ,son1 with which ,he was well       
pleased4 ,some time after ,his own      
baptism ,jesus affirmed1 in words at    
once forceful and unequivocal1 that     
baptism is required of all men as  a    
condition of entrance into the kingdom  
of ,god4 ,to ,nicodemus1 a ruler  among 
the ,jews1 who came by night professing 
some measure of faith1  ,jesus said3    
,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1      
,except a man be born of  water and of  
the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the   
kingdom of ,god4#ag  ,when in the       
resurrected state ,he manifested        
,himself to the apostles1  ,he          
instructed them by way of final and     
special commission3 ,go ye  therefore1  
and teach all nations1 baptizing them in
 the name of the  ,father1 and of the   
,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4#ah ,the  

necessity and  purpose of the ordinance 
appear in ,his further words on the same
 solemn  occasion3 ,he that believeth   
and is baptized shall be saved2 but he  
that believeth not shall be damned4#ai  
,the ,apostles1 inspired by that ,divine
 commission1 ceased not to teach  the   
necessity of baptism1 even as long as   
their ministry endured among            
mortals4#bj    ,the elders of the       
,church in the present dispensation have
 been directed  and empowered by the    
same authority1 and almost in the same  
words3  ,go ye into all the world1      
preach the ,gospel to every creature1   
acting in the authority which ,i have   
given you1 baptizing in the name  of the
 ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the   
,holy ,ghost2 and #gd he  that believeth
 and is baptized shall be saved1 and he 
that believeth  not shall be damned4#ba 
,on another occasion the ,lord added1 in
 a  revelation through the modern       
prophet1 ,joseph ,smith3 ,therefore1 as 
,i said unto mine apostles ,i say unto  

you again1 that every soul who          
believeth on your words1 and is baptized
 by water for the remission of  sins1   
shall receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and    
further1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i  say unto  
you they who believe not on your words1 
and are not baptized  in water1 in my   
name1 for the remission of their sins1  
that they may  receive the ,holy ,ghost1
 shall be damned1 and shall not come    
into my  ,father's kingdom1 where my    
,father and ,i am4#bb    ,the ,gift of  
the ,holy ,ghost follows baptism by     
water1 and its  authoritative bestowal  
constitutes the next essential ordinance
 of the  ,gospel4#bc ,in both ancient   
and modern times this endowment has been
  regarded as a higher baptism1 lacking 
which the baptism of water is           
incomplete4 ,john1 distinctively known  
as the ,baptist1 so taught on the  very 
eve of our ,savior's personal ministry4 
,consider well his words3 ,i  indeed    
baptize you with water unto repentance3 
but he that cometh after  me is mightier

 than ,i1 whose shoes ,i am not worthy  
to bear3 he shall  baptize you with the 
,holy ,ghost1 and with fire4#bd ,john   
testifies  further that the ,one who    
should thus inaugurate the higher       
baptism  was ,jesus1 ,himself4 ,not     
until after he had administered the     
ordinance  of water baptism to ,jesus1  
did ,john recognize ,him as the ,christ2
  but immediately #ge after that        
recognition1 the ,baptist fearlessly    
proclaimed his testimony3        ,behold
 the ,lamb of ,god 99 99 99 ,this is he 
of whom ,i said1 ,after me      cometh a
 man which is preferred before me 99 99 
99 ,and ,i knew him not3      but he    
that sent me to baptize with water1 the 
same said unto me1      ,upon whom thou 
shalt see the ,spirit descending1 and   
remaining on      him1 the same is he   
which baptizeth with the ,holy          
,ghost4#be    ,jesus repeatedly promised
 the apostles that the ,comforter or the
  ,spirit of ,truth#bf should be given  
unto them2 and this assurance  was made 

specific and final immediately prior to 
the ascension4 ,he  commanded them that 
they should not depart from ,jerusalem1 
but wait  for the promise of the        
,father1 which1 saith he1 ye have heard 
of me4  ,for ,john truly baptized with  
water2 but ye shall be baptized with the
  ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4 99  
99 99 ,ye shall receive power1 after    
that the ,holy ,ghost is come upon you3 
and ye shall be witnesses unto  me4#bg  
,the promise was fulfilled at the       
succeeding ,pentecost when  the apostles
 received power never before known to   
them1 the endowment  being marked by an 
outward manifestation of fiery          
tongues4#bh ,the  apostles thereafter   
promised the ,holy ,ghost to those who  
sought  salvation4 ,peter's exhortation 
to the multitude1 on that same memorable
  day of ,pentecost1 is particularly    
explicit and forceful4 ,in answer to    
the inquiry1 ,men and brethren1 what    
shall we do8 the chief of the  apostles 
replied3 #gf ,repent1 and be baptized   

every one of you in the  name of ,jesus 
,christ for the remission of sins1 and  
ye shall receive  the gift of the ,holy 
,ghost4#bi    ,a similar assurance as to
 the higher endowment of the ,holy      
,ghost  following the ordinance of      
water-baptism was made by ,nephite      
prophets1#cj and by the resurrected     
,christ in ,his visit to the people  of 
the western continent4#ca ,and later    
still this has been repeated  through   
the ,church in the current dispensation1
 that of the fulness of  times3 ,i say  
unto you again1 said the ,lord in a     
revelation to certain  elders of the    
,church1 that every soul who believeth  
on your words1 and  is baptized by water
 for the remission of sins1 shall       
receive the ,holy  ,ghost4#cb    ,by way
 of summary let it be repeated3 ,the    
,church of ,jesus ,christ  of           
,latter-day ,saints holds as a          
fundamental doctrine1 attested and      
proved by scripture both ancient and    
modern1 that compliance with the  laws  

and ordinances of the ,gospel is an     
absolute and irrevocable  requirement   
for admission into the ,kingdom of ,god1
 or in other words1  for the securing of
 individual salvation to the souls of   
men1 and that  this requirement is      
universal1 applying alike to every soul 
that has  attained to age and powers of 
accountability in the flesh1 in whatever
  period or dispensation that soul has  
lived in mortality4 ,it follows as  a   
necessary consequence that if any soul  
has failed1 either through  ignorance or
 neglect1 to render obedience to these  
requirements1 the  obligation is not    
removed by death4    ,,vicarious        
,,service ,,of ,,the ,,living ,,for     
,,the ,,dead    #gg ,a question now     
arises as to how it is possible for the 
dead to  comply with the terms of the   
,gospel and do in the spirit what they  
had  failed to do in the flesh4 ,the    
exercise of faith and the manifestation 
of repentance by disembodied spirits may
 offer no great difficulty to  human    

understanding2 but that the dead shall  
obey the ordinances of  the ,gospel     
requiring water-baptism and the baptism 
of the ,spirit by  the authorized       
laying-on of hands1 appears to many as  
truly impossible  as seemed the new     
birth to ,nicodemus4 ,he listened in    
amazement to the  ,savior's words3      
,except a man be born again he cannot   
see the kingdom  of ,god2 and asked3    
,how can a man be born when he is old8  
,can he  enter the second time into his 
mother's womb1 and be born8 ,at last he 
learned that the new birth referred to  
was baptism by water and the  baptism of
 the ,spirit4 ,with equal pertinency it 
may now be asked3 ,how  can a man be    
baptized when he is dead8 ,can he enter 
the second time  into his body of flesh 
and be immersed in water by human       
agency8 ,the  answer is that the        
necessary ordinances may be performed   
for the dead  by their living           
representatives1 the mortal subject     
acting as proxy for  the departed one4  

,thus1 even as a man may be baptized in 
his own person  for himself1 he may be  
baptized as proxy for and in behalf of  
the dead4    ,the validity of vicarious 
service1 in which one person acts in    
behalf of another1 is generally         
recognized as an element of human       
institutions2 and that such service may 
be acceptable unto ,god is  attested by 
the written word4 ,ancient and modern   
scripture1 the  record of #gh history   
other than sacred1 the traditions of    
tribes  and nations1 the rites of bloody
 sacrifice1 and even the sacrificial    
abominations of pagan idolatry1 involve 
the essential conception  of vicarious  
propitiation and of service rendered by 
proxy4 ,the  scape-goat#cc and the altar
 victim#cd in the ,mosaic dispensation1 
when offered by constituted authority   
and with due accompaniment of           
acknowledgment and repentance1 were     
accepted by the ,lord as sacrifices  in 
mitigation of the sins of ,his people4  
,the most significant sacrifice of all1 

the greatest work ever wrought  amongst 
mankind1 the pivotal event in human     
history1 the supreme  achievement which 
was at once the most glorious           
consummation and the  most blessed      
beginning1 is the ,atonement of ,christ2
 and this was  pre-eminently a vicarious
 offering4 ,no one who believes that    
,jesus died  for man can doubt the      
validity and efficacy of vicarious      
ministration4  ,he gave ,his life as a  
fore-ordained sacrifice1 voluntarily    
offered and  duly accepted as a         
propitiation for broken law1 and the    
means by which  salvation was made      
possible unto man4 ,that ,his death was 
literally an  accepted offering in      
behalf of human kind is thus set forth  
in the  words of the resurrected        
,christ1 given through modern           
revelation3        ,for behold1 ,i1     
,god1 have suffered these things for    
all1 that      they might not suffer if 
they would repent1 but if they would not
      repent1 they must suffer even as  

,i1 which suffering caused myself1      
even ,god1 the greatest of all1 to      
tremble because of pain1 and to         
bleed at every pore1 and to suffer both 
body and spirit3 and would      that ,i 
might not drink the bitter cup and      
shrink--nevertheless1      glory be to  
the ,father1 #gi and ,i partook and     
finished my      preparations unto the  
children of men4#ce    ,the vicarious   
effect of the atonement of ,christ is   
twofold2 it has  wrought a universal    
redemption of all men from the mortal   
death  incident to the transgression of 
,adam2 and it has provided a means of   
propitiation for individual sin whereby 
the sinner may attain salvation  through
 obedience4 ,it is by ,his mortal life  
and sacrificial death  in behalf of     
others1--and those others1 all who have 
lived or shall  live1--that ,jesus the  
,christ earned ,his title1 ,savior and  
,redeemer of  mankind4 ,and as ,he by   
effort1 sacrifice1 and suffering1 did   
for men  what they never could          

accomplish for themselves1 and so became
 in very  truth the one and only ,savior
 and ,redeemer of the race1 so may each 
of  us by opening the way to our        
departed dead whereby they may be       
brought  within the saving law of the   
,gospel1 become in a small measure      
saviors  unto those who would otherwise 
be left in darkness4#cf    ,in every    
instance of vicarious ministration1 it  
is an indispensable  requisite that the 
proxy be worthy and acceptable2 and of  
necessity he  must himself have obeyed  
the laws and ordinances of the ,gospel  
before  he can officiate in behalf of   
others4 ,further1 the ministrations of  
the  living representative must be in   
accordance with ,divine appointment1    
and in no wise a merely human           
assumption4 ,the acceptable sacrifices  
of  ancient ,israel were such as had    
been definitely specified and minutely  
prescribed2 and the sacrificial rites   
could be solemnized only by  authorized 
priests4 ,the supreme sacrifice involved

 #hj in the atoning  death of ,christ   
was as truly appointed and              
fore-ordained4 ,prophets1  through the  
long centuries antedating the ,christian
 era1 predicted the  birth1 life1 and   
death of our ,lord as already provided  
for2#cg and  these prophecies were      
confirmed by ,jesus ,himself4#ch        
,consider also  the testimony of the    
apostles to the same effect4 ,peter     
specifically  designates ,christ as a   
,lamb without blemish and without spot3 
who  verily was fore-ordained before the
 foundation of the world4#ci ,the       
designation ,lamb is indicative of a    
sacrificial victim4 ,paul in  writing to
 the ,romans characterizes our ,lord as 
the one ,whom ,god hath  set forth to be
 a propitiation through faith in his    
blood1 to declare  his righteousness for
 the remission of sins that are past4#dj
    ,the ,latter-day ,saints affirm that
 their vicarious work in behalf of  the 
dead is required of them by the call of 
the ,lord through direct  revelation2   

and that it becomes the duty and        
privilege of every  individual who      
accepts the ,gospel and enters the      
,church to labor  for the salvation of  
his dead4 ,he is expected and required  
by the  obligations and responsibility  
he has assumed as a member of the       
,church  of ,jesus ,christ1 so to live  
as to be a worthy representative of his 
departed ancestors1 in holy ordinance1  
and to be of clean life1 that he  may   
not forfeit his right to enter the      
sacred confines of the ,lord's  ,house1 
where alone he may officiate in that    
privileged capacity4    ,let it not be  
assumed that this doctrine of vicarious 
#ha labor for  the dead implies even    
remotely1 that the administration of    
ordinances  in behalf of departed       
spirits operates in any manner to       
interfere with  the right of choice and 
the exercise of free agency on their    
part4  ,they are at liberty to accept or
 reject the ministrations in their      
behalf2 and so they will accept or      

reject1 in accordance with their        
converted or unregenerate state1 even as
 is the case with mortals to  whom the  
,gospel message may come4 ,though       
baptism be duly administered  to a      
living man in behalf of a dead ancestor1
 that spirit will derive  no immediate  
advancement nor any benefit therefrom if
 he has not yet  attained faith in the  
,lord ,jesus ,christ or if he be still  
unrepentant4  ,even as ,christ offered  
salvation to all1 though few there be   
who accept  in the flesh1 so temple     
ordinances may be administered for many 
in the  realm of the departed who are   
not yet prepared to profit thereby4     
,it is evident1 therefore1 that labor in
 behalf of the dead is two-fold2  that  
performed on earth would remain         
incomplete and futile but for  its      
supplement and counterpart beyond the   
veil4 ,missionary work  is in progress  
there--work1 compared with which the    
evangelistic  labor of earth is but a   
small undertaking4 ,there are preachers 

and  teachers1 ministers invested with  
the ,holy ,priesthood1 all engaged  in  
declaring the glad tidings of the       
,gospel to spirits who have not  yet    
found the light4 ,as has been shown1    
this great labor amongst the  dead was  
inaugurated by ,jesus the ,christ1      
during the brief period of  ,his        
disembodiment4#da ,the saving ministry  
so begun was left to be  continued by   
others duly authorized and commissioned2
 even as the work  of preaching the     
,gospel #hb and administering therein   
amongst the  living was committed to the
 apostles in the ,church of old4        
,,authority ,,to ,,labor ,,in ,,behalf  
,,of ,,the ,,dead    ,in the closing    
chapter of the compilation of scriptures
 known to us  as the ,old ,testament1   
the prophet ,malachi thus describes a   
condition  incident to the last days1   
immediately preceding the second coming 
of  ,christ3        ,for1 behold1 the   
day cometh1 that shall burn as an oven2 
and all      the proud1 yea1 and all    

that do wickedly1 shall be stubble3 and 
the      day that cometh shall burn them
 up1 saith the ,lord of hosts1 that     
it shall leave them neither root nor    
branch4        ,but unto you that fear  
my name shall the ,sun of righteousness 
arise with healing in his wings4    ,the
 fateful prophecy concludes with the    
following blessed and  far-reaching     
promise3        ,behold1 ,i will send   
you ,elijah the prophet before the      
coming of      the great and dreadful   
day of the ,lord3        ,and he shall  
turn the heart of the fathers to the    
children1 and      the heart of the     
children to their fathers1 lest ,i come 
and smite      the earth with a         
curse4#db    ,it has been held by       
theologians and ,bible commentators that
 this  prediction had reference to the  
birth and ministry of ,john the         
,baptist1#dc upon whom rested the spirit
 and power of ,elias4#dd  ,however1 we  
have no record of ,elijah having        
ministered unto the  ,baptist1 and      

furthermore1 #hc the latter's ministry1 
glorious though  it was1 justifies no   
conclusion that in him did the prophecy 
find its  full realization4 ,in         
addition1 it should be remembered1 that 
the ,lord's  declaration through        
,malachi1 relative to the day of burning
 in which  the wicked would be destroyed
 as stubble1 yet awaits fulfilment4 ,it 
is  evident1 therefore1 that the        
commonly accepted interpretation is at  
fault1 and that we must look to a later 
date than the time of ,john for  the    
fulfilment of ,malachi's prediction4    
,the later occasion has come2  it       
belongs to the present dispensation1 and
 marks the inauguration of  a work      
specially reserved for the ,church in   
these latter days4 ,in the  course of a 
glorious manifestation to ,joseph ,smith
 and ,oliver ,cowdery1  in the ,temple  
at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 ,april #crd1 #ahcf1
 there appeared unto  them ,elijah1 the 
prophet of old1 who had been taken from 
earth while  still in the body4 ,he     

declared unto them3        ,behold1 the 
time has fully come1 which was spoken of
 by the mouth      of ,malachi1         
testifying that he 7,elijah7 should be  
sent before the      great and dreadful 
day of the ,lord come1 to turn the      
hearts of the      fathers to the       
children1 and the children to the       
fathers1 lest the      whole earth be   
smitten with a curse4 ,therefore the    
keys of this      dispensation are      
committed into your hands1 and by this  
ye may know      that the great and     
dreadful day of the ,lord is near1 even 
at the      doors4#de    ,one of the    
fundamental principles underlying the   
doctrine of salvation  for the dead1 is 
that of the mutual dependance of the    
fathers and  the children4 ,family      
lineage and the sequence of generations 
in each  particular line of descent are 
facts1 and cannot be changed #hd by     
death2 on the other hand it is evident  
from the olden scriptures  already      
cited1 and attested by the equally sure 

word of modern  revelation1 that the    
family relationships of earth are       
recognized  in the spirit world4        
,neither the children nor the fathers1  
neither  progenitors nor descendants1   
can alone attain perfection2 and the    
requisite co-operation is effected      
through baptism and related  ordinances1
 administered to the living in behalf of
 the dead4    ,in this way and through  
this work are the hearts of the fathers 
and  those of the children turned toward
 each other4 ,as the living children    
learn that without their ancestors they 
cannot attain a perfect status  in the  
eternal world1 their own faith will be  
strengthened and they  will be willing  
to labor for the redemption and         
salvation of their  dead4 ,and the dead1
 learning through the preaching of the  
,gospel  in their world1 that they are  
dependent upon their descendants as     
vicarious saviors1 will turn with loving
 faith and prayerful effort  toward     
their children yet living4    ,this     

uniting of the interests of fathers and 
children is a part of the  necessary    
preparation for the yet future advent of
 the ,christ as ruling  ,king and ,lord 
of earth4 ,joseph ,smith thus taught3   
,the earth will be smitten with a curse1
 unless there is a welding      link of 
some kind or other1 between the fathers 
and the children1      upon some subject
 or other1 and behold what is that      
subject8 ,it      is the baptism for the
 dead4 ,for we without them cannot be   
made      perfect2 neither can they     
without us be made perfect4#df    #he   
,the ,church today cites as authority   
for its administration  of ordinances in
 behalf of the dead1 the special        
bestowal of this  power and office      
through the ministry of ,elijah2 and    
furthermore1  the ,church holds that the
 giving of that power marked the        
fulfilment  of ,malachi's portentous    
prediction4 ,there appears an element of
  particular fitness in the fact that   
the minister through whom this  great   

work has been inaugurated in the present
 dispensation1 is none  other than      
,elijah1--who1 not having passed the    
portals of death1 held  a peculiar and  
special relation to both the dead and   
the living4 ,as  to the fidelity with   
which the ,church has served under this 
special  commission1 the temples it has 
reared with such sacrifice and          
self-denial on the part of its devoted  
adherents1 and the ordinance  work      
already performed therein1 are          
sufficient proof4    ,the importance    
with which the ,latter-day ,saints      
regard their temple  work in behalf of  
the dead naturally produces among this  
people a vital  interest in the         
genealogical records of their respective
 families4  ,ordinance work in the      
temples1 in behalf of any departed      
person1 can be  done only as that person
 may be described on the record1 as to  
name1  relationship1 time and place of  
birth and death1 etc41 by which data  he
 may be fully and certainly isolated and

 identified4#dg ,it is a  matter of     
common knowledge that interest in       
genealogical research has  greatly      
increased in the ,united ,states and in 
,europe during the last  seven or eight 
decades4 ,genealogical societies have   
been formed1 and  individual            
investigators have devoted great        
treasures of time and money  to the     
compilation of records showing #hf      
numerous lines of family  descent and   
the many ramifications of complicated   
relationship4 ,in all  this work the    
,latter-day ,saints profess to see the  
operation of an  over-ruling power1 by  
which their service for the dead is     
facilitated4    ,,temples ,,required    
,,for ,,vicarious ,,service    ,while   
the ordinances of baptism1 imposition of
 hands for the bestowal  of the ,holy   
,ghost1 and others1 such as ordination  
to the ,priesthood1  may be performed   
upon the living in any suitable and     
proper place1 the  corresponding        
ordinances for and in behalf of the dead

 are acceptable  unto the ,lord1 and    
therefore valid1 only when administered 
in places  specially provided1 set      
apart1 and dedicated for these and      
kindred  purposes2 that is to say1 such 
ordinances belong exclusively to the    
,house of the ,lord4 ,for a very brief  
period only1 and that the earliest  in  
modern ,church history1 before the      
people had opportunity to erect         
temples1 did the ,lord graciously accept
 a temporary sanctuary1 even  as ,he    
accepted the ,tabernacle of old as a    
temporary temple during the  period of  
,israel's wanderings4    ,in a          
revelation given to ,joseph ,smith1 the 
prophet1 at ,nauvoo1  ,illinois1        
,january #aith1 #ahda1 the ,lord called 
upon ,his people to build  a house to   
,his name for the ,most ,high to dwell  
therein1 and added by  way of           
explanation and instruction3        ,for
 there is not a place found on earth    
that he may come and      restore again 
that which was lost unto you1 or which  

he hath taken      away1 even the       
fulness of the ,priesthood2        #hg  
,for a baptismal font there is not upon 
the earth1 that they1      my saints1   
may be baptized for those who are dead2 
,for this ordinance belongeth to my     
house1 and cannot be acceptable      to 
me1 only in the days of your poverty1   
wherein ye are not able to      build a 
house unto me4        ,but ,i command   
you1 all ye my saints1 to build a house 
unto me2 and      ,i grant unto you a   
sufficient time to build a house unto   
me1 and      during this time your      
baptisms shall be acceptable unto me4   
,but behold1 at the end of this         
appointment1 your baptisms for      your
 dead shall not be acceptable unto me2  
and if you do not these      things at  
the end of the appointment1 ye shall be 
rejected as a      church1 with your    
dead1 saith the ,lord your ,god4        
,for verily ,i say unto you1 that after 
you have had sufficient time      to    
build a house to me1 wherein the        

ordinance of baptizing for the      dead
 belongeth1 and for which the same was  
instituted from before      the         
foundation of the world1 your baptisms  
for your dead cannot be      acceptable 
unto me1        ,for therein are the    
keys of the holy ,priesthood1 ordained  
that you      may receive honor and     
glory4        ,and after this time1 your
 baptisms for the dead1 by those who are
      scattered abroad1 are not         
acceptable unto me1 saith the ,lord2    
,for it is ordained that in ,zion1 and  
in her ,stakes1 and in      ,jerusalem1 
those places which ,i have appointed for
 refuge1 shall be      the places for   
your baptisms for your dead4        ,and
 again1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,how    
shall your washings be      acceptable  
unto me1 except ye perform them in a    
house which you      have built to my   
name8        ,for1 for this cause ,i    
commanded ,moses that he should build a 
tabernacle1 that they should bear it    
with them in the wilderness1      and to

 build a house in the land of promise1  
that those ordinances      might be     
revealed which had been hid from before 
the world was2        ,therefore1 verily
 ,i say unto you1 that your anointings1 
and      your washings1 and your        
baptisms for the dead1 and your solemn  
assemblies1 and your memorials for your 
sacrifices1 #hh by the      sons of     
,levi1 and for your oracles in your most
 holy places1      wherein you receive  
conversations1 and your statutes and    
judgments1      for the beginning of the
 revelations and foundation of ,zion1   
and      for the glory1 honor1 and      
endowment of all her municipals1 are    
ordained by the ordinance of my holy    
house which my people are      always   
commanded to build unto my holy name4   
,and verily ,i say unto you1 ,let this  
house be built unto my name1      that  
,i may reveal mine ordinances therein1  
unto my people2        ,for ,i deign to 
reveal unto my church1 things which have
 been kept      hid from before the     

foundation of the world1 things that    
pertain to      the dispensation of the 
fulness of times4#dh    99 99 99 99     
,this then is sufficient answer to the  
question as to why the ,latter-day      
,saints build and maintain temples4     
,they have been instructed and  required
 so to do by the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,they 
have learned that many  essential       
ordinances of the ,church are acceptable
 only when performed  in temples        
specially erected and reserved for the  
purpose4 ,they know  that within these  
precincts of sanctity the ,lord has     
revealed many  great and important      
things pertaining to the ,kingdom of    
,god2 and that  ,he has promised to     
reveal yet more to man in houses sacred 
to ,his name4  ,they have learned that a
 great part of the mission and ministry 
of the  restored ,church is the         
administration of vicarious ordinances  
in behalf  of the unnumbered dead who   
never heard the tidings of the ,gospel1 
and  that for such sacred and saving    

service    ,temples are a necessity4    
,,footnotes    #a4 ,see the author's    
,the ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture ,,iv2
 and references  therein given4    #b4  
,see the author's ,the ,articles of     
,faith1 ,lectures ,v--,,viii with       
references therein given4    #c4 ,i     
,cor4 #a3bc2 #b3b4    #d4 ,see ,mark    
#a3bd2 #c3aa2 #e3a-ah2 and ,matt4       
#h3bh-cd4    #e4 ,acts #aa3ah2 ,rom4    
#b3d2 see also the author's ,the        
,articles of ,faith1  ,lecture ,v3#ai-cj
 and references therein given4    #f4   
,doctrine and ,covenants #a3ca-cc4      
#g4 ,i ,peter #c3ai-bj2 compare #d3f4   
#h4 ,see ,luke #bc3ci-dc4    #i4        
,consider our ,lord's declaration to    
,nicodemus1 ,john #c3a-e4    #aj4 ,john 
#bj3ag4    #aa4 ,isaiah #bd3bb4    #ab4 
,isaiah #db3f1 #g4    #ac4 ,psalms      
#af3i-aj4    #ad4 ,book of ,mormon1     
,alma #cd3cb-ce4    #ae4 ,the ,articles 
of ,faith1 ,lecture ,,vi3#a4 ,for a     
general treatment of  ,baptism see      
,lectures ,,vi and ,,vii4    #af4 ,matt4

 #c3ac-ag4    #ag4 ,see ,john #c3a-g4   
#ah4 ,matt4 #bh3ai4    #ai4 ,mark       
#af3af4    #bj4 ,see ,acts #b3ch2       
#i3a-ah2 #aj3cj-dh2 #bb3a-af2 ,i ,peter 
#c3ba4    #ba4 ,doctrine and ,covenants 
#fh3h1 #i4    #bb4 ,doctrine and        
,covenants1 #hd3fd1 #gd2 see also       
#aab3bh1 #bi4    #bc4 ,see ,the         
,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture ,,viii4   
#bd4 ,matt4 #c3aa2 compare ,mark #a3g1  
#h2 ,luke #c3af4    #be4 ,john #a3bi-cc4
    #bf4 ,john #ad3af1 #ag1 #bf2 #ae3bf2
 #af3g1 #ac4    #bg4 ,acts #a3d1 #e1 #h4
    #bh4 ,acts #b3a-d4    #bi4 ,acts    
#b3cg1 #ch4    #cj4 ,for an instance1   
see ,book of ,mormon1 ,,ii ,nephi #ca3h1
 #ab-ad1 #ag4    #ca4 ,,iii ,nephi      
#aa3ce2 #ab3b4    #cb4 ,doctrine and    
,covenants #hd3fd4    #cc4 ,lev4        
#af3bj-bb4    #cd4 ,lev4 chap4 #d4      
#ce4 ,doctrine and ,covenants #ai3af-ai4
    #cf4 ,see ,obadiah #ba2 ,i ,timothy 
#d3af2 ,james #e3bj4    #cg4 ,deut4     
#ah3ae1 #ag-ai2 ,job #ai3be-bg2 ,psalms 
#b3a-ab2 ,zech4 #i3i2 #ab3aj2  #ac3f2   

,isa4 #g3ad2 #i3f1 #g2 ,micah #e3b4     
#ch4 ,see ,luke #bd3bg1 #de1 #df4       
#ci4 ,i ,peter #a3ai1 #bj4    #dj4 ,rom4
 #c3be4 ,see further ,rom4 #af3be1 #bf2 
,eph4 #c3i-aa2 ,col4 #a3bd-bf2  ,,ii    
,tim1 #a3h-aj2 ,titus #a3b1 #c2 ,rev4   
#ac3h4    #da4 ,see pages #fh-gj4       
#db4 ,see ,malachi #d3a1 #b1 #e1 #f4    
#dc4 ,compare ,matt4 #aa3ad2 #ag3aa2    
,mark #i3aa2 ,luke #a3ag4    #dd4 ,luke 
#a3ag4    #de4 ,doctrine and ,covenants 
#aaj3ac-af4    #df4 ,doctrine and       
,covenants #abh3ah4    #dg4 ,see        
,doctrine and ,covenants #abh3e-h4      
#dh4 ,doctrine and ,covenants           
#abd3bh-da4 ,read the entire section4   
,,chapter ,,iv    ,,modern ,,temple     
,,ordinances    #hi ,a more detailed    
consideration of modern temple service  
now claims  our attention4 ,the         
ceremonial work comprises3    #a4       
,baptism1 specifically ,baptism for the 
,dead4    #b4 ,ordination and associated
 ,endowments in the ,priesthood4    #c4 
,marriage ,ceremonies4    #d4 ,other    

,sealing ,ordinances4    ,as will be    
understood from what has been already   
written1 each of  these ceremonies or   
ordinances may be performed either for  
the living1  present in person1 or for  
the dead who are represented each by an 
individual living proxy4 ,the living are
 but few compared with the dead2  and it
 follows of necessity that the          
ordinance-work for the departed  exceeds
 by a great preponderance that done for 
the living4 ,the temples  of today are  
maintained largely for the benefit and  
salvation of the  uncounted dead4       
,,baptism ,,for ,,the ,,dead    ,as     
demonstrated in the preceding pages1 the
 law of baptism is of  universal        
application2 in short1 baptism is       
required of all who have  lived to the  
age of accountability4 ,only those who  
die in infancy  are exempt4 ,children1  
having no sin to expiate1 and being     
unable to  comprehend #ij the nature of 
the baptismal obligation1 are not to be 
baptized while living1 nor is the       

ordinance to be performed for them      
should they die before reaching a       
responsible age and state4 ,as to the   
child's part in the heritage of         
mortality incident to the transgression 
of ,adam1 the atonement of ,christ is of
 full effect1 and the redemption  of the
 child is assured4#a ,regarding the     
general applicability of the  law       
prescribing baptism as essential to     
salvation1 the scriptures make  no      
distinction between the living and the  
dead4 ,the atoning sacrifice  of ,christ
 was offered1 not only for the few who  
lived upon the earth  while ,he was in  
the flesh1 nor for those alone who were 
born in  mortality after ,his death1 but
 for all inhabitants of earth then past1
  present1 and future4 ,he was ordained 
of the ,father to be a judge of  both   
quick and dead2#b ,he is ,lord alike of 
living and dead1#c as men  speak of dead
 and living1 though all live unto       
,him4#d    ,among the pernicious dogmas 
taught by a perverted and mis-called    

,christianity1 is the heinous doctrine  
that never-ending punishment or         
interminable bliss1 unchanging in kind  
or degree1 shall be the destiny  of     
every soul1--the award being made       
according to the condition of that  soul
 at the time of bodily death2 a life of 
sin being thus nullified  by a death-bed
 repentance1 and a life of honor1 if    
unmarked by the  ceremonies of          
established sects1 being followed by the
 tortures of hell  without a possibility
 of relief4 ,such a dogma is to be      
ranked with the  dread #ia heresy which 
proclaims the condemnation of innocent  
babes  who have not been sprinkled by   
man's assumed authority4 ,in the justice
  of ,god no soul shall be finally      
condemned under a law of which he has   
had no chance to learn4 ,true1 eternal  
punishment has been decreed  as the lot 
of the wicked2 but the real meaning of  
the punishment so  decreed has been made
 known by the ,lord ,himself4#e ,eternal
 punishment  is ,god's punishment2      

endless punishment is ,his2 for ,endless
 and  ,eternal are among ,his names1 and
 the words are descriptive of ,his      
attributes4 ,no soul will be punished   
for sin beyond the time requisite  to   
work the needed reformation and to      
vindicate justice1 for which  ends alone
 punishment is imposed4 ,and no one will
 be eligible to enter  any kingdom of   
glory in the abode of the blessed to    
which he is not  entitled through       
obedience to law4    ,it follows as a   
plain necessity that the ,gospel must be
 proclaimed  in the spirit world2 and   
that such ministry is provided for1 the 
scriptures abundantly prove4 ,peter1    
defining the mission of the  ,redeemer1 
thus declares this solemn truth3 ,for   
this cause was the  gospel preached also
 to them that are dead1 that they might 
be judged  according to men in the      
flesh1 but live according to ,god in the
  spirit4#f ,as already shown1 the      
inauguration of this work among  the    
dead was wrought by ,christ in the      

interval between ,his death and         
resurrection4    ,in his first epistle  
to the ,saints in ,corinth1 ,paul       
presents a brief  yet comprehensive     
treatment of the doctrine of the        
resurrection1--a  subject which at that 
time and among those to whom he wrote1  
had given  rise to much #ib contention  
and debate2#g and1 having shown that    
through ,christ the resurrection of the 
dead had been made possible1 and  that  
in due course all mankind shall be      
redeemed from bodily death1  the apostle
 asks1 ,else what shall they do which   
are baptized for the  dead1 if the dead 
rise not at all8 why then are they      
baptized for the  dead8#h ,as the       
question is put by way of finality and  
climax to the  preceding argument1 it is
 evident that the subject so introduced 
was  no new or strange doctrine1 but on 
the contrary1 one with which the  people
 addressed must have been familiar1 and 
which to them required  no argument4    
,baptism for the dead was1 therefore1   

both known as a  principle and practised
 as an ordinance in apostolic times4    
,that the  practise was continued in    
some form for a century or more after   
the  apostles had passed from the earth 
is evidenced by numerous passages in    
the writings of the early ,christian    
,fathers1 and by later authorities  on  
ecclesiastical history4    ,the ,church 
of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints
 proclaims the present  as the          
dispensation of the #ic fulness of      
times1 in which shall be  gathered and  
re-established all the saving principles
 and essential  ordinances of earlier   
dispensations1 and during which the     
great plan of  universal redemption     
shall be fully revealed4 ,the ,church1  
therefore1  provides for the actual work
 of baptism for the dead1 and in the    
temples of today this sacred labor is in
 uninterrupted progress4  ,as will be   
seen1 each of the temples is provided   
with a baptismal  font1 with every      
necessary provision for the             

administration of this  ordinance4#i    
,the rite of water-baptism in behalf of 
the dead is followed by that  of the    
laying-on of hands for the bestowal of  
the ,holy ,ghost2 and in  this as in the
 preceding1 the dead person is          
represented by the living  proxy4 ,the  
imposition of hands for the conferring  
of the gift of the  ,holy ,ghost        
constitutes the higher baptism of the   
,spirit required  alike of all1 and     
includes the rite of confirmation by    
which the  person becomes a member of   
the ,church of ,christ4 ,in all         
essentials  the ordinances of baptism   
and confirmation are identical1 whether 
administered to the living for          
themselves or as proxy for the dead4 ,as
  these ordinances are administered in  
existing temples it is required  that1  
beside the recorder and the officiating 
elder1 two witnesses be  present1 and   
that they attest the ceremony as duly   
performed4    ,,ordination ,,and        
,,endowment    ,water-baptism1 and the  

higher baptism of the ,spirit by the    
authorized  imposition of hands for the 
conferring of the ,holy ,ghost1         
constitute  the two fundamental         
ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,the         
repentant soul who  has thus #id entered
 the ,church of ,christ may afterward   
attain to  position and authority in the
 ,holy ,priesthood--not as an earthly   
honor1  not as a title of personal      
aggrandizement1 not as a symbol of power
 to  rule and possibly to oppress1--but 
as an endowment bespeaking authority    
and the express responsibility to use   
that authority in the service of  his   
fellows and to the glory of ,god4 ,in   
the temple service1 the man  who appears
 as proxy for his dead relative must be 
ordained to the  ,priesthood before he  
can pass beyond the baptismal font4     
,it is a precept of the ,church that    
women of the ,church share the          
authority of the ,priesthood with their 
husbands1 actual or prospective2  and   
therefore women1 whether taking the     

endowment for themselves or  for the    
dead1 are not ordained to specific rank 
in the ,priesthood4  ,nevertheless there
 is no grade1 rank1 or phase of the     
temple endowment  to which women are not
 eligible on an equality with men4      
,true1 there  are certain of the higher 
ordinances to which an unmarried woman  
cannot  be admitted1 but the rule is    
equally in force as to a bachelor4 ,the 
married state is regarded as sacred1    
sanctified1 and holy in all temple      
procedure2 and within the ,house of the 
,lord the woman is the equal and  the   
help-meet of the man4 ,in the privileges
 and blessings of that holy  place1 the 
utterance of ,paul is regarded as a     
scriptural decree in full  force and    
effect3 ,neither is the man without the 
woman1 neither the  woman without the   
man1 in the ,lord4#aj    ,faith and     
sincere repentance1 followed first by   
water-baptism and  then by the laying-on
 of hands for the bestowal of the ,holy 
,ghost1  are the prescribed means of #ie

 admission into the ,church of ,christ  
and prospective salvation in the        
,kingdom of ,god4 ,but there is a       
distinction between salvation and       
exaltation4 ,at this point it may be    
well to consider this distinction1 and  
to set forth the doctrines of  the      
restored ,church as to the graded       
degrees of exaltation beyond the        
grave4#aa    ,salvation and             
,exaltation3--,some degree of salvation 
will come to all  who have not forfeited
 their right to it2 exaltation is given 
to those  only who by active labors have
 won a claim to ,god's merciful         
liberality  by which it is bestowed4 ,of
 the saved1 not all will be exalted to  
the  higher glories2 rewards will not be
 bestowed in violation of justice2      
punishments will not be meted out to the
 ignoring of mercy's claims4  ,no one   
can be admitted to any order of glory1  
in short1 no soul can  be saved1 until  
justice has been satisfied for violated 
law4 ,in the  ,kingdom of ,god there are

 numerous degrees of exaltation provided
 for  those who are worthy of them4 ,the
 old idea1 that in the hereafter there  
will be but two places for the souls of 
mankind1--a heaven and a hell1  with the
 same glory in all parts of the one1 and
 the same terrors  throughout the       
other1--is wholly untenable in the light
 of ,divine  revelation4    ,degrees of 
,glory3--,that the privileges and       
glories of heaven are  graded to suit   
the various capacities of the blessed1  
is indicated in  ,christ's teachings4   
,to ,his apostles ,he said3 ,in my      
,father's house  are many mansions3 if  
it were not so1 ,i would have told you4 
,i go to  prepare a place for you4 ,and 
if ,i go and prepare a place for you1 ,i
  will come again1 and receive you unto 
myself2 that #if where ,i am1  there ye 
may be also4#ab ,this declaration is    
supplemented by that of  ,paul1 who     
speaks of the graded glories of the     
resurrection as follows3        ,there  
are also celestial bodies1 and bodies   

terrestrial3 but the      glory of the  
celestial is one1 and the glory of the  
terrestrial is      another4            
,there is one glory of the sun1 and     
another glory of the moon1 and          
another glory of the stars3 for one star
 differeth from another      star in    
glory4        ,so also is the           
resurrection of the dead4#ac    ,a      
fuller knowledge of this subject has    
been imparted in the present            
dispensation4 ,from a revelation given  
in #ahcbad we learn the  following3     
,three great kingdoms or degrees of     
glory are established  for the future   
habitation of the human race2 these are 
known as the  ,celestial1 the           
,terrestrial1 and the ,telestial4 ,far  
below the last and  least of these1 is  
the state of eternal punishment prepared
 for the  sons of perdition4    ,the    
,celestial ,glory is provided for those 
who merit the highest  honors of heaven2
 in the revelation referred to1 we read 
of them3        ,they are they who      

received the testimony of ,jesus1 and   
believed      on his name and were      
baptized after the manner of his burial1
      being buried in the water in his  
name1 and this according to the         
commandment which he has given1 that by 
keeping the commandments      they might
 be washed and cleansed from all their  
sins1 and receive      the ,holy ,spirit
 by the laying on of the hands of him   
who is      ordained and sealed unto    
this power1 and who overcome by faith1  
and      are sealed by the ,holy ,spirit
 of promise1 which the ,father sheds    
forth #ig upon all those who are just   
and true4 ,they are they who      are   
the ,church of the ,first-born4 ,they   
are they into whose hands      the      
,father has given all things--they are  
they who are ,priests and      ,kings1  
who have received of his fulness1 and of
 his glory1 and are      ,priests of the
 ,most ,high1 after the order of        
,melchisedek1 which was      after the  
order of ,enoch1 which was after the    

order of the ,only      ,begotten ,son2 
wherefore1 as it is written1 they are   
gods1 even      the sons of             
,god--wherefore all things are theirs1  
whether life or      death1 or things   
present1 or things to come1 all are     
theirs and      they are ,christ's and  
,christ is ,god's4 99 99 99 99 ,these   
shall dwell      in the presence of ,god
 and his ,christ for ever and ever4     
,these are      they whom he shall bring
 with him1 when he shall come in the    
clouds      of heaven1 to reign on the  
earth over his people4 ,these are they  
who shall have a part in the first      
resurrection4 ,these are they who       
shall come forth in the resurrection of 
the just4 99 99 99 ,these are      they 
who are just men made perfect through   
,jesus the mediator of      the new     
covenant1 who wrought out this perfect  
atonement through      the shedding of  
his own blood4 ,these are they whose    
bodies are      celestial1 whose glory  
is that of the sun1 even the glory of   

,god1      the highest of all1 whose    
glory the sun of the firmament is       
written      of as being typical4#ae    
,the ,terrestrial ,glory3--,this1 the   
next lower degree1 will be received  by 
many whose works do not merit the       
highest reward4 ,we read of them3       
,these are they who are of the          
terrestrial1 whose glory differs        
from that of the ,church of the         
,first-born who have received the       
fulness of the ,father1 even as that of 
the moon differs from the      sun in   
the firmament4 ,behold1 these are they  
who died without law1      and also they
 who are the spirits of men kept in     
prison1 whom the      ,son visited1 and 
preached the ,gospel unto them1 that    
they might be      judged according to  
#ih men in the flesh1 who received not  
the      testimony of ,jesus in the     
flesh1 but afterwards received it4      
,these      are they who are honorable  
men of the earth1 who were blinded by   
the craftiness of men4 ,these are they  

who receive of his glory1      but not  
of his fulness4 ,these are they who     
receive of the presence      of the     
,son1 but not of the fulness of the     
,father2 wherefore they      are bodies 
terrestrial1 and not bodies celestial1  
and differ in      glory as the moon    
differs from the sun4 ,these are they   
who are not      valiant in the         
testimony of ,jesus2 wherefore they     
obtain not the      crown over the      
kingdom of our ,god4#af    ,the         
,telestial ,glory3--,the revelation     
continues3        ,and again1 we saw the
 glory of the telestial1 which glory is 
that      of the lesser1 even as the    
glory of the stars differs from that of 
the glory of the moon in the firmament4 
,these are they who received      not   
the gospel of ,christ1 neither the      
testimony of ,jesus4 ,these are         
they who deny not the ,holy ,spirit4    
,these are they who are thrust      down
 to hell4 ,these are they who shall not 
be redeemed from the      devil1 until  

the last resurrection1 until the ,lord1 
even ,christ the      ,lamb shall have  
finished his work4#ag    ,we learn      
further that the inhabitants of this    
kingdom are to be graded  among         
themselves1 comprising as they do the   
unenlightened among the  varied opposing
 sects and divisions of men1 and sinners
 of many types1  whose offenses are not 
those of utter perdition3        ,for as
 one star differs from another star in  
glory1 even so      differs one from    
another in glory in the telestial world2
 for these      are they who are of     
,paul1 and of ,apollos1 and of ,cephas4 
,these are      they who say they are   
some of one and some of another--some of
      ,christ and some of ,john1 and #ii
 some of ,moses1 and some of ,elias1    
and some of ,esaias1 and some of        
,isaiah1 and some of ,enoch2 but        
received not the gospel1 neither the    
testimony of ,jesus1 neither      the   
prophets1 neither the everlasting       
covenant4#ah    ,the three kingdoms of  

widely differing glories are organized  
on an  orderly plan of gradation4 ,we   
have seen that the telestial kingdom    
comprises several subdivisions2 this    
also is the case1 we are told1  with the
 celestial2#ai and1 by analogy1 we      
conclude that a similar  condition      
prevails in the terrestrial4 ,thus the  
innumerable degrees  of merit amongst   
mankind are provided for in an infinity 
of graded  glories4 ,the celestial      
kingdom is supremely honored by the     
personal  ministrations of the ,father  
and the ,son4 ,the terrestrial kingdom  
will  be administered through the       
higher1 without a fulness of glory4 ,the
  telestial is governed through the     
ministrations of the terrestrial1 by    
angels who are appointed to minister for
 them4#bj    ,exaltation in the kingdom 
of ,god implies attainment to the graded
  orders of the ,holy ,priesthood1 and  
with these the ceremonies of the        
endowment are directly associated4      
,the ,temple ,endowment1 as administered

 in modern temples1 comprises           
instruction relating to the significance
 and sequence of past  dispensations1   
and the importance of the present as the
 greatest and  grandest era in human    
history4 ,this course of instruction    
includes  a recital of the most         
prominent events of the creative period1
 the  condition of our first parents in 
the ,garden of ,eden1 their #ajj        
disobedience and consequent expulsion   
from that blissful abode1 their         
condition in the lone and dreary world  
when doomed to live by labor  and sweat1
 the plan of redemption by which the    
great transgression may  be atoned1 the 
period of the great apostasy1 the       
restoration of the  ,gospel with all its
 ancient powers and privileges1 the     
absolute and  indispensable condition of
 personal purity and devotion to the    
right in  present life1 and a strict    
compliance with ,gospel requirements4   
,as will be shown1 the temples erected  
by the ,latter-day ,saints provide  for 

the giving of these instructions in     
separate rooms1 each devoted to  a      
particular part of the course2 and by   
this provision it is possible  to have  
several classes under instruction at one
 time4    ,the ordinances of the        
endowment embody certain obligations on 
the part  of the individual1 such as    
covenant and promise to observe the law 
of  strict virtue and chastity1 to be   
charitable1 benevolent1 tolerant and    
pure2 to devote both talent and material
 means to the spread of truth  and the  
uplifting of the race2 to maintain      
devotion to the cause of  truth2 and to 
seek in every way to contribute to the  
great preparation  that the earth may be
 made ready to receive her ,king1--the  
,lord ,jesus  ,christ4 ,with the taking 
of each covenant and the assuming of    
each  obligation a promised blessing is 
pronounced1 contingent upon the         
faithful observance of the conditions4  
,no jot1 iota1 or tittle of the temple  
rites is otherwise than uplifting  and  

sanctifying4 ,in every detail the       
endowment ceremony contributes  to      
covenants of morality of life1          
consecration of person to high  ideals1 
devotion to truth1 patriotism to nation1
 and allegiance to  ,god4 ,the blessings
 of the ,house of the ,lord are         
restricted to no #aja  privileged class2
 every member of the ,church may have   
admission to the  temple with the right 
to participate in the ordinances        
thereof1 if he  comes duly accredited as
 of worthy life and conduct4            
,,sealing ,,in ,,marriage    ,the       
,latter-day ,saints regard the marriage 
ceremony performed  exclusively within  
temple precincts1 as the one and only   
perfect  contract of matrimony4#ba ,they
 recognize the full legal validity and  
moral obligation of any marriage entered
 into under the secular law2  but civil 
marriages and indeed all marriages made 
without the binding  authority of the   
,holy ,priesthood they regard as        
contracts for this  life only1 and      

therefore lacking the higher and        
superior elements of a  complete and    
perpetual union4 ,they hold that the    
family relationships  of earth may be   
made lasting and binding beyond the veil
 of death4 ,they  say that under the    
perfect law operative in the celestial  
worlds1 the  earthly relation of husband
 and wife1 parent and child1 will endure
 in  full force and effect1 provided    
such relationship has been sealed on    
earth by the power and authority of the 
,holy ,priesthood4 ,the ordinary  rite  
of matrimony as established by secular  
law1 and as prescribed by  sectarian    
rule1 unites the man and the woman for  
this world only2 the  higher law of     
marriage as divinely revealed joins the 
parties for time  and eternity4         
,celestial ,marriage is a term in       
current use among the ,latter-day       
,saints1 though it does not occur in any
 revelation contained in the  standard  
works of the ,church4 #ajb ,the ,church 
adopts and validates  the scriptures of 

earlier dispensations with respect to   
marriage4 ,it  holds that marriage is   
honorable#bb and ordained of ,god4#bc   
,under  the teachings of the ,church1   
marriage is the duty of all who are not 
debarred by physical or other effective 
disability from assuming the            
responsibilities of the wedded state4   
,the ,latter-day ,saints declare  that  
part of the birthright of every worthy  
man is to stand at the head  of a family
 as husband and father2 and equally     
strong is the right of  every worthy    
woman to be an honored wife and mother4 
,the ,church denounces as false and     
pernicious the teachings of misled  and 
morbid men who say that the union of the
 sexes is but a carnal  necessity       
inherited by man as an incident of his  
degraded nature2 and  it repudiates the 
thought that celibacy is a superior     
condition more  pleasing to ,god4       
,concerning such false teachers the     
,lord has spoken in  this day3          
,whoso forbiddeth to marry is not       

ordained of ,god1 for marriage is       
ordained of ,god unto man 99 99 99 that 
the earth might answer the end      of  
its creation1 and that it might be      
filled with the measure of      man1    
according to his creation before the    
world was made4#bd    ,the ,latter-day  
,saints affirm that perfect marriage    
provides for the  eternal relation of   
the sexes4 ,with this people marriage is
 not merely  a contract for time1       
effective only as long as the parties   
shall live  on earth1 but a solemn      
covenant of union which shall endure    
beyond the  #ajc grave4 ,in the complete
 ceremony of marriage as ordained by the
  ,church and as administered only      
within the temple halls1 the man and    
the woman are placed under covenant of  
mutual fidelity1 not until death  do    
them part1 but for time and for all     
eternity4    ,a contract as far-reaching
 as this1 a covenant declared to be     
effective  not only throughout the      
period of mortal life1 but in the realm 

of  the hereafter1 of necessity requires
 for its validation an authority        
superior to any that man may originate4 
,it is admitted without argument  that  
men have the right to form among        
themselves associations and             
communities1 to organize sects1 parties1
 companies1 churches1 clubs1 or  any    
other union they may choose to create1  
provided1 of course1 such  bodies are   
not inimical to law and order4 ,it is   
further admitted that  any established  
association of men may enact laws and   
ordain rules  for the government of its 
members1 provided the rights of         
individual  liberty are not infringed   
thereby4 ,both church and state1        
therefore1  may enact1 prescribe1 and   
ordain1 lawful regulations as to        
marriage or  as to any other form of    
contract2 and such regulations are      
acknowledged  to be of full effect      
within the domain of actual             
jurisdiction4 ,thus1  marriages may be  
legally and properly authorized by      

states and nations1  and the contracts  
of marriage so made are effective during
 the life of  the parties thereto4      
,but1 can it be said that any           
association of men may create and       
establish an authority that shall be    
effective after death8 ,can any  power  
legislate beyond its lawful             
jurisdiction8 ,can a man sitting in  his
 own home prescribe family rules for the
 household of his neighbor8  ,can our   
nation ordain laws that shall be valid  
in a foreign #ajd  realm8 ,can man enact
 laws to regulate the affairs of the    
,kingdom of ,god8    ,only as ,god      
delegates authority to man1 with the    
assurance that  administration under    
that authority shall be acknowledged in 
heaven1  can any contract be made on    
earth and be of assured effect after the
  death of the parties concerned4       
,authority to act in the name of the    
,lord is the distinguishing             
characteristic of the ,holy ,priesthood4
 ,as  the ,lord hath said3        ,all  

covenants1 contracts1 bonds1            
obligations1 oaths1 vows1               
performances1 connections1 associations1
 or expectations1 that      are not     
made1 and entered into1 and sealed1 by  
the ,holy ,spirit of      promise1 of   
him who is anointed1 both as well for   
time and for all      eternity1 and that
 too most holy1 by revelation and       
commandment      through the medium of  
mine anointed1 whom ,i have appointed on
      the earth to hold this power1 99  
99 99 are of no efficacy1 virtue      or
 force1 in and after the resurrection   
from the dead2 for all      contracts   
that are not made unto this end1 have an
 end when men are      dead4#be    ,in  
application of this principle to the    
covenants of matrimony1 the  revelation 
continues3        ,therefore1 if a man  
marry him a wife in the world1 and he   
marry      her not by me1 nor by my     
word2 and he covenant with her so long  
as      he is in the world1 and she with
 him1 their covenant and marriage       

are not of force when they are dead1 and
 when they are out of the      world2   
therefore1 they are not bound by any law
 when they are out      of the world4   
,therefore1 when they are out of the    
world1 they neither marry1 nor      are 
given in marriage2 but are appointed    
angels in heaven1 which      angels are 
ministering servants1 to minister #aje  
for those who      are worthy of a far  
more1 and an exceeding1 and an eternal  
weight      of glory2        ,for these 
angels did not abide my law1 therefore  
they cannot be      enlarged1 but remain
 separately and singly1 without         
exaltation1 in      their saved         
condition1 to all eternity1 and from    
henceforth are not      gods1 but are   
angels of ,god1 for ever and ever4#bf   
,this system of holy matrimony1         
involving covenants for both time and   
eternity1 is known distinctively as     
,celestial ,marriage1 and is  understood
 to be the order of marriage that exists
 in the celestial  worlds4 ,this sacred 

ordinance is administered by the ,church
 to those  only who are adjudged to be  
of worthy life1 fit to be admitted to   
the ,house of the ,lord2 for this holy  
rite1 together with others of  eternal  
validity1 may be solemnized only within 
the temples reared and  dedicated for   
such exalted service4#bg ,children born 
to parents thus  married under the      
celestial law are heirs to the          
,priesthood2 children  of the covenant  
they are called2 no ordinance of        
adoption or sealing  is required to give
 them place in the blessed posterity of 
promise4    ,the ,church1 however1      
sanctions and acknowledges legal        
marriages for  time only1 and indeed    
solemnizes such unions between parties  
who may  not be admitted to the ,house  
of the ,lord1 or who voluntarily choose 
the  lesser and temporal order of       
matrimony4    ,within the temple and not
 elsewhere1 are marriages solemnized for
 and  in behalf of parties who are dead4
 ,husbands and wives who have lived in  

mortality together and now are dead1 may
 be sealed under the authority  #ajf of 
the ,priesthood1 provided1 of course1   
the preliminary temple  ordinances have 
been administered in their behalf4 ,in  
the marriage rite  for the dead as in   
other ordinances1 the parties are       
represented by  their living descendants
 acting in the capacity of proxy4       
,the ordinance of celestial marriage1   
whereby the contracting parties1        
whether living or dead1 are united under
 the authority of the ,holy  ,priesthood
 for time and eternity1 is known        
distinctively as the  ceremony of       
,sealing in ,marriage4 ,husband and wife
 so united are said  to be sealed1      
whereas if united under the lesser law  
for time only1  either by secular or    
ecclesiastical authority1 they are only 
married4    ,husband and wife who have  
been married for time only1 either by   
secular or ecclesiastical ceremony1 may 
afterward be sealed for time  and       
eternity1 provided they have become     

members of the ,church1 and  are        
adjudged worthy to enter the temple for 
this purpose2 but no  such confirmation 
of an existing union1 nor any sealing of
 married  persons is possible unless the
 parties furnish proof that they have   
been legally and lawfully married4 ,no  
marriage of living persons is  performed
 in any of the temples except under     
license duly issued as  required by the 
laws of the state4 ,the sealing         
ordinance extends to  other associations
 than those of matrimony as will be     
shown4    ,the actuality of the sealing 
ordinance in marriage finds an          
illustration in the personal teachings  
of the ,savior4 ,on one occasion  there 
came unto ,him certain ,sadducees1#bh   
and these1 be it remembered1  denied the
 possibility of the #ajg resurrection of
 the dead4 ,they  sought to entrap ,him 
by a difficult question4 ,they thus     
stated their  case3        ,master1     
,moses said1 ,if a man die1 having no   
children1 his brother      shall marry  

his wife1 and raise up seed unto his    
brother4        ,now there were with us 
seven brethren3 and the first1 when he  
had      married a wife1 deceased1 and1 
having no issue1 left his wife unto     
his brother3        ,likewise the second
 also1 and the third1 unto the seventh4 
,and last of all the woman died also4   
,therefore in the resurrection whose    
wife shall she be of the      seven8 for
 they all had her4    ,note the sequel3 
,jesus answered and said unto them1 ,ye 
do err1 not knowing the      scriptures1
 nor the power of ,god4        ,for in  
the resurrection they neither marry1 nor
 are given in      marriage1 but are as 
the angels of ,god in heaven4    ,it is 
evident that in the resurrected state   
there could be no contest  among the    
seven brothers as to whose wife the     
woman was1--for after  death there was  
to be no marrying nor giving in         
marriage4 ,the question  of marriage    
between individuals was and is to be    
settled before that  time4 ,the woman   

would and could be the wife of but one  
in the eternal  world1 and that one the 
man to whom she was given by the        
authority of  the ,holy ,priesthood on  
earth1 as a consort for time and        
eternity4 ,in  short1 the woman would be
 the wife of the man with whom she      
entered  into covenant for eternity     
under the seal of ,divine authority2 and
  no contract or agreement for time only
 would be effective in the              
resurrection4    #ajh ,this exposition  
seems to have been convincing2 the      
multitude  were astonished1 and the     
,sadducees were silenced2#bi moreover   
some  of the ,scribes declared3 ,master1
 thou hast well said4#cj ,our ,lord     
added what appears to have been a       
supplementary question1 coupled with    
instruction of the greatest import3     
,but as touching the resurrection of the
 dead1 have ye not read      that which 
was spoken unto you by ,god1 saying1    
,i am the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god
 of ,isaac1 and the ,god of      ,jacob8

 ,god is not the ,god of the dead1 but  
of the living4#ca    ,,other ,,sealing  
,,ordinances    ,children born outside  
celestial marriage1 yet within legally  
established wedlock1 are the lawful and 
legitimate heirs of their  parents in   
all affairs of earth4 ,they are the     
offspring of an earthly  union that is  
in every respect a legal1 moral1 and    
proper relation  under the laws of man4 
,that these children will belong to     
their parents  in the hereafter is as   
uncertain as that the parents will      
belong to  each other4 ,the parents have
 been but temporally and temporarily    
married1 and the offspring are theirs   
for the period of their own  contract   
only4 ,even as husband and wife though  
legally wedded under the  secular law   
must be sealed by the authority of the  
,holy ,priesthood if  their union is to 
be valid in eternity1 so must children  
who have been  born to parents married  
for time only be sealed to their parents
 after  father and #aji mother have been

 sealed to each other in the order of   
celestial marriage4    ,the ,church     
affirms the eternal perpetuity of all   
family relationships  existing on earth 
under the seal and authority of the     
,priesthood2 and  declares that none    
other relationship will be binding after
 death4 ,the  offspring of parents not  
joined in celestial marriage are thus   
sealed  to or adopted by their parents  
as members of the family organization   
which shall endure through eternity2    
thus1 husbands and wives who are  dead  
are married or sealed to each other by  
proxy ministration1 and  their children 
are similarly sealed to them in the     
family relationship4    ,it will be     
seen1 therefore1 that the vicarious     
labor of the living for  the dead1 as   
performed in the temples of the present 
day1 comprises  more than baptism and   
confirmation4 ,the work is completed on 
earth only  when the parties1 in the    
persons of their living representatives1
 have  been baptized1 confirmed1        

endowed1 and sealed both in the         
relationship  of husband and wife as    
once existent and in the family union of
 parents  and children4    ,,footnotes  
#a4 ,for a concise treatment of ,infant 
,baptism1 see the author's ,the         
,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture ,,vi1     
#ac-ag2 and for treatment of ,baptism   
for  the ,dead1 see ,lecture ,,vii1     
#ah-cc4    #b4 ,acts #aj3db2 ,,ii ,tim4 
#d3a2 ,i ,peter #d3e4    #c4 ,rom4      
#ad3i4    #d4 ,luke #bj3cf1 #ch4    #e4 
,doctrine and ,covenants #ai3aj-ab4     
#f4 ,i ,peter #d3f4    #g4 ,i ,cor4     
chap4 #ae2 see specifically verse #bi4  
#h4 ,this passage has been the subject  
of much controversy4 ,dr4 ,adam         
,clarke1 in his masterly ,commentary of 
the ,scriptures1 says3 ,this  is        
certainly the most difficult verse in   
the ,new ,testament2 for1               
notwithstanding the greatest and wisest 
men have labored to explain it1  there  
are to this day nearly as many different
 interpretations of it as  there are    

interpreters4 ,yet1 notwithstanding its 
enigmatic meaning1  this passage of     
scripture is part of the prescribed     
burial service  in the ,episcopal       
,church1 and is duly spoken by the      
priest at every  funeral4 ,but wherein  
lies the difficulty of comprehension8   
,the passage  is of plain import1 and   
only when we attempt to make it         
figurative  do difficulties arise4 ,it  
is plain that in ,paul's day the        
ordinance  of baptism for the dead was  
both understood and practised1 and the  
apostle's argument in support of the    
doctrine of a literal resurrection  is  
sound3 ,if the dead rise not at all1 why
 then are they baptized for  the dead8  
#i4 ,read ,doctrine and ,covenants      
#abh3ab1 #ac4    #aj4 ,i ,cor4 #aa3aa4  
#aa4 ,see the author's ,the ,articles of
 ,faith1 ,lectures ,,iv and ,,xii1      
portions of which are included in the   
present treatment4    #ab4 ,john        
#ad3a-c4    #ac4 ,i ,cor4 #ae3dj-db4    
#ad4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,sec4    

#gf4    #ae4 ,doctrine and ,covenants   
#gf3ea-gj4    #af4 ,doctrine and        
,covenants #gf3ga-gi4    #ag4 ,doctrine 
and ,covenants #gf3ha-hf4    #ah4       
,doctrine and ,covenants #gf3ih-aja4    
#ai4 ,doctrine and ,covenants #aca3a2   
see also ,,ii ,cor4 #ab3a-d4    #bj4    
,see ,doctrine and ,covenants #gf3hf-hh4
    #ba4 ,see the author's treatment of 
,marriage in ,the ,articles of  ,faith1 
,lecture ,,xxiv1 pp4 #dee-dfj4    #bb4  
,heb4 #ac3d4    #bc4 ,gen4 #b3ah1 #bd2  
#a3bg2 #e3b2 #i3a1 #g2 ,lev4 #bf3i4     
#bd4 ,doctrine and ,covenants1          
#di3ae-ag4    #be4 ,doctrine and        
,covenants #acb3g4    #bf4 ,doctrine and
 ,covenants #acb3ae-ag4    #bg4         
,doctrine and ,covenants #abd3cj-cd4    
#bh4 ,see ,matt4 #bb3bc-cc2 ,mark       
#ab3ah-bg2 ,luke #bj3bg-dj4    #bi4     
,matt4 #bb3cc1 #cd4    #cj4 ,luke       
#bj3ci4    #ca4 ,matt4 #bb3ca1 #cb4     
,,chapter ,v    ,,modern ,,day          
,,temples--,,the ,,temples ,,at         
,,kirtland ,,and ,,nauvoo    #aaj ,as to

 general design1 and indeed as to       
details of plan and  construction of the
 earlier sanctuaries1 much has been     
preserved to  us through the pages of   
sacred writ4 ,from the ,biblical record 
alone  it would be possible to          
practically reproduce the ,tabernacle of
 the  ,congregation and the later       
,temple of ,solomon2 though1 had we no  
information to supplement the ,biblical 
account1 we would know but  little as to
 procedure requisite to the             
administration of ordinances            
specifically pertaining to temples4     
,regarding the plan of building and the 
structural design of temples1  we find  
no close similarity1 far less of aught  
approaching identity1  in these holy    
houses as erected in different          
dispensations2 on  the contrary we may  
affirm that direct revelation of temple 
plans  is required for each distinctive 
period of the ,priesthood's             
administration1 that is to say for every
 dispensation of ,divine  authority4    

,while the general purpose of temples is
 the same in all  times1 the special    
suitability of these edifices is        
determined by the  needs of the         
dispensation to which they severally    
belong4    ,there is a definite sequence
 of development in the dealings of ,god 
with  man throughout the centuries2 and 
it is this unity of order and purpose   
that constitutes the #aaa eternal       
unchangeableness of the ,supreme        
,being4 ,today is no mere repetition of 
yesterday2 on the contrary1 every  today
 is a sum of all precedent time1 so that
 in each succeeding age  the ,divine    
plan is farther advanced1 and the grand 
finale in the great  drama of human     
salvation is brought nearer4    ,from   
the days of the ancient ,tabernacle of  
the ,congregation1 and thence  onward to
 the meridian of time1 animal sacrifice 
was required as an  ordained rite of    
propitiation and worship2 and such was  
in prototype of  the sacrificial death  
predicted as part of the mission of the 

,son of  ,man4 ,the temples of the      
,hebrews who were living under the      
,mosaic law1  provided1 therefore1 for  
the slaughter of animals1 for the       
ceremonial  dividing of the carcasses   
and for the due disposal of the blood1  
for  the convenient immolation of the   
offerings1 and for numerous other       
details of ceremony associated with     
worship under the law of ,moses4    ,the
 ,latter-day ,saints are one with other 
,christian sects in the  unreserved     
acceptance of the doctrine that the     
atoning death of ,christ  terminated the
 ,mosaic rites of sacrifice involving   
the ceremonial  shedding of blood1 that1
 in truth1 the prototype was consummated
 in the  reality4 ,the temples of today 
are provided with no altars of          
sacrifice1  no courts of slaughter1 no  
shambles red with the blood of beasts1  
no  pyres on which carcasses are burned1
 no censers of incense to becloud  the  
fumes from burning flesh4    ,even among
 the temples of the present dispensation

 there is a graded  variety in the      
details of construction4 ,the first     
temple of modern  times was in a measure
 incomplete as compared with the holy   
houses of  later construction4 #aab ,the
 fact was doubtless known to the ,lord1 
though wisely hidden from common        
knowledge1 that the ,kirtland ,temple   
would serve but for the beginning of the
 re-establishment of those  distinctive 
ordinances for which temples are        
essential4 ,even as the  ,tabernacle of 
old was but an inferior type of what    
would follow1  designed for temporary   
use under special conditions1 so the    
earlier  temples of the latter-day      
dispensation1 specifically those of     
,kirtland  and ,nauvoo1 were but        
temporary ,houses of the ,lord1 destined
 to serve  for short periods only as    
sanctuaries4    ,scarcely had ,the      
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day
 ,saints been  organized when the ,lord 
indicated the necessity of a temple1 in 
which  ,he could reveal ,his mind and   

will to man1 and in which the           
sanctifying  ordinances of the ,gospel  
could be administered4 ,in a revelation 
given  as early as ,december1 #ahcj1 the
 ,lord said3 ,i am ,jesus ,christ the   
,son  of ,god3 wherefore gird up your   
loins and ,i will suddenly come to my   
temple4#a ,in ,february #ahca1 the ,lord
 further indicated ,his purpose  thus3  
,that my covenant people may be gathered
 in one in that day  when ,i shall come 
to my temple4 ,and this ,i do for the   
salvation of  my people4#b ,more        
definite instructions as to the         
practical labors  incident to the       
procuring of a site and the rearing of a
 temple soon  followed4    ,,temple     
,,site ,,at ,,independence1 ,,missouri  
,the principal seat of the ,church had  
been temporarily established at         
,kirtland1 ,ohio2 nevertheless the      
prophet had learned through early       
revelation that ,zion would be #aac     
established far to the west4 ,in  ,june1
 #ahca1 a conference of elders was held 

at ,kirtland1 on which  occasion a      
revelation#c was received directing     
certain of the elders  to start         
westward1 traveling in pairs and        
preaching by the way4 ,in the  month    
following1 these elders reassembled at a
 designated place in  western ,missouri1
 all rejoicing in their ministry and    
eager to learn  the further will of the 
,lord4 ,the burden of their prayer and  
song is  thus expressed by the prophet3 
,when will the wilderness blossom as    
the rose8 ,when will ,zion be built up  
in her glory1 and where will thy  temple
 stand1 unto which all nations shall    
come in the last days8#d  ,in answer to 
their supplications the ,lord spake by  
the mouth of ,his  prophet1 designating 
the western part of ,missouri as the    
land of ,zion1  and the site occupied by
 the town of ,independence as the center
  place1 and specifying a spot as that  
upon which a temple should be  built4#e 
,on the third of ,august1 #ahca1 the    
prophet ,joseph ,smith and seven other  

elders of the ,church assembled on the  
temple lot and dedicated the  same to   
its sacred purpose4 ,though the company 
was small1 the occasion  was one of     
great solemnity and impressiveness4 ,the
 prophet himself  offered the prayer of 
dedication4#f ,the temple so projected  
is yet to  be built4 ,though the        
,latter-day ,saints acquired by purchase
 title to  and possession of the #aad   
temple lot1 they were later by violence 
compelled to abandon their rightful     
possessions4    ,,the ,,kirtland        
,,temple    ,the building of a temple in
 ,missouri was regarded1 even by the    
prophet  and those who assisted him in  
dedicating the site1 as an event of the 
future1 perhaps even of the far distant 
future4 ,the center of activity1  the   
seat of the ,church for the time being1 
was in ,ohio1 and ,kirtland  was the    
place of temporary gathering4 ,in       
,kirtland too was to be erected  the    
first temple of modern times4    ,in a  
revelation given ,december #bg1 #ahcb1  

the ,lord commanded the  establishment  
of a holy house4#g ,perhaps because     
their eyes were  directed too steadily  
toward the center place1 and because the
 people  were prone to contemplate too  
absorbedly the glory of the future to   
the neglect of then present duties1     
compliance with the requirement  to     
proceed at once with the erection of a  
temple was not prompt2 and  the ,lord   
rebuked the people for their tardiness  
and neglect1 declaring  again ,his will 
that a house be reared to ,his name and 
promising success  on condition of      
faithful effort4#h    ,the ,saints were 
aroused to great activity in the matter 
of erecting  a temple for immediate use4
 ,a building committee was organized1   
and  a call issued to all branches of   
the ,church4#i ,on the second day of    
,august1 #ahcc1 the voice of the ,lord  
was heard again respecting the  matter  
of temple building1 and while the       
specific requirement #aae  appears to   
directly apply to the temple of the     

future in ,jackson  ,county1 ,missouri1 
nevertheless the revelation had         
immediate effect in  inspiring greater  
effort in the building of a temple at   
,kirtland4#aj    ,the ,kirtland ,temple 
was built as projected and designed1    
though the  work was marked by an       
unbroken course of supreme sacrifice on 
the part  of a poverty-laden people4    
,consider the words of one who was      
present  and saw1 one who helped and    
suffered1 one who spoke from personal   
knowledge and keen remembrance4 ,eliza  
,r4 ,snow1 a gifted poetess and         
historian of modern-day ,israel1 has    
written3        ,it the ,temple was     
commenced in ,june1 #ahcc1 under the    
immediate      direction of the         
,almighty1 through his servant1 ,joseph 
,smith1 whom      he had called in his  
boyhood1 like ,samuel of old1 to        
introduce the      fulness of the       
everlasting gospel4        ,at that time
 the ,saints were few in number1 and    
most of them very      poor2 and had it 

not been for the assurance that ,god had
 spoken1      and had commanded that a  
house should be built to ,his name1 of  
which ,he not only revealed the form1   
but also designated the      dimensions1
 an attempt towards building that       
,temple1 under the      then existing   
circumstances1 would have been1 by all  
concerned1      pronounced preposterous4
        99 99 99 99 99 99        ,its   
dimensions are eighty by fifty-nine     
feet2 the walls fifty feet      high1   
and the tower one hundred and ten feet4 
,the two main halls      are fifty-five 
by sixty-five feet in the inner court4  
,the building      has four vestries in 
front1 and five rooms in the attic1     
which were      devoted to literature   
and for meetings of the various quorums 
of      the ,priesthood4        ,there  
was a peculiarity in the arrangement of 
the inner #aaf      court which made it 
more than ordinarily impressive--so much
 so      that a sense of sacred awe     
seemed to rest upon all who entered4    

,not only the ,saints1 but strangers    
also1 manifested a high degree      of  
reverential feeling4 ,four pulpits      
stood1 one above another1 in      the   
center of the building1 from north to   
south1 both on the east      and west   
ends4 99 99 99 ,in front of each of     
these two rows of pulpits      was a    
sacrament table1 for the administration 
of that sacred      ordinance4 ,in each 
corner of the court was an elevated pew 
for the      singers--the choir being   
distributed into four compartments4 ,in 
addition to the pulpit-curtains were    
others1 intersecting at right           
angles1 which divided the main          
ground-floor hall into four equal       
sections1 giving to each one half of one
 set of pulpits4        ,from the day   
the ground was broken for laying the    
foundation of      the ,temple1 until   
its dedication on the #bgth of ,march1  
#ahcf1 the      work was vigorously     
prosecuted4        ,with very little    
capital except brain1 bone1 and sinew1  

combined      with unwavering trust in  
,god1 men1 women1 and even children1    
worked      with their might4 ,while the
 brethren labored in their departments1 
the sisters were actively engaged in    
boarding and clothing workmen      not  
otherwise provided for--all living as   
abstemiously as possible1      so that  
every cent might be appropriated to the 
grand object1 while      their energies 
were stimulated by the prospect of      
participating in      the blessing of a 
house built by the direction of the     
,most ,high1      and accepted by       
,him4#aa    ,the corner stones had been 
laid ,july #bc1 #ahcc--;just when       
opposition  and persecution were most   
rife in the western branches of the     
,church1  the very day1 in fact1 on     
which a lawless mob served notice of    
expulsion on the ,saints in             
,missouri4#ab ,nevertheless work on the 
,kirtland #aag ,temple continued without
 interruption1 though to the  eager     
,saints progress was all too slow4 ,on  

the #gth of ,march1 #ahce1 a  solemn    
convocation was held in                 
,kirtland1--called for the purpose of   
blessing in the name of the ,lord1 those
 who have heretofore assisted  in       
building1 by their labor and other      
means1 the ,house of the ,lord in  this 
place4 ,the record gives names of those 
who had consecrated their  time1 effort 
and means to the work4#ac ,long before  
the ,temple was  completed1 parts of the
 structure were used for council        
meetings and  other gatherings of the   
,priesthood4 ,in ,january1 #ahcf1 a code
 of rules  was adopted to be observed in
 the ,house of the ,lord in             
,kirtland4#ad  ,on the #bast of the     
month last named a gathering of the     
,priesthood  was held in the unfinished 
,temple1 on which occasion the          
,presiding  ,patriarch and the three    
,high ,priests who composed the ,first  
,presidency  of the ,church1 assembled  
in a room by themselves and engaged in  
solemn  prayer4 ,the ,patriarch1 ,father

 ,joseph ,smith1 was anointed and       
blessed by  the members of the ,first   
,presidency in turn1 after which he1 by 
virtue  of his office1 anointed and     
blessed them4 ,of the glorious          
manifestation  that followed1 the       
prophet thus writes3        ,the heavens
 were opened upon us1 and ,i beheld the 
celestial      kingdom of ,god1 and the 
glory thereof1 whether in the body or   
out      ,i cannot tell4 ,i saw the     
transcendent beauty of the gate through 
which the heirs of that kingdom will    
enter1 which was like unto      circling
 flames of fire2 also the blazing throne
 of ,god1 whereon      was seated the   
,father and the ,son4 ,i saw the        
beautiful streets of      that kingdom1 
which #aah had the appearance of being  
paved with      gold4 99 99 99 ,i saw   
the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb1 who 
are now upon      the earth1 who hold   
the keys of this last ministry1 in      
foreign      lands1 standing together in
 a circle1 much fatigued1 with their    

clothes tattered and feet swollen1 with 
their eyes cast downward1      and      
,jesus standing in their midst1 and they
 did not behold ,him4 ,the      ,savior 
looked upon them and wept4        99 99 
99 99 99 99 99        ,many of my       
brethren who received the ordinance with
 me saw      glorious visions also4     
,angels ministered unto them as well as 
to      myself1 and the power of the    
,highest rested upon us2 the house was  
filled with the glory of ,god1 and we   
shouted ',hosanna to ,god and      the  
,lamb4' ,my scribe also received his    
anointing with us1 and saw1      in a   
vision1 the armies of heaven protecting 
the ,saints in their      return to     
,zion1 and many things which ,i saw4    
,the ,bishop of ,kirtland with his      
counselors1 and the ,bishop of          
,zion with his counselors1 were present 
with us1 and received their             
anointings under the hands of ,father   
,smith1 and this was confirmed      by  
the ,presidency1 and the glories of     

heaven were unfolded to them      also4 
,we then invited the ,high ,councilors  
of ,kirtland and ,zion into our         
room4 99 99 99        ,the visions of   
heaven were opened to them also4 ,some  
of them      saw the face of the        
,savior1 and others were ministered unto
 by      holy angels1 and the spirit of 
prophecy and revelation was poured      
out in mighty power2 and loud hosannas1 
and glory to ,god in the      highest1  
saluted the heavens1 for we all communed
 with the heavenly      host4#ae    ,the
 dedication of the ,kirtland ,temple    
occurred on ,sunday1 ,march #bg1  #ahcf4
 ,the early hour of #h a4m4 had been set
 as the time for opening the  doors2 but
 so intense was the interest and so     
eager the expectation1  that long before
 the time hundreds had gathered about   
the doors4 #aai  ,between nine hundred  
and a thousand people attended the      
services4 ,the  congregation was seated 
in solemn assembly1 each of the         
organized  bodies of ,priesthood with   

its presiding officers being in its     
appointed  place4 ,singing1 scripture   
reading1 and supplication for ,divine   
grace1  were followed by brief          
addresses2 after which the authorities  
of the  ,church as then constituted were
 presented to the people for acceptance 
or rejection1 and a rising vote pledged 
unanimous support in every  instance4   
,the authorities of the ,priesthood so  
sustained comprised all  presiding      
officers from the ,first ,presidency    
down to the presidency of  the deacons4 
,the dedicatory prayer was then offered 
by ,joseph ,smith1  who affirms that the
 prayer was given to him by             
revelation4#af    ,the question as to   
whether the ,house of the ,lord was     
accepted as duly  dedicated was put to  
the quorums of the ,priesthood          
separately and to  the congregation as a
 whole2 the vote in the affirmative was 
unanimous4  ,the ,lord's ,supper was    
then administered1 and many of the      
elders bore  solemn testimony to the    

divinity of the ,gospel as restored4    
,the  prophet's journal continues3      
,president ,frederick ,g4 ,williams     
arose and testified that while          
,president ,rigdon was making his first 
prayer1 an angel entered the      window
 and took his seat between ,father      
,smith and himself1 and      remained   
there during the prayer4 ,president     
,david ,whitmer also saw      angels in 
the house4 ,president ,hyrum ,smith made
 some appropriate      remarks          
congratulating those who had endured so 
many toils and      privations to build 
the house4 ,president ,rigdon then made 
a few      appropriate closing remarks1 
and a short prayer1 at the close      of
 which we sealed the proceedings of #abj
 the day by shouting      ',hosanna1    
,hosanna1 ,hosanna to ,god and the      
,lamb1' three times1      sealing it    
each time with ',amen1 ,amen1 and       
,amen4'#ag    ,in the evening of the day
 of dedication another meeting was held2
 this1  however1 was attended by        

officers of the ,church only4 ,the      
record as  written by the prophet reads3
        ,i met the quorums in the       
evening and instructed them respecting  
the ordinance of washing of feet1 which 
they were to attend to on               
,wednesday following2 and gave them     
instructions in relation to the         
spirit of prophecy4 99 99 99            
,brother ,george ,a4 ,smith arose and   
began to prophesy1 when a noise      was
 heard like the sound of a rushing1     
mighty wind1 which filled      the      
,temple1 and all the congregation       
simultaneously arose1 being      moved  
upon by an invisible power2 many began  
to speak in tongues      and prophesy2  
others saw glorious visions2 and ,i     
beheld the ,temple      was filled with 
angels1 which fact ,i declared to the   
congregation4      ,the people of the   
neighborhood came running together      
7hearing an      unusual sound within1  
and seeing a bright light like a pillar 
of fire resting upon the ,temple71 and  

were astonished at what      was taking 
place4 ,this continued until the meeting
 closed at #aa      p4m4#ah    ,on the  
,thursday following that eventful       
,sabbath1 another solemn  assembly      
convened in the ,temple1 including as   
before the general  authorities of the  
,church1 and in addition such members as
 had not been  able to secure admission 
on the earlier day4 ,the services were  
in a  measure a repetition of the       
proceedings on the first occasion2 #aba 
the dedicatory prayer was read1         
appropriate music was rendered and      
addresses were delivered4    ,that the  
building was in truth a ,temple1 a holy 
structure accepted by  ,him to whose    
name it had been reared1 that it was    
veritably a ,house  of the ,lord1 had   
been attested by the visitation of      
heavenly beings1  and by ,divine        
manifestations surpassing all           
expectation1 as witnessed  on the       
evening of the dedication day4 ,on the  
next ,sabbath1 ,april  #c1 #ahcf1       

visitations and manifestations of yet   
greater import were  received4 ,at the  
afternoon service the ,lord's ,supper   
was administered1  after which1 the     
prophet and his counselor1 ,oliver      
,cowdery1 retired  to the stand reserved
 for the presiding officers of the      
,melchisedek  ,priesthood1--which was   
enclosed by the curtains or veils       
lowered for  the occasion4 ,they        
solemnly testify that then and there did
 the ,lord  ,jesus ,christ reveal       
,himself4 ,afterward1 other heavenly    
personages  ministered unto them1 each  
delivering or bestowing the particular  
authority with which he was specially   
invested4 ,the testimony of ,joseph     
,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery is as       
follows3        ,the veil was taken from
 our minds1 and the eyes of our         
understanding were opened4        ,we   
saw the ,lord standing upon the         
breast-work of the pulpit1      before  
us1 and under his feet was a paved work 
of pure gold in      color like amber4  

,his eyes were as a flame of fire1 the  
hair of his head was white      like the
 pure snow1 his countenance shone above 
the brightness of      the sun1 and his 
voice was as the sound of the rushing of
 great      waters1 even the voice of   
,jehovah1 saying--        ,i am the     
first and the last1 ,i am he who liveth1
 ,i am he who was      slain1 ,i am your
 advocate with the ,father4        #abb 
,behold1 your sins are forgiven you1 you
 are clean before me1      therefore    
lift up your heads and rejoice1         
,let the hearts of your brethren        
rejoice1 and let the hearts of all      
my people rejoice1 who have1 with their 
might1 built this house to      my name1
        ,for behold1 ,i have accepted   
this house1 and my name shall be here1  
and ,i will manifest myself to my people
 in mercy in this house1        ,yea1 ,i
 will appear unto my servants1 and speak
 unto them with      mine own voice1 if 
my people will keep my commandments1 and
 do not      pollute this holy house4   

,yea1 the hearts of thousands and tens  
of thousands shall greatly      rejoice 
in consequence of the blessings which   
shall be poured out1      and the       
endowment with which my servants have   
been endowed in this      house2        
,and the fame of this house shall spread
 to foreign lands1 and this      is the 
beginning of the blessing which shall be
 poured out upon the      heads of my   
people4 ,even so4 ,amen4        ,after  
this vision closed1 the heavens were    
again opened unto us1      and ,moses   
appeared before us1 and committed unto  
us the keys of      the gathering of    
,israel from the four parts of the      
earth1 and the      leading of the ten  
tribes from the land of the north4      
,after this1 ,elias appeared1 and       
committed the dispensation of      the  
gospel of ,abraham1 saying1 that in us1 
and our seed1 all      generations after
 us should be blessed4        ,after    
this vision had closed1 another great   
and glorious vision      burst upon us1 

for ,elijah the prophet1 who was taken  
to heaven      without tasting death1   
stood before us1 and said--             
,behold1 the time has fully come1 which 
was spoken of by the mouth      of      
,malachi1 testifying that he 7,elijah7  
should be sent before the      great and
 dreadful day of the ,lord come1        
,to turn the hearts of the fathers to   
the children1 and the      children to  
the fathers1 lest the whole earth be    
smitten with a      curse4              
,therefore the keys of this dispensation
 are committed #abc into      your      
hands1 and by this ye may know that the 
great and dreadful day      of the ,lord
 is near1 even at the doors4#ai    ,the 
erection of the ,temple at ,kirtland    
seemed to increase the  hostile         
opposition to which the ,church had been
 subjected since its  organization2 and 
persecution soon became so violent that 
all of the  ,saints who could dispose of
 their property and leave did so and    
joined  their fellow religionists in    

,missouri4 ,within two years following  
the  dedication1 a general exodus of the
 ,saints had taken place1 and the       
,temple soon fell into the hands of the 
persecutors4 ,the building is yet       
standing1 and serves the purposes of an 
ordinary meeting-house for an  obscure  
sect that manifests no visible activity 
in temple building1 nor  apparent belief
 in the sacred ordinances for which     
temples are erected4  ,the people whose 
sacrifice and suffering reared the      
structure no longer  assert claims of   
ownership4 ,what was once the ,temple of
 ,god1 in which  the ,lord ,jesus       
appeared in person1 has become but a    
house1--a building  whose sole claim to 
distinction among the innumerable       
structures built  by man1 lies in its   
wondrous past4    ,,temple ,,site ,,at  
,,far ,,west1 ,,missouri    ,from ,ohio 
the ,church migrated westward1 and      
gathering-centers were  established in  
,missouri1 principally in ,jackson1     
,clay1 and ,caldwell  counties4 ,no time

 was lost in useless grieving over the  
enforced  abandonment of the ,temple at 
,kirtland4 ,even at that early day1 but 
seven years after the organization of   
the ,church1 the people #abd had  come  
to regard persecution as an inevitable  
incident of their religion1  and        
spoliation as their heritage4           
,resolutely they went to work in        
preparation for another temple1 and a   
site was chosen at ,far ,west1          
,caldwell ,county1 ,missouri4 ,on the   
#eth of ,august1 #ahcg1 the ,presidency1
  ,high ,council1 and all the           
authorities of the ,church in ,missouri1
  assembled in council at ,far ,west1   
and unanimously resolved to go on       
moderately and build a house unto the   
name of the ,lord in ,far ,west1  as    
they had means4#bj ,on the #bfth of     
,april1 #ahch1 a revelation was         
received directing the time and manner  
of beginning the work3        ,let the  
city1 ,far ,west1 be a holy and         
consecrated land unto me1      and it   

shall be called most holy1 for the      
ground upon which thou      standest is 
holy2 therefore ,i command you to build 
an house unto      me1 for the gathering
 together of my ,saints1 that they may  
worship      me2 and let there be a     
beginning of this work1 and a           
foundation1      and a preparatory work1
 this following summer2 and let the     
beginning be made on the fourth day of  
,july next1 and from that      time     
forth let my people labor diligently to 
build an house unto my      name1 and in
 one year from this day let them        
re-commence laying the      foundation  
of my house4#ba    ,on the fourth day of
 ,july1 #ahch1 the corner stones were   
laid to the  accompaniment of military  
parade and solemn procession4#bb ,it is 
plain  from the revelation of ,april    
#bf1 #ahch1 that even the laying of the 
foundation of this proposed temple would
 not proceed uninterruptedly4  #abe ,the
 corner stones were placed on ,july #dth
 as had been commanded1  and on the #hth

 another mention of the site is made    
with a specific  requirement respecting 
the future work of the apostles4 ,let   
them  take leave of my ,saints in the   
city of ,far ,west1 on the #bfth day of 
,april next1 on the building spot of my 
house1 saith the ,lord4#bc  ,the months 
following were marked by persecution and
 violence2 hostile  opponents declared  
that the commission should never be     
fulfilled4  ,history attests1 however1  
that on the #bfth day of ,april1 #ahci1 
the  apostles1 several other officers of
 the ,church1 and a number of the       
members1 assembled in the early hours of
 the morning1 sang their  hymns1        
delivered their exhortations1 and began 
the work of laying the  foundation      
stones4 ,on the occasion two vacancies  
in the ,council of the  ,twelve were    
filled by the ordination of ,wilford    
,woodruff and ,george ,a4  ,smith1 whose
 nominations had previously been voted  
upon4 ,the apostles  then took leave of 
the others present and proceeded on     

their missions4  ,almost immediately    
after the events last recorded1 the     
,saints were  forced to abandon their   
homes in ,missouri4    ,the ,latter-day 
,saints regard the long delay in the    
erection of temples  on the dedicated   
sites in ,missouri as largely the result
 of their  own defection1 neglect1 and  
disobedience to the word of the ,lord1  
in  consequence of which their enemies  
were permitted to prevail4 ,when1  in   
#ahcd1 the ,saints in ,missouri were    
subject to cruel persecution1  their    
fellow religionists in the eastern      
branches of the ,church were  directed  
to go to their aid1 and to send men with
 money to purchase the  lands adjacent  
to the chosen sites1 and moreover to    
consecrate their  possessions #abf to   
the redemption of ,zion4 ,to these      
requirements  there was unsatisfactory  
response2 and even in ,zion's ,camp1 as 
the body  of between one hundred and    
fifty and two hundred men who set out   
from  ,ohio for ,missouri as directed1  

was called1 there was much disaffection1
  murmuring1 and lack of faith4 ,on     
,june #bb1 #ahcd1 the ,lord said through
  ,joseph1 the prophet3        ,behold1 
,i say unto you1 were it not for the    
transgressions of my      people1       
speaking concerning the ,church and not 
individuals1 they      might have been  
redeemed even now4#bd    ,thus1 through 
their own transgressions the ,saints    
were hindered in the  work required at  
their hands1 and the harvest of         
blessings predicated  upon this specific
 labor1 has not yet ripened4    ,,the   
,,nauvoo ,,temple    ,after their       
expulsion from ,missouri1 the ,mormon   
refugees turned  their faces toward the 
east1 crossed the ,mississippi and      
established  themselves in and about the
 obscure village of ,commerce1 ,hancock 
,county1 ,illinois4 ,the people         
demonstrated again their marvelous      
recuperative power1 and without delay or
 hesitation set about  establishing new 
homes and a temple4 ,by the early part  

of ,june1 #ahci1  dwellings were in     
course of construction1 and soon the    
hamlet was  transformed into a city4 ,to
 this new abiding place the ,saints gave
 the  name ,nauvoo1--which to them meant
 all that the name ,city ,beautiful     
could convey4 ,it was situated but a few
 miles from #abg ,quincy1 in  a bend of 
the majestic river1 giving the town     
three water fronts4 ,it  seemed to      
nestle there as if the ,father of       
,waters was encircling it  with his     
mighty arm4#be    ,the best and most    
suitable site within the limits of the  
city as  planned was selected1          
purchased1 and duly set apart as the    
temple  ground4 ,the corner stones were 
laid ,april #f1 #ahda--the day on which 
the  ,church entered upon the twelfth   
year of its troubled yet progressive    
career4 ,in the ceremonial of the day   
the ,nauvoo ,legion--a body of  militia 
organized under the laws of             
,illinois1--took a conspicuous part1    
and two volunteer companies from ,iowa  

,territory participated4#bf ,the        
south-east corner-stone was placed in   
position under the immediate  direction 
of the ,first ,presidency1 and over it  
the ,president pronounced  the following
 benediction3        ,this principal    
corner-stone in representation of the   
,first      ,presidency1 is now duly    
laid in honor of the ,great ,god2 and   
may      it there remain until the whole
 fabric is completed2 and may the       
same be accomplished speedily2 that the 
,saints may have a place to      worship
 ,god1 and the ,son of ,man have where  
to lay ,his head4    ,sidney ,rigdon of 
the ,first ,presidency then pronounced  
the following3        ,may the persons  
employed in the erection of this house  
be      preserved from all harm while   
engaged in its construction1 till the   
whole is completed1 in the name of the  
,father1 and of the ,son1 and      of   
the ,holy ,ghost4 ,even so4 ,amen4#bg   
#abh ,after a recess of one hour1 the   
congregation re-assembled and  the      

remaining corner stones were laid in the
 order indicated4 ,the  south-west      
corner-stone was laid under the         
direction of the ,high  ,priests'       
organization1 and the president         
pronounced the following3        ,the   
second corner-stone of the temple now   
building by ,the ,church      of ,jesus 
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 in honor
 of the ,great ,god1      is duly laid1 
and may the same unanimity that has been
 manifested      on this occasion       
continue till the whole is completed2   
that peace      may rest upon it to the 
laying of the top-stone thereof1 and the
      turning of the key thereof2 that  
the ,saints may participate in the      
blessings of ,israel's ,god1 within its 
walls1 and the glory of ,god      rest  
upon the same4 ,amen4    ,the north-west
 corner-stone was then lowered to its   
place under the  superintendency of the 
,high ,council1 with a benediction by   
,elias  ,higbee1 as follows3        ,the
 third corner-stone is now duly laid2   

may this stone be a firm      support to
 the building that the whole may be     
completed as before      proposed4      
,the stone at the north-east corner was 
laid by the ,bishops1 and ,bishop       
,whitney pronounced the following3      
,the fourth and last corner-stone1      
expressive of the ,lesser               
,priesthood1 is now duly laid1 and may  
the blessings before      pronounced1   
with all others desirable1 rest upon the
 same forever4      ,amen4#bh           
,regarding the proper order of procedure
 in temple building1 the prophet        
,joseph ,smith wrote as follows in      
connection with the laying of the       
corner-stones at ,nauvoo3        #abi   
,if the strict order of the ,priesthood 
were carried out in      the building of
 temples1 the first stone would be laid 
at the      south-east corner1 by the   
,first ,presidency of the ,church4 ,the 
south-west corner should be laid next2  
the third1 or north-west      corner    
next2 and the fourth1 or north-east     

corner last4 ,the ,first                
,presidency should lay the south-east   
corner stone and dictate who      are   
the proper persons to lay the other     
corner stones4        ,if a temple is   
built at a distance1 and the ,first     
,presidency      are not present1 then  
the ,quorum of the ,twelve ,apostles are
 the      persons to dictate the order  
for that temple2 and in the absence     
of the ,twelve ,apostles1 then the      
,presidency of the ,stake will lay      
the south-east corner stone2 the        
,melchisedek ,priesthood laying      the
 corner stones on the east side of the  
temple1 and the ,lesser      ,priesthood
 those on the west side4#bi    ,the     
,nauvoo ,temple was erected by the      
people1 who contributed liberally  both 
through tithes and freewill offerings of
 money and labor4 ,most of  the work was
 done by men who tithed themselves as to
 time1 and devoted  their energies in   
the proportion of at least one day in   
ten to labor on  the ,temple4#cj    ,the

 work progressed slowly but without     
marked interruption2 and  this fact     
becomes surprising when the many        
unfavorable conditions  are considered4 
,the ,saints had found but temporary    
respite from  persecution2 and as the   
,temple rose opposition increased4#ca   
#acj ,interest had been aroused and     
energy stimulated in temple  matters1   
through a revelation by which the ,lord 
made known ,his will  and the provisions
 of heavenly law concerning the sacred  
ordinance  of baptism for the dead4 ,it 
will be remembered that no provision for
  this rite had been made in the        
,kirtland ,temple1 for at the time of   
the  erection of that structure nothing 
thereto pertaining had been revealed  in
 modern times4 ,on ,january #ai1 #ahda1 
the ,lord had spoken through  the       
prophet1 explaining the need of a holy  
house with its baptistry1  largely and  
specifically for the benefit of the     
dead4#cb ,so eager  were the ,saints to 
render vicarious service in behalf of   

their dead1  that before the temple     
walls were much above the basement      
level1 the  construction of a font was  
in progress4 ,on ,november #h1 #ahda1   
the font  was ready for dedication1 and 
the ceremony was performed by the       
prophet  himself4 ,thus1 long before the
 ,temple was finished1 ordinance work   
was  in progress within its precincts1  
the font being enclosed by temporary    
walls4 ,a description written by ,joseph
 ,smith follows3        ,the baptismal  
font is situated in the center of the   
basement      room1 under the main hall 
of the ,temple2 it is constructed of    
pine timber1 and put together of staves 
tongued and grooved1 oval      shaped1  
sixteen feet long east and west1 and    
twelve feet wide1      seven feet high  
from the foundation1 the basin four feet
 deep2 the      moulding of the cap and 
base are formed of beautiful carved work
      in antique style4 ,the sides are  
finished with panel work4 ,a flight     
of stairs in the north and south sides  

lead up and down into the      basin1   
guarded by side railing4        ,the    
font stands upon twelve oxen1 four on   
each side1 #aca and      two at each    
end1 their heads1 shoulders1 and        
fore-legs projecting      out from under
 the font2 they are carved out of pine  
plank1 glued      together1 and copied  
after the most beautiful five-year-old  
steer      that could be found in the   
country1 and they are an excellent      
striking likeness of the original2 the  
horns were formed after the      most   
perfect horn that could be procured4    
,the oxen and ornamental mouldings of   
the font were carved by      ,elder     
,elijah ,fordham1 from the city of ,new 
,york1 which occupied      eight months 
of time4 ,the font was enclosed by a    
temporary frame      building sided up  
with split oak clapboards1 with a roof  
of the      same material1 and was so   
low that the timbers of the first story 
of the ,temple were laid above it4 ,the 
water was supplied from a      well     

thirty feet deep in the east end of the 
basement4#cc    ,beside the baptistry1  
other parts of the ,temple were prepared
 for  temporary occupancy while yet work
 on the walls was in progress1 and  on  
,sunday1 ,october #cj1 #ahdb1 a general 
assembly was convened therein4  ,this is
 recorded as the first meeting held in  
the ,temple4#cd ,at later  dates other  
meetings were held within the unfinished
 structure2 and  notwithstanding the    
violent opposition of foes without1 and 
yet more  effective hindrances caused by
 the apostate spirit manifested by a few
  within the ,church1 the work was      
vigorously prosecuted4    ,it was not   
permitted that ,joseph ,smith the       
prophet1 nor ,hyrum ,smith1  one-time   
counselor in the ,first ,presidency and 
later ,patriarch of the  ,church1 should
 live to see the completion of the      
building4 ,on the  #bgth of ,june1      
#ahdd1 these men of ,god fell victims of
 the bullets of  #acb assassins1 at     
,carthage1 ,illinois4#ce ,though heavy  

the blow and  cruel the affliction      
suffered by the ,saints in the martyrdom
 of their  leaders1 the work of the     
,church showed scarcely perceptible     
hindrance4  ,within two weeks after the 
dread event1 construction on the ,temple
  was resumed1 and from that time till  
the completion the work was  prosecuted 
with increased vigor and determination4 
,a few months prior  to his martyrdom1  
,patriarch ,hyrum ,smith1 acting as one 
of the ,temple  ,committee1 had made a  
call on the women of the ,church1 asking
 from  them a weekly subscription of one
 cent apiece1 the money to be used in   
purchasing material1 particularly glass 
and nails1 for the ,temple4 ,it  is     
recorded that there was soon a great    
anxiety manifest among the  sisters to  
pay their portion1 and nearly all paid a
 year's subscription  in advance4#cf    
,the ,church archives for #ahdd and     
#ahde contain numerous references  to   
the progress of the work4 ,on the #bdth 
of ,may1 #ahde1 the capstone  was laid1 

with impressive ceremony1 under the     
direction of ,president  ,brigham ,young
 and other members of the ,council of   
the ,twelve ,apostles1  beside whom     
there were in attendance many general   
and local authorities  of the ,church4  
,after the top-stone had been duly laid1
 the ,president  said3        ,the last 
stone is laid upon the ,temple1 and ,i  
pray the ,almighty in      the name of  
,jesus to defend us in this place1 and  
sustain us until      the ,temple is    
finished and we have all got our        
endowments4#cg    #acc ,then followed   
the solemn and sacred shout3 ,hosanna6  
,hosanna6  ,hosanna6 ,to ,god and the   
,lamb6 ,amen6 ,amen6 and ,amen6 ,this   
was repeated  a second and a third time2
 and in conclusion the ,president said3 
,so  let it be1 thou ,lord ,almighty4#ch
    ,the somber clouds of persecution   
were gathering and thickening about  the
 devoted people4 ,under counsel from    
their leaders the people  prepared once 
again to leave their homes2 and this    

time they resolved  to go beyond the    
boundaries of civilization4 ,a general  
exodus was  imminent2 and as early as   
,february1 #ahdf1 this had begun4 ,most 
of  the ,saints1 however1 remained for a
 short time2 and with these the         
completion of the ,temple was the main  
purpose and object of life4  ,though    
they knew the sacred edifice would soon 
be abandoned1 they  labored diligently  
to complete it1 even to the smallest    
detail4    ,by ,october1 #ahde1 the     
building was so well advanced that large
  assemblies therein were possible4 ,the
 general autumnal conference  of the    
,church for that year was held within   
the walls2 and the  congregation present
 on ,october #eth numbered fully five   
thousand souls4  ,during ,december1     
#ahde1 and the early months of #ahdf1   
many of the ,saints  received their     
blessings and endowments in the ,temple1
 for which  purpose parts of the        
structure had been duly consecrated2 but
 not until  the end of ,april was the   

building as a whole ready for           
dedication4    ,the ,nauvoo ,temple was 
constructed for the most part of a      
close-grained1  light-gray limestone1 a 
material at once hard and durable1 yet  
easily  tooled1 and therefore readily   
adapted to ornamental finish4 ,the      
entire  building was one hundred and    
twenty-eight feet by eighty-eight #acd  
feet1 and sixty-five feet high in the   
clear4 ,the top of the spire was  one   
hundred and sixty-five feet above the   
ground and bore the figure  of a flying 
herald sounding a trumpet4 ,the plan of 
construction was  that of a solid and   
stable four-walled building1 two and a  
half stories  high1 with a hexagonal    
tower at the front rising in four       
terraces and a  dome4 ,over the front   
center door1 and immediately beneath the
 base of  the tower1 appeared an        
inscription3      ,,the ,,house ,,of    
,,the ,,lord      ,built by the ,church 
of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints
      ,holiness to the ,lord    ,on the 

outside were thirty pilasters1 nine on  
each side and six at each  end4 ,at its 
base each pilaster presented in hewn    
relief the crescent  moon1 and ended    
above in a capital of cut stone         
depicting the face of  the sun          
allegorically featured1 with a pair of  
hands holding horns4  ,above the        
capitals was a frieze or cornice in     
which appeared thirty  star-stones4 ,in 
the late hours of ,april #cj1 #ahdf1 the
 ,temple was  privately1 yet officially1
 dedicated1 in the presence of such     
general  authorities of the ,church as  
could be convened4 ,president ,joseph   
,young  of the ,first ,council of       
,seventy offered the dedicatory prayer4 
,the  semi-private character of the     
dedication was due to the thought that  
possibly there would be interference in 
a public ceremony1 so active  was the   
spirit of intolerance and persecution4  
,on the day following1  that is to say  
,may #a1 #ahdf1 services of a general   
and public nature  were held in the     

,temple1 under the direction of ,elders 
,orson #ace ,hyde  and ,wilford         
,woodruff of the ,council of the ,twelve
 ,apostles4    ,the ,saints had met the 
requirement made of them by the ,lord in
 the  building of another ,house to ,his
 name4 ,ordinance work continued a few  
months more1 even though the exodus of  
the people was in progress4 ,in         
,september1 #ahdf1 the ,nauvoo ,temple  
was in possession of the mob2 and  the  
people whose energy and substance1 whose
 sweat and blood had been  spent in its 
rearing1 were driven into the wilderness
 or slain4 ,for  two years the once     
hallowed structure stood as an abandoned
 building2  then on ,november #ai1      
#ahdh1 it fell a prey to the wanton act 
of an  incendiary4 ,after the           
conflagration1 only blackened walls     
remained  where once had stood so       
stately a sanctuary4 ,strange to say1 an
 attempt  was made by the ,icarians1 a  
local organization1 to rebuild on the   
ruins1 the professed intent being to    

provide for a school2 but while  the    
work was in its early stages a tornado  
demolished the greater part  of the     
walls4 ,this occurred on ,may #bg1      
#ahej4 ,what remained of the  ,temple   
has been taken away as souvenirs or used
 as building material  for other        
structures4 ,stones of the ,temple have 
been carried into most  of the states of
 the ,union and beyond the seas1 but    
upon the site where  once stood the     
,house of the ,lord not one stone is    
left upon another4  ,before the         
demolition of the ,nauvoo ,temple was   
complete1 the ,latter-day  ,saints had  
established themselves in the vales of  
,utah1 and were  already preparing to   
build another and a greater sanctuary to
 the name  and service of their ,god4   
,,footnotes    #a4 ,doctrine and        
,covenants #cf3h2 compare ,malachi #c3a4
    #b4 ,doctrine and ,covenants #db3cf4
    #c4 ,see ,doctrine and ,covenants   
sec4 #eb2 see also sec4 #ed4    #d4     
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       

,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4   
,i1  p4 #ahi4    #e4 ,see ,doctrine and 
,covenants #eg3a-d4    #f4 ,see ,history
 of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of    
,latter-day ,saints1  ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #aii2
 also the ,life of ,joseph ,smith by    
,george ,q4 ,cannon1 p4  #aai2 see also 
,history of ,utah by ,orson ,f4         
,whitney1 ,vol4 ,i1 p4 #ia4    #g4      
,doctrine and ,covenants sec4 #hh3aai1  
#abj4    #h4 ,see ,doctrine and         
,covenants sec4 #ie4    #i4 ,see        
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1  ,vol4  
,i1 pp4 #cdi1 #cej4    #aj4 ,doctrine   
and ,covenants #ig3aj-ag4    #aa4 ,see  
,life of ,joseph1 the ,prophet by       
,edward ,w4 ,tullidge1 pp4  #ahg-ahi4   
#ab4 ,see ,history of the ,church of    
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1  
,vol4 ,i1 page #djj4    #ac4 ,see       
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1  ,vol4  
,,ii1 pp4 #bje1 #bjf4    #ad4 ,history  
of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of     

,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4  ,,ii1 pp4   
#cfh1 #cfi4    #ae4 ,history of the     
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day
 ,saints1 ,vol4  ,,ii1 pp4 #chj-chb4    
#af4 ,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 sec4
 #aji1 where the prayer appears in      
full4    #ag4 ,history of the ,church of
 ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 
,vol4  ,,ii1 pp4 #dbg1 #dbh4    #ah4    
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4   
,,ii1 p4 #dbh4    #ai4 ,doctrine and    
,covenants sec4 #aaj4 ,see also ,history
 of the ,church of  ,jesus ,christ of   
,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 pp4    
#dcd-dcf4    #bj4 ,history of the       
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day
 ,saints1 ,vol4  ,,ii1 p4 #eje4    #ba4 
,doctrine and ,covenants sec4 #aae3g-aa4
    #bb4 ,see ,history of the ,church of
 ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 
,vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #da1 #db4    #bc4      
,doctrine and ,covenants #aah3e4    #bd4
 ,doctrine and ,covenants #aje3b2 see   
also #ajc3bc1 and compare #aje3h1  #i2  

the two sections should be read in full4
    #be4 ,see ,the ,story of ,mormonism 
by the author1 p4 #ce4    #bf4 ,see     
,joseph ,smith's ,journal1 ,april #f1   
#ahda2 see ,history of the  ,church of  
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1  
,vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #cbg-cbi4    #bg4       
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4   
,,iv1 p4 #cbi4    #bh4 ,see ,history of 
the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of        
,latter-day ,saints1  ,vol4 ,,iv1 p4    
#ccj4    #bi4 ,history of the ,church of
 ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 
,vol4  ,,iv1 p4 #cca4    #cj4 ,see      
,history of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1  ,vol4  
,,iv1 p4 #eag4    #ca4 ,in the ,times   
and ,seasons of ,may #b1 #ahdb1 appeared
 an editorial  dealing with the progress
 of work on the ,temple1 and this       
writing has  been incorporated in the   
prophet's journal4 ,see ,history of the 
,church  of ,jesus ,christ of           
,latter-day ,saints4 ,vol4 ,v1 pp4      

#fjh-faj4    #cb4 ,see ,doctrine and    
,covenants #abd3bh-ca4 ,for an extended 
extract see  pages #gc-gd of this book4 
#cc4 ,history of the ,church of ,jesus  
,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4   
,,iv1 pp4 #ddf1 #ddg4    #cd4 ,history  
of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of     
,latter-day ,saints1 ,vol4  ,v1 p4 #ahb4
    #ce4 ,see ,history of the ,church of
 ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 
,vol4 ,,vi1 pp4 #fab-fca2 also ,doctrine
 and ,covenants1 sec4 #ace4    #cf4     
,historical ,record1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 
,june1 #ahhi1 ,vol4 ,,viii1 pp4  #hfe1  
#hff4    #cg4 ,see ,historical ,record1 
,salt ,lake ,city1 ,june1 #ahhi1 ,vol4  
,,vii1 p4  #hgj4    #ch4 ,historical    
,record1 ,vol4 ,,vii1 p4 #hgj4          
,,chapter ,,vi    ,,the ,,great ,,temple
 ,,at ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1             
,,utah--,,historical    #acf ,where in  
#ahdg nought but a wilderness of        
sagebrush and sunflowers  stretched from
 the ,wasatch barrier westward toward   
the shores of the  great salt sea1 now  

appears a stately city1 even as was then
 foreseen  in prophetic vision4 ,on the 
site selected but four days after the   
advent of the pioneer band of ,mormon   
colonizers1 stands a massive  structure1
 dedicated to the name of the ,most     
,high4 ,it is at once an  object of     
wonder and admiration to the visitor1   
and a subject of  sanctifying joy and   
righteous pride to the people whose     
sacrifice and  effort have given it     
being4    ,on the east center tower     
appears an inscription1 the letters     
deep-cut  in stone and lined with gold3 
,holiness to the ,lord    ,,the ,,house 
,,of ,,the ,,lord    ,built by the      
,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day
 ,saints    ,commenced ,april #f1 #ahec 
,completed ,april #f1 #ahic    ,in one  
of the upper rooms a splendid art window
 presents an excellent  view of the     
completed building1 with side           
inscriptions as follows3      #acg      
,corner stone laid ,april #f1 #ahec1 by 
,president ,brigham ,young    ,assisted 

by his ,counselors    ,heber ,c4        
,kimball1 ,willard ,richards            
,dedicated ,april #f1 #ahic1 by         
,president ,wilford ,woodruff           
,assisted by his ,counselors    ,george 
,q4 ,cannon1 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith         
,these memorial tablets in stone and    
jeweled glass give the essentials  as to
 dates in the history of the great      
,temple2 some further data1  however1   
may be of interest to the reader4       
,the ,temple ,block1 a square of ten    
acres1 was laid off in #ahdg1 and  is   
today one of the choicest sites within  
the city4 ,at the ,general  ,conference 
of the ,church held in ,april1 #ahea1 an
 official vote was  taken whereby the   
erection of the ,temple was authorized4 
,be it  remembered that this action was 
that of a people despoiled and in       
poverty1 struggling with the unsubdued  
desert1 the while menaced by  hostile   
savages2 and that at the time the entire
 population of ,utah  did not exceed    
thirty thousand souls1 of whom fewer    

than five thousand  were living within  
the area of the prospective city4 ,a    
general epistle  issued by the ,first   
,presidency of the ,church1 ,april #g1  
#ahea1 is  instructive in this          
connection3        ,a railroad has been 
chartered to extend from the ,temple    
,block in      this city to the stone   
quarry and mountain on the east1 for the
      conveyance of building materials2 
the construction to commence            
immediately4 99 99 99 ,we contemplate   
laying a wall around the ,temple        
,block this season1 preparatory to      
laying the foundation of a ,temple      
#ach the year following2 and this we    
will be sure to do1 if all      the     
,saints shall prove themselves as ready 
to pay their tithing1      and sacrifice
 and consecrate of their substance1 as  
freely as we      will2 and if the      
,saints do not pay their tithing1 we can
 neither      build nor prepare for     
building2 and if there shall be no      
,temple      built1 the ,saints can have

 no endowments1 and if they do not      
receive their endowments1 they can never
 attain unto that salvation      they   
are anxiously looking for4#a    ,it had 
been decided to surround the entire     
block by a substantial  wall4 ,the      
beginning of work on this enclosure was 
deferred through  lack of material and  
men until ,august #c1 #aheb2 but from   
that date  it progressed with fair      
rapidity1 and on ,may #bc1 #aheg1 the   
wall  was finished1 practically as it   
now stands4 ,it extends a full city     
block1--one eighth of a mile in each of 
its four directions2 and1 it is         
interesting to note1 these dimensions   
are practically the same as those       
which1 according to ,josephus1 enclosed 
the grounds on which stood the  ,temple 
of ,herod4#b ,the wall has a base of cut
 stone1--a red sandstone  from the      
mountains on the east2 the base is four 
feet in height1 and  supports courses of
 adobes which extend ten feet higher2   
then follows a  coping of red sandstone 

one foot in thickness1 giving the wall a
 total  height of fifteen feet4 ,the    
adobes are hidden by a durable dressing 
of  cement4 ,passage to and from the    
square is provided for by large gates   
in the center of each of the four sides4
 ,when this wall was built1  ,city      
,creek ran through ,temple ,block2 the  
stream is now confined to a  straight   
channel north of the block2 and the     
arches under which the  stream once     
passed may be seen in the base of the   
wall both on the east  and west sides4  
#aci ,the construction of the wall1 in  
itself a great and costly  undertaking  
for people situated as were its         
builders1 was but an  incident to the   
greater labor of erecting the ,temple4  
,interest in the  work was never allowed
 to flag2 it was the theme of both poet 
and  preacher1 and the ever-pressing    
duty was kept in public view4 ,the      
people were given to understand that the
 commission to build the ,lord's  ,house
 was theirs1 and not that of their      

leaders alone4    ,the site was         
dedicated and ground first broken for   
the foundation  ,february #ad1 #ahec4   
,the occasion was a notable one1 and was
 observed  by the ,saints as a day of   
general rejoicing4 ,between the date of 
breaking ground and the time of the next
 succeeding conference of the  ,church1 
preparations for the laying of the      
corner-stones were carried  on with     
determination and vigor4 ,the glad event
 occurred on the #fth  of ,april1       
#ahec--the twenty-third anniversary of  
the organization of  the ,church1--and  
was celebrated by the people with such  
evidences of  thanksgiving and genuine  
joy as assured their devotion to the    
work so  auspiciously begun4 ,civic and 
military bodies took part2 there were   
processions with bands of music1 and    
solemn services with prayer4  ,the mayor
 of the city was marshal of the day2 the
 city police served  as a guard of      
honor1 and the territorial militia      
marched with the  congregation of the   

,saints4 ,the placing of the            
corner-stones was  celebrated as an     
accomplished triumph1 though but a      
beginning4    ,let it not be imagined   
that the work was carried through       
without  hindrance or set-back4 ,the    
foundation was commenced at the         
south-east  corner ,june #af1 #ahec1 and
 was completed ,july #bc1 #ahee4 ,a     
course of  rubble #adj was laid on the  
actual foundation and this was succeeded
  by courses of flagstone4 ,the work had
 gone forward but slowly1 when1 in      
#aheg1 a serious interruption occurred4 
,at that time the people prepared  to   
abandon their homes1 temporarily at     
least1 and seek an abiding place        
elsewhere in the desert4 ,the cause of  
the portending exodus was the  approach 
of an armed force sent by the ,united   
,states government to  subdue an alleged
 rebellion in ,utah4 ,this military     
movement had been  ordered through an   
utter misunderstanding of facts1 based  
on vicious  misrepresentation4 ,the     

coming of the soldiery had been heralded
 with  dire threats of violence2 and    
while the people knew themselves        
innocent  of any act of disloyalty      
toward the government or its officers1  
they  had not forgotten the harrowing   
scenes of organized persecution in      
,missouri and ,illinois1 due to         
misapprehension1 and they preferred the 
uncertainties of the desert to the dread
 alternative of a possible  repetition  
of the past4 ,in the saddening          
preparations for departure1  the people 
carefully covered the foundation work on
 the site of the  ,temple2 excavations  
were re-filled1 and every vestige of    
masonry was  obscured4 ,at that time no 
part of the foundation had been carried 
above  ground-level4 ,when the          
covering-up process was complete1 the   
site  showed nothing more attractive    
than a remote resemblance to the barren 
stretch of a roughly plowed field4      
,it is pleasing to note that a peaceable
 adjustment between the army  and the   

people was effected4 ,the ,saints       
returned to their homes2 and  the       
soldiers established a camp1--afterward 
to become a post1--at a  distance of    
forty miles from the city4#c    #ada    
,the interruption in building operations
 thus occasioned was  followed by a     
short period of comparative inactivity1 
after the  return of the people4 ,the   
foundations were uncovered2 but1 before 
the  resumption of stone-laying1 it was 
found that the rubble overlying the     
foundation proper and immediately under 
the flagstone layers seemed to  have    
less stability than was required2 and   
straightway both flagging  and rubble   
were removed4 ,stone of best quality was
 substituted1 and  the work of actual   
construction was continued with renewed 
energy4 ,the  reconstruction was a work 
of years4    ,the temple enclosure was  
for a brief period the communal center  
of  mechanical industry1--the one great 
work-shop of the intermountain          
commonwealth4 ,the ,church had          

established there its public works1     
comprising a power plant in which the   
energy of ,city ,creek was  harnessed to
 the wheel1 air-blast equipment1 iron   
foundry1 and machine  shops for the     
working of both wood and metal4#d ,much 
of the work here  done had no connection
 with the extensive building operations 
on ,temple  ,block4    ,beside the      
interruptions and delays already noted1 
other hindrances  were inevitable1 and1 
under the best of conditions progress   
could be  but slow4 ,not until years    
after the move incident to the entrance 
of the federal soldiery1 had the        
material of the main structure  been    
decided upon4 ,as far back as the       
,october conference of #aheb  the       
question of material had been           
considered4 ,oolite #adb from the       
quarries in ,sanpete ,county1 red       
sandstone from the hills near-by1       
adobes with intermixed pebbles1--each   
had been suggested2 and the  matter was 
brought to vote1 though it must be      

admitted1 the question  presented was   
somewhat indefinite in form4 ,at the    
forenoon session  of the conference on  
,october #i1 #aheb1 ,president ,heber   
,c4 ,kimball  submitted the question3   
,shall we have the ,temple built of     
stone from  ,red ,butte1 adobes1 rock1  
or the best stone the mountains afford8 
,in  reply a resolution was adopted by  
unanimous vote to the effect that  we   
build a ,temple of the best materials   
that can be obtained in the  mountains  
of ,north ,america1 and that the        
,presidency dictate where the  stone and
 other materials shall be obtained4 ,the
 action is significant  as showing the  
faith1 reliance1 and determination of   
the people4 ,the  ,temple they were     
about to rear should be in every        
particular the best  the people could   
produce4 ,this modern ,house of the     
,lord was to be no  temporary structure1
 nor of small proportions1 nor of poor  
material1  nor of mean or inadequate    
design4 ,it was known at the outset that

 the  building could not be finished for
 many a long year1 for decades1         
perhaps1 and by that time this colony   
would have become a commonwealth1  the  
few would have grown to a multitude of  
souls4 ,the ,temple was to be  worthy of
 the great future4 ,sandstone1 oolite1  
adobe blocks1 each and  all were        
considered1 and in turn rejected4 ,the  
decision was to this  effect1--the walls
 should be of solid granite4 ,an        
enormous deposit  of this durable stone 
had been discovered in the ,cottonwood  
canyons1  twenty miles to the           
south-east1 and to those faith-impelled 
people it  was enough to know that      
suitable material was available4 ,at    
whatever  cost of toil #adc and         
sacrifice1 at whatever toll of          
self-denial and  suffering1 it should be
 procured4    ,the so-called temple     
granite is in reality a syenite1 and    
occurs  as an immense laccolith in the  
,cottonwood section of the ,wasatch4    
,the erosion of long ages had cut deep  

canyons through the eruptive  mass2 and 
glaciers1 descending with irresistible  
force1 had dislodged  and transported   
countless boulders1 many of them of     
colossal size4  ,these isolated blocks1 
known as erratics1 furnished the supply 
of  building stone2 it was not found    
necessary to quarry into the granite    
mountain-mass in place4 ,in the canyon  
the boulders were divided mostly  by the
 use of hand-drills and wedges1 though  
low power explosives were  used to a    
small extent4 ,the rough blocks were    
conveyed at first by  ox-teams2 four    
yoke were required for each block1 and  
every trip was a  labored journey of    
three or four days4 ,a canal for the    
conveyance of  the rock by water was    
projected1 and1 indeed1 work thereon was
 begun1  but the plan was abandoned as  
the prospect of railroad transportation 
became more certain4    ,the plan of the
 building was given by ,brigham ,young1 
,president of the  ,church1 and the     
structural details were worked out under

 his direction  by the ,church          
architect--,truman ,o4 ,angell4 ,a      
description by the latter  was published
 as early as #ahed1 both in ,utah#e and 
abroad4#f #add  ,for convenience of     
comparison with the details of actual   
construction  as now appear1 this early 
announcement of what was then to be is  
here  reproduced3        ,the ,temple   
,block is forty rods square1 the lines  
running north and      south1 east and  
west1 and contains ten acres4 ,the      
center of the      ,temple is one       
hundred and fifty-six feet six inches   
due west from      the center of the    
east line of the block4 ,the length of  
said ,house1      east and west1 is one 
hundred and eighty-six and a half feet1 
including towers1 and the width         
ninety-nine feet4 ,on the east end      
there are three towers1 as also on the  
west4 ,draw a line north and      south 
one hundred and eighteen and a half feet
 through the center      of the towers1 
and you have the north and south extent 

of ground      plan1 including pedestal4
        ,we depress into the earth1 at  
the east end1 to the depth of           
sixteen feet1 and enlarge all around    
beyond the lines of wall three      feet
 for a footing4        ,the north and   
south walls are eight feet thick1 clear 
of pedestal2      they stand upon a     
footing of sixteen feet wall1 on its    
bearing1      which slopes three feet on
 each side to the height of seven and a 
half feet4 ,the footing of the towers   
rises to the same height as      the    
side1 and is one solid piece of masonry 
of rough ashlars1 laid      in good lime
 mortar4        ,the basement of the    
main building is divided into many rooms
 by      walls1 all having footings4    
,the line of the basement floor is six  
inches above the top of the footing4    
,from the tower on the east to      the 
tower on the west1 the face of the earth
 slopes six feet2 four      inches above
 the earth on the east line1 begins a   
promenade walk1      from eleven to     

twenty-two feet wide1 around the entire 
building1      and approached by stone  
steps on all sides4        ,there are   
four towers on the four corners of the  
building1 each      starting from their 
footing1 of twenty-six feet square2     
these      continue sixteen and a half  
feet and come to the line of the base   
string course1 which is eight feet above
 the promenade walk4 ,at      this point
 the towers are reduced to twenty-five  
feet square2 they      then continue to 
the height of thirty-eight feet1 or the 
height      of the second string course4
 ,at this point they are reduced to     
twenty-three feet square2 they then     
continue thirty-eight feet      high1 to
 the third string course4 ,the string   
courses continue all      around the    
building1 except when separated by      
buttresses4 ,these      string courses  
are massive mouldings from solid blocks 
of stone4        ,the two east towers   
then rise twenty-five feet to a string  
course1      or cornice4 ,the two west  

towers rise nineteen feet and come to   
their string course or cornice4 ,the    
four towers then #ade rise      nine    
feet to the top of battlements4 ,these  
towers are cylindrical1      having     
seventeen feet diameter inside1 within  
which stairs ascend      around a solid 
column four feet in diameter1 allowing  
landings at      the various sections of
 the building4 ,these towers have each  
five      ornamental windows on two     
sides1 above the basement4 ,the two     
center      towers occupy the center of 
the east and west ends of the building1 
starting from their footings thirty-one 
feet square1 and break off      in      
sections in line with the corner towers 
to the height of the      third string  
course4 ,the east center tower then     
rises forty feet      to the top of     
battlements2 the west center tower rises
 thirty-four      feet to the top of    
battlements4 ,all the towers have       
spires1 the      details of which are   
not decided on4        ,all these       

towers1 at their corners1 have octagon  
turrets1      terminated by octagon     
pinnacles five feet diameter at base1   
four      feet at first story1 and three
 feet from there up4 ,there are also    
on each side of these towers two        
buttresses1 except when they come       
in contact with the body of the main    
building4 ,the top of these             
buttresses show forty-eight in number1  
and stand upon pedestals4      ,the     
space between the buttresses and turrets
 is two feet at first      story4 ,on   
the front of two center towers are two  
large windows1      each thirty-two feet
 high1 one above the other1 neatly      
prepared for      that place4        ,on
 the two west corner towers1 and on the 
west end1 a few feet      below the top 
of battlements1 may be seen in bold or  
alto relievo1      the great dipper1 or 
,ursa ,major1 with the pointers ranging 
nearly      towards the ,north ,star4   
7,moral1 the lost may find themselves by
 the      ,priesthood47        ,i will  

now glance at the main body of the      
,house4 ,i have before      stated that 
the basement was divided into many      
rooms4 ,the center      one is arranged 
for a baptismal font1 and is fifty-seven
 feet long      by thirty-five feet     
wide1 separated from the main wall by   
four      rooms1 two on each side1      
nineteen feet long by twelve wide4 ,on  
the      east and west sides of these   
rooms are four passages twelve feet     
wide2 these lead to and from by outside 
doors1 two on the north      and two on 
the south4 ,further east and west from  
these passages      are four more rooms1
 two at each end1 twenty-eight feet wide
 by      thirty-eight and one-half long4
 ,these and their walls occupy the      
basement4 ,all the walls start off their
 footings1 and rise sixteen      and    
one-half feet1 and there stop with      
ground ceiling4        ,we are now up to
 the line of the base string course1    
eight      feet above the promenade1 or 
steps rising to the ,temple1 which      

terminates the cope of pedestal1 and to 
the first floor of said      ,house4    
,this room is joined to the outer       
courts1 these courts being      the     
width between towers1 sixteen feet by   
nine in the clear4 ,we      ascend to   
the floors of these courts 7they being  
on a line with      first floor of main 
house7 by four flights of stone steps   
nine and      one-half feet wide1       
arranged in the basement work2 the first
 #adf      step ranging to the outer    
line of towers4 ,from these courts doors
      admit to any part of the building4
        ,the size of the first large    
room is one hundred and twenty      feet
 long by eighty feet wide2 the height   
reaches nearly to the      second string
 course4 ,the room is arched over in the
 center      with an elliptical arch    
which drops at its flank ten feet1 and  
has thirty-eight feet span4 ,the side   
ceilings have one-fourth      elliptical
 arches which start from the side walls 
of the main      building1 sixteen feet 

high1 and terminate at the capitals of  
the      columns or foot of center arch1
 at the height of twenty-four feet4     
,the columns obtain their bearings      
direct from the footings of said        
house2 these columns extend up to       
support the floor above4        ,the    
outside walls of this story are seven   
feet thick4 ,the space      from the    
termination of the foot of the center   
arch to the outer      wall1 is divided 
into sixteen compartments1 eight on each
 side1      making rooms fourteen feet  
by fourteen1 clear of partitions1 and   
ten feet high1 leaving a passage six    
feet wide next to each flank      of    
center arch1 which is approached from   
the ends1 ,these rooms are      each    
lighted by an elliptical or oval window1
 whose major axis is      vertical4     
,the second large room is one foot wider
 than the room below2 this      is in   
consequence of the wall being but six   
feet thick1 falling      off six inches 
on the inner1 and six on the outer side4

 ,the second      string course provides
 for this on the outside4 ,the rooms of 
this story are similar to those below4  
,the side walls have nine               
buttresses on a side1 and have eight    
tiers of windows1 five on each          
tier4        ,the foot of the basement  
windows are eight inches above the      
promenade1 rise three feet              
perpendicular1 and terminate with a     
semi-circular head4 ,the first story    
windows have twelve feet length      of 
sash1 to top of semi-circular head4 ,the
 oval windows have      six and one-half
 feet length of sash4 ,the windows of   
the second      story are the same as   
those below4 ,all these frames have four
 and      one-half feet width of sash4  
,the pedestals under all the buttresses 
project at their base two      feet2    
above their base1 which is fifteen      
inches by four and a half      feet     
wide1 on each front1 is a figure of a   
globe three feet eleven      inches     
across1 whose axis corresponds with the 

axis of the earth4        ,the base     
string course forms a cope for those    
pedestals4 ,above      this cope the    
buttresses are three and a half feet1   
and continue to      the height of one  
hundred feet4 ,above the promenade1     
close under      the second string      
course1 on each of the buttresses1 is   
the moon1      represented in its       
different phases4 ,close under the third
 string      course1 or cornice1 is the 
face of the sun4 ,immediately above is  
,saturn with her rings4 ,the buttresses 
terminate with a projected      cope4   
#adg ,the only difference between the   
tower buttresses1 and the      one just 
described is1 instead of ,saturn being  
on them1 we have      clouds and rays of
 light descending downwards4        ,all
 of these symbols are to be chiseled in 
bas-relief on solid      stone4 ,the    
side walls continue above the string    
course1 or cornice1      eight and a    
half feet1 making the walls ninety-six  
feet high1 and      are formed in       

battlements1 interspersed with stars4   
,the roof is quite flat1 rising only    
eight feet1 and is to be      covered   
with galvanized iron1 or some other     
metal4 ,the building is      to be      
otherwise ornamented in many places4    
,the whole structure is      designed to
 symbolize some of the great            
architectural work above4        ,the   
basement windows recede in1 from the    
face of outer wall to      sash frame1  
eighteen inches1 and are relieved by a  
large caveto4      ,those windows above 
the base recede from face of wall to    
sash      frame1 three feet1 and are    
surrounded by stone jambs formed in     
mouldings1 and surmounted by labels over
 each1 which terminate at      their    
horizon1 excepting the oval windows1    
whose labels terminate      on columns  
which extend from an enriched string    
course1 at the foot      of each window1
 to the center of major axis4        ,my
 chief object in the last paragraph is  
to show to the judgment      of any who 

may be baffled1 how those windows can be
 come at1 etc4      ,all the windows in 
the towers are moulded1 and have stone  
jambs2      each being crowned with     
label mouldings4        ,for further    
particulars1 wait till the ,house is    
done1 then come      and see it4        
,the whole ,house covers an area of     
twenty-one thousand eight      hundred  
and fifty feet4    ,the entrance of the 
,union ,pacific ,railway into ,utah1 in 
#ahfh1 served  temporarily to retard    
work on the ,temple1 as the call for    
laborers on  the great trans-continental
 line was deemed imperative4            
,eventually1  however1 the activity in  
railroad construction operated as a     
great  assistance in the undertaking2   
for1 to the main line1 branches         
succeeded2 and1 by #ahgc1 a side line   
had reached the granite quarries4  ,from
 the city station a track was           
constructed up ,south ,temple ,street1  
and into ,temple ,block4    ,the work of
 construction proceeded so slowly as to 

#adh arouse a  feeling akin to          
impatience in the hearts of over-anxious
 ,saints1  and mild restraint was called
 for4 ,at other times gentle urging was 
necessary4 ,the work was apportioned to 
the people of the ,territory1  which1   
for convenience1 was divided into temple
 districts4 ,stakes and  wards and      
quorums of the ,priesthood were assigned
 their parts1 and an  effective system  
of divided labor and responsibility was 
developed4#g    ,president ,brigham     
,young died in #ahgg1 at which time the 
granite walls  of the ,temple had       
reached a height of about twenty feet   
above ground4  ,during the              
administration of his successor1        
,president ,john ,taylor1 the  work was 
continued without important interruption
 for another decade1  and thereafter was
 urged with even greater vigor under the
 direction of  ,wilford ,woodruff1 the  
next ,president of the ,church4 ,as the 
concluding  laps of a race are generally
 marked by increased energy incident to 

the final spurt--the supreme effort to  
reach1 the end in glory and  triumph1 as
 in a powerful drama1 interest becomes  
more intense1 and  action more          
concentrated with the approach of the   
finale1 so1 in this  great undertaking1 
the fact that the end was looming above 
the horizon  of sight called forth      
redoubled energies on the part of the   
people4  ,when the granite had risen to 
the square1 and when the spires began   
to appear in place1 a feeling of almost 
feverish anxiety was manifest           
throughout the ,church4    ,,laying ,,of
 ,,the ,,capstone    #adi ,the sixth day
 of ,april1 #ahib1 was determined upon  
as the date for  placing in position the
 capstone of the ,temple1 and the       
announcement  was hailed with joy in    
every ward and branch of the ,church1   
and in  every household of the ,saints4 
,the day marked the close of the annual 
,conference1 and was hallowed  by all   
the observances of solemn assembly4 ,as 
a preliminary to the  principal         

ceremony1 a vast congregation had       
assembled in the ,tabernacle  at an     
early hour1 and in this the several     
organizations of the  ,priesthood       
occupied distinctive places on the main 
floor while the  galleries were reserved
 for the accommodation of the general   
public4  ,at the close of an impressive 
service1 the multitude proceeded in     
formal procession to the open space on  
the south side of the ,temple1  where a 
temporary platform had been erected with
 the flag of the nation  waving above4  
,an adjoining stand accommodated the    
choir1 which numbered  over two hundred 
singers4 ,there was band music of the   
highest order1  and every essential     
element of fervent worship combined with
 joyous  celebration had been provided4 
,over forty thousand people were        
gathered within the confines of ,temple 
,block2 and other thousands1 unable to  
find a place in the great square1  stood
 in the streets or looked down from     
roofs and windows of adjoining          

buildings4 ,it is of record unchallenged
 that this assembly was the  largest    
ever known in ,utah4 ,at high noon the  
special service was begun4  ,the music  
of both band and choir1 the marches1 and
 anthems1 and hymns1  had been specially
 composed for the joyous occasion4 ,the 
prayer was  #aej offered by ,president  
,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 of the ,first       
,presidency1  and the great ,amen was   
echoed by two score thousand throats4 ,a
 hymn  followed2 and then the venerable 
,president of the ,church1 ,wilford     
,woodruff1 stepped to the front and     
announced that the auspicious  moment1  
so long awaited1 had arrived4 ,these    
were his ringing words3                 
,attention all ye house of ,israel1 and 
all ye nations of the      earth6 ,we   
will now lay the top-stone of the       
,temple of our ,god1 the      foundation
 of which was laid and dedicated by the 
,prophet1 ,seer1      and ,revelator1   
,brigham ,young4    ,at this juncture   
the president closed an electric circuit

 on the stand1  and the granite         
hemisphere1 forming the highest block of
 the great  ,temple1 slowly descended   
into position4 ,then followed a scene   
the  like of which is never enacted by  
this people except on occasions of      
extraordinary solemnity1 namely1 the    
rendering of the sacred ,hosanna  shout4
 ,led by ,lorenzo ,snow1 ,president of  
the ,council of the ,twelve  ,apostles1 
the forty thousand ,saints shouted as   
with the voice of one3        ,hosanna6 
,hosanna6 ,hosanna6 to ,god and the     
,lamb6 ,amen6 ,amen6 ,amen6    ,this was
 repeated thrice1 each shout accompanied
 by the waving of white  kerchiefs4     
,from the roof of the building came the 
voice of the  architect-in-charge1 ,j4  
,don ,carlos ,young1 declaring that the 
capstone  was duly laid1 and choir and  
congregation broke forth in triumphant  
song3      #aea ,the ,spirit of ,god    
like a fire is burning6          ,the   
latter-day glory begins to come forth2  
,the visions and blessings of old are   

returning1          ,and angels are     
coming to visit the earth4    ,we'll    
sing and we'll shout with the armies of 
heaven1          ,hosanna1 hosanna to   
,god and the ,lamb6    ,let glory to    
them in the highest be given1           
,henceforth and forever2 ,amen and      
,amen6    ,elder ,francis ,m4 ,lyman of 
the ,council of the ,twelve then        
proposed the  adoption of the resolution
 presented below3        ,believing that
 the instruction of ,president          
,woodruff1 respecting      the early    
completion of the ,salt ,lake ,temple1  
is the word of the      ,lord unto us1  
,i propose that this assemblage pledge  
themselves1      collectively and       
individually1 to furnish1 as fast as it 
may be      needed1 all the money that  
may be required to complete the ,temple 
at the earliest time possible1 so that  
the dedication may take      place on   
,april #fth1 #ahic4    ,the adoption was
 manifested by a deafening shout from   
the assembled  multitude1 accompanied by

 the raising of hands4 ,the final anthem
 was  the glorious ,song of the         
,redeemed--particularly appropriate to  
the  hour2 and the benediction was      
pronounced by ,president ,george ,q4    
,cannon4    ,the topstone and the       
granite block upon which it immediately 
rests  form a sphere4 ,within the lower 
half a cavity had been prepared2 and  in
 this were placed certain books and     
other articles1 so that1 as  the        
capstone was laid1 it formed a secure   
and massive lid to this  stone          
receptacle4 ,the stone contains a copy  
of the ,holy ,bible1 ,book  of ,mormon1 
,doctrine and ,covenants1 ,voice of     
,warning1 #aeb ,spencer's  ,letters1    
,key to ,theology1 ,hymn ,book1         
,compendium1 ,pearl of ,great ,price1   
and some other books2 also photographs  
of ,joseph and ,hyrum ,smith1  ,brigham 
,young1 ,john ,taylor1 ,wilford         
,woodruff1 ,george ,q4 ,cannon1 and     
,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 a photograph of the 
,temple as it appeared at the  time2    

and1 in addition1 an engraved tablet of 
copper setting forth the  principal     
dates in the history of the building and
 bearing the names of  the general      
authorities of the ,church as they stood
 ,april #f1 #ahec1 and  as constituted  
at the time of the capstone ceremony1   
,april #f1 #ahib4    ,later in the day1 
the top-stone was surmounted by the     
great statue--a  figure intended to     
represent ,moroni1 the heavenly         
messenger who  ministered to the        
youthful prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 in    
#ahbc4 ,the figure1  over twelve feet in
 height1 is of copper heavily gilded4   
,it is in the  form of a herald with a  
trumpet at his lips4#h    ,,completion  
,,of ,,the ,,building ,,and ,,its       
,,dedication    ,the adoption of a plan 
or the formal passing of a resolution by
 vote is  an easy matter1 compared with 
which the working out of that plan1 the 
achieving of what was provided for by   
the vote1 may be a gigantic task4  ,such
 was the contrast between the action of 

the assembled multitude  on the #fth of 
,april1 #ahib1 and the work accomplished
 in the year that  followed4    ,when   
the capstone of the ,temple was laid1   
the scene inside the walls  was that of 
chaos and confusion4 ,to finish the     
interior within a year  appeared a      
practical impossibility4 ,the task the  
people had taken upon  themselves #aec  
was almost superhuman4 ,nevertheless1   
they considered  the instruction to     
complete the building within the        
specified time  to be verily the word of
 the ,lord unto them1 and they          
remembered  the utterance of the ancient
 prophet1 ,i know that the ,lord giveth 
no commandments unto the children of    
men1 save he shall prepare a  way for   
them that they may accomplish the thing 
which he commandeth  them4#i ,the       
,saints regarded their act of voting to 
be equivalent to  the affixing of their 
individual signatures to a note of      
promise4 ,as  to how well they met their
 obligation and kept their promise1 let 

the  achievement of the year speak4     
,the people had pledged themselves      
collectively and individually  to       
furnish as fast as it may be needed1 all
 the money that may be  required to     
complete the ,temple at as early a time 
as possible1 so  that the dedication may
 take place on ,april #f1 #ahic4 ,the   
pledge  was met in full4 ,under date of 
,april #ba1 #ahib1 the ,first           
,presidency  issued a general epistle   
addressed to the ,latter-day ,saints in 
,zion  and throughout the world1        
directing that the people gather in     
their  places of worship on ,sunday1 the
 first day of ,may1 and devote the  day 
to solemn fasting and prayer4 ,to this  
call the people responded  faithfully4  
,mingled with their thanksgiving for the
 manifold blessings  of the past1 were  
fervent supplications for success in the
 work of  completing the ,lord's ,house 
within the time prescribed4#aj    ,in   
the work of finishing the ,temple1 it   
was all-important that there be  a      

competent1 responsible man in charge1   
#aed who should be invested  with       
executive authority in every department 
of the labor4 ,while the  ,first        
,presidency and the ,council of the     
,twelve retained in their hands  the    
directing power1 they needed an agent   
who could be trusted to  act with       
promptness1 decision1 and authority on  
every question that  should arise4 ,the 
choice of the presiding authorities for 
a man to fill  this responsible position
 fell upon ,john ,r4 ,winder1 who was at
 that  time ,second ,counselor in the   
,presiding ,bishopric1 and who afterward
  became ,first ,counselor in the ,first
 ,presidency of the ,church4 ,at  the   
time of his appointment to the          
responsible position of ,general        
,superintendent of ,temple ,work1 ,april
 #af1 #ahib1 ,president ,winder was in  
his seventy-second year1 yet he         
possessed the energy and activity of    
youth1 combined with the wisdom and     
discretion that age alone can give4     

,under his efficient supervision1 work  
on the interior of the ,temple          
progressed at a rate that surprised even
 the workers4 ,laborers of all  classes1
 mechanics1 masons1 plasterers1         
carpenters1 glaziers1 plumbers1         
painters1 decorators1 artisans and      
artificers of every kind1 were put  to  
work4 ,the people verily believed that a
 power above that of man was  operating 
to assist them in their great           
undertaking4 ,material1 much of  which  
was of special manufacture1 came in from
 the east and the west1  with few of the
 usual delays of transit4    ,heating   
and lighting systems were installed2 and
 this installation  necessitated the    
erection of a boiler house1 with all    
accessories of  equipment4 ,moreover1   
the ,annex had to be built4 ,at this    
point it may  be well to explain that   
each of the ,temples in ,utah is        
connected with  a separate structure1   
known as the ,annex1--in the nature of  
#aee an  ante-building1--in which       

preliminary services are held1 and      
wherein  record is made of the ordinance
 work to be done by the parties present1
  before they are permitted to enter the
 ,temple on the day of service4  ,the   
,annex to the ,temple in ,salt ,lake    
,city stands about one hundred feet     
north from the main structure4    ,even 
as late as one month prior to the date  
set for the dedication1  there was so   
much yet to be done1 as to make many    
feel that for once  at least1 the people
 had been mistaken in their belief that 
the ,lord  had spoken1 and that the     
completion of the work by the time set1 
was a physical impossibility4 ,on the   
#ahth of ,march1 #ahic1 the ,first      
,presidency issued the following        
epistle3        ,to the ,officers and   
,members of the ,church of ,jesus       
,christ of      ,latter-day ,saints3    
,the near approach of the date for the  
dedication of the ,temple      of our   
,god moves us to express with some      
degree of fulness our      feelings to  

our brethren1 the officers of the       
,church1 who with us      bear the      
,priesthood of the ,son of ,god1 and to 
the ,latter-day ,saints      generally2 
to the end that in entering that holy   
building we may      all be found       
acceptable ourselves1 with our          
households1 and that      the building  
which we shall dedicate may also be     
acceptable unto      the ,lord4         
,the ,latter-day ,saints have used their
 means freely to erect other            
,temples in these valleys1 and our      
,father has blessed us in our           
efforts4 ,today we enjoy the great      
happiness of having three of      these 
sacred structures completed1 dedicated  
to and accepted of the      ,lord1      
wherein the ,saints can enter and attend
 to those ordinances      which ,he1 in 
,his infinite goodness and kindness1 has
 revealed4      ,but for forty years the
 hopes1 desires1 and anticipations of   
the      entire ,church have been       
centered upon the completion of this    

edifice in the principal city of ,zion4 
,its foundation was laid in      the    
early days of our settlement in these   
mountains2 and from that      day until 
the present1 the eyes of the members of 
the ,church in      every land have been
 lovingly directed toward it4 ,looking  
upon it      as the ,temple of temples1 
the people during all these years have  
labored with unceasing toil1            
undiminished patience1 and ungrudging   
expenditure of means to bring it to its 
present condition of      completion2   
and now that the toils and the          
sacrifices of forty      years are      
crowned so successfully and happily1    
#aef now that the      great building is
 at last finished and ready to be used  
for divine      purposes1 need we say   
that we draw near an event whose        
consummation      is to us as a people  
momentous in the highest degree8        
,far-reaching      in its consequence1  
as that occasion is certain to be1 what 
remains      for us to say in order to  

impress the entire ,church with a sense 
of      its tremendous importance8      
,on this point1 surely nothing2 yet may 
we offer a few words upon a      phase  
that directly touches it4 ,no member of 
the ,church who would      be deemed    
worthy to enter that sacred house can be
 considered      ignorant of the        
principles of the ,gospel4 ,it is not   
too much to      presume that every one 
knows what his duty is to ,god and to   
his      fellowman4 ,none is so         
forgetful as to have lost sight of the  
admonition that we must be filled with  
love for and charity toward      our    
brethren4 ,and hence none can for a     
moment doubt the supreme      importance
 of every member of the congregation    
being at peace with      all his or her 
brethren and sisters1 and at peace with 
,god4 ,how      else can we hope to gain
 the blessings ,he has promised save by 
complying with the requirements for     
which those blessings are the           
reward8        ,can men and women who   

are violating a law of ,god1 or those   
who are      derelict in yielding       
obedience to ,his commands1 expect that 
the      mere going into ,his holy house
 and taking part in its dedication      
will render them worthy to receive1 and 
cause them to receive1 ,his             
blessing8        ,do they think that    
repentance and turning away from sin may
 be so      lightly dispensed with8     
,do they dare1 even in thought1 thus to 
accuse our ,father of      injustice and
 partiality1 and attribute to ,him      
carelessness in the      fulfilment of  
,his own words8        ,assuredly no one
 claiming to belong to ,his people would
 be guilty      of such a thing4        
,then must those who are unworthy cease 
to expect a blessing from      their    
attendance at the ,temple while sin     
unrepented of still casts      its odor 
about them1 and while bitterness or even
 an unforgiving      coolness exists in 
their hearts against their brethren and 
sisters4        ,on this latter subject 

we feel that much might be said4 ,in the
      striving after compliance with the
 apparently weightier matters      of   
the law1 there is a possibility that the
 importance of this      spirit of love 
and kindness and charity may be         
underestimated4 ,for      ourselves1 we 
cannot think of any precept that at     
present requires      more earnest      
inculcation4        ,during the past    
eighteen months there has been a        
division of the      ,latter-day ,saints
 upon national party lines4 ,political  
campaigns      have been conducted1     
elections have been held1 and feelings1 
more      or less intense1 have been    
engendered in the minds of brethren and 
sisters upon one side and the other4    
#aeg ,we have been cognizant of conduct 
and have heard of many      expressions 
that have been very painful to us and   
have grieved our      spirits4          
,we know they have been an offense unto 
the ,god of peace and love1      and a  
stumbling block unto many of the        

,saints4        ,we feel now that a time
 for reconciliation has come2 that      
before      entering into the ,temple to
 present ourselves before the ,lord in  
solemn assembly1 we shall divest        
ourselves of every harsh and      unkind
 feeling against each other2 that not   
only our bickerings      shall cease1   
but that the cause of them shall be     
removed1 and every      sentiment that  
prompted and has maintained them shall  
be dispelled2      that we shall confess
 our sins one to another1 and ask       
forgiveness      one of another2 that we
 shall plead with the ,lord for the     
spirit      of repentance1 and1 having  
obtained it1 follow its promptings2 so  
that in humbling ourselves before ,him  
and seeking forgiveness from      each  
other1 we shall yield that charity and  
generosity to those who      crave our  
forgiveness that we ask for and expect  
from heaven4        ,thus may we come up
 into the holy place with our hearts    
free from      guile and our souls      

prepared for the edification that is    
promised6      ,thus shall our          
supplications1 undisturbed by a thought 
of discord1      unitedly mount into the
 ears of ,jehovah and draw down the     
choice      blessings of the ,god of    
,heaven6        ,as your brethren1      
sustained by your vote and in your faith
 as      the ,first ,presidency of the  
,church1 we have this to say to the     
,latter-day ,saints1 in our individual  
as well as our official      capacity3  
,if there is a single member of the     
,church who has      feelings against   
us1 we do not wish to cross the         
threshold of the      ,temple until we  
have satisfied him and have removed from
 him all      cause of feeling1 either  
by explanation or by making proper      
amends      and atonement2 neither would
 we wish to enter the sacred portals    
of that edifice until we have sought an 
explanation1 or amends1      or         
atonement1 from any against whom we may 
have either a real or      fancied      

grievance4        ,in now announcing    
this course for ourselves1 we say to all
 the      other officers of the ,church 
that we desire them to follow our       
example4 ,we wish them from the highest 
to the lowest and throughout      all   
the stakes and wards of ,zion to take   
heed of this counsel4      ,let them    
invite all who may have feelings against
 them to come      forward and make them
 known2 let them then endeavor to       
correct any      misapprehensions or    
misunderstandings which may exist1 or   
give      redress for any wrong or      
injury that may have been done4         
,we say the same--and when the officers 
have taken the course      indicated we 
wish them to say the same--to the       
individual members      of the ,church4 
,we call upon them to seek to have the  
fellowship      of their brethren and   
their sisters1 and their entire         
confidence      and love2 above all to  
seek to have the fellowship and #aeh    
union of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,let this    

spirit be sought and cherished      as  
diligently within the smallest and      
humblest family circle1 as      within  
the membership of the highest           
organization and quorum4 ,let      it   
permeate the hearts of the brothers and 
sisters1 the parents      and children  
of the household1 as well as the hearts 
of the ,first      ,presidency and      
,twelve4 ,let it mellow and soften all  
differences      between members of the 
,stake ,presidencies and the ,high      
,councils1      as well as between      
neighbors living in the same ward4 ,let 
it unite      young and old1 male and   
female1 flock and shepherd1 people and  
,priesthood1 in the bounds of gratitude 
and forgiveness and love1 so      that  
,israel may feel approved of the ,lord1 
and that we may all come      before    
,him with a conscience void of offense  
before all men4 ,then      there will be
 no disappointment as to the blessings  
promised those      who sincerely       
worship ,him4 ,the sweet whisperings of 

the ,holy ,spirit      will be given to 
them and the treasures of heaven1 the   
communion of      angels1 will be added 
from time to time1 for ,his promise has 
gone      forth and it cannot fail6     
,asking ,god's blessing upon you all in 
your endeavor to carry out      this    
counsel1 and desirous of seeing it take 
the form of a united      effort on the 
part of the whole people1 we suggest    
that ,saturday1      ,march #be1 #ahic1 
be set apart as a day of fasting and    
prayer4 ,on      that occasion we advise
 that the ,presidencies of ,stakes1 the 
,high      ,councils1 the ,bishops and  
their ,counselors1 meet together with   
the      ,saints in their several       
meeting houses1 confess their sins one  
to      another1 and draw out from the  
people all feelings of anger1 of        
distrust1 or of unfriendliness that may 
have found a lodgment2 so      that     
entire confidence may then and there be 
restored and love from      this time   
prevail through all the congregations of

 the ,saints4    ,it was evident that   
the authorities of the ,church realized 
the  importance of preparing for the    
great event of the dedication in other  
ways than by material construction and  
costly furnishings4 ,the hearts  of the 
people had to be made ready2 it was     
necessary that ,israel  be sanctified4  
,throughout the length and breadth of   
,zion there was  a general cleansing of 
mind and soul2 enmity was buried2       
bickering  ceased2 differences between  
brethren were adjusted2 offenses were   
atoned and forgiven2 a veritable jubilee
 was celebrated4    ,the finishing      
touches to the interior of the building 
#aei were made  late in the afternoon of
 ,april #eth1 and in the evening of that
 day1 the  ,temple was thrown open to   
general inspection4 ,not only were      
members  of the ,church admitted2 many  
honorable men and women who had never   
affiliated with the ,church were invited
 to the number of over one  thousand1   
and they passed through the ,temple from

 basement to top4 ,in  view of the      
current belief that the ,temples of the 
,latter-day ,saints  are never open to  
the gaze of non-members1 this fact is of
 significant  importance4    ,on the    
morning of the #fth of ,april1 #ahic1   
,wilford ,woodruff1 ,president  of the  
,church1 led the way through the        
south-west door into the sacred         
precincts4 ,the event has been not      
inaptly likened to that of ,joshua      
leading ,israel into the promised land4 
,the venerable ,president was  followed 
by the rest of the general authorities  
of the ,church1 and  these in turn by   
other ,church officials and such members
 as had been  specially designated to   
take part in the first dedication       
service4  ,of the tens of thousands of  
,saints who desired to be present1 whose
  rightful privilege it was to attend1  
and who had contributed of their        
substance to the building of the        
greatest ,temple of modern times1 but   
few could be accommodated on the day of 

dedication4 ,the assembly room1  which  
with its vestries occupies the entire   
upper floor1 had been  furnished with   
seating accommodations for two thousand 
two hundred  and fifty-two persons4 ,it 
was arranged1 therefore1 that services  
be  repeated twice daily1 to continue   
from ,april #fth until all who were     
entitled to admission had had           
opportunity to be present4    ,on the   
first day1 the following were admitted  
to take part in what will  always be    
remembered as the official #afj         
dedicatory session3 ,the  ,first        
,presidency1 the ,council of the ,twelve
 ,apostles1 the ,presiding  ,patriarch1 
the ,first ,council of the ,seventy1 the
 ,presiding ,bishopric1  and all other  
general authorities of the ,church1 and 
in addition1  ,presidents of ,stakes and
 their ,counselors1 members of ,stake   
,high  ,councils1 ,patriarchs1          
,presidents of ,high ,priests' ,quorums 
and their  ,counselors1 ,presidents of  
,quorums of ,seventies1 ,bishops of     

,wards and  their ,counselors4          
,admission was extended to the wives and
 immediate  families of all the ,church 
officials named4 ,to the later sessions1
  admission was regulated so that       
particular wards and stakes had each a  
special assignment as to time4    ,no   
one was admitted without a formal       
certificate1 conventionally known  as a 
recommend1 signed by the ,bishop of his 
ward and the ,president of  his stake4  
,in a circular of instruction relating  
to the dedication the  following        
appears3 ,it will be necessary for each 
applicant to show his  or her recommend 
to the gate-keeper1 in order to pass4   
,the recommend  will then be taken up by
 a ticket-man inside the gate4 ,no      
person will  be admitted without a      
recommend1 on any occasion4 ,services   
were held  daily from ,april #fth1 to   
,april #ahth1 inclusive1 and again on   
the #bcrd  and #bdth4 ,usually two      
sessions were held each day1 but on the 
#gth of  ,april1 an evening session was 

added4 ,while children under eight years
  of age1 and therefore unbaptized1 were
 not admitted to the general  sessions1 
special days were set apart for their   
accommodation2 thus  ,april #bast and   
#bbnd1--,friday and ,saturday1--were    
reserved for ,sunday  ,school children1 
under the prescribed age for baptism4   
,at the first service1--the official    
dedication1--the #afa prayer was        
offered by ,president ,wilford          
,woodruff1 and at each succeeding       
session  the prayer was read4 ,the      
prayer itself is at once a sermon and a 
supplication2 it is expressive of the   
inmost thoughts of the people2  it is an
 epitome of the history of the ,saints  
and the condition of the  ,church at    
that time4    ,the prayer follows in    
full3        ,our ,father in heaven1    
thou who hast created the heavens and   
the      earth1 and all things that are 
therein2 thou most glorious ,one1       
perfect in mercy1 love1 and truth1 we1  
thy children1 come this day      before 

thee1 and in this house which we have   
built to thy most holy      name1 humbly
 plead the atoning blood of thine ,only 
,begotten ,son1      that our sins may  
be remembered no more against us        
forever1 but      that our prayers may  
ascend unto thee and have free access to
 thy      throne1 that we may be heard  
in thy holy habitation4 ,and may it     
graciously please thee to hearken unto  
our petitions1 answer them              
according to thine infinite wisdom and  
love1 and grant that the      blessings 
which we seek may be bestowed upon us1  
even a hundred      fold1 inasmuch as we
 seek with purity of heart and fulness  
of      purpose to do thy will and      
glorify thy name4        ,we thank thee1
 ,o thou ,great ,elohim1 that thou didst
 raise up thy      servant1 ,joseph     
,smith1 through the loins of ,abraham1  
,isaac1 and      ,jacob1 and made him a 
,prophet1 ,seer1 and ,revelator1 and    
through the      assistance and         
administrations of angels from heaven1  

thou didst      enable him to bring     
forth the ,book of ,mormon1--the stick  
of ,joseph1      in the hand of         
,ephraim1--in fulfilment of the         
prophecies of ,isaiah      and other    
prophets1 which record has been         
translated and published      in many   
languages4 ,we also thank thee1 our     
,father in heaven1 that      thou didst 
inspire thy servant and give him power  
on the earth to      organize thy       
,church in this goodly land1 in all its 
fulness1 power      and glory1 with     
,apostles1 ,prophets1 ,pastors1 and     
,teachers1 with      all the gifts and  
graces belonging thereto1 and all this  
by the      power of the ,aaronic and   
,melchisedek ,priesthood1 which thou    
didst      bestow upon him by the       
administration of holy angels1 who held 
that ,priesthood in the days of the     
,savior4 ,we thank thee1 our ,god1      
that thou didst enable thy servant      
,joseph to build two temples1 in        
which ordinances were administered for  

the living and the dead2      that he   
also lived to send the ,gospel to the   
nations of the earth      and to the    
islands of the sea1 and labored         
exceedingly until he was      martyred  
for the word of ,god and the testimony  
of ,jesus ,christ4        ,we also thank
 thee1 ,o our ,father in heaven1 that   
thou didst #afb      raise up thy       
servant ,brigham ,young1 who held the   
keys of thy      ,priesthood on the     
earth for many years1 and who led thy   
people to      these valleys of the     
mountains1 and laid the corner-stone of 
this      great ,temple and dedicated it
 unto thee1 and who did direct the      
building of three other temples in these
 ,rocky ,mountains which have      been 
dedicated unto thy holy name1 in which  
temples many thousands      of the      
living have been blessed and the dead   
redeemed4        ,our ,father in heaven1
 we are also thankful to thee for thy   
servant      ,john ,taylor1 who followed
 in the footsteps of thy servant        

,brigham1      until he laid down his   
life in exile4        ,thou hast called 
thy servants ,wilford ,woodruff1 ,george
 ,q4 ,cannon1      and ,joseph ,f4      
,smith1 to hold the keys of the         
,presidency and      ,priesthood this   
day1 and for these shepherds of thy     
flock we feel      to give thee         
thanksgiving and praise4 ,thy servant   
,wilford is bound      to acknowledge   
thy hand1 ,o ,father1 in the            
preservation of his life      from the  
hour of his birth to the present day4   
,nothing but thy      power could have  
preserved him through that which he has 
passed      during the eighty-six years 
that thou hast granted him life on the  
earth4        ,for the raising up of the
 ,twelve ,apostles1 we also thank thee1 
our      ,god1 and for the perfect union
 which exists among us4        ,we thank
 thee1 ,o ,lord1 for the perfect        
organizations of thy ,church      as    
they exist at the present time4         
,o ,lord1 we regard with intense and    

indescribable feelings the              
completion of this sacred house4 ,deign 
to accept this the fourth      temple   
which thy covenant children have been   
assisted by thee in      erecting in    
these mountains4 ,in past ages thou     
didst inspire with      thy ,holy       
,spirit thy servants1 the prophets1 to  
speak of a time in      the latter days 
when the mountain of the ,lord's house  
should be      established in the top of
 the mountains1 and should be exalted   
above the hills4 ,we thank thee that we 
have had the glorious      opportunity  
of contributing to the fulfilment of    
these visions of      thine ancient     
seers1 and that thou hast condescended  
to permit      us to take part in the   
great work4 ,and as this portion of thy 
servants' words has thus so marvelously 
been brought to pass1 we      pray thee1
 with increased faith and renewed hope1 
that all their      words with regard to
 thy great work in gathering thine      
,israel and      building up thy kingdom

 on earth in the last days may be as    
amply      fulfilled1 and that1 ,o      
,lord1 speedily4        ,we come before 
thee with joy and thanksgiving1 with    
spirits      jubilant and hearts filled 
with praise1 that thou hast permitted   
us to see this day for which1 during    
these forty years1 we have      hoped1  
and toiled1 and prayed1 when we can     
dedicate unto thee this      house which
 we have built to thy most glorious     
name4 ,one year ago      we set the     
capstone with shouts of ,hosanna to ,god
 and the ,lamb4 ,and      today we      
dedicate the whole unto thee1 with #afc 
all that pertains      unto it1 that it 
may be holy in thy sight2 that it may be
 a house      of prayer1 a house of     
praise and of worship2 that thy glory   
may      rest upon it2 that thy holy    
presence may be continually in it2 that 
it may be the abode of thy              
,well-,beloved ,son1 our ,savior2 that  
the      angels who stand before thy    
face may be the hallowed messengers who 

shall visit it1 bearing to us thy wishes
 and thy will1 that it may      be      
sanctified and consecrated in all its   
parts holy unto thee1 the      ,god of  
,israel1 the ,almighty ,ruler of        
mankind4 ,and we pray thee that      all
 people who may enter upon the threshold
 of this1 thine house1      may feel thy
 power and be constrained to acknowledge
 that thou hast      sanctified it1 that
 it is thy house1 a place of thy        
holiness4        ,we pray thee1         
,heavenly ,father1 to accept this       
building in all      its parts from     
foundation to capstone1 with the statue 
that is      on the latter placed1 and  
all the finials and other ornaments     
that adorn its exterior4 ,we pray thee  
to bless1 that they decay      not1 all 
the walls1 partitions1 floors1 ceilings1
 roofs1 and      bridging1 the          
elevators1 stairways1 railings and      
steps1 the      frames1 doors1 windows1 
and other openings1 all things connected
      with the lighting1 heating1 and   

sanitary apparatus1 the boilers1        
engines1 and dynamos1 the connecting    
pipes and wires1 the lamps      and     
burners1 and all utensils1 furniture and
 articles used in or      connected with
 the holy ordinances administered in    
this house1 the      veils and the      
altars1 the baptismal font and the oxen 
on which      it rests1 and all that    
pertains thereto1 the baths1 washstands 
and basins4 ,also the safes and vaults  
in which the records are      preserved1
 with the records themselves1 and all   
books1 documents1      and papers       
appertaining to the office of the       
recorder1 likewise      the library with
 all the books1 maps1 instruments1 etc41
 that may      belong thereto4 ,we also 
present before thee1 for thine          
acceptance1      all the additions and  
buildings not forming a part of the main
      edifice but being appendages      
thereto2 and we pray thee to bless      
all the furniture1 seats1 cushions1     
curtains1 hangings1 locks and           

fastenings1 and multitudinous other     
appliances and appurtenances      found 
in and belonging to this ,temple and its
 annexes1 with all      the work of     
ornamentation thereon1 the painting and 
plastering1      the gilding and        
bronzing1 the fine work in wood and     
metal of every      kind1 the embroidery
 and needlework1 the pictures and       
statuary1 the      carved work and      
canopies4 ,also the materials of which  
the buildings      and their contents   
are made or composed--the rock1 lime1   
mortar      and plaster1 the timbers and
 lath1 the wood of various trees1 the   
gold and silver1 the brass and iron1 and
 all other metals1 the      silk1 wool1 
and cotton1 the skins and furs1 the     
glass1 china1 and      precious stones1 
all these and all else herein we humbly 
present      for thine acceptance and   
sanctifying blessing4        ,our       
,father in heaven1 we present before    
thee the altars which we      have      
prepared for thy servants and           

handmaidens to #afd receive      their  
sealing blessings4 ,we dedicate them in 
the name of the ,lord      ,jesus       
,christ1 unto thy most holy name1 and we
 ask thee to sanctify      these altars1
 that those who come unto them may feel 
the power      of the ,holy ,ghost      
resting upon them1 and realize the      
sacredness      of the covenants they   
enter into4 ,and we pray that our       
covenants      and contracts which we   
make with thee and with each other may  
be      directed by thy ,holy ,spirit1  
be sacredly kept by us1 and accepted    
by thee1 and that all the blessings     
pronounced may be realized by      all  
thy ,saints who come to these altars1 in
 the morning of the      resurrection of
 the just4        ,o ,lord1 we pray thee
 to bless and sanctify the whole of this
      block or piece of ground on which 
these buildings stand1 with the         
surrounding walls and fences1 the walks1
 paths1 and ornamental      beds1 also  
the trees1 plants1 flowers and shrubbery

 that grow      in its soil2 may they   
bloom and blossom and become exceedingly
      beautiful and fragrant2 and may   
thy ,spirit dwell in the midst          
thereof1 that this plot of ground may be
 a place of rest and peace1      for    
holy meditation and inspired thought4   
,preserve these buildings1 we beseech   
thee1 from injury or      destruction by
 flood or fire2 from the rage of the    
elements1 the      shafts of the vivid  
lightning1 the overwhelming blasts of   
the      hurricane1 the flames of       
consuming fire1 and the upheavals of the
      earthquake1 ,o ,lord1 protect     
them4        ,bless1 we pray thee1      
heavenly ,father1 all who may be workers
 in      this house4 ,remember          
continually thy servant who shall be    
appointed      to preside within its    
walls2 endow him richly with the wisdom 
of      the ,holy ,one1 with the spirit 
of his calling1 with the power of his   
,priesthood1 and with the gift of       
discernment4 ,bless1 according to       

their calling1 his assistants and all   
who are associated with him      in the 
performance of the                      
ordinances1--baptisms1 confirmations1   
washings1 anointings1 sealings1         
endowments1 and ordinations      which  
are performed herein1 that all that is  
done may be holy      and acceptable    
unto thee1 thou ,god of our salvation4  
,bless the      recorders and copyists1 
that the records of the ,temple may be  
kept perfect1 and without omissions and 
errors1 and that they may      also be  
accepted of thee4 ,bless1 in their      
several positions1 the      engineers1  
watchmen1 guards1 and all others who    
have duties to      perform in          
connection with the house1 that they may
 perform them      unto thee with an eye
 single to thy glory4        ,remember  
also in thy mercy all those who have    
labored in the      erection of this    
house1 or who have1 in any way1 by their
 means or      influence aided in its   
completion2 may they in no wise lose    

their      reward4        ,o thou ,god  
of our fathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and   
,jacob1 whose ,god      thou delightest 
to be called1 we thank thee with all the
 fervor of      overflowing gratitude   
that thou hast revealed the powers by   
which      the hearts of the children   
are being turned to #afe their fathers  
and the hearts of the fathers to the    
children1 that the sons of      men1 in 
all their generations can be made       
partakers of the glories      and joys  
of the kingdom of heaven4 ,confirm upon 
us the spirit of      ,elijah1 we pray  
thee1 that we may thus redeem our dead  
and also      connect ourselves with our
 fathers who have passed behind the     
veil1 and furthermore seal up our dead  
to come forth in the first              
resurrection1 that we who dwell on earth
 may be bound to those who      dwell in
 heaven4 ,we thank thee for their sake  
who have finished      their work in    
mortality1 as well as for our own1 that 
the prison      doors have been opened  

that deliverance has been proclaimed to 
the captive1 and the bonds have been    
loosened from those who were      bound4
 ,we praise thee that our fathers1 from 
last to first1 from      now1 back to   
the beginning1 can be united with us in 
indissoluble      links1 welded by the  
holy ,priesthood1 and that as one great 
family      united in thee and cemented 
by thy power we shall together stand    
before thee1 and by the power of the    
atoning blood of thy ,son be            
delivered from all evil1 be saved and   
sanctified1 exalted and      glorified4 
,wilt thou also permit holy messengers  
to visit us within      these sacred    
walls and make known unto us with regard
 to the work      we should perform in  
behalf of our dead4 ,and1 as thou hast  
inclined      the hearts of many who    
have not yet entered into covenant with 
thee      to search out their           
progenitors1 and in so doing they have  
traced      the ancestry of many of thy 
,saints1 we pray thee that thou wilt    

increase this desire in their bosoms1   
that they may in this way aid      in   
the accomplishment of their work4 ,bless
 them1 we pray thee1 in      their      
labors that they may not fall into      
errors in preparing their               
genealogies2 and furthermore1 we ask    
thee to open before them new            
avenues of information1 and place in    
their hands the records of the      past
 that their work may not only be correct
 but complete also4        ,o thou      
,great ,father of the spirits of all    
flesh1 graciously bless      and fully  
qualify those upon whom thou hast placed
 a portion of      thine authority1 and 
who bear the responsibilities and powers
 of      the ,priesthood which is after 
the order of thy ,son4 ,bless them all  
from first to last1 from thy servant who
 represents thee in all the      world  
to the latest who has been ordained to  
the ,deacon's office4      ,upon each   
and all confer the spirit of their      
calling1 with a      comprehension of   

its duties and a loving zeal to fulfil  
them4 ,endow      them with faith1      
patience and understanding4 ,may their  
lives be      strong in virtue and      
adorned with humility2 may their        
ministrations      be effectual1 their  
prayers be availing1 and their teachings
 the      path of salvation4 ,may they  
be united by the ,spirit and power of   
,god in all their labors1 and in every  
thought1 word and act may      they     
glorify thy name and vindicate the      
wisdom that has made them      kings and
 priests unto thee4        ,for thy     
servants of the ,first ,presidency of   
the ,church we #aff      first of all   
pray4 ,reveal1 in great clearness1 thy  
mind and will      unto them in all     
things essential for the welfare of thy 
people2      give them heavenly wisdom1 
abounding faith1 and the power and gifts
      necessary to enable them to       
preside acceptably unto thee over the   
officers and members of thy ,church4    
,remember in love thy servant      whom 

thou hast called to be a ,prophet1      
,seer1 and ,revelator to all            
mankind1 whose days have been many upon 
the earth2 yet lengthen out      his    
span of mortal life1 we pray thee1 and  
grant unto him all the      powers and  
gifts1 in their completeness1 of the    
office thou hast      conferred upon    
him2 and in like manner bless his       
associates in the      ,presidency of   
thy ,church4        ,confer upon thy    
servants1 the ,twelve ,apostles1 a rich 
endowment of      thy ,spirit4 ,under   
their guidance may the ,gospel of the   
kingdom go      forth into all the      
world1 to be preached to all nations1   
kindreds1      tongues1 and people1 that
 the honest in heart in every land may  
hear the glad tidings of joy and        
salvation4 ,overrule1 we pray thee1     
in the midst of the governments of the  
earth1 that the barriers      that now  
stand in the way of the spread of thy   
truths may be      removed1 and liberty 
of conscience be accorded to all        

peoples4        ,remember in loving     
kindness thy servants1 the ,patriarchs4 
,may      they be full of blessings for 
thy people ,israel4 ,may they bear      
with them the seeds of comfort and      
consolation1 of encouragement      and  
blessing4 ,fill them with the ,holy     
,spirit of promise1 and be              
graciously pleased to fulfil their words
 of prophecy1 that thy name      may be 
extolled in the people of thy ,church   
and their faith in thee      and in the 
promises of thy ministering servants be 
increasingly      strengthened4         
,with thy servants of the ,twelve bless 
their associates1 the      ,seventies2  
may they be powerful in the preaching of
 thy word and in      bearing it to the 
four quarters of the earth4 ,may an     
ever-widening      way be opened before 
them until they shall have raised the   
,gospel      standard in every land and 
proclaimed its saving truths in every   
tongue1 that all the islands and the    
continents may rejoice in      the      

testimony of the great work thou art in 
these latter days      performing on the
 earth4        ,bless abundantly1 ,o    
,lord1 the ,high ,priests in all the    
varied      duties and positions to     
which thou hast called them4 ,as        
standing      ministers of thy word in  
the multiplying ,stakes of ,zion wilt   
thou      endow them richly with the    
spirit of their exalted callings4 ,as   
,presidents1 ,counselors1 ,bishops1     
members of ,high ,councils1 and in      
every other office which their          
,priesthood gives them the right      to
 fill1 may they be righteous ministers  
of thy holy law1 loving      fathers of 
the people1 and as judges in the midst  
of the ,saints may      they deal out   
just and impartial judgment tempered    
with mercy and      love4        ,so    
also1 in their various callings1 confer 
precious gifts of      wisdom1 faith and
 knowledge upon thy servants1 the       
,elders1 #afg      ,priests1 ,teachers1 
and ,deacons1 that all may diligently   

perform      their part in the glorious 
labors thou hast called thy ,priesthood 
to bear4        ,forget not1 we beseech 
thee1 thy servants the missionaries1 who
      are proclaiming the saving truths 
that thou hast revealed for      man's  
redemption to the millions who are now  
overshadowed by deep      spiritual     
darkness4 ,preserve them from all evil1 
deliver them from      mob violence1 may
 they want no good thing1 but be greatly
 blessed      with the gifts and powers 
of their ministry4 ,remember also their 
families1 that they may be sustained and
 comforted by thee and be      cherished
 and cared for by thy ,saints4          
,we pray thee for the members of thy    
,holy ,church throughout all the        
world1 that thy people may be so guided 
and governed of thee1 that      all who 
profess to be and call themselves       
,saints may be preserved      in the    
unity of the faith1 in the way of truth1
 in the bonds of      peace1 and in     
holiness of life4 ,strengthen the weak1 

we pray thee1      and impart thy       
,spirit unto all4        ,our ,father1  
may peace abide in all the homes of thy 
,saints2 may      holy angels guard     
them2 may they be encompassed by thine  
arms of      love2 may prosperity shine 
upon them1 and may the tempter and the  
destroyer be removed far from them4 ,may
 the days of thy covenant      people be
 lengthened out in righteousness1 and   
sickness and disease      be rebuked    
from their midst4 ,may the land they    
inhabit be made      fruitful by thy    
grace1 may its waters be increased and  
the climate      be tempered to the     
comfort and need of thy people2 may     
drought1      devastating storms1       
cyclones1 and hurricanes be kept afar   
off1 and      earthquakes never disturb 
the land which thou hast given us4 ,may 
locusts1 caterpillars and other insects 
not destroy our gardens and             
desolate our fields2 but may we be a    
people blessed of thee in our           
bodies and spirits1 in our homes and    

habitations1 in our flocks and          
herds1 in ourselves and our posterity1  
and in all that thou hast      made us  
stewards over4        ,now pray we for  
the youth of ,zion--the children of thy 
people2      endow them richly with the 
spirit of faith and righteousness and   
with increasing love for thee and for   
thy law4 ,prosper all the               
institutions that thou hast established 
in our midst for their      well-being4 
,give to our ,church ,schools an        
ever-increasing power for      good4    
,may thy ,holy ,spirit dominate the     
teachings given therein and      also   
control the hearts and illumine the     
minds of the students4      ,bless      
marvelously thy servants1 the ,general  
,superintendent1 and      all the       
principals1 teachers and other officers1
 and also those      who form the       
,general ,board of ,education of thy    
,church4 ,remember      likewise in thy 
loving kindness the ,sunday ,schools1   
with all who1      either as teachers or

 scholars1 belong thereto2 may the      
influence      of the instruction given 
therein broaden and deepen1 to thy glory
      and the salvation of thy children1
 until the perfect day4 ,bless the      
members of the ,general #afh ,board of  
the ,deseret ,sunday ,school      ,union
 with the wisdom necessary for the      
proper fulfilment of their      duties1 
and for the accomplishment of the       
purposes for which this      ,board was 
created4        ,we also uphold before  
thee the ,young ,men's and ,young       
,ladies'      ,mutual ,improvement      
,associations1 with all their officers1 
general      and local1 and the members4
 ,may they be prospered of thee1 their  
membership be enlarged1 and the good    
that they accomplish increase      with 
every succeeding year4 ,for the         
,primaries and ,religion ,classes       
we also seek thy constant blessing and  
guiding care2 may the spirit      of    
instruction be poured out upon the      
presidents and associate      officers  

and teachers4 ,may they keep pace with  
the rest of the      educational        
establishments in thy ,church2 so that  
from their      earliest years our      
children may be diligently brought up in
 the      ways of the ,lord1 and thy    
name be magnified in their growth in    
virtue and intelligence4        ,nor    
would we forget1 ,o ,lord1 the normal   
training classes among      the people1 
whether these classes be connected with 
the ,church      ,schools1 the          
,improvement ,associations1 or the      
,sunday ,schools4 ,grant      that these
 classes may be the means of spreading  
true education      throughout all the  
borders of the ,saints by the creation  
of a body      of teachers who will not 
only be possessed of rare intelligence  
but      be filled also with the spirit 
of the ,gospel1 and be powerful in      
the testimony of thy truth and in       
implanting a love for thee and      for 
thy works in the hearts of all whom they
 instruct4        ,we would hold up     

before thee1 ,o ,lord1 the ,relief      
,societies1      with all their members2
 and all those who preside in their     
midst      according to their callings  
and appointments1 general or local4     
,bless the ,teachers in their labors of 
mercy and charity1 who1 as              
ministering angels1 visit the homes of  
the sick and the needy1      bearing    
succor1 consolation and comfort to the  
unfortunate and      sorrowful4 ,and    
bless1 we beseech thee1 most merciful   
,father1 the      poor of thy people1   
that the cry of want and suffering may  
not      ascend unto thee from the midst
 of thy ,saints whom thou hast          
blessed so abundantly with the comforts 
of this world4 ,open up      new avenues
 by which the needy can obtain a        
livelihood by honest      industry1 and 
also incline the hearts of those blessed
 more      abundantly1 to give          
generously of their substance to their1 
in this      respect1 less favored      
brethren and sisters1 that thou mayest  

not      have reason to chide us for the
 neglect of even the least among thy    
covenant children4        ,o ,god of    
,israel1 turn thy face1 we pray thee1 in
 loving kindness      toward thy        
stricken people of the house of ,judah4 
,oh1 deliver them      from those that  
oppress them4 ,heal up their wounds1    
comfort their      hearts1 strengthen   
their feet1 and give them ministers     
after thine      own heart who shall    
lead them as of old1 in thy way4 ,may   
the days      of their tribulation soon 
cease1 and they be planted by thee in   
the      valleys and plains of their    
#afi ancient home2 and may ,jerusalem   
rejoice and ,judea be glad for the      
multitude of her sons and               
daughters1 for the sweet voices of      
children in her streets1 and the        
rich outpouring of thy saving mercies   
upon them4 ,may ,israel no more      bow
 the head1 nor bend the neck to the     
oppressor1 but may his feet      be made
 strong on the everlasting hills1 never 

more1 by violence1      to be banished  
therefrom1 and the praise and the glory 
shall be      thine4        ,remember in
 like pity the dwindling remnants of the
 house of      ,israel1 descendants of  
thy servant ,lehi4 ,restore them1 we    
pray      thee1 to thine ancient favor1 
fulfil in their completeness the        
promises given to their fathers1 and    
make of them a white and                
delightsome race1 a loved and holy      
people as in former days4 ,may      the 
time also be nigh at hand when thou wilt
 gather the dispersed      of ,israel   
from the islands of the sea and from    
every land in which      thou hast      
scattered them1 and the ten tribes of   
,jacob from their      hiding place in  
the north1 and restore them to communion
 and      fellowship with their kinsmen 
of the seed of ,abraham4        ,we     
thank thee1 ,o ,god of ,israel1 that    
thou didst raise up patriotic      men  
to lay the foundation of this great     
,american government4 ,thou      didst  

inspire them to frame a good            
,constitution and laws which            
guarantee to all of the inhabitants of  
the land equal rights and               
privileges to worship thee according to 
the dictates of their own               
consciences4 ,bless the officers1 both  
judicial and executive4      ,confer    
abundant favors upon the ,president1 his
 ,cabinet1 and      ,congress4          
,enlightened and guided by thy ,spirit  
may they maintain      and uphold the   
glorious principles of human liberty4   
,our hearts      are filled with        
gratitude to thee1 our ,father in       
heaven1 for thy      kindness unto us in
 softening the hearts of our fellow     
citizens1      the people of this       
nation1 towards us4 ,that which thou    
hast done      has been marvelous in our
 eyes4 ,we thank thee that thou didst   
move      upon the heart of the         
,president of our nation to issue a     
general      amnesty2 that thou hast    
removed prejudice and misunderstanding  

from      the minds of many of the      
people concerning us and our purposes1  
and they are disposed to treat us as    
fellow citizens1 and not as             
enemies4 ,in this holy house we feel to 
give thee glory therefor1      and we   
humbly ask thee to increase this feeling
 in their hearts4      ,enable them to  
see us in our true light4 ,show unto    
them that we      are their friends1    
that we love liberty1 that we will join 
with      them in upholding the rights  
of the people1 the ,constitution and    
laws of our country2 and give unto us   
and our children an increased           
disposition to always be loyal1 and to  
do everything in our power      to      
maintain constitutional rights and the  
freedom of all within the      confines 
of this great ,republic4                
,remember in mercy1 ,o ,lord1 the kings1
 and princes1 the nobles1 the           
rulers and governors1 and the great ones
 of the earth1 and likewise      all the
 poor1 the afflicted and the oppressed1 

and indeed1 all      people1 that their 
hearts may be softened when thy #agj    
servants      go forth to bear testimony
 of thy name1 that their prejudices may 
give way before the truth1 and thy      
people find favor in their eyes4        
,so control the affairs of the nations  
of the earth1 that the way      may be  
prepared for the ushering in of a reign 
of righteousness      and truth4 ,we    
desire to see liberty spread throughout 
the earth1      to see oppression cease1
 the yoke of the tyrant broken1 and     
every      despotic form of government  
overthrown by which thy children are    
degraded and crushed1 and prevented from
 enjoying their share of      the       
blessings of the earth1 which thou hast 
created for their      habitation4      
,o ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 thou     
knowest all things4 ,thou seest the     
course thy people have been led to take 
in political matters4 ,they      have1  
in many instances1 joined the two great 
national parties4      ,campaigns have  

been entered upon1 elections have been  
held1 and      much party feeling has   
been engendered4 ,many things have been 
said      and done which have wounded   
the feelings of the humble and the      
meek1 and which have been a cause of    
offense4 ,we beseech thee1 in      thine
 infinite mercy and goodness1 to forgive
 thy people wherein      they have      
sinned in this direction4 ,show them1 ,o
 ,father1 their      faults and their   
errors1 that they may see the same in   
the light      of the ,holy ,spirit1 and
 repent truly and sincerely1 and        
cultivate      that spirit of affection 
and love which thou art desirous that   
all      the children of men should     
entertain one for another1 and which    
thy ,saints1 above all others1 should   
cherish4 ,enable thy people             
hereafter to avoid bitterness and       
strife1 and to refrain from words       
and acts in political discussions that  
shall create feeling and      grieve thy
 ,holy ,spirit4        ,heavenly        

,father1 when thy people shall not have 
the opportunity of      entering this   
holy house to offer their supplications 
unto thee1      and they are oppressed  
and in trouble1 surrounded by           
difficulties      or assailed by        
temptation1 and shall turn their faces  
towards this      thy holy house and ask
 thee for deliverance1 for help1 for thy
      power to be extended in their     
behalf1 we beseech thee to look down    
from thy holy habitation in mercy and   
tender compassion upon them1      and   
listen to their cries4 ,or when the     
children of thy people1 in      years to
 come1 shall be separated1 through any  
cause1 from this      place1 and their  
hearts shall turn in remembrance of thy 
promises      to this holy ,temple1 and 
they shall cry unto thee from the depths
      of their affliction and sorrow to 
extend relief and deliverance to        
them1 we humbly entreat thee to turn    
thine ear in mercy to them2      hearken
 to their cries1 and grant unto them the

 blessings for which      they ask4     
,almighty ,father1 increase within us   
the powers of that faith      delivered 
to and possessed by thy ,saints4        
,strengthen us by      the memories of  
the glorious deliverances of the past1  
by the      remembrance of the sacred   
covenants that thou hast made with us1  
so      that1 when evil overshadows us1 
when trouble encompasses us1 when       
we pass through the valley of           
humiliation1 we may not #aga falter1    
may not doubt1 but in the strength of   
thy holy name may accomplish      all   
thy righteous purposes with regard to   
us1 fill the measure of      our        
creation1 and triumph gloriously1 by thy
 grace1 over every      besetting sin1  
be redeemed from every evil1 and be     
numbered in the      kingdom of heaven  
amongst those who shall dwell in thy    
presence      forever4        ,and now1 
our ,father1 we bless thee1 we praise   
thee1 we glorify      thee1 we worship  
thee1 day by day we magnify thee1 and   

give thee      thanks for thy great     
goodness towards us1 thy children1 and  
we      pray thee1 in the name of thy   
,son ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior1 to    
hear these our humble petitions1 and    
answer us from heaven1 thy      holy    
dwelling place1 where thou sittest      
enthroned in glory1 might1      majesty1
 and dominion1 and with an infinitude of
 power which we1      thy mortal        
creatures1 cannot imagine1 much less    
comprehend4 ,amen      and ,amen4       
,all who attended the dedicatory        
services on the morning of the #fth  of 
,april1 #ahic1 remember the             
impressiveness of the day4 ,the sky was 
overcast and lowering1 and shortly      
before the hour of beginning1 a  strong 
wind set in from the north-west4 ,this  
wind increased to a  veritable hurricane
 and throughout the morning session it  
seemed  indeed1 that the prince of the  
air was in full control2 but the peace  
and serenity of the assembly was        
rendered the more impressive by         

contrast with the turmoil and storm     
without4    ,a large pipe-organ had been
 set up in the assembly room1 and served
 as  an accompaniment to the choir of   
selected voices1 by whom the anthems    
and hymns1 specially composed for the   
occasion1 were rendered4 ,the  essential
 and characteristic feature of the      
service was1 of course1  the offering of
 the dedicatory prayer2 and to this were
 added brief  addresses by officials of 
the ,church4 ,at the first session1 each
 of  the ,first ,presidency delivered an
 address1 replete with promise and      
prophecy4 ,throughout the service1 ran  
the solemn refrain1 which was  voiced in
 anthem1 sermon1 and prayer3    ,the    
,house of the ,lord is completed4       
,,footnotes    #a4 ,see ,contributor1   
,vol4 ,,xiv3 ,no4 #f2 ,april1 #ahic2 p4 
#bdh4    #b4 ,see ,josephus1            
,antiquities of the ,jews1 ,book ,,xv1  
#aa3c4    #c4 ,see the author's ,the    
,story of ,mormonism1 pp4 #fc-ha4    #d4
 ,for description of this feature of    

early enterprise1 see an  admirable     
article1 ,the ,salt ,lake ,temple1 by   
,james ,h4 ,anderson1 in  ,the          
,contributor1 ,vol4 ,,xiv1 ,no4 #f1     
,april1 #ahic4 ,the article gives much  
detailed information concerning the work
 of erecting the ,great ,temple4    #e4 
,see ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 
,august #ag1 #ahed4    #f4 ,see         
,millennial ,star1 ,liverpool1 ,vol4    
#af1 p4 #gec4 ,the ,illustrated  ,london
 ,news of ,june #ac1 #aheg1 contains an 
article1 ,mormon ,temple  in ,salt ,lake
 ,city1 in which are given many         
specifications of  construction4 ,in    
connection with the text appears a large
 woodcut  of the great building in      
perspective2 and this picture is a true 
representation of the finished structure
 except as to details of spires  and    
finials4    #g4 ,as an instance of these
 separate assignments1 and as an example
  of direct appeal to the various       
organizations within the ,church1 see   
the circular letter1 issued in #ahgf by 

the authority of the ,first  ,presidency
 and the ,council of the ,twelve        
,apostles1 addressed to ,elders1        
,seventies1 and ,high ,priests2 this    
appears in ,contributor1 ,vol4 ,,xiv1   
pp4 #bfg-h4    #h4 ,see ,revelation     
#ad3f1 #g2 also ,pearl of ,great ,price1
 ,writings of  ,joseph ,smith ,,ii1     
#cj-dh4    #i4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 ,i
 ,nephi #c3g4    #aj4 ,for the epistle  
in full1 see ,contributor1 ,vol4 ,,xiv1 
pp4 #bhj-bha4        ,,chapter ,,vii    
,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,at ,,salt      
,,lake ,,city--,,exterior    #agb       
,before us stands the completed         
structure1 the visible result  of four  
decades of devoted toil1--a period      
marked in the beginning  by poverty and 
penury followed by relative prosperity  
and plenty4  ,the impression produced by
 a first view of the exterior is that   
of massiveness coupled with a sense of  
assured stability4 ,closer  examination 
and more intimate acquaintance serve to 
intensify this  early impression1 while 

revealing numerous details of uniqueness
 in  plan and of excellence in          
construction4 ,as to architectural      
design  the ,temple belongs to a class  
of its own4 ,originality rather than    
novelty characterizes every prominent   
feature4 ,and yet there is nothing      
apparent that speaks of strained effect 
nor of conscious effort for  departure  
from more conventional lines4 ,the      
,temple is no oddity in  architecture2  
on the contrary it is strictly in place 
both as to  material environment and    
spiritual atmosphere4    ,the building  
is of composite style1 presenting       
features of both the  ,gothic and the   
,roman4 ,by architects of experience it 
has been described  as a modification of
 the ,round ,gothic1 while others have  
called it  ,romanesque1 in that it      
follows in part the castellated style so
 highly  developed in ,england4 ,but1   
even if this description be true as to  
the  exterior1 it is wholly inapplicable
 within4 ,there are no high-vaulted     

,gothic ceilings1 nor massive beams     
after the style ,romanesque2 on  the    
contrary #agc the interior partakes     
rather of the nature of  ,renaissance   
design4#a    ,the ,temple was           
constructed for specific use2 it was    
intended for  service widely different  
from that of cathedral1 tabernacle1     
mosque1  or synagogue2 and the building 
was planned and patterned to suit its   
distinctive purpose4 ,such was and is   
the reason for its being1 the           
explanation of its design1 both         
vindication and justification of its    
plan4    ,as has been shown1 the plans  
of the building were made known1 and  a 
fairly detailed description thereof was 
published in #ahed4b ,a  careful        
examination of the structure as it now  
appears shows that in  every essential  
particular the original plan of the     
exterior has been  followed almost to   
exactness4 ,details of spires1 turrets1 
and finials1  had not been determined   
when the design was first announced2 and

 in  these as in certain other          
particulars the original plan has been  
added  to2 but no essential alteration  
has been introduced4    ,as it stands1  
the building is one hundred eighty-six  
feet six inches  long1 and one hundred  
eighteen feet six inches wide including 
ground-level extensions of the corner   
towers1 or ninety-nine feet wide  in the
 main body4 ,the side walls are one     
hundred sixty-seven feet six  inches    
high2 the west center tower has a height
 of two hundred #agd  and four feet1 and
 the corresponding tower at the east    
rises six feet  higher4 ,the entire area
 covered by the building is twenty-one  
thousand  eight hundred and fifty square
 feet4    ,the walls are set upon a     
massive footing1 which extends sixteen  
feet  below ground1 is sixteen feet wide
 at the base1 and narrows to nine  feet 
at the top4 ,from the ground-level to   
the globes surmounting the  spires the  
walls are of granite1 every block       
accurately cut as to  dimension and     

pattern1 and fitted with equal nicety   
outside and inside4  ,the windows1 both 
arched and oval1 all deeply set in their
 granite  recesses1 are framed with     
oolite4 ,throughout the first story the 
walls  are eight feet thick2 in the     
upper structure the thickness is reduced
  by stages to a minimum of six feet4   
,the buttresses are uniformly one  foot 
thicker than the walls proper4    ,the  
building consists of three towers at    
each end--east and west1  and between   
these extends the main body1 suggesting1
 to the observer  at a distance1 a vast 
intermediate nave4 ,in ground-plan the  
,temple  is strikingly symmetrical1 each
 of the central axes being an axis of   
symmetry4 ,the westerly half is a       
repetition of the easterly1 and the     
southerly half duplicates the northerly4
 ,lines running north and south  through
 the centre of the three towers at      
either end are also lines of  symmetry1 
dividing the towers into corresponding  
parts4    ,repetition of parts appears  

also in vertical section4 ,thus1 above  
the  first belt or string course1 that  
is to say1 immediately above the        
basement or first floor1 is the second  
story1 indicated without by a  series of
 high arched windows between the        
buttresses2 above these is a  series of 
elliptical or oval windows4 ,the belt   
course immediately #age  above these    
oval openings marks the centre of       
construction as seen  in the vertical   
section of the main body4 ,the upper    
half1 up to the  level of the top       
belt-course1 is in general a repetition 
of the lower4  ,the roof has so little  
pitch as to be practically flat1 there  
being a  rise of but eight feet from    
edge to centre4 ,between the end towers1
  that is to say in the main body of the
 building1 the walls carry nine         
buttresses or pilasters on both north   
and south sides4 ,each of these         
pilasters rises above the parapets and  
battlement walls1 and is capped  by a   
granite block three and a half feet     

square at its base and two  and a half  
feet high4 ,of these pilaster caps1 four
 on either wall are  open and constitute
 the tops of ventilator shafts which    
extend to the  basement4    ,above the  
roof level rise the upper sections of   
the towers with their  spires and       
finials4 ,octagonal turrets occupy the  
corners of the towers1  and each turret 
is surmounted by a pyramidal monolith1  
six feet high  and three feet in        
diameter at the base2 the apex of this  
pyramid is cut  to represent an acanthus
 cluster4 ,each of the six towers is    
surmounted  by a pyramidal spire1 which 
terminates in a spherical capstone4 ,the
 cut  blocks forming the spires are two 
feet in thickness2 the capstones of  the
 four corner towers are three feet in   
diameter1 while those of the  two center
 towers measure eight inches more4      
,the spherical termination of the east  
center tower1 which is the  highest     
stone in the building1 and therefore the
 capstone proper1  supports a statue1   

the crown of which marks the point of   
greatest  altitude in the entire        
structure4 ,the figure1 which stands    
twelve and  a half feet high1 is that of
 a man in the character of a herald or  
messenger1 blowing a trumpet4 ,in pose  
and proportion the figure is  #agf      
graceful and gentle1 yet virile and     
strong2 the drapings are  simple1 and   
leave only feet1 arms1 neck1 and head   
bare4 ,around the head  is a slender    
circlet supporting high-power           
incandescent lamps4 ,the  statue is of  
hammered copper thickly overlaid with   
gold-leaf4 ,it is the  work of ,c4 ,e4  
,dallin1 ,utah-born1 and now of more    
than national fame as  a sculptor4 ,the 
figure is intended to represent ,moroni1
 the ,nephite  prophet1 who died about  
#dba ,a4,d41 and who1 as a resurrected  
being1  came in #ahbc to the boy-prophet
 ,joseph ,smith1 and delivered to him   
the  message of the restored ,gospel1 in
 accordance with the prediction of  the 
ancient ,seer3        ,and ,i saw       

another angel fly in the midst of       
heaven1 having the      everlasting     
,gospel to preach unto them that dwell  
on the earth1 and      to every nation1 
and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1    
saying with      a loud voice1 ,fear    
,god1 and give glory to him2 for the    
hour of his      judgment is come3 and  
worship him that made heaven1 and earth1
 and      the sea1 and the fountains of 
water4#c    ,as has been described in   
connection with the ceremonies of the   
capstone-laying1 ,april #f1 #ahib1 the  
stone upon which rests the statue  is   
one of the record stones of the         
,temple4#d ,another record stone  is to 
be noted4 ,this lies at the south-east  
corner of the building  immediately     
beneath the first layer of granite4 ,it 
is a quartzite  block three feet in     
length and twenty inches in both width  
and depth4  ,a cavity one square foot in
 cross-section holds printed books1     
periodicals1 and manuscript records1    
which were placed therein at the  time  

of laying the first granite course4 ,a  
slab of quartzite closes the  cavity and
 #agg is cemented in place with due     
provision against the  entrance of      
moisture4    ,there are in the walls    
several series of stones of emblematical
  design and significance1 such as those
 representing the earth1 moon1  sun1 and
 stars1 and in addition are cloud       
stones1 and stones bearing              
inscriptions4    ,the earth-stones are  
thirty-four in number1 eleven on each   
side and six  on each end of the        
building4 ,they are set on the pedestal 
course1 or  first granite course1       
extending twenty-eight inches above     
ground4 ,there  is one of these stones  
in each buttress1 excepting only the    
buttresses  at the junction of the      
towers with the main body4 ,these       
earth-stones  constitute the largest    
cuboidal blocks in the building2 each of
 them  measures five feet six inches in 
height1 four feet six inches in width1  
and one foot eight inches in thickness1 

and weighs little less than  three and  
one-half tons4 ,each of these massive   
blocks is cut to show  part of the      
surface of a sphere1 the segment having 
a diameter of over  three feet4         
,blocks cut to represent the moon in its
 several phases1 and known as           
moon-stones1 occupy conspicuous places  
in the buttresses immediately  below the
 second string-course or water-table2   
they are therefore  on a level with the 
top of the first or lower line of oval  
windows  corresponding to the ceiling of
 the ,mezzanine story4 ,there are fifty 
such moon-stones2 each four feet seven  
inches high1 three feet six  inches     
wide1 and one foot thick4    ,sun-stones
 are set in the buttresses directly     
under the third  belt-course or         
water-table1 which is practically the   
level of the roof4  ,there are fifty of 
these1 each cut to represent the body of
 the sun1  with a serrated edge of      
fifty-two points illustrative of the    
sun's  rays4 ,these #agh stones are each

 four feet seven inches high1 three     
feet six inches wide1 and ten inches    
thick4    ,star-stones are numerous2    
each bears in relief the figure of a    
five-pointed star4 ,on the east         
center-tower immediately below the      
battlements are sixteen of these1 four  
of each face2 and on each of the  east  
corner-towers are twelve such stones1   
making forty on these towers  alone4    
,the keystones of the doorways and those
 of the window arches  belong to this   
class1 each bearing a single star4      
,star-stones of another kind appear on  
the face of the center tower at  the    
west4 ,here1 above the highest window   
and extending to the base  of the       
battlement course1 are seen the seven   
stars of the northern  constellation    
,ursa ,major or ,great ,bear1 otherwise 
known as the  ,dipper4 ,the group is so 
placed that the two stars called        
pointers are  practically in line with  
the ,north ,star itself4                
,cloud-stones1 two in number1 are seen  

on the upper face of the east  center   
tower1 immediately under the cap-pings  
of the main buttresses4  ,these show a  
cluster of cumulus clouds through which 
the sun's rays are  breaking4 ,the face 
so carved is five feet by three and a   
half feet in  area4    ,reference has   
been made to inscription-stones which   
form part of the  exterior walls4 ,the  
principal stone of this class is seen on
 the  east centre tower1 above the      
windows1 corresponding in position to   
the starry constellation on the center  
tower at the west4 ,the main            
inscription1 which occupies a surface a 
little over twenty by six feet1         
consists of letters deeply cut and      
heavily gilded4#e ,in the arches  over  
the great windows of the central towers 
#agi appear inscriptions  which are     
alike at both ends of the building4 ,the
 keystone of the  lower window bears on 
a carven scroll ,i am ,alpha and        
,omega4#f  ,this inscription1 a         
figurative epitome of both time and     

eternity1 and  a proclamation of ,him   
who is without beginning and without    
end1 has a  peculiar appropriateness    
over the central casements of this1 the 
,house  of the ,lord2 and he who pauses 
to read may well consider the text and  
its context in full3 ,i am ,alpha and   
,omega1 the beginning and the  ending1  
saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which    
was1 and which is to come1  the         
,almighty4#g    ,immediately beneath    
this inscription in the lower window    
arch of  the centre tower appears in    
relief the emblem of the clasped hands1 
betokening the bond of brotherhood and  
the free offering of the right  hand of 
fellowship4 ,on the corresponding stones
 above the upper windows  in each of the
 center towers is a carven emblem of the
 ,all-seeing ,eye4    ,entrance to the  
,temple directly from without is        
afforded by four great  doorways1 two at
 either end2 each of these portals      
occupies a court  between the center    
tower and the adjoining corner tower4   

,the four  door-ways are of like        
construction4 ,a flight of sixteen      
granite steps  leads up the court2 the  
lowest of these steps is approximately  
sixteen  feet in length1 the top step   
about nine feet1 and each of the steps  
between about ten feet long4 ,on the    
uppermost granite slab rests the        
threshold or door-step proper1 which is 
of cast bronze4 ,the door-way  is eight 
feet wide1 and sixteen feet six inches  
in extreme height4  ,this is closed by  
double doors with #ahj arched transom4  
,the doors  proper are twelve feet high1
 and each single door is four feet wide4
  ,in each door the bottom panel is of  
oak1 while the middle and upper  panels 
are occupied by beveled plate glass     
protected by bronze grills  of intricate
 pattern carrying a bee-hive medallion  
in the center4 ,the  hardware           
attachments are all of cast bronze1 and 
are of special design4  ,the door-knob  
bears in relief the bee-hive1 above     
which1 in a curved  line1 appear the    

words1 ,holiness to the ,lord4 ,the     
escutcheon presents  in relief the      
clasped hands within a wreath of olive  
twigs1 an arch  with keystone1 and the  
dates #ahec-ahic--the years in which the
 great  building was commenced and      
completed4    ,on the side of each of   
the doorways flanking the center tower  
is a  canopied niche in the granite1    
large enough to receive a statue of     
heroic proportions4#h    ,such is the   
great ,temple as seen from without4 ,the
 massive pile  impresses even the casual
 observer as a type of permanency1 and  
the  embodiment of the stable and the   
durable4 ,it stands as an isolated mass 
of the everlasting hills4 ,as nearly as 
any work of man may so do1 it  suggests 
duration4    ,,footnotes    #a4 ,joseph 
,d4 ,c4 ,young1 the architect-in-charge 
during the later period  of             
construction1 wrote as follows in answer
 to an inquiry of the author  in        
,january1 #aiab2 ,questions as to the   
style of architecture embodied  in the  

great ,temple have been asked time and  
time again4 ,some prominent  architects 
have classed it as ,round ,gothic2      
others have said that it  is practically
 unclassifiable1 it being 'all material 
and not at all  design4' ,in my judgment
 it might be called the ,romanesque     
modified by  the ,castellated style4    
#b4 ,see pages #add-adg4    #c4 ,rev4   
#ad3f1 #g4    #d4 ,see pages #aea-aeb4  
#e4 ,see page #acf4    #f4 ,see ,rev4   
#a3h1 #aa2 #ba3f2 #bb3ac    #g4 ,rev4   
#a3h4    #h4 ,for a number of years the 
niches at the east end of the ,temple   
were occupied by bronze figures of      
,joseph ,smith the prophet and ,hyrum   
,smith the patriarch4 ,these figures    
have since been removed to the open     
grounds within the ,temple ,block       
enclosure4        ,,chapter ,,viii      
,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,at ,,salt      
,,lake ,,city--,,interior    #aha ,the  
,temple ,annex3 ,while there are four   
doorways leading into  the ,temple      
directly from the outside1 the usual    

entrance is through the  detached       
building known as the ,annex4 ,under    
ordinary conditions only  ,church       
authorities who assemble in council     
meetings enter by the outer  doors1     
though on the rare occasions of special 
convocations of the  ,priesthood many   
pass those portals4    ,the ,annex is   
entered on the ground-level through a   
spacious vestibule1  eighteen by        
twenty-one feet1 with wave-glass on     
three of its sides4 ,the  floor is of   
mosaic tiling1 bordered with marble     
blocks4 ,this ante-room  is supplied    
with steam heat and serves the          
incidental purposes of a  cloak room4   
,at the ,annex door stand two large     
columns of marble mosaic1  and in       
contact with the adjoining walls are two
 other columns1 of the  same material   
and of corresponding design4 ,within the
 ,annex on this  floor there are        
well-equipped office rooms1 with desk   
facilities for  the extensive routine   
work of registration and record4    ,the

 main apartment1 however1 is the ,annex 
,assembly ,room4 ,this occupies  the    
central part of the building1 and has   
seating capacity for three  hundred     
persons4 ,the room consists of a central
 area thirty-six feet  square1 with a   
semi-circular alcove of nine feet radius
 at both north  and south sides4 ,the   
north alcove is occupied by a platform  
or stand1  raised ten inches above the  
floor1 and #ahb is furnished with a     
small lectern4 ,the central body of the 
room has an imposing column  of         
,corinthian design in each of its four  
corners2 these columns rest  upon       
massive pedestals and extend to the     
ceiling4 ,small columns of  similar     
design support the arches which divide  
the alcoves from the  main auditorium4  
,over the arches at the north end appear
 portraits of  the living ,first        
,presidency2 and around the walls are   
portraits of  the present ,council of   
the ,twelve ,apostles1 arranged in the  
order of  seniority of ordination4      

,within the alcoves hang the portraits  
of the  dead1--at the north those of    
past members of the ,first ,presidency1 
and  in the south recess1 those of      
,apostles now deceased4 ,on the west    
wall  is a full-size reproduction of    
,munkacsy's famous canvas1 ,christ      
before  ,pilate2 this copy is the work  
of ,dan ,weggeland1 one of ,utah's      
veteran  artists4 ,the ceiling is formed
 by the intersection of four arches1    
producing a quadruple groin structure4  
,each of the four lunettes is  occupied 
by triple series of arched windows      
consisting of colored glass  in simple  
design4    ,on the west side of the     
building is a small refectory where a   
noon-day  lunch is served to recorders  
and other officials on duty for the day4
 ,a  stairway leads to the basement1    
which is occupied by storage rooms and  
lavatories4    ,the ,annex ,passage3    
,the foot of the stairway marks the     
beginning  of a semi-subterranean       
passage1 which runs south ninety feet to

 the  ,temple wall4 ,this passage       
receives air and natural light through  
side  windows in three large ventilator 
cupolas which rise six feet above  the  
ground4 ,artificial illumination is     
supplied by three electroliers1  each   
holding twelve globes4 ,near the south  
#ahc end is the entrance to  a side     
corridor leading to machine rooms in    
which is installed a very  efficient    
apparatus for vacuum cleaning2 this is  
connected with every  room in the       
,temple4#a ,the passage terminates at   
the foot of a short  flight of granite  
steps--at the centre of the north wall  
of the main  structure4 ,the top of     
these steps marks the threshold of the  
,temple4  ,heavy doors divide the ,annex
 from the ,temple4    ,the ,lower       
,corridor3 ,the doorway from the annex  
passage opens directly  into the lower  
corridor of the ,temple4 ,this extends  
entirely across  the building1 from     
north to south1 and is a little over    
twelve feet in  width4 ,the floor is    

richly carpeted1 the walls are finely   
finished1  and the corridor as a whole  
presents an imposing contrast with the  
exceedingly plain passage without4 ,the 
walls are embellished with large        
paintings1 the chief of which is a      
canvas fifteen by thirteen feet1        
showing ,joseph ,smith preaching to the 
,indian tribes of the east4 ,at  the    
north end is a drinking fountain of     
,utah onyx--one of many of this  unique 
design distributed throughout the       
building4    ,the ,baptistry3 ,west from
 the lower corridor1 and occupying the  
central third of the entire floor on    
that side1 is the baptismal  room1 in   
which stands the great font4 ,this      
apartment is thirty-two by  forty-five  
feet1 and is floored with white marble4 
,a ten-inch wainscot  of the same       
material extends along each wall1 with  
grained wood-work  above4 ,the walls are
 virtually a succession #ahd of double  
doors1  of which the lower half is of   
paneled wood1 and the upper of pebbled  

glass4 ,each doorway is arched1 and     
carries a large semi-circular  transom  
with a central aperture occupied by an  
open grill of metal4  ,of these doors   
there are six pairs on both north and   
south sides1 and  two pairs on both east
 and west4 ,there are twenty-six fluted 
pilasters  around the walls1 each       
extending from floor to ceiling4 ,the   
only  natural light the room receives is
 borrowed from windows without2 but     
abundant artificial light is supplied by
 a large central electrolier  and       
numerous side lamps4    ,the baptismal  
font is1 of course1 the most prominent  
feature of the  room4 ,to provide for   
the font1 a depression or well has been 
excavated  to a depth of three feet     
below the floor level4 ,this well1 tiled
 with  marble1 is circular1 twenty-one  
feet in diameter1 and is surrounded  by 
an ornamental iron railing two feet     
high4 ,in this depression stand  twelve1
 life-sized oxen1 of cast iron1 with    
bronzed bodies and silvered  horns4 ,the

 oxen face outward in groups of three   
and support the massive  font4#b ,the   
font is of cast iron enameled in white1 
elliptical in  form1 of ten and six feet
 in its longer and shorter axes         
respectively1  and four feet deep2 its  
capacity is over four hundred gallons4  
,the rim  is reached by a flight of     
seven steps at either end1 with         
balustrade  and top-rail of iron2 five  
inside steps at either end provide for  
descent into the font4 ,facilities for  
quickly replenishing and renewing  hot  
and cold water in the font are adequate 
and efficient1 and due  attention has   
been given to ventilation and sanitary  
requirements  throughout4    #ahe ,the  
landing at the top of the steps on the  
west end of the  font expands into two  
small platforms1 one at either side2    
these are  enclosed by extensions of the
 balustrades4 ,on the south side is a   
small  table for the use of the         
recorder1 and on the north are seats for
 the  witnesses whose presence is       

essential at every baptism performed in 
behalf of the dead#c    ,the placing of 
the baptistry on the lower or basement  
floor was not  a matter of mere         
convenience4 ,most of the baptisms      
performed within  the ,temple are in    
behalf of the dead1 and the symbolism of
 the font  location is set forth by     
authority3        ,the baptismal font   
was instituted as a simile of the grave1
 and      was commanded to be in a place
 underneath where the living are wont   
to assemble1 to show forth the living   
and the dead4#d    ,on the north side of
 the baptistry is a large room divided  
into a  number of apartments used as    
dressing rooms and in which are         
performed  certain ordinances of        
anointing1 for men4 ,a similar          
arrangement  for women exists on the    
south side4 ,in these ceremonies only   
women  administer to women1 and men to  
men4    ,the ,lower ,lecture ,room3 ,on 
the east of the lower corridor are two  
assembly rooms4 ,the first of these is  

about forty by forty-five feet1  and is 
finished and furnished in great         
plainness4 ,its walls are without       
ornament2 and1 except for the six       
electroliers1 the only approach to      
decorative embellishment is a drinking  
fountain of variegated marble  and onyx 
on the south side4 ,the #ahf room is    
comfortably carpeted but  in marked     
simplicity1--without a suggestion of    
bright color4 ,the seats  are folding   
lecture chairs1 of plain design1 and    
provision is made  for two hundred and  
fifty persons4 ,this room is used for   
preliminary  instruction purposes1 and  
may be called for convenience the ,lower
  ,lecture ,room4    ,the ,garden ,room3
 ,in striking contrast with the room    
last described is  the apartment on the 
south1 entered from the lecture room by 
an arched  doorway hung with portieres4 
,while of about the same size as the    
room  described1 and seated to          
accommodate the same number of persons1 
in  all its appointments it is of more  

elaborate design4 ,ceiling and walls    
are embellished with oil paintings--the 
former to represent clouds and  sky1    
with sun and moon and stars2 the latter 
showing landscape scenes  of rare       
beauty4 ,there are sylvan grottoes and  
mossy dells1 lakelets and  brooks1      
waterfalls and rivulets1 trees1 vines   
and flowers1 insects1  birds and beasts1
 in short1 the earth beautiful1--as it  
was before the  ,fall4 ,it may be called
 the ,garden of ,eden ,room1 for in     
every part and  appurtenance it speaks  
of sweet content and blessed repose4    
,there is  no suggestion of disturbance1
 enmity or hostility2 the beasts are at 
peace and the birds live in amity4 ,in  
the centre of the south wall1 is  a     
platform and an altar of prayer1 reached
 by three steps4 ,the altar is          
upholstered in velvet1 and on it rests  
the ,holy ,bible4 ,on the sides of  the 
altar are large doorways opening        
directly into a conservatory of  living 
plants4    ,the ,grand ,stairway starts 

near the south end of the lower corridor
  already described4 ,it is provided    
with a stately newel post and a  massive
 balustrade1 both of solid cherry4 ,this
 stairway comprises  thirty-five steps  
with #ahg three landings1 and at its top
 is the  upper corridor1 running forty  
feet north and south4 ,a large canvas   
depicting the resurrected ,christ       
instructing the ,nephites on the        
western continent occupies twenty feet  
of wall space on the east of  this      
corridor2 and smaller paintings adorn   
the other walls4    ,the ,world ,room3  
,leading off to the west from the first 
landing  below the top of the grand     
stairway is a side corridor nine feet   
wide  and fifteen feet long4 ,this      
contains an art window in rich colors1  
elliptical in form1 about ten feet in   
height1 depicting the expulsion  from   
,eden4 ,it is of special significance in
 the journey from the ,garden  ,room    
below to the symbolical apartment into  
which this side passage  leads4 ,at     

either end the corridor terminates in an
 arch way2 between  these the ceiling is
 of fine panel work4 ,the room is of    
equal size with  those below1 forty-five
 by forty feet4 ,it is carpeted in rich 
brown1  and is seated in the usual way4 
,at the west end is an upholstered      
prayer altar1 on which are placed in    
readiness for use the ,holy             
,scriptures4 ,near the altar is a       
stairway leading to a small waiting     
room adjoining the elevator landing4    
,the walls are entirely covered with    
scenic paintings and the ceiling  is    
pictured to represent sky and cloud4    
,the earth scenes are in  strong        
contrast with those in the ,garden ,room
 below4 ,here the rocks  are rent and   
riven2 the earth-story is that of       
mountain uplift and  seismic disruption4
 ,beasts are contending in deadly       
strife1 or  engaged in murderous attack1
 or already rending their prey4 ,the    
more  timorous creatures are fleeing    
from their ravenous foes or cowering in 

half-concealed retreats4 ,there are     
lions in combat1 a tiger gloating  over 
a fallen #ahh deer1 wolves and foxes in 
hungry search4 ,birds of  prey are      
slaying or being slain4 ,on the summit  
of a rugged cliff is an  eagle's eyrie1 
the mother and her brood watching the   
approach of the  male bird holding a    
lambkin in his claws4 ,all the forest   
folk and the  wild things of the        
mountain are living under the           
ever-present menace of  death1 and it is
 by death they live4 ,the trees are     
gnarled1 misshapen1  and blasted2 shrubs
 maintain a precarious root-hold in     
rocky clefts2  thorns1 thistles1 cacti1 
and noxious weeds abound2 and in one    
quarter a  destructive storm is raging4 
,the scenes are typical of the world's  
condition under the curse of ,god4      
,nevertheless there is a certain weird  
attractiveness in the scenes and  in    
their suggestiveness4 ,the story is that
 of struggle and strife2 of  victory and
 triumph or of defeat and death4 ,from  

,eden man has been  driven out to meet  
contention1 to struggle with            
difficulties1 to live  by strife and    
sweat4 ,this chamber may well be known  
as the room of the  fallen world1 or    
more briefly1 the ,world ,room4    ,the 
,terrestrial ,room3 ,from the north-west
 corner of the room last  described is a
 large door-way leading into another    
apartment1 lofty1  spacious1 and        
beautiful4 ,its general effect is that  
of combined  richness and simplicity4   
,following the elaborate decoration of  
the  ,world ,room1 this is restful in   
its soft coloring and air of comfort4   
,the carpet is of lavender velvet woven 
with simple figures4 ,the walls  are of 
pale blue1 the ceiling and woodwork of  
white with trimmings  in gold4 ,at the  
west end is a large mirror framed in    
white and gold4  ,the chairs are        
upholstered to harmonize with the       
floor-covering4  ,from the paneled      
ceiling hang three electroliers1 #ahi   
massive1 yet  simple1 holding opaline   

globes4 ,two sets of conical shades     
enclosing  incandescent bulbs occupy    
circular recesses in the ceiling1 and   
torch-shaped brackets supporting        
additional lamps are affixed to the     
wall pilasters4 ,a few framed canvases  
hang from the walls1 the largest  of    
which is the original painting by       
,girard--,joseph interpreting the       
dreams of the butler and baker4 ,other  
pictures are delineations of  incidents 
in the life of ,christ and scenes in    
,bible lands4    ,an upholstered altar  
stands near the east end of the room1   
with copies  of sacred writ in place4   
,in this room1 lectures are given       
pertaining  to the endowments and       
emphasizing the practical duties of a   
religious  life4 ,it is therefore       
commonly known as the upper lecture     
room1 but in  view of its relation to   
the room that follows1 we may for       
convenience  designate it the           
,terrestrial ,room4 ,at the east end is 
a raised floor  reached by three steps1 

across which springs an arch of thirty  
feet  span4 ,the arch is supported by   
five columns between which hangs a      
silken portiere in four sections4 ,this 
is the ,veil of the ,temple4    ,the    
,celestial ,room3 ,from the room last   
described to the one now under          
consideration the passage leads through 
the ,veil4 ,this is a large and  lofty  
apartment about sixty by forty-five feet
 in area and thirty-four  feet in       
height1 occupying the northeast section 
of the building on this  floor4 ,in     
finish and furnishings it is the        
grandest of all the large  rooms within 
the walls4 ,if the last room described  
could be considered  typical of the     
terrestrial state1 this is suggestive of
 conditions yet  more exalted2 and it   
may appropriately be called the         
,celestial ,room4  ,the west end is     
occupied wholly by the ,veil4 #aij ,the 
east wall is in  part taken up by two   
triple mirrors1 thirteen feet high2 the 
central  section of each is three feet  

eight inches wide1 and the side sections
  each three feet in width4 ,along the  
walls are twenty-two columns in  pairs1 
with ,corinthian caps2 these support    
entablatures from which  spring ten     
arches1 four on either side and one at  
each end4 ,within the  recesses formed  
by these arches and suspended from the  
wall-columns1  are paintings and busts  
of past and living leaders of the       
,church1 and  canvases depicting scenes 
in ,bible lands and incidents of        
interest  in ,church history4 ,prominent
 among these are paintings by           
,lambourne1  showing the ,hill          
,cumorah#e and ,adam-ondi-,ahman4#f     
,choice canvases  illustrative of scenes
 in the life of ,christ and small       
statuary are  disposed with excellent   
effect about the room4 ,the ceiling is a
  combination of vault and panel        
construction elaborately finished4      
,massive cornices and beams separating  
the ceiling panels are richly           
embellished with clusters of fruit and  

flowers4 ,the color scheme of the  walls
 is soft brown relieved by the light    
blue of the fluted columns  and by      
abundant trimmings in gold4 ,eight      
electroliers with shades  of richly     
finished glass depend from the ceiling1 
and each of the  twenty-two columns     
holds a bracket of lights in            
corresponding design4  ,a newel-post at 
the east bears a flower-cluster of      
colored globes with  an artistic support
 in bronze4 ,the floor is covered by a  
heavy carpet  and the movable furniture 
is all of rich yet appropriate design4  
,palms  and other living plants are held
 in shapely jardinieres of finest ware4 
,at the east is a short flight of #aia  
stairs leading into an office  reserved 
for the president of the ,temple4       
,each of the four arched-window recesses
 in the north is framed by  draped      
curtains of silk1 which in material and 
design match the ,veil4  ,on the south  
side are four pairs of double doors in  
position and size  symmetrically        

corresponding with the windows on the   
north4 ,the portal  at the south-west1  
which is fitted with swinging doors1    
opens directly  into the upper corridor 
at the head of the grand stairway       
already  described2 each of the three   
other portals is fitted with sliding    
doors1 and opens into a separate        
apartment slightly raised above the     
floor of the large room1 and reserved   
for special ceremonial work1 more       
specifically described beyond4          
,sealing ,room for the ,dead3 ,the first
 of these three small rooms is  about   
ten by thirteen feet in the square with 
a semi-circular recess  five feet deep  
on the south side4 ,this room is raised 
two steps above  the main floor4 ,in the
 wall of this recess is a bay art window
 of  stained glass1 representing with   
effective and impressing detail the     
resurrected prophet ,moroni delivering  
the plates of the ,book of ,mormon  to  
the youthful seer1 ,joseph ,smith4 ,it  
is a fitting symbol of the  actuality of

 communication between the dead and the 
living2 and it is  to ordinances        
pertaining to this relationship the room
 is devoted2  this is the ,sealing ,room
 for the ,dead4 ,the west wall is       
occupied by a  large mirror4 ,in the    
center stands a richly upholstered altar
 finished  in old-rose velvet and gold4 
,the altar is six by three feet six     
inches  at its base and two feet six    
inches in height4 ,here kneel in humble 
service the living proxies representing 
deceased husbands and wives1  parents   
and children4 ,the only other furniture 
#aib consists of chairs  for the        
officiating elder1 the witnesses1 and   
persons awaiting the  ordinances at the 
altar4    ,sealing ,room for the        
,living3 ,the easterly room of the three
 is in  size and shape a counterpart of 
the last described4 ,its finishing1     
however1 is in brighter tone2 the altar 
and chairs are upholstered in  crimson  
velvet1 and the walls are of light tint4
 ,a mirror extends from  floor to       

ceiling on the east wall4 ,this is the  
,sealing ,room for the  ,living4 ,here  
is solemnized the sacred ordinance of   
marriage between  parties who come to   
plight their vows of marital fidelity   
for time and  eternity1 and to receive  
the seal of the eternal ,priesthood upon
 their  union4 ,here also are performed 
the ordinances of sealing or adoption   
of living children by their parents who 
were not at first united in  the order  
of celestial marriage4#g ,on the south  
side of this room is  a door with       
transom and side panels of jeweled glass
 in floral design1  leading into a      
reception room which is provided for the
 accommodation  of parties awaiting the 
sealing ordinance4 ,this room connects  
on the  west by a short passage with a  
smaller apartment1--another waiting     
room1 and this in turn opens upon the   
upper corridor at the head of the  grand
 stairway4    ,the ,holy of ,holies3    
,the central of the three small         
apartments  connected with the          

,celestial ,room1--situated therefore   
between the  ,sealing ,room for the     
,living and ,sealing ,room for the      
,dead1--is of  all the smaller          
apartments within the ,temple walls by  
far the most  beautiful4 ,yet its       
excellence is that of splendid          
simplicity rather  than of sumptuous    
splendor4 ,it is raised above the other 
two rooms  and is reached by an         
additional flight of six steps inside   
the  sliding doors4 ,the short staircase
 is bordered #aic by hand-carved        
balustrades1 which terminate in a pair  
of newel-posts bearing bronze  figures  
symbolical of innocent childhood2 these 
support flower  clusters1 each jeweled  
blossom enclosing an electric bulb4 ,on 
the  landing at the head of the steps is
 another archway1 beneath which are     
sliding doors2 these doors mark the     
threshold of the inner room or ,holy  of
 ,holies of the ,temple1 and correspond 
to the inner curtain or veil  that      
shielded from public view the most      

sacred precincts of ,tabernacle  and    
,temple in the earlier dispensations4   
,the floor is of native hard-wood       
blocks1 each an inch in cross-section4  
,the room is of circular outline1       
eighteen feet in diameter1 with  paneled
 walls1 the panels separated by carved  
pillars supporting  arches2 it is       
decorated in blue and gold4 ,the        
entrance doorway and  the panels are    
framed in red velvet with an outer      
border finished in  gold4 ,four wall    
niches1 bordered in crimson and gold1   
have a deep blue  background1 and within
 these are tall vases holding flowers4  
,the room  is practically without       
natural light1 but it is brilliantly    
illumined  by a large electrolier and   
eight side clusters of lamps4 ,the      
ceiling is  a dome in which are set     
circular and semicircular windows of    
jeweled  glass1 and on the outer side of
 these1 therefore above the ceiling1 are
  electric globes whose light penetrates
 into the room in countless hues  of    

subdued intensity4    ,on the south side
 of this room1 opposite the entrance    
doorway1 and  corresponding in size     
therewith1 is a window of colored glass 
depicting  the appearance of the        
,eternal ,father and ,his ,son ,jesus   
,christ to the  boy ,joseph ,smith4 ,the
 event here delineated marked the       
ushering-in of  the dispensation of the 
fulness of times4 #aid ,the scene is    
laid in  a grove2 the celestial         
,personages are clothed in white1 and   
appear in  the attitude of instructing  
the boy prophet1 who kneels with        
uplifted  face and outstretched arms4   
,beneath is inscribed the scriptures    
through  which ,joseph was led to seek  
,divine instruction3        ,if any of  
you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1   
that giveth to all      men liberally1  
and upbraideth not2 and it shall be     
given him4    ,and ,below3        ,this 
is my beloved ,son1 hear ,him4    ,this 
room is reserved for the higher         
ordinances in the ,priesthood  relating 

to the exaltation of both living and    
dead4    ,dome ,room3 ,near the landing 
of the granite stairway in the          
southeast tower on the third floor1 is  
the entrance to the large  ,dome ,room1 
thirty-nine by forty-four feet4 ,on the 
south side are  three oval windows1 and 
opposite these on the north are         
semi-discs  of pebbled glass looking    
down into the ,celestial ,room and set  
in the  arches thereof4 ,in the center  
appears a large dome1 fifty-one feet  in
 circumference at its base and seven    
feet high4 ,this is set with  seventeen 
jeweled windows and may be readily      
recognized as the ceiling  of the ,holy 
of ,holies already described as a       
prominent feature of the  second floor4 
,in each of these windows electric bulbs
 are placed1  and it is from these the  
room below derives its beauty of ceiling
  illumination and coloring4 ,the walls 
are hung with portraits of ,church      
authorities4 ,no specific ordinance work
 belongs to this apartment4 ,at  the    

northwest corner this room opens into a 
hall or corridor #aie  seventy-five feet
 long1 eight feet wide throughout the   
first fifteen  feet of its extent1 and  
ten feet wide for the rest of its       
course4 ,from  the corridor rooms open  
on either side4    ,the ,elders' ,room  
is the first apartment on the south side
 of the  corridor1 west from the ,dome  
,room4 ,it is thirty-one by thirteen    
feet  and is lighted by one oval window4
 ,the furniture consists of an altar    
for prayer1 chairs and a table4 ,the    
room is reserved for council and  prayer
 by the several quorums of elders within
 the ,salt ,lake ,city  stakes1 each    
body having the right of occupancy      
within specified times4    ,the ,council
 ,room of the ,twelve ,apostles lies to 
the west from  the last1 on the south   
side of the corridor4 ,this is          
twenty-eight  by twenty-nine feet1 and  
has two oval windows on the south4 ,it  
is  furnished with twelve chairs of oak 
upholstered in leather1 other  chairs   

for recorders or clerks1 desks1 table1  
and altar4 ,on the walls  are seen      
portraits of latter-day ,apostles now   
living4 ,adjoining this  chamber is an  
ante-room fourteen by twenty-one feet4  
,the ,council ,room of the ,seventy is  
entered from the corridor near its      
westerly termination4 ,the room is      
twenty-eight by fourteen feet1 and  has 
one oval window on the south side4 ,this
 chamber is reserved for the  use of the
 ,first ,seven ,presidents of the       
,seventies1 or more accurately  stated1 
the ,first ,council of the ,seventy4 ,it
 is furnished for its  purpose with     
seven chairs of a kind1 an extra chair  
for the recorder or  clerk1 a table and 
a prayer altar4    ,the ,council ,room  
of the ,first ,presidency and the       
,twelve ,apostles is  situated on the   
north side of the corridor1 and with its
 ante-room  occupies the greater part   
#aif of that side4 ,the main apartment  
is  forty by twenty-eight feet4 ,in the 
center is a prayer altar of white  wood 

upholstered in crimson velvet4 ,twelve  
large upholstered chairs of  oak are    
arranged in three quadrants of a circle 
around the altar4 ,the  other quadrant  
is occupied by a table1 behind which are
 three chairs  of a kind for the three  
presiding high priests who constitute   
the  ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 
and another chair for the ,presiding    
,patriarch4 ,these pieces1 with desk1   
table1 and chair for the use of  the    
recorder1 constitute the essential      
furniture of the room2 all  additional  
pieces are decorative4 ,the walls       
support several fine  paintings1 among  
which are two canvases depicting the    
descent from the  cross1 one of the     
burial of the crucified ,christ1 and    
others of scenes  in the life of the    
,savior4 ,beside these there are        
original canvases  showing landscape    
scenes of interest in the history of the
 restored  ,church4    ,the ante-room to
 this chamber is sixteen by fourteen    
feet4 ,on the north  side is seen a     

commemorative window of colored glass1  
presenting in the  central panel a      
splendid picture of the finished        
,temple1 above which  appears the sacred
 inscription1 ,holiness to the ,lord4   
,each of the  side panels presents an   
escutcheon with scroll and              
inscriptions4#h    ,the ,high ,council  
,room3 ,immediately north from the      
ante-room to the  chamber reserved for  
the ,first ,presidency and the ,twelve  
,apostles1 is a  room twenty-five by    
sixteen feet1 allotted to the use of the
 ,presidency  and ,high ,council of each
 of #aig the stakes of ,zion included   
within  this district4 ,the occupancy of
 this room is regulated by rule1 and the
  presiding bodies of each of the stakes
 concerned have access thereto  at      
appointed times1 specifically for       
devotional service4 ,in business        
session these organizations meet        
elsewhere1 not in the ,temple4 ,the room
  is furnished with the requisite number
 of chairs1 a table1 a desk1 and  an    

altar4    ,the ,main ,assembly ,room1   
which with its vestries and the end     
corridors  occupies the whole of the    
fourth floor1 is one hundred and twenty 
by eighty feet in area1 and thirty-six  
feet in height4 ,a commodious  gallery  
extends along both sides1 and but for   
the space occupied by the  stands1      
includes the ends4 ,at either end of    
this great auditorium is a  spacious    
stand1--a terraced platform1--a multiple
 series of pulpits4  ,the two are alike 
as to finish and furniture2 a           
description of one will  serve for both4
    ,the stand comprises four terraces1 
the lowest of which is one foot  above  
the floor1 while each of the other three
 has a rise of two feet4  ,on each of   
the lower three terraces is a settee or 
dais eighteen feet  long2 the upper     
terrace is furnished with a settee eight
 feet long for  the seating of the      
president and his two counselors4 ,on   
each terrace  is a central lectern1 with
 a smaller desk of corresponding design 

on  either side4 ,all the woodwork on   
these terraced platforms is hand        
carved1 and is finished in white and    
gold4    ,the upper stand at either end 
of the room is covered by a canopy1     
supported by columns1 and bearing on its
 front the designation of the  order of 
,priesthood to which the end is devoted4
 ,the stand at the  west end is         
inscribed ,aaronic ,priesthood1 and the 
one at the east1  ,melchisedek          
,priesthood4 ,it will be remembered in  
connection with the  description of the 
,temple exterior that the #aih towers at
 the east  rise to a greater height than
 do those at the west4 ,it is now seen  
that  this difference is in accordance  
with the graded orders of ,priesthood1  
stationed within1 the ,higher at the    
east and the ,lesser at the west4       
,flanking the official stands at either 
end of this auditorium are seats  for   
officials in the ,priesthood not        
directly called to officiate in  the    
services of the day4 ,the gallery and   

the wings of the stands are  furnished  
with folding chairs2 the seats belonging
 to the body of the  auditorium are of  
reversible construction1 so that the    
auditors may  face the stand in which   
the ,priesthood officiating on the      
occasion  belongs4    ,this great room  
is finished in white and gold4 ,from the
 paneled ceiling  large electroliers    
depend1 and these with the cornice      
lights present  a total of three hundred
 and four electric globes4 ,in the rear 
of  each stand are commodious vestries  
with entrances on either side4 ,in  each
 corner of this imposing auditorium1 is 
a spiral stairway leading  to the       
gallery2 the stairway is of graceful    
design with hand-carved  embellishments4
    ,the ,upper floors3 ,above the level
 of the main assembly room with its     
accessories1 there are no rooms4 ,the   
next floor has an elevator landing  at  
the west and a cross-corridor connecting
 the two corner towers at  both the east
 and west ends of the ,temple1 but these

 are all4 ,the next  landing is on a    
level with the roof of the ,temple1     
above which are only  spires and        
finials4    ,the ,four ,granite         
,stairways3 ,in each of the four corner 
towers is a  stairway leading from      
basement to roof1 each and every step of
 solid  granite4 ,the stairs are        
attached to a central column of granite 
four  feet in diameter1 and every step  
is set and anchored to withstand for    
#aii ages any and all ordinary loosening
 by time4 ,in each of these  four corner
 stairways there are one hundred and    
seventy-seven steps1  a total of seven  
hundred and eight in all4 ,each step is 
six feet long  with an insert of three  
inches at either end2 at the narrow end 
each  step is five inches wide1 and at  
the other end twenty inches2 the steps  
present a projecting tread of one inch  
and a half4 ,there are broad  landings  
at convenient intervals in the long     
spiral4 ,each complete step  weighs over
 seventeen hundred pounds1 and the      

aggregate weight of the  granite in the 
four stairways is over one and a quarter
 million pounds4  ,on each floor is a   
cross corridor ten feet in width1       
running north and  south1 connecting the
 tower stairways4 ,at the west end of   
the structure  are two commodious       
elevators running in separate shafts of 
granite from  basement to roof4 ,at     
first hydraulic elevators were          
installed1 but  these have been replaced
 by automatic electric lifts4    ,be it 
remembered that the ,temple has been    
built not for the present  alone4 ,in   
structure it is stable and of the best  
construction skill  and devotion could  
achieve4 ,in the interior its appearance
 is strictly  in keeping with the       
stability of the walls and in harmony   
with the  impressive and imposing       
appearance presented without4 ,in no    
part is  there evidence of hurried plan 
or careless execution4 ,even the attic  
rooms and muniments--but seldom         
used--are well and fully furnished4     

,however1 the ,temple is not beautified 
throughout with equal  elaboration4     
,there has been no lavish nor           
unnecessary expenditure  in             
embellishment4 ,the predominating intent
 has been that of  appropriateness4     
,there are many rooms of plain design1  
furnished in but  simple style2 #bjj    
there are others in which no effort has 
been spared  nor cost considered to     
secure the essentials of grandeur and   
sublimity4  ,in no part is there a hint 
of incompleteness2 nowhere is there a   
suggestion of the excessively ornate4   
,every room has been planned and        
constructed for a definite purpose1 and 
both finished and furnished in  strict  
accordance therewith4 ,within this1 the 
greatest ,temple of the  present        
dispensation1 there is no mere display1 
no wasting of material1  no             
over-ornamentation4 ,the ,temple has    
been planned and built as was  believed 
to be most appropriate to    ,the ,house
 of the ,lord4    ,,footnotes    #a4    

,prior to #aiaa the ,temple was supplied
 with heat and light from its  own      
boilers and dynamos2 and during that    
period electric generators  were        
operated in these rooms4 ,steam and     
electricity are now furnished  from a   
central plant situated immediately west 
of the ,temple ,block4 ,see  chapter    
,,ix4    #b4 ,compare with the molten   
sea in the ,temple of ,solomon1 ,i      
,kings  #g3bc-bf2 ,,ii ,chron4 #d3c-e4  
#c4 ,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1      
section #abh4    #d4 ,doctrine and      
,covenants4 #abh3ac4    #e4 ,see ,the   
,articles of ,faith1 ,,xiv3#a-c4    #f4 
,see ,doctrine and ,covenants1 section  
#aaf4    #g4 ,see page #aje4    #h4 ,see
 page #acg4        ,,chapter ,,ix       
,,temple ,,block    #bja ,marvelous as  
was the achievement of the people in    
rearing the  great ,temple1 and         
particularly so in the commencement of  
the work under  conditions that appeared
 so generally unfavorable1 the          
undertaking  becomes even more          

remarkable when we take into            
consideration other  building-work      
carried on while the ,temple was in     
course of erection4  ,not only were     
three other ,temples begun and completed
 during this  period1 but meeting-houses
 were reared all in the various wards   
and  stakes1 and other structures of yet
 greater capacity were erected for      
assemblies of the ,church in general4   
,the buildings constructed on  ,temple  
,block in ,salt ,lake ,city represent in
 and of themselves great  undertakings  
when considered in the light of         
circumstances prevailing  at the time4  
,among such buildings are the existing  
,tabernacle2 the  structure long since  
removed and now referred to as the ,old 
,tabernacle1  and the ,assembly ,hall4  
,it is interesting to know that the     
first shelters erected for public       
gatherings within what is now ,salt     
,lake ,city were boweries2 among these  
the ,old ,bowery is distinctively named 
and known4 ,on the #cast of ,july1      

#ahdg--;but one week after the arrival  
of the pioneers in the valley of  the   
,great ,salt ,lake1 a detachment of the 
,mormon #bjb ,battalion1#a  which had   
just reached the settlement1 or as it   
was even then called1  the city1 built  
for the accommodation of worshipping    
assemblies a  bowery of poles and brush4
 ,this in time was superseded by a yet  
larger  structure of the kind1 one      
hundred feet by sixty feet1 which came  
to be  known in local history as the    
,old ,bowery4 ,it consisted of posts set
 up  at convenient intervals around the 
sides of a quadrangle1 the tops of  the 
posts being joined by poles held in     
place by wooden pegs or lashed  in      
position by rawhide thongs1 and upon    
this skeleton-roof1 willows1            
evergreens1 sagebrush1 and other shrubs 
were piled1 resulting in a  covering    
which was a partial protection from the 
sun1 though but a poor  barrier against 
wind and rain4    ,the old ,tabernacle3 
,at first this building was known as the

  ,tabernacle2 since the erection of the
 present building bearing that  name1   
the earlier structure has come to be    
known as the ,old ,tabernacle4  ,it was 
one hundred and twenty-six feet in      
length by sixty-four feet  in width1 and
 occupied the site of the present       
,assembly ,hall in the  south-west      
corner of ,temple ,block4 ,for its day  
and time it was a large  and pretentious
 building4 ,as to its seating capacity1 
we read that at  the time of its        
dedication during the ,april conference 
of #aheb1 there  were twenty-five       
hundred persons present at one session4 
,its ceiling  was #bjc arched and was   
supported without pillars4 ,many of the 
posts  and poles of the ,old ,bowery    
entered into the construction of the    
,old  ,tabernacle4#b    ,the            
,tabernacle3 ,the building now so known 
was distinctively  designated the ,new  
,tabernacle at the time of its          
construction4 ,it  was begun in ,july1  
#ahfd1 and was so far advanced as to    

permit the  holding of the general      
conference beneath its roof in ,october1
 #ahfg4  ,this remarkable structure was 
planned and erected under the direction 
of ,president ,brigham ,young4 ,for it  
no claim of architectural beauty  is    
asserted2 the general appearance is that
 of a huge inverted bowl  resting on    
pillars4 ,it is in truth a vast         
elliptical dome supported  at the edge  
by massive sandstone walls and          
buttresses4 ,the buttresses  measure    
nine feet in width or depth and three   
feet in thickness4  ,the space between  
the buttresses is occupied by doors1    
windows1 and  walls2 the doors open     
outward1 thus affording ready means of  
exit4 ,the  building measures two       
hundred and fifty feet in length and one
 hundred  and fifty feet in width at the
 center4 ,the ceiling is seventy feet   
from  the floor in the middle2 and from 
the ceiling to roof the distance is  ten
 feet4 ,a capacious gallery1 thirty feet
 wide1 extends along the  inner walls   

and is broken at the west end only1     
where it gives place to  the grand organ
 and the seats reserved for the great   
choir4 ,in contrast  with the usual     
methods of construction this enormous   
#bjd gallery is  not continuous with the
 walls4 ,at intervals of twelve to      
fifteen feet  great beams connect the   
gallery with the wall buttresses1 but   
between  these beams the gallery is set 
forward two and one-half feet from the  
inside of the walls and the open spaces 
are guarded by a high railing4  ,it is  
believed that the surprising acoustic   
properties of the building  are due in  
part to this feature of construction2   
the great dome is1  in fact1 a colossal 
whispering gallery1 as the hundreds of  
thousands  of visitors who have         
inspected the building know4 ,when it is
 emptied  save for the few1 the fall of 
a pin dropped at the focal point of the 
ellipse near one end of the building may
 be heard at the corresponding  point   
near the other end4 ,the convenient     

seating capacity of the  building1      
including that of the gallery1 is nearly
 nine thousand1  though under conditions
 of crowding1 congregations much larger 
than  this have assembled4    ,at the   
west end are the stands including the   
pulpits4 ,there are really  three       
pulpits rising in tiers or terraces2    
these afford accommodations  for the    
,church officers of different grades in 
authority4 ,on either  side of the      
pulpit-terraces are extended platforms  
for other bodies of  ,priesthood4       
,behind the stands and pulpits1 rising  
on either side to  the level of the     
gallery and occupying the space in front
 of the great  organ1 is the choir      
space1 seated to accommodate            
approximately three  hundred singers1   
with extra provision in the gallery for 
nearly as many  more4    ,at the west   
end of the building is the great organ1 
generally admitted  to be one of the    
best instruments of its class ever      
built4 ,at the time  of its construction

 it was the largest organ in this       
country and the  second or third #bje   
largest in the world4 ,one of the many  
surprising  features connected with the 
instrument lies in the fact of its      
having  been constructed by local       
artisans2 the woodwork1 including pipe  
and  mechanical equipment1 is wholly of 
native material4 ,the organ occupies  a 
floor-space of thirty-three by thirty   
feet1 and rises to a height  of forty   
feet for the body of the organ itself1  
while the towers in  front reach a      
height of forty-eight feet4 ,its stops  
and regulators  number one hundred and  
ten2 it contains over three thousand six
 hundred  pipes1 which range from half  
an inch to thirty-two feet in speaking  
length4 ,there are four complete finger 
key-boards and one pedal system1  making
 in all five individual organs4 ,in size
 and proportions the organ  comports    
with the great building in which it is  
installed2 while in  tonal quality and  
mechanical equipment it is of an order  

of excellence  corresponding to the     
other appointments of this splendid     
auditorium4    ,the domed roof is       
constructed on the principle of         
lattice-work support1  and is           
self-sustaining throughout its entire   
extent1 there being no  pillars between 
ceiling and floor4 ,the roof-work is of 
wood1 and at  the time of its           
construction the beams and trusses were 
held together  by wooden pegs and       
rewhide thongs4 ,these materials were   
used instead  of nails from necessity   
rather than from choice2 nails were     
obtainable  only as new supplies were   
brought in by prairie wagons1 and the   
cost  of the long haul precluded their  
use4 ,while at present there are many   
larger roof-spans in the great buildings
 of the country1 most of the  more      
recent structures are of steel2 and it  
is doubtful if ever there  has been made
 a more stable structure of its kind    
consisting wholly of  wood4    ,the     
,assembly ,hall3 ,in the south-west     

corner of #bjf ,temple ,block  stands   
the ,assembly ,hall1 a substantial      
structure designed for  congregations of
 smaller size than those requiring the  
great ,tabernacle  auditorium4 ,during  
the summer of #ahgg the ,old            
,tabernacle1 about which  so many       
pleasant memories had clustered1 was    
removed to make room for  the new       
building4 ,the ,assembly ,hall was begun
 in the year named1 and1  though        
meetings were held in the unfinished    
structure1 it was not until  #ahhb that 
the building was ready for dedication4  
,the edifice is one  hundred and twenty 
by sixty-eight feet1 including the      
extreme recesses4  ,the walls are of    
granite from the quarries in ,cottonwood
 canyon4    ,general ,service ,plant3   
,all the buildings at present occupying 
,temple  ,block1 together with many     
others on adjoining squares1 are        
supplied  with steam1 hot-water1 and    
electric current for light1 heat1 and   
power1  from an independent plant       

situated near the middle of the city    
square  immediately west from ,temple   
,block4 ,from this plant great          
subterranean  tunnels lead to the       
several buildings connected therewith4  
,the main  tunnel is six feet six inches
 in height1 by five feet six inches in  
width2 through this run all pipes for   
steam and water1 ammonia pipes  for     
cooling purposes1 and1 in addition1 a   
full equipment of electric  conductors4 
,the diverging branch-tunnels are each  
six feet six inches  by four feet4 ,the 
buildings supplied from this plant with 
electric  light1 heat1 and power1 and   
with steam and hot water1 are the       
following3    #a4 ,all the buildings on 
,temple ,block1 comprising the great    
,temple and  its accessories1 viz41 the 
,annex1 the conservatory1 the gate house
 or  porter's cottage1 the ,tabernacle1 
the ,assembly ,hall1 and the ,bureau of 
,information4    #bjg #b4 ,all the      
buildings belonging to the ,latter-day  
,saints'  ,university1 comprising the   

,business ,college1 ,barratt ,hall1 the 
,brigham  ,young ,memorial ,building1   
and the ,lion ,house4    #c4 ,the       
,bishop's ,building1 and the old        
,tithing ,office or ,bishop's ,store    
,house1 now used for work in connection 
with the ,latter-day ,saints'           
,university4    #d4 ,the ,deseret       
,gymnasium4    #e4 ,the offices of the  
,first ,presidency of the ,church1      
together with the  official residence of
 the ,president1 known as the ,bee ,hive
 ,house4 ,these  buildings are situated 
at a distance of two and one-half city  
squares  from the main plant4    #f4    
,the large and famous hostelry1 the     
,hotel ,utah4    #g4 ,the ,deseret ,news
 ,building and the ,deseret ,news       
,annex4    #h4 ,the ,vermont ,building4 
#i4 ,the ,sharon ,building1 and several 
other smaller structures4    ,the entire
 length of the tunnel system is over    
fourteen hundred feet1  and the tunnels 
are constructed of reinforced concrete  
with walls six  inches thick4 ,from this

 brief and partial description1 it will 
be seen  that the equipment of buildings
 occupying or adjoining ,temple ,block1 
is  commensurate and adequate4          
,,footnotes    #a4 ,the ,mormon         
,battalion was a body of five hundred   
men furnished by the  migrating people  
on demand of the general government to  
assist in the  war between the ,united  
,states and ,mexico4 ,the ,battalion was
 mustered  into service in ,july1 #ahdf1
 and formed part of the forces commanded
  by ,general ,stephen ,f4 ,kearney4    
,the main part of the ,battalion marched
  from ,fort ,leavenworth to ,santa ,fe1
 and arrived in southern ,california    
during ,january1 #ahdg4 ,a detachment   
from this band1 comprising those who    
had become disabled while on the march1 
had wintered at ,pueblo2 this  body     
reached ,salt ,lake ,valley in ,july1   
#ahdg1 but a few days after the         
entrance of the ,pioneers4    #b4       
,descriptions of the ,old ,tabernacle   
and accounts of the proceedings         

incident to its dedication and opening  
for public use appear in the  ,deseret  
,news of that time1 ,april1 #aheb4      
,reprints in part appear in  the        
,latter-day ,saints' ,millennial ,star1 
,vol4 ,,xiv1 ,nos4 #bb and #bc1  ,july  
#bdth and #cast1 #aheb4 ,these accounts 
comprise also synopses of  the minutes  
of the general conference of the ,church
 for that year and  include the         
dedicatory prayer4        ,,chapter ,x  
,,other ,,utah ,,temples    #bjh ,of the
 sanctuaries reared by the ,latter-day  
,saints1 the  great ,temple at ,salt    
,lake ,city has been the first to be    
considered  specifically and in detail  
in these pages4 ,this course has been   
followed because of the fact that among 
modern ,temples the one at ,salt  ,lake 
,city is the largest1 the costliest1 and
 by far the most generally  known2 and  
moreover1 as already stated1 of the four
 ,temples thus far  erected in ,utah    
this was the first begun and the last   
finished4 ,while  it was in course of   

construction three other ,temples were  
proposed1  planned1 built1 dedicated1   
and opened to sacred ordinance service4 
,these are known from their locations as
 the ,st4 ,george ,temple1 the  ,logan  
,temple1 and the ,manti ,temple4 ,the   
sequence in which they are  named is the
 order in which they were completed and 
opened2 it will be  convenient to follow
 this order in further considering them4
    ,each of the three is constructed on
 the same general plan1 and for  similar
 specific purposes4 ,while they are of  
varying richness1 and each  is smaller  
and less elaborate than the great       
,temple at ,salt ,lake ,city1  their    
appointments and equipment are          
essentially the same4 ,no detailed      
description of internal arrangements or 
furnishings will be attempted1  as such 
would be little more than a reiteration 
in part of what has  been said4    ,,the
 ,,st4 ,,george ,,temple    #bji ,the   
city of ,st4 ,george1 the county seat of
 ,washington county1  ,utah1 is situated

 near the southwesterly corner of the   
,state1 about  two hundred and seventy  
miles from ,salt ,lake ,city in a direct
 line1  and three hundred and thirty as 
the road runs4 ,before the walls of the 
,temple at ,salt ,lake ,city had been   
carried above the basement story1 the   
erection of a ,temple in the southern   
part of the ,territory of ,utah had     
been fully determined4 ,the site for the
 ,st4 ,george ,temple when selected  by 
,president ,brigham ,young lay in the   
suburbs of the city4 ,the grounds       
comprise an entire city block of six    
acres4    ,on ,thursday1 ,november #ith1
 #ahga1 ,president ,brigham ,young and  
his  ,first ,counselor1 ,george ,a4     
,smith1 together with ,erastus ,snow1   
then  ,president of the ,southern       
,mission1 ,joseph ,w4 ,young1 then      
,president of  the ,st4 ,george ,stake  
of ,zion1 a goodly number of other      
bearers of the  ,priesthood1 and the    
general public1 dedicated the site and  
broke ground  preparatory to laying the 

foundation of the building4 ,after the  
prayer1  which was offered by ,elder    
,george ,a4 ,smith1 ,president ,brigham 
,young  addressed the people4 ,from the 
report of his remarks the following     
excerpts are taken1 as they furnish an  
illustration of the earnestness  with   
which the commission to build ,temples  
was regarded1 and of the  practical     
nature of what the people considered to 
be their duties as  members of the      
,church4 ,the ,president urged a        
concentration of effort on  the part of 
the people in the work1 and continued3  
,the idea may arise that this is a hard 
land in which to get a      living4 ,now
 ,i am very thankful for the land just  
as it #baj is4      ,i am glad that it  
is just as it is4 ,it is a splendid     
country to      rear ,saints in4 ,among 
our other duties we have to build a     
temple      here4 ,i advise that the    
,bishop of this city1 the ,bishop of    
,santa      ,clara1 and the ,bishop of  
,washington1 apportion labor among the  

members of their respective wards to    
excavate the ground for the             
foundation of the temple1 and to haul   
rock1 sand1 clay and other              
material4 ,if the brethren undertake to 
do this work with one heart      and    
mind1 we shall be blessed exceedingly1  
and prospered of the      ,lord in our  
earthly substance4 ,now1 if the people  
present are one      with the ,first    
,presidency in this work1 and will unite
 with them      to prosecute the labor  
of building this temple1 by faith1      
prayers      and good works1 let all1   
brethren and sisters1 manifest it by the
      uplifted hand4    ,the people with
 one accord raised their hands4 ,the    
official record  continues as follows3  
,president ,young took a shovel in his  
hand and said1 pointing to      the     
stake which had previously been driven  
in the south-east corner      of the    
building site3 ',immediately under this 
stake and in the      foundation will be
 placed a stone containing sacred       

records1 and      immediately over this 
stake1 when the building is completed1  
will      be placed another stone       
containing records of the temple' ,he   
then      said1 suiting the action to   
the word3 ',i now commence by moving    
this dirt in the name of ,israel's      
,god4' ,all the people said ',amen4'    
,an address was delivered by ,elder     
,erastus ,snow in which he called to    
mind the promises and prophecies made   
ten years before1 relative to the       
prosperity that would attend the people 
in the southern region1 and  furthermore
 he pointed out the fulfilment of many  
of the predictions4  ,then followed the 
solemn ,hosanna shout4    ,work on the  
excavation began immediately2 on the    
afternoon of the  very day of           
dedication1 plows and scrapers #baa were
 put in action4  ,as announced at the   
time of the dedication of the site1 the 
following  specifications as to         
dimensions and construction had been    
decided upon3        ,outside           

measurement1 #adb feet long by #if feet 
wide1 including the      buttresses1 and
 #hj feet high to the top of the        
parapet4 ,it will be      built of      
stone1 plastered outside and inside4    
,there will be a tower      in the      
center of the east end1 and on the      
extreme corners of the      same end1   
right and left of the tower1 are        
cylindrical staircases2      one side of
 the stairs rests in the cylinder1 the  
other side in a      newel in the center
 of the cylinder4 ,the roof will be     
flat1 and      covered with roofing     
similar to that on the ,new ,tabernacle 
in ,salt      ,lake ,city4 ,the building
 will consist of two stories and a      
basement4      ,the two main rooms or   
halls1 one over the other1 will each be 
#ajj      feet by #hj feet4 ,the ceiling
 of these will be arched1 resting       
upon columns1 and so constructed as to  
admit of sixteen rooms for      council 
and other purposes in each of those two 
main stories4 ,the      height of the   

main ceiling in the centre is #bg feet2 
the height      of the other ceilings   
about #i feet4 ,the basement will       
contain the      font1 and will be used 
for ceremonial purposes4#a    ,a        
record-stone was placed at the          
south-east corner of the building1 and  
therein were deposited1 on ,march #ca1  
#ahgc1 a metallic box containing  copies
 of the scriptures and other            
publications of the ,church1 together   
with a silver plate bearing the         
following inscription3        ,holiness 
to the ,lord4        ,the ,church of    
,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints   
was organized and      established      
agreeable to the laws of our country1   
#bab by the      will and commandments  
of ,god1 on the sixth of ,april1 #ahcj4 
,which      commandments were given to  
,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 who was called of 
,god1 and ordained an ,apostle of ,jesus
 ,christ1 to be the first ,elder      in
 the ,church4        ,joseph ,smith1    
,jr41 ,president1 with his brother      

,hyrum1 ,patriarch of      the whole    
,church1 suffered martyrdom in          
,carthage1 ,illinois1 ,june      #bgth1 
#ahdd1 and the ,church was driven into  
the wilderness in #ahdf4    ,then       
followed the names of all the general   
authorities of the ,church as  at that  
time constituted4#b    ,to the          
specifications given in the foregoing it
 is necessary to add  only the following
 to make the description fairly         
complete4 ,the tower  is thirty-one feet
 square2 the vane on the tower is one   
hundred and  seventy-five feet from the 
ground4 ,the foundation of the entire   
basement story consists of a black      
basaltic lava1 a rock occurring         
abundantly in the region and well       
adapted to the purpose4 ,the soil  of   
the place is sandy and heavily          
impregnated with alkaline mineral       
salts2 and no rock that readily         
undergoes disintegration1 either        
through abrasion or as the result of a  
solution of cementing material1  is     

suitable for foundation work in this    
soil4 ,the foundation of the  building  
extends below the ground-level ten feet4
 ,about two-thirds of  the east end and 
a portion of the northerly side rest on 
bed-rock in  place2 throughout the rest 
of its extent the foundation is laid on 
a  thick layer of broken volcanic rock  
firmly compacted under the blows  of a  
nine-hundred-pound pile driver4 ,a      
capacious drain encircles the  building 
and connects with a yet larger drain    
fifty feet easterly from  the square    
tower4 ,the foundation is twelve #bac   
feet wide at the  bottom1 and the walls 
are gradually diminished in width so    
that at the  level of the basement      
window sills they have a thickness of   
three feet  eight inches4 ,above the    
basement story the building is          
constructed  of the fine red sandstone  
of the region1 from quarries            
specifically  located and opened for    
this work4 ,timber and lumber had to be 
hauled by  team from distances of from  

seventy to ninety miles4    ,the ,temple
 stands in the open plain on but a      
slight elevation1  practically devoid of
 all the prominence that belongs to a   
commanding  position of altitude4 ,the  
ground on which the building rests1 as  
well  as the region for miles round     
about1 is of a prevailing dark-red      
color2  and this1 too1 is the color of  
the sandstone of which the ,temple  is  
built4 ,naturally1 the building as a    
whole would blend with its              
surroundings1 so as to be practically   
invisible from even a moderate          
distance4 ,a contrast has been afforded 
by whitening the walls2 and as a  result
 the structure has become a striking    
feature of the landscape4    ,as to the 
interior it may be sufficient to say    
that all the ordinance  work connected  
with baptism1 ordination1 endowment1 and
 sealing1  as performed in the ,temple  
at ,salt ,lake ,city1 is administered in
 a  similar manner in this ,temple1 and 
provision therefor is made4 ,for  all   

the sacred ordinances there is ample    
equipment of rooms and  furnishings4    
,the basement floor is divided into     
fourteen rooms of which  the baptistry  
or font-room1 thirty-five by forty feet1
 is one of the  largest and most        
important4 ,as is usual1 the baptistry  
is situated  below the general level of 
the assembly rooms4 ,also as in the     
other  temples1 the baptismal font rests
 upon twelve oxen of cast iron1  which  
occupy a depression slightly below the  
floor4 ,the font1 #bad  oxen1 iron      
stairs1 and all accessories1 weighing in
 all over eighteen  thousand pounds1    
were cast in ,salt ,lake ,city and were 
hauled by team  thence to ,st4 ,george4 
,the entire baptistry equipment was the 
personal  gift of ,president ,brigham   
,young4    ,above the basement there are
 two stories4 ,in each of these there is
  one main room ninety-nine by          
seventy-eight feet inside measurement1  
with an arched or elliptical ceiling    
twenty-seven feet from the floor  in the

 center4 ,flanking this main apartment  
on either side are a  number of smaller 
rooms used for ordinance work and as    
assembly rooms  for councils of the     
,priesthood4 ,the large room on the     
middle floor  corresponds in use to the 
splendid ,celestial ,room already       
described  as a prominent feature of the
 ,temple at ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,in the  
same  way the large room on the upper   
floor corresponds to the main assembly  
room on the fourth floor of the ,salt   
,lake ,city ,temple1 and is provided    
with pulpits at both east and west ends1
 the former devoted to the use  of the  
,higher or ,melchisedek ,priesthood1 the
 latter reserved for the  officials of  
the ,lesser or ,aaronic order of        
,priesthood4    ,adjoining the main     
building is an accessory structure known
 as the  ,annex2 this is seventy-four   
feet long by twenty-four feet wide1     
exclusive of a lean-to on the east side1
 which is forty-three feet by  nine     
feet4 ,the ,annex was built in #ahhb4   

,it contains boiler and engine  rooms1  
apartments for the guard1 a refectory   
for the accommodation of  workers1      
recorder's offices1 etc4    ,the ,st4   
,george ,temple was built by free-will  
offerings and by  appropriations from   
the tithings of the people4 ,in one     
year1  specifically the year #ahge1 over
 one hundred and twenty-three thousand  
dollars were expended #bae in the work1 
and the total cost of the  completed    
building was considerably more than five
 hundred thousand  dollars4 ,the        
structure was practically finished by   
the close of #ahgf4  ,some parts were   
dedicated on ,january #a1 #ahgg1 so as  
to permit of  certain ordinance work to 
be done before the dedication of the    
building  as a whole1 which event       
occurred on the sixth of ,april         
following4 ,at  the preliminary         
dedicatory service1 ,january #a1 #ahgg1 
twelve hundred  and thirty persons were 
in attendance4 ,music1 some of which had
 been  specially composed for the       

occasion1 was rendered by the choir1 and
  dedicatory prayers were offered by    
members of the ,council of the ,twelve  
as follows3 by ,elder ,wilford ,woodruff
 in the basement story2 by ,elder       
,erastus ,snow in the main room of the  
story next above the basement2 by       
,elder ,brigham ,young1 ,jr41 in the    
room designated as the sealing room4    
,addresses were delivered by ,elders    
,erastus ,snow1 ,wilford ,woodruff1 and 
by ,president ,brigham ,young4          
,baptisms for the dead were first       
administered in the ,st4 ,george ,temple
  on ,january #i1 #ahgg2 and endowments 
for the dead were begun two days  later4
    ,proceedings incident to the        
dedication of the ,temple as a whole    
began  on the #dth of ,april1 #ahgg1 and
 terminated on the sixth1 the last day's
  assembly being held in connection with
 the annual conference of the  ,church1 
which conference had been appointed to  
be held at ,st4 ,george1  in view of the
 dedication4 ,on the fourth and fifth of

 the month general  assemblies were held
 in the ,temple during both forenoon and
 afternoon1  each session #baf marked by
 the rendition of special music and by  
inspired addresses from the ,church     
leaders4 ,at ten in the morning on      
,friday1 ,april #fth1 the general       
conference was opened in the ,temple4   
,the presiding officers of the several  
quorums occupied the stands  exclusively
 allotted4 ,there was but little in the 
way of special  addresses1 two days     
having been devoted to the work of      
instruction and  preliminary            
preparation4 ,the dedicatory prayer was 
offered by ,daniel ,h4  ,wells1 ,second 
,counselor in the ,first ,presidency of 
the ,church4#c    ,,the ,,logan ,,temple
    ,scarcely had the ,st4 ,george      
,temple been finished and opened to the 
sacred ordinances for which it had been 
built1 when another ,house of  the ,lord
 was begun by the ,latter-day ,saints1  
this at ,logan in the  northern section 
of the long-time ,territory and present 

,state of ,utah4  ,the ,st4 ,george     
,temple was dedicated on the #fth of    
,april1 #ahgg2 the  ,logan ,temple was  
begun on the #aith of ,september in the 
same year4    ,the city of ,logan is the
 county seat of ,cache county and the   
distributing center for the rich and    
beautiful ,cache valley1 a valley  that 
has won for itself the distinguishing   
name of the ,granary of  ,utah4 ,logan  
is sixty-six miles on a straight line   
from ,salt ,lake ,city1  and one hundred
 and two miles as the railway runs4 ,the
 ,temples of ,st4  ,george and ,logan   
are therefore three hundred and         
thirty-six miles apart  in a direct     
line4 ,logan is prominent in the valley 
by virtue of its  commanding situation2 
#bag it occupies the delta and adjoining
 terrace  built by the mountain stream  
that flowed from the canyon into old    
,lake  ,bonneville1 and commands a view 
of the entire valley with the majestic  
mountain-wall in the background4 ,the   
,temple occupies a position of          

prominence in the city1 situated as it  
is upon one of the higher  terraces     
locally known as the ,bench1 and visible
 from practically all  points in the    
great valley4 ,the grounds comprise an  
entire city block  of eight acres2 and  
the ,temple stands in the north-east    
quarter of this  block4    ,the site of 
the ,logan ,temple was dedicated on ,may
 #ag1 #ahgg1 under  the direction of the
 ,presidency of the ,church and the     
,council of the  ,twelve ,apostles4     
,there were in attendance the full      
,first ,presidency1  composed of        
,president ,brigham ,young and his      
counselors1 ,john ,w4 ,young  and       
,daniel ,h4 ,wells2 also ,john ,taylor1 
president of the ,council of the        
,twelve2 ,orson ,pratt and other members
 of that ,council1 together with a      
large concourse of people4 ,the         
dedicatory prayer was offered by ,elder 
,orson ,pratt1 after which ,counselor   
,john ,w4 ,young broke the ground and   
threw out the first spade-full of earth2

 in this ceremonial moving of  the soil 
he was followed by ,counselor ,daniel   
,h4 ,wells and ,president  ,john        
,taylor4 ,brief addresses were delivered
 by ,president ,brigham ,young  and by  
,elders ,daniel ,h4 ,wells and ,john    
,taylor4 ,the remarks of ,brigham       
,young1 expressive of the purpose for   
which temples are built and of  the     
unselfish spirit in which the work was  
to be prosecuted1 were as  follows3     
,we have dedicated this spot of ground  
upon which we expect to      erect a    
temple in which to administer the       
ordinances of the ,house      of ,god4  
,into this house1 when it is #bah       
completed1 we expect to      enter to   
enjoy the blessings of the ,priesthood  
and receive our      anointings1 our    
endowments and our sealings2 and the    
brethren will      be sealed to brethren
 to continue the links and make perfect 
the      chain from ourselves to ,father
 ,adam4 ,this is the object of the      
temple which we are about to commence   

building at this place4 ,we      require
 the brethren and the sisters to go to  
with their might and      erect this    
temple2 and from the architect to the   
boy who carries      the drinking water 
to the men that work on the building1 we
 wish      them to understand that wages
 are entirely out of the question4 ,we  
are going to build a ,house for         
ourselves and we shall expect the       
brethren and sisters1 neighborhood after
 neighborhood1 ward after      ward1 to 
turn out their proportion of men to come
 here and labor as      they shall be   
notified by the proper authorities4     
,this may be called a temporal work1 but
 it pertains to the      salvation of   
ourselves as well as our friends who    
have passed      behind the veil1 and   
also the generations who are to come    
after us4      ,we can carry this temple
 forward with our labor without any     
burden      to ourselves if our hearts  
are in the work and we will be blessed  
abundantly in doing so4 ,we will be     

better off in our temporal      affairs 
when it is completed than when we       
commenced1 and than we      would be if 
we did not build it4 ,the time we enjoy 
is the ,lord's1      but we have        
permission to direct its use according  
to our good      pleasure4 ,when the    
brethren come to work on this temple    
they may      expect to be blessed of   
the ,lord according to their faith4     
99 99 99 99 99 99 99        ,we pray for
 you continually that you may be        
blessed4 ,i feel to      bless you      
according to the power and keys of the  
,holy ,priesthood      bestowed upon me 
and my brethren with me1 heart and hand1
 and all      the ,saints feel to say   
',amen4' ,feel to bless each other1 feel
 to do      the work of the ,lord and   
dismiss the narrow1 contracted1 covetous
      feelings that are so interwoven   
with the feelings of our natures4       
,it seems hard to get rid of them but we
 must overcome them and      unite      
ourselves together in the holy order of 

,god that #bai we      may be ,saints of
 the ,most ,high1 that our interests1   
our faith and      labors may be        
concentrated in the salvation of the    
human family4        ,brethren and      
sisters1 try to realize these things4   
,awake and lay      these things to     
heart4 ,seek the ,lord to know ,his mind
 and will and      when you ascertain it
 also to have the will to do it4 ,god   
bless      you4 ,amen4    ,on ,monday1  
,may #bh1 #ahgg1 the work of excavation 
was begun4 ,workmen were  supplied by   
wards of the ,logan ,temple ,district1  
which at that time  comprised the       
,cache1 ,box ,elder1 and ,bear ,lake    
,stakes of ,zion4 ,besides  giving of   
their time and energy1--gifts known as  
labor donations1--the  people           
contributed freely of cash1 livestock1  
merchandise1 and  farm produce1 and     
their contributions were supplemented by
 liberal  appropriations from the       
general ,church funds4 ,truman ,o4      
,angell1 ,jr41  was the architect4      

,rock-laying began on ,july #bj1 #ahgg1 
on what was  known as the extension--a  
building eighty feet by thirty-six feet 
in  area and twenty-three feet high1    
lying immediately north of the ,temple  
proper and connected therewith2 this has
 been used since the completion  of the 
,temple for engine room1 office1        
reception1 and assembly rooms1  thus    
corresponding to the ,annex of the      
,temple in ,salt ,lake ,city4    ,on    
,september #ai1 #ahgg1 the corner stones
 were laid under the immediate          
direction of ,john ,taylor1 president of
 the ,council of the ,twelve4           
,president ,taylor laid the south-east  
corner stone and ,franklin ,d4          
,richards offered the dedicatory prayer 
thereon4 ,the south-west corner  stone  
was laid by ,edward ,hunter1 ,presiding 
bishop of the ,church1 and  the         
dedicatory prayer thereon was offered by
 his counselor1 ,leonard  ,w4 ,hardy4   
,the north-west corner stone was laid by
 ,george ,l4 ,farrell1  president of    

#bbj the ,high ,priests' quorum of the  
,cache ,stake of  ,zion1 and the        
accompanying prayer was offered by      
,moses ,thatcher1 of  the ,council of   
the ,twelve4 ,the north-east corner     
stone was laid by  ,albert ,p4          
,rockwood1 one of the ,first ,council of
 the ,seventy1 and the  accompanying    
prayer was offered by ,horace ,s4       
,eldredge1 another member  of the ,first
 ,council of the ,seventy4    ,the      
,temple as it stands is one hundred and 
seventy-one feet long1  ninety-five feet
 wide1 and eighty-six feet high at the  
square1 with  an octagonal tower at each
 corner one hundred feet high1 and a    
large  square tower at each end4 ,the   
tower at the west end is one hundred and
  sixty-five feet1 and that at the east 
one hundred and seventy feet  high4 ,in 
this feature of the east tower being    
higher than that at the  west the ,logan
 ,temple resembles the greater structure
 at ,salt ,lake  ,city4 ,massive        
buttresses strengthen the walls1 and the

 masonry is of  the best4 ,as to        
architecture1 the ,temple may be        
described as belonging  to the          
castellated style4    ,the rock used in 
the building was brought from the       
mountain quarries  near by1 and is a    
very hard1 compact1 dark-colored        
silicious limestone1  locally called    
fucoid rock from its content of         
fossilized marine plants  known as      
fucoids4 ,a more typical limestone was  
used for the arches  and for the        
uprights and lintels of doors and       
windows1 this material  being           
susceptible of a better dressed surface 
than was possible with  the silicious   
rock4 ,watertables1 string-courses1 and 
the caps of  battlements and towers1    
consist of a light buff sandstone1      
brought from  quarries near ,franklin1  
,idaho4 ,as the rock used in the walls  
is of  diversified color the entire     
exterior has been painted in buff4      
#bba ,the lumber used in the building   
was obtained from ,logan canyon  and was

 prepared at the ,temple saw-mill1 which
 had been specially  installed for the  
purpose4 ,an interesting sidelight is   
thrown on the  spirit of earnestness    
with which the people went about this   
work of  temple building1 by the fact   
that even the saw-mill was ceremonially 
dedicated when first put in commission4 
,all the lumber used was  selected1 and1
 as nearly as possible1 was chosen so as
 to be free  from defect4 ,the principal
 varieties are red pine for the heavier 
work and white pine for such interior   
construction as stands and  altars4 ,the
 framework of the roof is of the best   
red pine1 and is of  ingenious          
construction1 spanning a distance of    
ninety-five feet without  under-pinning4
 ,at first the roof was covered with    
sheet-metal1 but this  proved           
unsatisfactory because of leakage due to
 fractures resulting  from variations in
 temperature2 and the old but efficient 
style of  shingle roof was finally      
substituted4 ,the workmanship throughout

 is  high class2 indeed it is said that 
after nearly thirty years not a door    
has been known to sag or a wall to      
crack4 ,the total cost of the ,temple   
when completed was approximately seven  
hundred thousand dollars4    ,the       
building has five full stories4 ,the    
basement story is occupied by  the font 
room and adjoining dressing rooms4 ,in  
common with the practise  followed in   
,latter-day ,saint ,temples generally1  
the font is supported  on twelve oxen of
 cast-iron which stand in a well beneath
 the general  level of the floor4 ,from 
the basement level rise at intervals of 
a few  feet a number of rooms used in   
ceremonial work4 ,thus1 about eight feet
  above the basement floor is the room  
corresponding to the ,lower ,lecture    
,room1 four feet higher one             
corresponding to the ,garden #bbb ,room1
 and  five feet higher one corresponding
 to the ,world ,room1 and yet ten feet  
higher a room corresponding to the      
,upper ,lecture ,room or ,terrestrial   

,room1 as already described in          
connection with the ,temple at ,salt    
,lake  ,city4 ,the rest of the space in 
the first and second stories is occupied
  by offices for the president of the   
,temple1 the recorders and other        
officials1 library room1 etc4 ,the third
 story is occupied by what is  known as 
the ,c ,room1 which corresponds to the  
,celestial ,room elsewhere  described4  
,as in other ,temples this is the most  
splendidly finished of  all the large   
rooms4 ,connecting with this room on the
 east side are  three small apartments  
used in the sealing ordinances4    ,the 
fourth floor is wholly occupied by the  
main assembly room with its  vestries   
and ante-chambers4 ,the assembly room   
itself is one hundred and  four feet    
long by ninety-five feet wide1 and the  
ceiling is thirty feet  high4 ,at the   
east is a large elevated platform with  
stands or pulpits  reserved for the     
officers of the ,melchisedek            
,priesthood1 and at the  west is a      

corresponding platform with stands      
devoted to the officers of  the ,aaronic
 ,priesthood4 ,the auditorium is        
occupied by reversible seats1  allowing 
the audience to face either way         
according to the nature of  the services
 at any time1--whether conducted by the 
,higher or ,lesser  ,priesthood4 ,this  
room provides for the comfortable       
seating of fifteen  hundred people4 ,the
 fifth floor comprises detached rooms in
 the east  and west towers4 ,there are  
no rooms in the main body above the     
assembly  room on the fourth floor      
already described4    ,the ,logan       
,temple was seven years in building4 ,on
 ,may #ag1 #ahhd1 the  structure was    
dedicated to the service of the ,lord   
and immediately  thereafter was opened  
for #bbc sacred ordinances4 ,the        
dedicatory  services lasted three days1 
that is to say1 services were held on   
each  of two days following the official
 dedication1 and on these later days    
the dedicatory prayer was read to the   

assembly4 ,the ceremonies and  services 
attending the dedication were held in   
the large assembly room  on the fourth  
floor1 and the seating capacity of the  
great auditorium  was taxed to the      
utmost at every meeting4 ,president     
,brigham ,young  had died before the    
laying of the corner-stone1 and the     
building of  the ,temple had been       
prosecuted at first under the           
administration of  the ,council of the  
,twelve1 which1 on the dissolution of   
the ,first  ,presidency becomes the     
presiding council of the ,church1 and   
later  under the direction of the new   
,first ,presidency4 ,on the day of the  
dedication the prayer was offered by    
,president ,john ,taylor1 after  which  
his ,counselors1 ,elders ,george ,q4    
,cannon and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1  made   
addresses1 and they were followed by    
,elders ,wilford ,woodruff and  ,lorenzo
 ,snow of the ,council of the ,twelve   
,apostles4 ,a brief address  was then   
delivered by ,president ,john ,taylor1  

after which the stirring  ,hosanna shout
 was rendered4 ,benediction was         
pronounced by ,john ,smith1  the        
,presiding ,patriarch4#d    ,,the       
,,manti ,,temple    ,before construction
 work had been begun on the ,logan      
,temple1  preparations were in progress 
for the erection of another ,house of   
the ,lord4 ,manti1 the chief city of    
,sanpete ,county1 situated about  one   
hundred and four miles southerly from   
,salt ,lake ,city in a direct  line1    
#bbd and one hundred and thirty miles by
 rail1 was selected  as the place of    
this new sanctuary4 ,in a circular      
issued by the  ,first ,presidency and   
the ,council of the ,twelve1 ,october   
#be1 #ahgf1  the boundaries of the      
,manti ,temple district were specified1 
as the  following shows3        ,we feel
 led to say to the ,latter-day ,saints  
throughout these      mountains1 let us 
arise and build temples unto our ,god at
 such      places as ,he shall          
designate1 into which we and our        

children can      enter and receive     
those blessings that ,he has in store   
for us4 ,let      the ,bishops of the   
settlements in ,washington1 ,kane1      
,iron1 ,piute1      ,beaver1 ,millard1  
,sevier1 ,sanpete and ,juab counties    
call the people      of their wards     
together and ascertain from them how    
much each      one is willing to do in  
labor and means1 monthly1 quarterly1 and
      annually1 toward the erection of a
 ,temple at ,manti1 ,sanpete ,county4   
,let it not be forgotten that at this   
time the people were putting forth      
strong efforts to complete the temple at
 ,st4 ,george1 and were taking          
preliminary steps toward the erection of
 that at ,logan2 and throughout  this   
period the greatest temple of all was in
 course of construction at  ,salt ,lake 
,city4 ,yet1 notwithstanding the weight 
of these duties1 which  many would call 
tasks if not burdens1 the call of       
authority was heard  directing another  
great undertaking of the kind4    ,as to

 the location of the precise site on    
which the ,manti ,temple should  stand1 
a decision had been reached in a council
 of the authorities  held at ,ephraim1  
,june #be1 #ahge1 and the spot known as 
the ,manti ,stone  ,quarry had been     
reserved for the purpose4 ,the spot so  
designated is the  termination or point 
of a hill1 which in turn appears as the 
spur of  a low range of hills1 marked by
 the outcrop of a well stratified and   
evenly bedded deposit of oolite4 ,this  
is a granular rock1 the separate        
particles of which are #bbe minute      
spheroids consisting of concentric      
layers of calcium carbonate2 the stone  
appears under a lens not unlike         
fish-roe1 hence the name oolite1        
literally meaning egg-stone4 ,the       
selection of this spot on which to found
 the temple meant that the  structure   
would literally be built upon the       
rock1--upon rock in place1  upon an     
unbroken and undisturbed terrane4 ,the  
temple was to consist of  stone found at

 the spot1 cut and shaped for beauty and
 service4 ,the  material is admirably   
adapted for the purpose2 readily        
quarried1 easily  tooled1 and withal    
attractive both in texture and color4   
,the ,manti  oolite is of uniform grain 
and of a fine cream color4 ,it has been 
used  extensively for the erection of   
some of the more pretentious residences 
in ,salt ,lake ,city and1 moreover1 is  
the material of the ,annex to the  ,salt
 ,lake ,temple1 and of the              
window-facings and other trimmings of   
the  great granite structure4    ,the   
site at ,manti was dedicated ,april #be1
 #ahgg4 ,in the presence of  many of the
 general authorities of the ,church and 
hundreds of other  people1 ,president   
,young1 standing at the south-east      
corner of the  temple lot1 broke ground 
and dedicated the site by solemn        
service1 he  himself offering the       
prayer4#e ,he then gave brief           
instructions as to  further procedure1  
emphasizing the fact that the temple was

 to be built  by the labor of the people
 and as a free-will offering1 and that  
work  thereon was not to be made a means
 of profit4 ,his address1 so clearly    
illustrative of the peculiar regard with
 which the ,latter-day ,saints  invest  
the great commission they hold to build 
temples unto the ,lord1  follows3       
#bbf ,we now call upon the people1      
through the several bishops      who    
preside in this and the neighboring     
settlements1 for men to      come here  
with teams and wagons1 plows and        
scrapers1 picks and      shovels1 to    
prepare this ground for the mason work4 
,let this work      be commenced        
forthwith2 and as soon as possible we   
shall expect      from #ej to #ajj men  
every working day throughout the season 
to labor      here4        ,we intend   
building this temple for ourselves1 and 
we are      abundantly able to do it2   
therefore no man need come here to work 
expecting wages for his services4 ,the  
neighboring settlements will      send  

their men1 and they can be changed      
whenever1 and as often as1              
desirable2 and they can get credit on   
labor tithing or on donation            
account for their services1 and we      
expect them to work until this          
temple is completed without asking for  
wages4 ,it is not in keeping      with  
the character of ,saints to make the    
building of temples a      matter of    
merchandise4        ,we want to rear    
this temple with clean hands and pure   
hearts1 that      we1 with our children1
 may enter into it to receive our       
washings      and anointings1 the keys  
and ordinances of the holy ,priesthood1 
and      also to officiate in the same  
for our fathers and mothers and our     
forefathers who lived and died without  
the gospel1 that they with      us may  
be made partakers of the fruits of the  
tree of life1 and      live and rejoice 
in our ,father's kingdom4 ,the gospel is
 free1 its      ordinances are free1 and
 we are at liberty to rear this temple  

to      the name of the ,lord without   
charging anybody for our services4      
,we call upon the sisters also to render
 what assistance they can      in this  
matter4 ,they can do a great deal by way
 of encouraging      their husbands and 
sons1 and also by making clothing of    
various      kinds for them1 and in     
otherwise providing for them while they 
are      working here4        ,now1     
,bishops1 if any person should inquire  
what wages is to be      paid for work  
done on this temple1 let the answer be1 
',not one      dime4' ,and when the     
temple is completed1 we will work in    
,god's holy      house without inquiring
 what we are going to get1 or who is    
going      to pay us1 but we will trust 
#bbg in the ,lord for our reward1       
and he will not forget us4 ',behold the 
fowls of the air 7says the      ,savior7
 for they sow not1 neither do they reap1
 nor gather into      barns2 yet your   
heavenly ,father feedeth them4 ,are ye  
not much      better than they8'        

,let this work be commenced without     
delay4 ,building cannot be              
performed here in the winter1 as in ,st4
 ,george4 ,the rearing of this          
temple will have to be done in the      
milder portions of the season1      when
 the air is free from frost4        ,god
 bless you1 brethren and sisters2 we    
hope and pray that you      will be     
inspired to perform this work with honor
 to yourselves      and glory to ,god4  
,this is the work of the latter days    
that we are      engaged in1 and this is
 the way that ,zion is to be built up4  
,we      will continue our labors at    
home1 and we will carry the gospel to   
all the nations of the earth1 to the    
whole house of ,israel1 and the         
good work of redemption and salvation   
will continue until all is              
completed1 and ,jesus presents the      
kingdom to the ,father4 ,amen4#f    ,the
 beginning of excavation was marked by a
 further ceremony of  prayer4 ,we read  
that at #h a4m41 ,april #cj1 #ahgg1     

about one hundred  people assembled upon
 the temple site where all kenlt while  
prayer  was offered1 after which the men
 and horses entered upon the work of    
preparing for the foundation of the     
great structure4 ,the peculiar  location
 required the construction of terraces  
or other form of graded  ascent leading 
from the level of the valley to the     
temple hill4 ,by  ,december1 #ahgh1 four
 terrace walls were completed in the    
rough1 and  by ,april following the     
excavation for the foundation was ready4
 ,the  terrace structure has been       
substituted by a uniform slope with a   
retaining wall below4    ,on ,april #ad1
 #ahgi1 the corner-stones were laid4    
,president #bbh  ,young1 under whose    
direction each of the temple sites in   
,utah had  been selected and work       
thereon begun1 had passed from earth2   
and  a new ,first ,presidency had not   
been inaugurated at this time4 ,the     
presiding authority in the ,church was  
the ,council of the ,twelve  ,apostles1 

of which ,council ,john ,taylor was     
president4 ,on the day named  a large   
body of people assembled near the temple
 site and1 forming  in procession1 moved
 to the south-east corner of the        
grounds4 ,there1  after appropriate     
preliminaries of singing and prayer1 an 
address was  delivered by ,elder        
,erastus ,snow1 one of the ,twelve1 ,wm4
 ,h4 ,folsom1  the architect-in-charge1 
laid the south-east corner-stone1 and   
,elder  ,lorenzo ,snow of the ,council  
of the ,twelve offered the prayer       
thereon4  ,this being regarded as the   
chief corner-stone1 it was designated as
  the record stone4 ,in a cavity        
previously prepared1 ,church            
publications  and other literature were 
deposited and sealed up before the stone
  was officially laid4 ,bishop ,edward  
,hunter1 the ,presiding ,bishop of  the 
,church1 laid the south-west stone1 and 
his counselor1 ,leonard ,w4  ,hardy1    
pronounced the prayer4 ,elder ,f4 ,w4   
,cox1 president of the ,high  ,priests' 

quorum of the ,sanpete ,stake1 then laid
 the north-west stone1  and ,elder      
,canute ,peterson1 president of the     
stake1 offered the prayer4  ,elder      
,horace ,s4 ,eldredge of the ,first     
,council of the ,seventy1 laid the      
north-east stone1 and his associate in  
that ,council1 ,elder ,john ,van  ,cott1
 pronounced the dedicatory prayer4 ,the 
services were witnessed by              
approximately four thousand people4     
,from the laying of the foundation      
stones to the completion of the         
building1 the work progressed without   
serious hindrance4 ,as it stands1  the  
structure is one hundred and seventy-one
 feet in length1 and  ninety-five feet  
in #bbi extreme width4 ,from the top of 
the first  water-table to the square the
 height of the building is seventy-nine 
feet2 the water-table is three feet     
above the ground4 ,the walls are  three 
and a half feet thick at the base with  
buttresses four feet in  thickness1 and 
both walls and buttresses narrow as they

 rise4 ,at the  square the walls are    
three feet and the buttresses two feet  
six inches4  ,the main front of the     
building is toward the east1 as is the  
case with  all existing temples2        
nevertheless1 the doorways most commonly
 used  and the entrance from the ,annex 
are at the west4 ,the foundation on the 
east end abuts against the hill2 and    
this end of the structure is seen  in   
its entirety by those only who climb the
 hillside to a commanding  position4 ,a 
tower at the east rises to the height of
 one hundred  and seventy-nine feet2 the
 tower at the west end is ten feet      
lower4  ,each of these towers is thirty 
feet square at the base4 ,the grade or  
ground-level surrounding the ,temple is 
a little over sixty feet higher  than   
that of the street at the foot of the   
hill on which the building  stands4 ,the
 drive-way at the east end is at the    
elevation of the short  flights of steps
 which rise to the doorways on the level
 of the main  assembly room on the top  

floor4    ,adjacent to the main         
structure and connecting therewith is   
the ,annex  building1 one hundred feet  
in length1 forty feet in width1 and of  
but  one story4 ,in this building is    
installed the apparatus for heating1 and
  herein also are provided reception    
rooms1 offices1 and an assembly room    
for preliminary services4 ,the ,temple  
is furnished with its own water  supply 
from perennial springs situated in the  
hills at a distance of a  little over a 
mile4    ,in the interior the rooms are 
practically counterparts of those       
already  described in connection with   
other ,temples4 #bcj ,the main assembly 
room on the upper floor has a seating   
capacity for over fifteen hundred       
persons4 ,the estimated cost of the     
building as it stood ready for          
dedication was one million dollars4     
,dedicatory services were set for ,may  
#ba1 #ahhh4 ,from accounts published  at
 the time it is plain that the interest 
in the great event was  intense4 ,thus  

we read3        ,from an early hour on  
the #bast of ,may people began to       
assemble on      the hill east of the   
,temple1 at which admission was to be   
gained1      and by #i3cj the grounds   
were black with people4 ,the day was    
lovely1      the threatened rain of the 
night preceding having passed away4 ,as 
for two days before1 all the roads      
leading to ,manti were clouded      with
 incoming teams1 each loaded with living
 freight bound for the                  
dedication4#g    ,president ,john       
,taylor who1 as the presiding officer of
 the ,council  of the ,twelve ,apostles 
had directed the laying of the          
corner-stones1  and who afterward became
 the ,president of the ,church1 had died
 in  ,july1 #ahhg4 ,again ,the ,church  
of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints
 was  without an organized ,first       
,presidency of three1 and at the time of
  the dedication of the ,manti ,temple1 
the ,council of the ,twelve was the     
presiding quorum#h of the ,church4      

,wilford ,woodruff was at this time  the
 president of the ,council of the       
,twelve4    ,the services began at #aa  
a4 m41 by which time the #bca great room
  was filled to its utmost capacity4    
,the principal feature1 of course1  was 
the dedicatory prayer1 which was offered
 by ,elder ,lorenzo ,snow of  the       
,council of the ,twelve4 ,addresses were
 delivered by the ,presiding  ,patriarch
 of the ,church1 by several of the      
,council of the ,twelve  ,apostles1 and 
by other prominent brethren in the      
,priesthood4 ,on account  of the large  
numbers desiring to attend1 services    
were repeated on  the two days          
following1 ,may #bb and #bc4 ,on each of
 these occasions  the dedicatory prayer 
was read1 hymns and anthems were        
rendered and  addresses given by        
speakers chosen by the presiding        
authorities4 ,on the  first day the     
actual services occupied five hours1 and
 over seventeen  hundred people         
attended4 ,many of the ,saints testified

 to remarkable  manifestations of       
,divine power which they witnessed on   
this grand and  solemn occasion4        
,on the first day1 just as ,professor   
,smyth was concluding the               
voluntary--a selection from             
,mendelssohn--a number of the ,saints in
      the body of the hall and some of  
the brethren in the west stand          
heard most heavenly voices singing4 ,it 
sounded to them as angelic1      and    
appeared to be behind and above them1   
and many turned their      heads in that
 direction wondering if there was not   
another choir in      some other part of
 the building4 ,there was no other      
choir1 however4      99 99 99           
,some of the ,saints saw the spirit of  
,presidents ,young and ,taylor1      ,j4
 ,m4 ,grant1 and others in the ,temple1 
and the heads of some of the            
speakers were surrounded by a halo of   
heavenly light during the      services4
 ,the saints enjoyed a spiritual feast  
extending through      the three days1  

and many shed tears of joy while        
listening to the      testimonies and   
admonitions of the servants of ,god4    
,there can be no      question but that 
,god has accepted the ,manti ,temple at 
the hands of      ,his ,saints and will 
bless all who have in any #bcb degree   
assisted      to build it1 or who1 not  
having the means to assist1 have said in
      their hearts1 ',i would have      
helped if ,i could4'#i    ,work on the  
grounds has been carried on of late     
years1 to the greater  beautification of
 the site4 ,a magnificent stairway has  
been constructed  from the grade of the 
street to the level of the ,temple      
threshold4 ,this  stairway is twenty    
feet in width with retaining walls on   
either side1  connecting with large     
square pillars at each landing4 ,the    
steps have  a tread of twelve inches and
 a rise of six1 and of these there are  
one hundred and twenty-five4 ,there are 
nine landings between top and  bottom1  
each six feet wide4 ,the top of the     

stairway connects directly  with the    
roadway surrounding the ,temple4 ,the   
stairway1 its walls and  pillars1 are   
all constructed of cement2 and cement   
walks encircle the  buildings4#aj       
,scattered over the lawn which occupies 
the slope on the  west are attractive   
trees and shrubs2 each of these is      
planted in a  hole excavated for the    
purpose in the solid rock4 ,the soil for
 shrubs1  grass1 and flowers is foreign 
to the place4    ,on ,may #bh1 #ahhh1   
the ,manti ,temple was opened for       
ordinance work and  from that time to   
the present this work has been in       
progress without  interruption except   
that incident to the regular recess     
periods each  year4#aa    ,,footnotes   
#a4 ,see ,dedication of ,st4 ,george    
,temple ,site1 by ,james ,g4 ,bleak1    
,historian of ,southern ,mission1       
published in the ,latter-day ,saints'   
,millennial ,star1 ,liverpool1 ,england1
 ,volume ,,xxxvi1 ,no4 #af1 ,april #ba1 
#ahgd4 ,see also an earlier publication1

 in the ,star1 ,volume ,,xxxiii1  ,no4  
#ea1 ,dec4 #ai1 #ahga4    #b4 ,see      
,deseret ,news1 ,vol4 ,,xxiii1 p4 #aeb4 
,see also an interesting  article based 
on information furnished by ,george     
,kirkham1 ,jr41 ,deseret  ,news1 ,vol4  
,,xxv1 p4 #aic4    #c4 ,for the         
compilation of many of the facts herein 
presented regarding  the ,st4 ,george   
,temple the writer is indebted to ,elder
 ,david ,h4 ,cannon1  ,president of the 
,temple1 and his associates4    #d4 ,for
 assistance in compiling data relating  
to the ,logan ,temple the  writer is    
indebted to the presiding officer1      
,president ,william ,budge1  and his    
associates4    #e4 ,for this prayer1 see
 ,latter-day ,saints' ,millennial ,star1
 ,vol4  ,,xxxix1 ,no4 #bd1 ,june #aa1   
#ahgg4    #f4 ,latter-day ,saints'      
,millennial ,star1 ,vol4 ,,xxxix1 ,no4  
#bd1 ,june #aa1  #ahgg1 p4 #cgc4    #g4 
,see ,the ,dedication of the ,manti     
,temple1 ,latter-day ,saints'           
,millennial ,star1 ,vol4 ,l1 ,no4 #be1  

,june #ah1 #ahhh1 p4 #chf4    #h4 ,for  
this peculiar usage of the term quorum1 
designating a council  or organized body
 and not specifically a majority of such
 body1 see  ,standard ,dictionary       
wherein we read under ,quorum1 ,mormon  
,ch4 ,a  council or an organized body of
 the priesthood2 as1 an ,elders'        
,quorum2  the quorum of the ,first      
,presidency4    #i4 ,latter-day ,saints'
 ,millennial ,star1 ,vol4 ,l4 ,no4 #bf1 
,june #be1 #ahhh1  p4 #dje4    #aj4 ,see
 illustrated description of the stairway
 and other approaches  to ,manti ,temple
 published in the ,deseret ,evening     
,news1 ,december  #bh1 #aijg1 under the 
caption1 ,manti ,has ,biggest ,cement   
,stairway in  the ,country4 ,in a letter
 to the author1 ,lewis ,anderson1 the   
present  president of the ,manti        
,temple1 vouches for the correctness of 
the data  given4    #aa4 ,for assistance
 in compiling data regarding the ,manti 
,temple the  writer is indebted to the  
presiding officer of the ,temple1       

,president  ,lewis ,anderson1 and his   
associates4        ,,chapter ,,xi       
,,conclusion    #bcc ,as set forth in   
the preceding pages1 ,the ,church of    
,jesus ,christ  of ,latter-day ,saints  
proclaims the need of ,temples at the   
present time1  reared and dedicated to  
the service of the ,most ,high2 and     
affirms that  upon the ,church has been 
placed the commission to build and      
maintain  these sanctuaries1 and to     
administer therein the saving and       
exalting  ordinances of the ,gospel for 
both living and dead4    ,this labor has
 already attained a magnitude at once   
impressive and  surprising4 ,ordinances 
of baptism with accompanying            
confirmation1  ordination in the        
,priesthood1 and sealing both in the    
relation of  husband and wife and in    
that of parents and children1 as        
solemnized in  the ,temples of the      
current dispensation1 already number    
many millions2  and the continuation of 
the work is marked by unabated zeal and 

devotion4    ,the ,gospel of ,jesus     
,christ is given for the salvation of   
human-kind2  its requirements apply     
alike to the living whose blessed       
privilege it  is to hear its glad       
tidings while in the flesh1 and to the  
dead who  may accept the truth in the   
spirit world4 ,the genius of the ,gospel
  is that of altruism unbounded2 its    
power to save extends beyond the        
portals of death4 ,as the vicarious work
 for the dead can be done only  in      
sanctuaries specially devoted thereto1  
there will be an ever-present  need for 
,temples so long as there are souls     
awaiting this ministry4    ,the present 
is the age of greatest import in all    
history1 #bcd  embodying as it does the 
fruition of the past and the living seed
 of  the yet greater future4 ,the       
present is the dispensation of fulness1 
for  which the dispensations of bygone  
centuries have been but preliminary  and
 preparatory4 ,the saving and           
sanctifying labor incident to modern    

,temples surpasses that of the ,temples 
of earlier times as the light of  the   
full day exceeds the twilight of the    
dawn4    ,the authority of              
administration in the ,temples of       
,solomon1 ,zerubbabel1  and ,herod1 was 
that of the ,lesser or ,aaronic         
,priesthood2 for the ,higher  or        
,melchisedek ,priesthood1 otherwise     
known as the ,holy ,priesthood  after   
the order of the ,son of ,god1 had been 
taken from ,israel with  ,moses4 ,the   
temples of the present are administered 
under the greater  authority4 ,the      
importance of the distinction between   
these two orders  of ,priesthood may    
warrant a further consideration in this 
place4 ,that  the two are essentially   
separate and distinct is made plain by  
,paul in  his epistle to the ,hebrews3  
,if therefore perfection were by the    
,levitical priesthood1 7for      under  
it the people received the law17 what   
further need was there      that another
 priest should rise after the order of  

,melchisedek1 and      not be called    
after the order of ,aaron8        ,for  
the priesthood being changed1 there is  
made of necessity a      change also of 
the law4#a    ,the apostle emphasizes   
the superiority of the ,priesthood named
 after  ,melchisedek by affirming that  
,jesus ,christ was a ,high ,priest of   
that  exalted order4#b ,this ,priesthood
 was held and exercised by the          
patriarchs in #bce turn from ,adam to   
,moses4 ,aaron was ordained to  the     
priest's office1 as were his sons2 but  
that ,moses held superior  authority is 
abundantly shown4#c ,after ,aaron's     
death his son ,eleazar  exercised the   
authority of ,high ,priest of the       
,lesser ,priesthood2 and  even ,joshua  
had to ask of him counsel and           
instruction4#d    ,from the ministry of 
,moses to that of ,christ the ,lesser   
,priesthood  alone was operative upon   
the earth1 excepting only the instances 
of  specially delegated authority of the
 higher order such as is manifest  in   

the ministrations of certain chosen     
prophets1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1  ,ezekiel 
and others4 ,it is evident that these   
prophets1 seers1 and  revelators1 were  
individually and specially commissioned2
 but it  appears that they had not the  
authority to call and ordain successors1
  for in their time the ,higher         
,priesthood was not existent on earth in
 an  organized state with duly officered
 quorums4 ,not so with the ,aaronic or  
,levitical ,priesthood1 however1 for the
 courses or quorums of that order  were 
continued until the time of ,christ4    
,the last to hold and exercise  the     
authority of the ,aaronic ,priesthood   
under the old or ,mosaic  dispensation  
was ,john the ,baptist1 who was         
specially commissioned4 ,the  matter is 
thus set forth in a modern revelation3  
,now this ,moses plainly taught to the  
children of ,israel in the              
wilderness1 and sought diligently to    
sanctify his people that they      might
 behold the face of ,god2        ,but   

they hardened their hearts and could not
 endure his presence1      therefore the
 ,lord in his wrath 7for his anger was  
kindled against      them7 swore that   
they should not enter into his rest     
while in the      wilderness1 which rest
 is the fulness of his glory4           
#bcf ,therefore he took ,moses out of   
their midst1 and the ,holy              
,priesthood also2        ,and the       
,lesser ,priesthood continued1 which    
priesthood holdeth the      key of the  
ministering of angels and the           
preparatory gospel2        ,which gospel
 is the gospel of repentance and of     
baptism1 and the      remission of sins1
 and the law of carnal commandments1    
which the      ,lord in his wrath1      
caused to continue with the house of    
,aaron among      the children of       
,israel until ,john1 whom ,god raised   
up1 being filled      with the ,holy    
,ghost from his mother's womb2          
,for he was baptized while he was yet in
 his childhood1 and was      ordained by

 the angel of ,god at the time he was   
eight days old      unto this power1 to 
overthrow the kingdom of the ,jews1 and 
to make      straight the way of the    
,lord before the face of his people1 to 
prepare them for the coming of the      
,lord1 in whose hand is given all       
power4#e    ,the ,higher or ,melchisedek
 ,priesthood was restored through the   
personal  ministry of ,jesus ,christ1   
and remained with ,his apostles and in  
the  ,church under their administration1
 but was again lost as the great        
apostasy progressed4    ,the ,holy      
,priesthood in its fulness has been     
restored in the present  age1--not alone
 the lesser functions of deacon1        
teacher1 and priest1  which constitute  
the distinctive offices of the ,aaronic 
order including  the ,levitical1 but the
 higher authority as well--that of the  
elder1 the  seventy1 the patriarch1 the 
apostle1 and the high priest4#f    #bcg 
,the ,temples of today are maintained   
and the distinctive  ordinances         

pertaining thereto are administered     
under the authority  of the ,higher of  
,melchisedek ,priesthood1 the greatest  
and highest  commission ever conferred  
upon man4 ,the ,divine prediction voiced
 by  ,malachi is in #bch process of     
rapid fulfilment4 ,elijah the prophet   
has been sent to earth and he has       
committed to the ,church that power  and
 authority by which the vicarious       
service in behalf of the dead was       
inaugurated4 ,through his ministration  
the hearts of the fathers are  turning  
toward the children1 and the hearts of  
the children toward the  fathers1 and   
this in preparation of the approaching  
advent of our ,lord1  the ,christ4#g    
,,footnotes    #a4 ,hebrews #g3aa1 #ab4 
#b4 ,see ,hebrews #e3f1 #aj2 #f3bj2     
compare ,psalm #aaj3d2 see also ,genesis
  #ad3ai4    #c4 ,consider the ,lord's  
rebuke to ,aaron and ,miriam1 ,numbers  
#ab3a-h4    #d4 ,see ,numbers #bg3ah-bc4
    #e4 ,doctrine and ,covenants        
#hd3bc-bh2 read the preceding verses    

#ad-bb4    #f4 ,the ,aaronic ,priesthood
 is named after ,aaron1 who was given to
  ,moses as his mouthpiece1 to act under
 his direction in the carrying out  of  
,god's purposes respecting ,israel      
7,exodus #d3ad-af74 ,for this reason1   
it is sometimes called the ,lesser      
,priesthood2 but though lesser1 it  is  
neither small nor insignificant4 ,while 
,israel journeyed in the  wilderness1   
,aaron and his sons were called by      
prophecy and set apart  for the duties  
of the priest's office4 7,exodus #bh3a47
    ,at a subsequent period of ,israel's
 history1 the ,lord chose the tribe  of 
,levi to assist ,aaron in the priestly  
functions1 the special duties  of the   
,levites being to keep the instruments  
and attend to the services  of the      
tabernacle4 ,the ,levites thus chosen of
 the ,lord were to take  the place of   
the first-born throughout the tribes1   
whom the ,lord had  claimed for ,his    
service from the time of the last dread 
plague in  ,egypt1 whereby the          

first-born in every ,egyptian house was 
slain1 while  the eldest in every       
,israelitish house was hallowed and     
spared4 7,numbers  #c3ab-ac1 #ci1       
#dd-de1 #ej-ea47 ,the commission thus   
given to the ,levites is  sometimes     
called the ,levitical ,priesthood2      
7,hebrews #g3aa47 it is to  be regarded 
as an appendage to the priesthood of    
aaron1 not comprising  the highest      
priestly powers4 ,the ,aaronic          
,priesthood1 as restored to the  earth  
in this dispensation1 comprises the     
,levitical order4 7,doctrine  and       
,covenants #ajg3a47 ,this priesthood    
holds the keys of the ministering  of   
angels1 and the authority to attend to  
the outward ordinances1 the  letter of  
the gospel2 7,doctrine and ,covenants   
#ajg3bj47 it comprises the  offices of  
deacon1 teacher1 and priest1 with the   
bishopric holding the  keys of          
presidency4    ,the greater or          
,melchisedek ,priesthood is named after 
the king of  ,salem1 a great ,high      

,priest of ,god 7,genesis #ad3ah2       
,hebrews #g3a-ag47  before his day it   
was known as 'the ,holy ,priesthood1    
after the order  of the ,son of ,god1   
but out of respect or reverence to the  
name of the  ,supreme ,being1 to avoid  
the too frequent repetition of ,his     
name1 they1  the ,church1 in ancient    
days1 called that ,priesthood after     
,melchisedek4'  7,doctrine and          
,covenants #ajg3b-d47 ,this priesthood  
holds the right of  presidency in all   
the offices of the ,church2 its special 
functions lie  in the administration of 
spiritual things3 comprising as it does 
the  keys of all spiritual blessings of 
the ,church1 the right 'to have the     
heavens opened unto them1 to commune    
with the general assembly and  ,church  
of the ,first ,born1 and to enjoy the   
communion and presence of  ,god the     
,father1 and ,jesus the ,mediator of the
 new covenant4' 7,doctrine  and         
,covenants #ajg3h1 #ah-ai47 ,the special
 offices of the ,melchisedek            

,priesthood are those of apostle1       
patriarch and evangelist1 high priest1  
seventy1 and elder4 ,the ,articles of   
,faith1 ,,xi3 #ac-ae4    #g4 ,see       
,malachi #d3e1 #f2 also pages #hb-hf1   
and #abb1 this book4        ,,plates    
#bci ,,illustrative ,,of ,,modern-,,day 
,,temples    ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations
    #bdj ,note3 ,among the illustrations
 following1 are several showing         
interior views of the ,temple at ,salt  
,lake ,city1 specifically ,plates  #h to
 #ch inclusive4 ,each of these pictures 
is protected by ,photo  ,copyright1 and 
all rights pertaining thereto are       
expressly reserved4    ,plate #a4--,the 
,kirtland ,temple    ,plate #b4--,the   
,nauvoo ,temple    ,plate #c4--,the     
,great ,temple1 ,salt ,lake ,city       
,plate #d4--,the ,temple in ,winter     
,plate #e4--,statue surmounting the     
,capstone of the ,temple    ,plate      
#f4--,one of the ,doors to the ,temple  
,plate #g4--,the ,temple ,annex         
,plate #h4--;,annex ,assembly ,room     

,plate #i4--,passage connecting ,annex  
with ,temple    ,plate #aj4--,lower     
,corridor in ,temple    ,plate          
#aa4--,the ,baptistry    ,plate         
#ab4--,lower ,lecture ,room    ,plate   
#ac4--;,garden ,room    ,plate          
#ad4--,upper ,corridor    ,plate        
#ae4--,side ,corridor    ,plate         
#af4--;,art ,window1--,expulsion from   
,eden    ,plate #ag4--,world ,room1     
,looking ,west    ,plate #ah4--,world   
,room1 ,looking ,east    ,plate         
#ai4--,terrestrial ,room1 ,looking ,west
    ,plate #bj4--,terrestrial ,room1    
,looking ,east toward the ,veil         
,plate #ba4--;,celestial ,room1 ,looking
 ,east    ,plate #bb4--;,celestial      
,room1 ,looking ,west toward the ,veil  
,plate #bc4--,sealing ,room for the     
,dead    ,plate #bd4--,sealing ,room for
 the ,living    ,plate #be4--,reception 
,room adjoining ,sealing ,room for the  
,living    #bda ,plate #bf4--,outer     
,ante-,room    ,plate #bg4--,the ,holy  
of ,holies    ,plate #bh4--;,hall-way on

 ,third ,floor    ,plate #bi4--;,elders'
 ,room    ,plate #cj4--;,council ,room  
of the ,seventy    ,plate #ca4--;,high  
,council ,chamber    ,plate             
#cb4--;,council ,room of the ,twelve    
,apostles    ,plate #cc4--;,council     
,room of the ,first ,presidency of the  
,church and the  ,twelve ,apostles      
,plate #cd4--,the ,memorial ,window     
,plate #ce4--,main ,assembly ,room1     
general view    ,plate #cf4--,stand and 
,pulpits for ,melchisedek ,priesthood in
 ,main  ,assembly ,room    ,plate       
#cg4--,one of the ,spiral ,stairways in 
,main ,assembly ,room    ,plate         
#ch4--,one of the great ,granite        
,stairways    ,plate #ci4--,temple      
,block1 ,salt ,lake ,city    ,plate     
#dj4--,the ,tabernacle on ,temple       
,block--,exterior    ,plate #da4--,the  
,tabernacle--,interior    ,plate        
#db4--,statue of ,joseph ,smith1 the    
,prophet    ,plate #dc4--,statue of     
,hyrum ,smith1 the ,patriarch    ,plate 
#dd4--,st4 ,george ,temple    ,plate    

#de4--,logan ,temple    ,plate          
#df4--,manti ,temple    #bdb    ,,plate 
#a4--,,the ,,kirtland ,,temple    #bdc  
,this1 the first ,temple reared to the  
name of the ,lord in modern  times1 was 
erected at ,kirtland1 ,ohio4 ,the corner
 stones were laid in  ,july1 #ahcc1 and 
the building was finished and dedicated 
in ,march1 #ahcf4  ,the structure is    
still existent though no longer owned by
 the people  who reared it1 nor used for
 the distinctive purposes characteristic
 of  ,temples4    ,the ,kirtland ,temple
 was built by the ,latter-day ,saints in
 the  period of their early history as a
 ,church--in the days of poverty  and   
persecution4 ,in less than two years    
after the completion of  the building1  
the people were forced to leave1 and the
 ,temple soon  thereafter passed from   
their custody4    ,in this ,temple many 
heavenly manifestations were witnessed2 
and therein  the ,lord ,jesus appeared  
in ,person1 and instructed ,his chosen  
servants4    ,see pages #aad-abc4       

#bdd    ,,plate #b4--,,the ,,nauvoo     
,,temple    #bde ,this structure1 built 
by the ,latter-day ,saints at ,nauvoo1  
,illinois1 was the second ,temple of the
 present dispensation4 ,it was  begun in
 #ahda1 and completed in #ahdf4 ,in it  
was constructed the first  ,baptismal   
,font of modern times for the sacred    
ordinance of ,baptism for  the ,dead4   
,owing to religious intolerance and     
violent persecution1 a general  exodus  
of the people had begun before the      
building was finished1 though  not      
before many had received their blessings
 and endowments therein4  ,certain parts
 of the ,temple were dedicated for      
ordinance work long  before the         
dedication of the building as a whole4  
,in #ahdh the ,temple was partly        
destroyed by fire2 and in #ahej the     
ruined  walls were leveled by a tornado4
    ,see pages #abf-acf4    #bdf        
,,plate #c4--,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,at
 ,,salt ,,lake ,,city1 ,,utah    #bdg   
,this splendid structure was forty years

 in building4 ,the corner  stones were  
laid ,april #f1 #ahec2 the capstone was 
placed in position  ,april #f1 #ahib1   
and the completed ,temple was dedicated 
,april #f1 #ahic2  each of these events 
was marked by impressive ceremony4 ,the 
walls are  of solid granite eight feet  
thick in the first story and six feet   
in the upper parts4 ,many stones of     
emblematical significance appear        
representing sun1 moon1 stars1 the      
earth1 and the clouds4    ,on the main  
inscription stone at the east we read3  
,holiness to the  ,lord and on the      
keystones of the arched windows at both 
east and west  ends1 ,i am ,alpha and   
,omega1 and above these is the          
awe-inspiring  emblem of the ,all-seeing
 ,eye4    ,see pages #acf-ahj4    #bdh  
,,plate #d4--,,the ,,great ,,temple ,,in
 ,,winter    #bdi ,the ,temple is       
centrally located in the easterly half  
of ,temple  ,block4 ,the grounds are    
beautified by a profusion of shrubs1    
trees1 and  flowers4 ,many observers    

have voiced their uncertainty as to     
whether the  ,temple appears more       
beautiful when environed by the greenery
 of summer  or by the white foliage of  
hoar-frost or snow4 ,the scene herewith 
presented was caught by the camera in   
the spring of #aiab4    #bej    ,,plate 
#e4--,,statue ,,surmounting ,,the       
,,capstone ,,of ,,the ,,great ,,temple  
#bea ,the stonework of each of the six  
towers ends in a sphere of  granite4    
,the termination of the east center     
tower is the highest stone  in the      
building and constitutes the capstone4  
,anchored to this granite  globe is a   
figure wrought in copper over-laid with 
gold2 it stands over  twelve feet high1 
and represents ,moroni1 an ancient      
,nephite prophet1  who as a resurrected 
being visited the boy-prophet1 ,joseph  
,smith1 in  #ahbc1 and afterward        
delivered to him the ancient record     
since published  to the world as the    
,book of ,mormon4 ,the design is that of
 a herald with  a trumpet at his lips4  

,the statue is the work of ,c4 ,e4      
,dallin4    ,the capstone on which the  
statue stands is one of the             
record-stones of  the ,temple4 ,in a    
receptacle within the granite mass are a
 number of  books and other records4    
,see pages #age1 #agf2 also #aea1 #aeb4 
#beb    ,,plate #f4--,,one ,,of ,,the   
,,outer ,,doors ,,of ,,the ,,temple     
#bec ,there are four outer portals      
leading into the ,temple beside the     
entrance from the ,annex4 ,each of these
 four doorways occupies a court  between
 the towers4 ,the doors are hung in     
pairs1 each door twelve feet  high and  
four feet wide4 ,the woodwork is of oak1
 hand-carved4 ,the  middle and upper    
panels hold heavy plate glass in front  
of which are  grills of bronze4 ,even   
the door-knobs and escutcheons are of   
special  design1 in which appear the    
bee-hive and the inscription ,holiness  
to the ,lord4 ,on the central side of   
each of the doorways is a niche  roofed 
by a canopy of granite1 to accommodate a

 statue4    ,see pages #agi1 #ahj4      
#bed    ,,plate #g4--;,,annex ,,to ,,the
 ,,great ,,temple    #bee ,each of the  
four ,temples in ,utah is provided with 
a small  detached building known as the 
,annex4 ,this is used for office        
purposes  and other incidental service1 
and contains an assembly room in which  
are held devotional exercises           
preliminary to those of the ,temple     
proper4    ,the ,annex of the ,salt     
,lake ,city ,temple is an attractive    
building of  cream-colored oolite1      
standing about one hundred feet north   
from the  main structure4 ,the ,annex is
 connected with the ,temple by a        
passage1  partly below ground-level4    
,see pages #aed1 #aee1 and #aha4    #bef
    ,,plate #h4--;,,assembly ,,room ,,in
 ,,the ,,temple ,,annex    #beg ,this   
room1 thirty-six feet square and        
provided with spacious  alcoves on two  
opposite sides is used for purposes of  
general assembly  preparatory to the    
ordinances of the ,temple4 ,here        

congregate on the  morning of each day  
of service all who are to take part1    
either in  administering or receiving   
ordinances4 ,the large painting1 which  
appears at the center of the            
accompanying illustration1 is           
,weggeland's  full-sized copy of        
,munkacsy's ,christ ,before ,pilate4    
,portraits of  living authorities of the
 ,church adorn the walls of the main    
section1  and portraits of deceased     
,presidents and ,apostles are hung in   
the  alcoves4    ,just inside the       
vestibule of the ,annex is the office of
 the ,temple  ,door-keeper1 to whom must
 be presented1 by every person applying 
for  admission to the ,temple1 a        
certificate or recommend signed by the  
,bishop of his ,ward1 and the ,president
 of his ,stake1 attesting the           
worthiness of the bearer to enter the   
,house of the ,lord4    ,see pages #aha 
and #ahb2 also page #afj4    #beh       
,,plate #i4--,,passage ,,connecting     
,,annex ,,with ,,temple    #bei ,a      

flight of stairs leads downward from the
 main floor of the  ,annex to this      
semi-subterranean passage1 which runs   
southerly about  ninety feet and        
terminates at the threshold of the      
,temple4 ,the door  opening directly    
into the lower corridor of the ,temple  
appears in the  background4    ,this is 
the usual avenue of entrance to the     
,temple4 ,only those who  assemble for  
the council meetings of the ,priesthood 
pass the outer  portals into the ,temple
 direct4    ,the passage is well lighted
 and ventilated1 and in cold weather    
comfortably warmed4 ,a strip of the     
old-style rag carpet covers part of  the
 floor4    ,see pages #ahb1 #ahc4       
#bfj    ,,plate #aj4--,,lower ,,corridor
 ,,of ,,the ,,temple    #bfa ,the ,lower
 ,corridor is entered from the ,annex   
,passage through the  north wall of the 
,temple1 and extends thence southerly to
 the opposite  side4 ,the corridor is   
twelve feet wide1 and is richly finished
 and  furnished4    ,on the east wall is

 a large painting by ,william ,armitage1
 showing the  ,prophet ,joseph ,smith   
preaching to the ,indians4 ,smaller     
paintings are  hung on either side4     
,doorways leading from this corridor    
admit to  the ,lower ,lecture ,room and 
the ,garden ,room on the east1 and to   
the  ,baptistry and its dressing rooms  
on the west4 ,at the south end is seen  
the lower section of the ,grand         
,stairway4    ,see pages #ahc and #ahf4 
#bfb    ,,plate #aa4--,,the ,,baptistry 
#bfc ,the ,baptistry or ,baptismal ,room
 is thirty-two by forty-five feet  and  
is situated on the west of the ,lower   
,corridor4 ,the great ,baptismal  ,font 
occupies the center of the room1 and is 
supported by twelve  life-sized oxen of 
cast-iron1 which stand in a depression  
three feet  below the floor level4 ,the 
oxen are grouped1 three facing toward   
each  of the cardinal points of the     
compass4    ,in this font1 which has a  
capacity of over four hundred gallons1  
is  administered the ordinance of       

baptism by immersion4 ,by far the       
greater  number of baptisms here        
solemnized are in behalf of the dead1 in
 which  ordinance the deceased person is
 represented by a living proxy4         
,steps are provided for convenience in  
entering and leaving the  font4         
,platforms guarded by a railing are     
furnished with seats for  the           
accommodation of recorders and witnesses
 whose presence at each  ceremony is    
requisite4    ,see pages #ahc-ahe3 also 
#gg and #hi-ic4    #bfd    ,,plate      
#ab4--,,the ,,lower ,,lecture ,,room    
#bfe ,the room so designated is entered 
from the ,lower ,corridor near  the     
north end4 ,it is forty by forty-five   
feet in area1 and is seated  to         
accommodate two hundred and fifty       
persons4 ,this room is used in  the     
first course of instruction incident to 
the ,endowment4 ,as seen  in the        
accompanying illustration it is plainly 
furnished1 without  wall-ornament or    
other embellishment4 ,the portal hung   

with curtains1  which appears in the    
back-ground of the picture1 leads into  
the ,garden  ,room4    ,see pages #ahe1 
#ahf3 also #ii-aja4    #bff    ,,plate  
#ac4--,,the ,,garden ,,room    #bfg ,as 
already seen1 the ,lower ,lecture ,room 
is marked by simplicity  and plainness2 
the ,garden ,room is characterized by   
richness and beauty4  ,here ceiling and 
walls have been painted by master       
artists1 who have  depicted with        
effective skill the distant glory of sky
 and cloud1 and  the nearer beauties of 
earthly life4 ,landscape scenes cover   
the walls  from floor to ceiling3 there 
are gardens and glens1 hills1 valleys1  
and brooks1 fruits and flowers1 birds   
and other living things1 all  appearing 
amidst a setting of beauty1 plenty1 and 
peace4 ,lions and  lambs are reposing in
 companionship1 while insect and bird   
fly together4    ,the room represents   
the earth as it was before sin entered  
and brought  with it the curse2 it is   
the ,garden of ,eden depicted in        

miniature4 ,on  one side is a           
richly-upholstered altar1 upon which    
rests the ,holy ,bible4    ,see page    
#ahf4    #bfh    ,,plate #ad4--,,the    
,,upper ,,corridor    #bfi ,the         
illustration presented herewith shows   
the ,upper ,corridor  at the head of the
 ,grand ,stairway4 ,the walls are hung  
with portraits  and paintings of        
scriptural scenes4 ,in the back-ground1 
at the north  end of this corridor1 is  
the doorway leading into the ,celestial 
,room1  shown in ,plates #ba and #bb4 ,a
 portal on the right leads into one of  
the  ante-rooms 7,plate #bf7 to the     
,sealing ,room for the ,living2 that on 
the  left is the entrance to a side     
passage which in turn leads into the    
,world ,room 7,plate #ag74    #bgj      
,see page #ahf4    ,,plate #ae4--,,side 
,,corridor    #bga ,from a landing near 
the top of the ,grand ,stairway a side  
corridor  leads to the west and opens   
into the ,world ,room4 ,the picture here
 shown  was taken from the west end of  

this corridor1 and the observer is      
therefore looking east into the ,upper  
,corridor already described and         
illustrated4 ,the large wall painting   
presents a scene from the ,book  of     
,mormon record--that of the ,resurrected
 ,christ ministering to the  children on
 the occasion of ,his visit to the      
,nephites4 7,book of ,mormon1  ,,iii    
,nephi #ag3bc1 #bd47 ,the painting is   
the work of ,william ,armitage4    #bgb 
,see page #ahg4    ,,plate #af4--;,,art 
,,window1--,,the ,,expulsion ,,from     
,,eden    #bgc ,the passage from the    
,garden ,room below to the ,world ,room 
on the  next floor is by way of the     
,grand ,stairway and the ,side ,corridor
 last  described4 ,on the south side of 
the passage is a splendid art window of 
elliptical shape depicting the expulsion
 of the first parents of the  race from 
,eden after the ,fall4 ,it is of        
particular appropriateness in  this part
 of the building1 and impresses the     
beholder as a symbol of  the great      

change brought about by the ,fall of    
,man4    ,see page #ahg4    #bgd        
,,plate #ag4--,,the ,,world ,,room1     
,,looking ,,west    #bge ,the walls of  
the ,world ,room are painted with scenes
 typical of  the earth after the ,fall4 
,there are hills and crags1 trees and   
flowers1  but the whole presentation is 
that of the fallen state4 ,in place of  
gentle slope and mossy dell1 there are  
precipitous hills and broken  rocks4    
,the trees are gnarled and misshapen4   
,in the accompanying picture  two lions 
are seen in deadly combat1 while the    
lioness stands nearby  awaiting the     
outcome of the struggle4 ,two bears are 
feasting on the  carcase of an animal   
killed by a lynx which1 driven from its 
prey1 has  taken refuge in a tree4      
,compared with the blessed peace of     
,eden these  scenes are strikingly      
impressive by their contrast4    ,see   
pages #ahg1 #ahh4    #bgf    ,,plate    
#ah4--,,the ,,world ,,room1 ,,looking   
,,east    #bgg ,on the rear walls of the

 ,world ,room are depicted further      
scenes  of disturbance1 disruption1 and 
violence4 ,rocky crags1 blasted shrubs1 
and deformed trees are shown in         
impressive detail2 and in the distance  
a storm scene is pictured4 ,deer appear 
in life and death struggle2  birds of   
prey are slaying their weaker kindred4  
,on the summit of the  cliffs is an     
eagle's nest1 holding the eaglet brood2 
and alongside  stands the mother bird   
awaiting the arrival of her mate1 who is
  approaching in rapid flight with a    
lamb in his talons4    ,this room is    
devoted to instruction concerning the   
effect of the ,fall1  and the state of  
the earth under the curse of ,god4      
,see pages #ahg1 #ahh4    #bgh          
,,plate #ai4--,,the ,,terrestrial       
,,room1 ,,looking ,,west    #bgi ,this  
spacious chamber1 which is entered from 
the ,world ,room last  described1       
presents the appearance of combined     
richness and simplicity4  ,the walls are
 hung with framed canvases1 some of     

which are rare  originals1 others       
excellent copies1 depicting incidents in
 the life of  ,christ1 and scenes in    
,palestine4 ,near the east end of the   
room is a  prayer-altar1 on which are   
placed copies of the ,holy ,scriptures4 
,the room is all the more restful in its
 general effect by contrast with  the   
scenes of turmoil and conflict which the
 ,world ,room so strongly  portrays4 ,in
 this room instruction is given and     
lectures are delivered  relating to the 
significance of the endowments1 and the 
practical  duties of life4 ,it is       
sometimes designated as the ,upper      
,lecture ,room1  but is also known as   
the ,terrestrial ,room4    ,see pages   
#ahh1 #ahi4    #bhj    ,,plate          
#bj4--,,terrestrial ,,room1 ,,looking   
,,east ,,toward ,,the ,,veil    #bha    
,this is the room shown in ,plate #ai1  
but here it is pictured  from a point at
 the west end4 ,the framed canvas on the
 right is the  original painting by     
,girard depicting the scene of ,joseph  

in prison1  interpreting the portentous 
dreams of ,pharaoh's butler and baker4  
,a  picture of the ,holy ,family        
occupies a prominent position at the    
east  end1 immediately above the ,veil4 
,the ,veil1 which separates the         
,terrestrial ,room from the room that   
typifies the ,celestial state1 is a     
portiere hung in four sections4 ,the    
,veil is approached by a short flight of
 steps from the floor of the  room4     
,see pages #ahh1 #ahi4    #bhb          
,,plate #ba4--,,the ,,celestial ,,room1 
,,looking ,,east    #bhc ,the ,veil of  
the ,temple hangs between the           
,terrestrial ,room last  described and  
the ,celestial ,room shown in the       
accompanying picture4  ,this is the     
largest of the ceremonial rooms1 and of 
all it is the most  splendidly finished4
 ,in area it is sixty by forty-five     
feet1 and its  height is thirty-four    
feet4 ,wall columns support entablatures
 from  which spring ten arches          
immediately beneath the cornice4 ,the   

ceiling  is vaulted and paneled2 beams  
and cornices are carved to represent    
clusters of fruit and flowers4 ,at the  
east end are large mirrors1 and  around 
the room1 in the wall niches and        
recesses1 are paintings and  statuary4  
,three large portals on the south1 each 
closed by a pair of  sliding doors1 open
 into the two sealing rooms and the     
,holy of ,holies  7,see ,plates #bc1    
#bd1 and #bg47 ,on the north side1 not  
shown in the  picture1 are large        
casements1 corresponding in position to 
the opposite  portals2 these are hung   
with portieres1 which in material and   
color  match the silken ,veil4    ,see  
pages #ahi-aia4    #bhd    ,,plate      
#bb4--,,the ,,celestial ,,room1         
,,looking ,,west ,,toward ,,the ,,veil  
#bhe ,this will be readily recognized as
 the ,celestial ,room illustrated  by   
the last picture1 ,plate #ba4 ,the ,view
 here shown1 however1 is that  obtained 
from the east end1 as the observer looks
 toward the ,veil  of the ,temple4 ,the 

corner door-way on the left opens into  
the ,upper  ,corridor at the top of the 
,grand ,stairway1 as is seen in ,plate  
#ad4    ,the ,celestial ,room is richly 
carpeted1 and the movable furniture is  
all excellent in kind2 the furnishings  
throughout harmonize with the  splendid 
finish of ceiling and walls4 ,living    
plants are distributed  about the room  
and the effect is that of beauty and    
completeness4 ,the  walls are of        
soft-brown color1 while the columns are 
embellished in  light-blue and gold4    
,see pages #ahi-aia4    #bhf    ,,plate 
#bc4--,,the ,,sealing ,,room ,,for ,,the
 ,,dead    #bhg ,of the three small     
ceremonial rooms entered from the       
,celestial  ,room1 this1 the ,sealing   
,room for the ,dead1 is reached first as
 one  proceeds easterly from the ,veil4 
,this apartment is slightly raised      
above the floor of the large room1 and  
is furnished in subdued color4  ,at the 
altar in the fore-ground kneel the      
parties who appear as proxies  for the  

dead4 ,the art-window at the rear of the
 alcove represents the  resurrected     
prophet1 ,moroni1 in the act of         
delivering to the boy1  ,joseph ,smith1 
the ancient record since translated by  
the power of ,god  and published as the 
,book of ,mormon4 ,the event here       
depicted occurred  on the #bb;d of      
,september1 #ahbg4    ,this room is     
reserved for the sacred ordinances of   
sealing in behalf of  the dead1 which   
ordinances comprise the sealing of      
husbands and wives  and of parents and  
children4    ,see pages #aia1 #aib4     
#bhh    ,,plate #bd4--,,the ,,sealing   
,,room ,,for ,,the ,,living    #bhi ,the
 most easterly of the three small rooms 
adjoining the  ,celestial ,room is here 
shown4 ,this is the ,sealing ,room for  
the ,living1  wherein is solemnized the 
holy rite of ,celestial ,marriage4      
,marriage  ceremonies for the period of 
mortal life alone are not performed     
within  the ,temple4 ,the parties who   
come to the ,house of the ,lord to be   

wedded  by the authority of the ,holy   
,priesthood for time and eternity kneel 
at  the altar shown in this picture and 
there enter into eternal covenant  with 
each other4 ,here1 also1 living children
 who have been born outside  the pale of
 ,celestial wedlock1 though within the  
legally constituted  state of matrimony1
 may be sealed to their parents provided
 those  parents have been first sealed  
to each other4    ,the room is finished 
in light tints and bright tone4 ,the    
door in the  recess affords admittance  
from an anteroom4    ,see page #aib4    
#bij    ,,plate #be4--,,reception ,,room
 ,,adjoining ,,sealing ,,room ,,for     
,,the ,,living    #bia ,from the ,upper 
,corridor1 entrance to the ,sealing     
,room for the  ,living is afforded      
through two small apartments1 known as  
reception  halls1 waiting-rooms1 or     
ante-rooms4 ,it is possible1 therefore1 
to  reach the ,sealing ,room without    
entering the ,celestial ,room4 ,this    
plate  shows the inner of the two1 with 

the door of the ,sealing ,room open2    
through this portal the altar is        
revealed1 as well as a glimpse of the   
,celestial ,room beyond4    ,see page   
#aib4    #bib    ,,plate #bf4--,,outer  
,,ante-,,room    #bic ,this cozy        
apartment is entered from the ,upper    
,corridor and  communicates by an inner 
door with the ,reception ,room shown in 
,plate  #be4 ,like the preceding1 this  
room is used for no ceremonial rites1   
and  is utilized solely as an           
ante-chamber for those who await        
admittance to  the ,sealing ,room       
within4 ,through the outer door1 which  
stands open in  the picture1 appears    
part of the balustrade of the ,grand    
,stairway4    ,see page #aib4    #bid   
,,plate #bg4--,,the ,,holy ,,of ,,holies
    #bie ,this1 the ,holy of ,holies of 
the ,temple1 is situated between  the   
two sealing rooms already described2 it 
is therefore the central  of the three  
small rooms referred to as opening      
directly into the  ,celestial ,room4 ,it

 is the most elaborately finished of all
 the smaller  apartments4 ,a flight of  
six steps leads to the elevated floor of
 this  room1 and the portal is guarded  
by a pair of sliding doors1 which in a  
measure correspond to the inner veil of 
the ancient sanctuaries4    ,the room is
 circular in form2 and on the side      
opposite from the portal  is a splendid 
art-window1 picturing the visitation of 
the ,eternal  ,father and ,his ,son the 
,christ to the boy-prophet ,joseph      
,smith4 ,the  event here delineated     
occurred in the early spring of #ahbj4  
7,see ,the  ,articles of ,faith1        
#a3ab-ad47    ,beneath the pictured     
scene is inscribed the forceful         
admonition of  ,james1 through the study
 of which the boy1 ,joseph ,smith1 was  
led to  seek ,divine aid3        ,if any
 of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of     
,god1 that giveth to all      men       
liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it   
shall be given him4      7,james #a3e47 
,and below appears the utterance of one 

of the ,celestial ,personages3          
,this is my ,beloved ,son2 hear ,him4   
,see pages #aib-aid4    #bif    ,,plate 
#bh4--,,the ,,hall-,,way ,,on ,,third   
,,floor    #big ,by way of this         
corridor1 the several council rooms on  
the third  floor of the ,temple are     
reached4 ,the picture is taken looking  
east  along the corridor into the ,dome 
,room1 which is so named from its  most 
prominent feature--that of a large      
central dome1 which forms the  ceiling  
of the ,holy of ,holies4    ,on the     
north of this hall-way1 or on the left  
as the observer stands4  are two        
doorways opening into the ,council ,room
 of the ,first ,presidency  and ,twelve 
,apostles2 on the opposite side are the 
entrances to the  ,council ,room of the 
,twelve1 the ,council ,room of the      
,seventy1 and the  ,elders' ,room4      
,see pages #aid1 #aie4    #bih          
,,plate #bi4--,,the ,,elders' ,,room    
#bii ,this apartment1 furnished with    
chairs1 table1 and an altar for  prayer1

 is provided for the use of the         
presiding ,councils of the  quorums of  
,elders belonging to the near-by stakes4
 ,the room is reserved  for devotional  
service only4    ,see page #aie4    #cjj
    ,,plate #cj4--;,,council ,,room ,,of
 ,,the ,,seventy    #cja ,the seven     
presidents of the first quorum of the   
,seventies  constitute a presiding      
council1 having jurisdiction over all   
other  quorums of ,seventies in the     
,church4 ,the room shown herewith is    
devoted  to the use of this presiding   
body1 which is known as the ,first      
,council  of the ,seventy4 ,the room is 
furnished to accommodate the seven      
presidents and a clerk or recorder4 ,at 
stated intervals the ,council  meets    
here for devotional service1 and to     
consider matters pertaining  to the     
spiritual upbuilding of the quorums in  
their charge4 ,business  sessions are   
held at the offices of the ,council in  
another building4    ,see page #aie4    
#cjb    ,,plate #ca4--;,,high ,,council 

,,chamber    #cjc ,the presidency of    
each ,stake of ,zion comprises three    
high  priests1--a president and two     
counselors4 ,to assist the presidency   
in conducting the affairs of the stake1 
and having specific duties  as a        
judicial body1 are twelve other high    
priests1 duly chosen and  set apart1 who
 constitute the ,high ,council of the   
stake4 ,the ,stake  ,presidency and the 
,high ,council meet as one body to      
consider matters  pertaining to the     
welfare of the stake1 or as a court to  
hear appeals  from the ,bishop's court  
of any ward within the stake1 or to     
exercise  original and initiative       
jurisdiction4    ,the room provided in  
the ,temple for the use of ,stake       
,presidencies  and ,high ,councils is   
shown in the accompanying plate4 ,the   
presiding  bodies of several stakes have
 the use of this chamber1 the time of   
occupancy being regulated by rule4 ,no  
,church trials are held1 nor is  other  
procedure of a secular or temporal      

nature here conducted4 ,this is         
strictly a room for devotion and        
spiritual instruction4 ,a rear view of  
the ,memorial ,window 7,plate #cd7 is   
presented in this room4    ,see page    
#aif4    #cjd    ,,plate                
#cb4--;,,council ,,room ,,of ,,the      
,,twelve ,,apostles    #cje ,the        
spacious chamber here pictured is       
exclusively devoted to  the use of the  
,council of the ,twelve ,apostles4 ,the 
,council assembles  at stated intervals 
in regular session1 and whenever        
summoned by the  ,president of the      
,twelve for special sittings4    ,the   
room is supplied with twelve chairs of a
 kind1 beside which there  are other    
chairs for recorders1 also a table1 a   
desk1 and an altar used  in prayer4 ,on 
the walls are hung oil portraits of the 
,first ,presidency1  the ,twelve        
,apostles1 and the ,presiding           
,patriarch4    ,on the north side are   
two doorways opening upon the hallway or
 corridor  shown in ,plate #bh2 on the  

west is a doorway communicating with the
  ,council ,room of the ,seventy 7,plate
 #cj74 ,a large circular mirror adorns  
the north wall4    ,see page #aie4      
#cjf    ,,plate #cc4--;,,council ,,room 
,,or ,,the ,,first ,,presidency ,,and   
,,the ,,twelve  ,,apostles    #cjg ,this
 room is forty by twenty-eight feet and 
is furnished with  seats for the ,first 
,presidency of the ,church1 the ,twelve 
,apostles1 the  ,presiding ,patriarch   
and a recorder1 seventeen in all4 ,as   
the picture  shows1 the chairs of the   
,apostles are arranged in order around  
the  altar2 the seats of the ,first     
,presidency and the ,patriarch form a   
line  alongside the wall4    ,the walls 
support several paintings by ,alfred    
,lambourne1 among which  are his ,hill  
,cumorah1 and                           
,adam-ondi-,ahman--replicas of canvases 
hung in  the ,celestial ,room2 and      
beside these are several scenes         
illustrative  of the life and the       
atoning death of ,christ4 ,a few        

portraits of  ,church leaders now       
deceased also appear2 prominent among   
these are  paintings of ,joseph and     
,hyrum ,smith and ,brigham ,young4 ,in  
this chamber  the presiding councils of 
the ,church meet as appointed4 ,the     
chamber  connects with an ante-room in  
which is set the art window shown in    
,plate #cd4    ,see pages #aie1 #aif4   
#cjh    ,,plate #cd4--,,the ,,memorial  
,,window    #cji ,in a small apartment  
adjoining the ,council ,room of the     
,first  ,presidency and the ,twelve1    
there is the large memorial window      
pictured  herewith4 ,the ,temple is     
shown as it stands with the inscription 
,holiness to the ,lord1 appearing as in 
the clouds above the great  building4   
,on the left-hand panel1 beneath the    
bordered escutcheon1 we  read3          
,corner stone laid ,april #f1 #ahec1 by 
,president ,brigham ,young1    ,assisted
 by his ,counsellors1    ,heber ,c4     
,kimball1 ,willard ,richards4    ,and on
 the right-hand panel1 similarly placed1

 is the inscription3      ,dedicated    
,april #f1 #ahic1 by    ,president      
,wilford ,woodruff1    ,assisted by his 
,counsellors1    ,george ,cannon1       
,joseph ,f4 ,smith4    ,see pages #acf1 
#acg1 and #aif4    #caj    ,,plate      
#ce4--;,,general ,,view ,,of ,,main     
,,assembly ,,room    #caa ,the fourth   
floor of the ,temple is occupied        
entirely by the ,main  ,assembly ,room  
and its vestries4 ,the room pictured in 
the accompanying  plate is one hundred  
and twenty feet long1 eighty feet wide1 
and  thirty-six feet high4 ,at either   
end is a series of pulpits with         
terraced platforms4    ,the body of the 
room is furnished with reversible seats 
by means of  which the audience may     
conveniently face either stand as       
occasion  requires4 ,at the time this   
picture was taken1 these seats had been 
removed1 and only the fixed lecture     
chairs on the end platforms and  in the 
gallery remained4 ,the view here shown  
is that of an observer  looking toward  

the west1 at which end is situated the  
stand devoted to  officers of the       
,aaronic ,priesthood4    ,see pages     
#aig1 #aih4    #cab    ,,plate          
#cf4--,,stand ,,and ,,pulpits ,,for     
,,melchisedek ,,priesthood ,,in ,,main  
,,assembly ,,room    #cac ,the view     
presented herewith shows with some      
detail1 one of the  end stands in the   
,main ,assembly ,room already described4
 ,the stand is  really a series of four 
terraces1 on each of which is a central 
lectern  with a smaller table on either 
side4 ,the highest terrace is under a   
canopy1 on the front of which is        
inscribed the particular order of       
,priesthood to which the stand belongs4 
,the accompanying picture shows  the    
stand at the east end of the great room1
 which is reserved for the  officers of 
the ,higher or ,melchisedek ,priesthood4
    ,the lecterns with the smaller      
book-tables and all allied wood-work of 
the stand are hand carved4 ,the room is 
finished in white and gold4    ,see     

pages #aig1 #aih4    #cad    ,,plate    
#cg4--,,spiral ,,stairway ,,in ,,main   
,,assembly ,,room    #cae ,access to the
 gallery of the ,main ,assembly ,room is
 afforded  by four stairways1 one in    
each corner of the great hall4 ,these   
four  stairways are of similar design4  
,each is a graceful spiral1 winding     
about a central post4 ,this picture     
shows the stairway in the southwest     
corner of the ,main ,assembly ,room4    
,the picture is of interest in          
illustrating the fact that all parts of 
the great ,temple are finished with     
thoroughness and care4 ,there is no     
neglected corner4 ,it would seem1       
indeed1 that the builders had well      
learned the poet's lesson3      ,in the 
elder days of art          ,builders    
wrought with greatest care    ,each     
minute and unseen part2          ,for   
the gods see everywhere4    ,see page   
#aih4    #caf    ,,plate #ch4--,,one    
,,of ,,the ,,great ,,granite ,,stairways
    #cag ,each corner of the great      

,temple is marked by a large tower2  and
 in each of these four corner towers is 
a stairway reaching from  basement to   
roof1 and every step is of solid        
granite4 ,a central column  of granite  
four feet in diameter supports1 at the  
inner end1 the one  hundred and         
seventy-seven granite steps4 ,each step 
is six feet six  inches long and weighs 
over seventeen hundred pounds2 this     
amounts  to over one and a quarter      
million pounds as the weight of the     
seven  hundred and eight steps in the   
four tower stairways4    ,see pages     
#aih1 #aii4    #cah    ,,plate          
#ci4--,,temple ,,block1 ,,salt ,,lake   
,,city    #cai ,the city square or block
 upon which stands the great ,temple is 
occupied in part by other buildings     
devoted to ,church purposes2 among      
these are the ,assembly ,hall1 the      
,tabernacle1 the ,bureau of             
,information1  and1 on the north half1  
therefore not shown in the picture1 the 
,temple  ,annex1 the ,conservatory1 and 

other minor buildings4    ,temple ,block
 is a square of ten acres2 it was laid  
off in #ahdg1 and  reserved for the uses
 to which it has since been put2 this   
was but a  few days after the arrival of
 the ,mormon ,pioneers in the valley of 
the ,great ,salt ,lake4 ,the entire     
block is surrounded by a wall fifteen   
feet high1 consisting of a base of cut  
sandstone1 courses of adobes or         
sun-dried brick1 capped by a sandstone  
coping2 the adobes are plastered  on    
both sides4 ,the block has been         
beautified by the best art of the       
landscape gardner1 and with its wealth  
of trees1 shrubs and flowers1  presents 
a scene of attractive beauty4    ,see   
pages #acg1 #ach1 and #bja-bjg4    #cbj 
,,plate #dj4--,,the                     
,,tabernacle--,,exterior    #cba ,by    
architects and others this building has 
been pronounced one of  the most        
remarkable auditoriums ever erected4 ,as
 the picture shows1 it  is simply a     
great dome supported by buttressed      

walls4 ,it was in course  of erection   
from ,july #ahfd to ,october #ahfg4     
,the immense dome-roof is a lattice-work
 construction and is  self-sustaining4  
,the roof span is without a single      
pillar4 ,more  remarkable still1 the    
roof is built entirely of wood and was  
constructed without nails or metal      
spikes4 ,the enormous beams and  trusses
 were held together by wooden pegs and  
rawhide thongs4 ,while the  ,tabernacle 
was in course of construction1 iron     
nails and spikes were  obtainable only  
as they were brought across the plains  
by wagon and  team1 and the high cost   
prevented their use4    ,many modern    
buildings present larger roof spans1 but
 such are generally  constructed of     
metal4 ,the roof covering of the        
,tabernacle consisted  originally of    
wooden shingles3 these have been        
replaced1 however1 by  sheet metal4 ,the
 building is two hundred and fifty feet 
long and one  hundred and fifty feet in 
greatest width2 from floor to ceiling at

 the  middle the distance is seventy    
feet2 and the net work of beams and     
trusses between ceiling and roof is ten 
feet high4    ,see pages #bjc-bje4      
#cbb    ,,plate #da4--,,the             
,,tabernacle--,,interior    #cbc ,a     
gallery thirty-six feet wide extends    
around the interior of the  ,tabernacle 
except at the west end1 where the       
gallery gives place to the  great organ 
and a terraced platform providing       
accommodations for ,church  officials   
and the choir4 ,in the choir space1     
seats are provided for  three hundred   
singers1 with other seats for nearly as 
many more in the  adjacent sections of  
the spacious gallery4 ,the building1 as 
a whole1  affords seating room for      
nearly nine thousand persons1 but       
audiences  much larger than this have   
assembled on many occasions4 ,the       
acoustic  properties of the building are
 surprisingly good4    ,the great organ 
occupies nearly a thousand square feet  
of floor space1  and towers to a height 

of forty--eight feet4 ,the instrument   
is1 in  reality1 a combination of five  
individual organs1--,solo1 ,swell1      
,great1  ,choir1 and ,pedal organs4 ,to 
operate the bellows an electric motor   
of ten horse-power is employed and the  
air capacity is about five  thousand    
cubic feet per minute4 ,the instrument  
comprises one hundred  and ten stops1   
and over thirty-six hundred pipes4 ,the 
pipes range  from a fraction of an inch 
to thirty-two feet in speaking length4  
,this splendid instrument1 which at the 
time of its construction was  the       
largest organ in the country1 is the    
product of local talent and  all its    
wood-parts are of native material4 ,the 
organ as it stands  represents a cost of
 over one hundred and twenty-five       
thousand dollars4    ,see pages #bjd1   
#bje4    #cbd    ,,plate #db4--,,statue 
,,of ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,the ,,prophet  
#cbe ,life-size statues of ,joseph and  
,hyrum ,smith are seen on ,temple       
,block4 ,on the front tablet of the     

pedestal supporting the bronze figure   
of ,joseph1 we read3        ,,joseph    
,,smith        ,,the ,,prophet ,,of     
,,the ,,new ,,dispensation ,,of ,,the   
,,gospel ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ          
,,our ,,lord4 ,,he ,,was ,,born ,,at    
,,sharon1 ,,vermont1 ,,on ,,the #bc,,rd 
,,of ,,december1      #ahje2 ,,and      
,,suffered ,,martyrdom ,,for ,,the      
,,word ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,the           
,,testimony      ,,of ,,jesus ,,at      
,,carthage1 ,,illinois1 ,,on ,,the      
#bg,,th ,,of ,,june1 #ahdd4        ,,his
 ,,vision ,,of ,,god        ,i ,,saw    
,,two ,,personages ,,whose ,,glory ,,and
 ,,brightness ,,defy ,,all              
,,description4 ,,one ,,of ,,them ,,spake
 ,,unto ,,me ,,and ,,said3        ,,this
 ,,is ,,my ,,beloved ,,son3 ,,hear      
,,him4        ,i ,,asked ,,which ,,of   
,,all ,,the ,,sects ,,was ,,right ,,and 
,,which ,i ,,should ,,join4      ,i     
,,was ,,answered ,i ,,must ,,join ,,none
 ,,of ,,them2 ,,they ,,were ,,all       
,,wrong2 ,,they      ,,teach ,,for      

,,doctrine ,,the ,,commandments ,,of    
,,men2 ,i ,,received ,a ,,promise       
,,that ,,the ,,fulness ,,of ,,the       
,,gospel ,,would ,,at ,,some ,,future   
,,time ,,be ,,made      ,,known ,,to    
,,me4        ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon 
,,this ,,book ,,was ,,revealed ,,to     
,,him1 ,,and ,,he ,,translated ,,it ,,by
 ,,the ,,gift ,,and      ,,power ,,of   
,,god4 ,,it ,,is ,,an ,,inspired        
,,history ,,of ,,ancient ,,america1     
,,and      ,,contains ,,the ,,fulness   
,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,,it ,,is ,,the    
,,american ,,testament ,,of      ,,our  
,,lord ,,and ,,savior ,,jesus ,,christ4 
,,the ,,organization ,,of ,,the ,,church
        ,,joseph ,,smith ,,received     
,,divine ,,authority ,,through ,,the    
,,ministration ,,of      ,,angels ,,to  
,,teach ,,the ,,gospel ,,and            
,,administer ,,the ,,ordinances         
,,thereof4      ,,he ,,established      
,,again ,,in ,,the ,,earth ,,the        
,,church ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ1         
,,organizing ,,it ,,by ,,the ,,will     

,,and ,,commandment ,,of ,,god ,,on     
,,the #f,,th ,,day ,,of      ,,april1   
#ahcj4        ,,he ,,also ,,received    
,,commission ,,to ,,gather ,,israel     
,,and ,,establish ,,zion      ,,on      
,,this ,,land ,,of ,,america2 ,,to      
,,erect ,,temples ,,and ,,perform       
,,ordinances      ,,therein ,,both ,,for
 ,,the ,,living ,,and ,,the ,,dead2     
,,and ,,prepare ,,the ,,way ,,for       
,,the ,,glorious ,,coming ,,of ,,the    
,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ ,,to ,,reign    
,,on ,,earth4    ,the tablet on the back
 of the pedestal bears the following    
inscription3        ,,truth-,,gems      
,,from ,,the ,,teachings ,,of ,,joseph  
,,smith        ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,god 
,,is ,,intelligence4        ,,it ,,is   
,,impossible ,,for ,a ,,man ,,to ,,be   
,,saved ,,in ,,ignorance4               
,,whatever ,,principle ,,of             
,,intelligence ,,we ,,attain ,,unto ,,in
 ,,this ,,life ,,will      ,,rise ,,with
 ,,us ,,in ,,the ,,resurrection4        
,,there ,,is ,a ,,law ,,irrevocably     

,,decreed ,,in ,,heaven ,,before ,,the  
,,foundations      ,,of ,,this ,,world1 
,,upon ,,which ,,all ,,blessings ,,are  
,,predicated2 ,,and ,,when      ,,we    
,,obtain ,,any ,,blessing ,,from ,,god  
,,it ,,is ,,by ,,obedience ,,to ,,that  
,,law ,,on      ,,which ,,it ,,is       
,,predicated4        ,,this ,,is ,,the  
,,work ,,and ,,glory ,,of ,,god3 ,,to   
,,bring ,,to ,,pass ,,the ,,immortality 
,,and ,,eternal ,,life ,,of ,,man4      
,,adam ,,fell ,,that ,,man ,,might ,,be3
 ,,and ,,men ,,are ,,that ,,the ,,might 
,,have ,,joy4        ,,the              
,,intelligence ,,of ,,spirits ,,had ,,no
 ,,beginning1 ,,neither ,,will ,,it     
,,have      ,,an ,,end4 ,,jesus ,,was   
,,in ,,the ,,beginning ,,with ,,the     
,,father3 ,,man ,,was ,,also ,,in       
,,the ,,beginning ,,with ,,god4         
,,intelligence1 ,,or ,,the ,,light ,,of 
,,truth1 ,,was      ,,not ,,created ,,or
 ,,made1 ,,neither ,,indeed ,,can ,,be4 
,,the ,,spirit ,,and ,,body ,,is ,,the  
,,soul ,,of ,,man2 ,,and ,,the          

,,resurrection ,,from      ,,the ,,dead 
,,is ,,the ,,redemption ,,of ,,the      
,,soul4        ,,it ,,is ,,the ,,first  
,,principle ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,,to    
,,know ,,for ,a ,,certainty      ,,the  
,,character ,,of ,,god2 ,,and ,,to      
,,know ,,that ,,man1 ,,as ,,moses1 ,,may
      ,,converse ,,with ,,him ,,as ,,one
 ,,man ,,converses ,,with ,,another4    
#cbf    ,,plate #dc4--,,statue ,,of     
,,hyrum ,,smith1 ,,the ,,patriarch      
#cbg ,the statue of ,patriarch ,hyrum   
,smith1 like that of his brother        
,joseph1 the ,prophet1 has been moved   
from its first place of  installation in
 the granite niche at the east ,temple  
entrance and is  now upon the open      
grounds4 ,both statues are set on       
pedestals of ,utah  granite1 which      
pedestals with their bases have a total 
height of four  feet four inches4 ,the  
figures were modeled by ,mahonri ,m4    
,young1 a  sculptor of ,utah nativity4  
,on the front face of the pedestal      
supporting  the statue of the ,patriarch

 is a bronze plate on which appears the 
following3        ,,hyrum ,,smith       
,,the ,,patriarch ,,and ,a ,,witness    
,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon         
,,an ,,elder ,,brother ,,and ,,the      
,,steadfast ,,friend ,,and ,,counselor  
,,of ,,joseph      ,,smith1 ,,the       
,,prophet4        ,,born ,,at           
,,tundridge1 ,,vermont1 ,,february      
#i,,th1 #ahjj2 ,,suffered ,,martyrdom   
,,with ,,the ,,prophet ,,at ,,carthage1 
,,illinois1 ,,on ,,the #bg,,th ,,of     
,,june1 #ahdd4        ,,the ,,friendship
 ,,of ,,the ,,brothers ,,hyrum ,,and    
,,joseph ,,smith ,,is ,,foremost        
,,among ,,the ,,few ,,great             
,,friendships ,,of ,,the ,,world',s     
,,history4 ,,their ,,names      ,,will  
,,be ,,classed ,,among ,,the ,,martyrs  
,,for ,,religion4        ,,the ,,book   
,,of ,,mormon--,,the ,,plates ,,of      
,,which ,,hyrum ,,smith ,,both ,,saw    
,,and      ,,handled2 ,,the             
,,revelations ,,in ,,the ,,book ,,of    
,,doctrine ,,and ,,covenants2 ,,the     

,,church ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,of     
,,latter-,,day ,,saints--,,these1 ,,to  
,,bring ,,them      ,,forth ,,for ,,the 
,,salvation ,,of ,,the ,,world1 ,,cost  
,,the ,,best ,,blood ,,of ,,the         
#ai,,th ,,century4        ,i ,,could    
,,pray ,,in ,,my ,,heart ,,that ,,all   
,,men ,,were ,,like ,,my ,,brother      
,,hyrum1      ,,who ,,possesses ,,the   
,,mildness ,,of ,a ,,lamb ,,and ,,the   
,,integrity ,,of ,,job2 ,,and1      ,,in
 ,,short1 ,,the ,,meekness ,,and        
,,humility ,,of ,,christ4 ,i ,,love     
,,him ,,with ,,that      ,,love ,,that  
,,is ,,stronger ,,than                  
,,death4--,,joseph ,,smith4        ,,if 
,,ever ,,there ,,was ,,an ,,exemplary1  
,,honest ,,and ,,virtuous ,,man1 ,,an   
,,embodiment ,,of ,,all ,,that ,,is     
,,noble ,,in ,,the ,,human ,,form1      
,,hyrum ,,smith ,,was      ,,the        
,,representative4--,,president ,,john   
,,taylor4        ,,as ,,he ,,shared ,,in
 ,,the ,,labors1 ,,so ,,does ,,he       
,,share ,,in ,,the ,,honor ,,and ,,glory

      ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,dispensation   
,,with ,,his ,,prophet ,,brother4       
,,in ,,life ,,they ,,were ,,not         
,,divided2 ,,in ,,death ,,they ,,were   
,,not ,,separated2 ,,in      ,,glory    
,,they ,,are ,,one    #cbh    ,,plate   
#dd4--,,the ,,st4 ,,george ,,temple     
#cbi ,the ,temple at ,st4 ,george1      
,washington county1 ,utah1 was the first
  ,temple built and opened to sacred    
service in what is now the ,state of    
,utah4 ,the building is one hundred and 
forty-two feet long1 ninety-six  feet   
wide1 and eighty feet high4 ,the tower  
vane is one hundred and  seventy-five   
feet from the ground4 ,it is built of   
red sandstone with a  foundation of     
black volcanic rock4 ,the building has  
been plastered and  whitened on the     
outside and stands in striking contrast 
to the red rock  and soil of the        
vicinity4 ,the cost of the building was 
considerably  over half a million       
dollars4 ,it was built through free-will
 offerings  of the people and by        

voluntary labor4 ,the ground was broken 
for the  foundation in ,november1 #ahga1
 and the ,temple was dedicated in       
,april1  #ahgg4 ,in common with other   
,utah ,temples this is supplemented by  
an  ante-building known as the ,annex1  
which was built in #ahhb4 ,the ,annex   
comprises boiler and machinery rooms1   
recorder's offices and other  minor     
apartments4 ,the ,temple provides rooms 
and equipment for all  classes of       
ordinance work provided for in the      
greater structure in ,salt  ,lake ,city4
    ,see pages #bji-baf4    #ccj        
,,plate #de4--,,the ,,logan ,,temple    
#cca ,this1 the most northerly of the   
,houses of the ,lord in ,utah1 is       
situated at ,logan1 ,cache county4      
,excavation work preparatory to laying  
the foundation was begun in #ahgg3      
corner stones were laid in ,september   
of the same year2 and the ,temple was   
dedicated to sacred service in  ,may1   
#ahhd4    ,the building is one hundred  
and seventy-one feet long1 ninety-five  

feet  wide1 and eighty-six feet high to 
the square2 the east tower is one       
hundred and seventy feet high4 ,the     
walls are of dark colored silicious     
limestone1 with trimmings of lighter    
tint4 ,there are five full stories      
within which are found rooms            
corresponding to all the essential      
apartments1 both for general and        
ceremonial purposes1 as described in    
detail in connection with the ,temple in
 ,salt ,lake ,city4    ,the secondary   
building1 corresponding to the ,annex1  
at first known as  the ,extension1 was  
built before the main structure3 it is  
eighty feet  by thirty-six and lies     
north of the ,temple4    ,see pages     
#baf-bbc4    #ccb    ,,plate #df4--,,the
 ,,manti ,,temple    #ccc ,the site for 
the ,manti ,temple was selected in      
,june1 #ahge2  excavation work was begun
 in ,april1 #ahgg2 the corner stones    
were laid  two years later2 and the     
building was dedicated ,may #ba1 #ahhh4 
,the ,temple is built on rock in place  

and consists of material taken  from the
 ,very deposit on which it is founded4  
,this is an excellent  variety of oolite
 of light cream color4 ,the building is 
one hundred and  seventy-one feet long1 
ninety-five feet wide1 and eighty-two   
feet from  the ground to the square4    
,the tower at the east has a height of  
one  hundred and seventy-nine feet1 that
 at the west is ten feet lower2 and     
each of these towers is thirty feet     
square at the base4    ,the ,temple     
occupies a position of eminence and is  
approached by a  stairway twenty feet   
wide1 comprising one hundred and        
twenty-five  steps4 ,the hill slope by  
which the ,temple is approached is      
carpeted by  a luxuriant lawn beautified
 with trees and flowers2 each tree is   
set  in a great flower-pot hollowed out 
for its accommodation in the solid      
rock4 ,the soil for trees1 grass and    
flowers had to be brought from a        
distance1 as the rocky hill-slope was   
absolutely bare4    ,see pages #bbc-bcb4

        ,,index4      ,aaronic          
,priesthood4 #bcd1 #bcf4      ,annex1   
,logan ,temple1 #bai2 ,manti ,temple1   
#bbi2 ,st4 ,george ,temple1 #bad2       
,salt ,lake ,temple1 #aed1 #aha1        
#bee-bei4      ,ark of the ,covenant1   
#d1 #bi1 #dj4      ,assembly ,hall1     
,salt ,lake ,city1 #bje4      ,authority
 to labor for the dead1 #hb4            
,baptism1 a ,gospel requirement1 #ga2   
for the dead1 #hi2 of the ,spirit1 #gd4 
,baptistry1 ,logan ,temple1 #bba2       
,nauvoo ,temple1 #acj2 ,st4 ,george     
,temple1      #bac2 ,salt ,lake ,temple1
 #ahc1 #bfc4      ,bethel1 meaning of1  
#a4      ,boaz1 the pillar in ,solomon's
 ,temple1 #cg4      ,bowery1 the ,old1  
,salt ,lake ,city1 #bjb4      ,celestial
 glory1 #if4      ,celestial ,room1     
#ahi1 #bhc1 #bhe4      ,courts of       
,temple of ,herod1 #eg4      ,council   
rooms1 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 #aie1       
#cja-cjg4      ,cubit1 #bc4      ,dead1 
baptism for1 #hi2 ,gospel preached to1  
#ia2 vicarious service for1 #gg1 #hb4   

,dedicatory ,prayer1 ,salt ,lake        
,temple1 #afa4      ,degrees of glory1  
#ie4      ,doors1 outer4 ,salt ,lake    
,temple1 #agi1 #bec4      ,earth-stones1
 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 #agg4             
,elders' ,room1 #aie1 #bii4             
,elijah1 ministry of1 #hb1 #abb4        
,endowment in modern temples1 #ii4      
,exaltation and salvation1 #ie4         
,expulsion from ,eden1 art window1 #ahg1
 #bgc4      ,ezekiel's vision of temple1
 #dc4      ,faith1 a ,gospel            
requirement1 #ff4      ,far ,west1      
temple site at1 #abc4      ,font1       
baptismal1 see ,baptistry4      ,garden 
,room1 #ahf1 #bfg4      ,general        
,service ,plant1 ,salt ,lake ,city1     
#bjf4      ,glory1 degrees of1 #ie2     
celestial1 #if2 terrestrial1 #ig2       
telestial1 #ih4      ,herod1 ,temple of1
 #aa1 #ec4      ,holiness to the ,lord1 
inscription1 #acd1 #acf1 #ahj4          
,holy ,ghost1 the gift of1 #gd1 #ic4    
,holy of ,holies1 in ,tabernacle of the 
,congregation1 #bd2 in ,solomon's       

,temple1 #cf2 in ,temple of ,ezekiel's  
vision1 #dd2 in ,temple of ,zerubbabel1 
#ej2 in ,temple at ,salt ,lake ,city1   
#aib1 #bie4      ,holy ,place1 in       
,tabernacle of the ,congregation1 #bd2  
in ,solomon's ,temple1      #cf2 in     
,temple of ,ezekiel's vision1 #dd2 in   
,temple of ,zerubbabel1 #ej4            
,hosanna ,shout1 #abj1 #aej1 #baj4      
,hyrum ,smith1 statue of1 #ahj1 #cbg4   
,independence1 temple site at1 #aab4    
,inscription stones1 ,salt ,lake        
,temple1 #agh4      ,jachin1 the pillar 
in ,solomon's ,temple1 #cg4      ,joseph
 ,smith1 statue of1 #ahj1 #cbe4         
,kirtland ,temple1 #ad1 #aad1 #bdc4     
,lecture rooms4 ,salt ,lake ,temple1    
#ahe4 #ahi1 #bfe1 #bgi1 #bha4           
,levitical ,priesthood1 #bcd1 #bcf4     
,logan ,temple1 #baf1 #cca4      ,manti 
,temple4 #bbc1 #ccc4      ,marriage1    
ordained of ,god1 #ajb2 celestial1 #aja1
 #aje2 in the    resurrection1 #ajg4    
,melchisedek ,priesthood1 #bcd1 #bcg4   
,modern temple ordinances1 #hi4         

,modern temples1 #aaj4                  
,moon-stones1 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 #agg4
      ,mormon ,battalion1 #bjb4         
,moroni1 statue of on ,salt ,lake       
,temple1 #agf1 #bea4      ,most ,holy   
,place1 see ,holy of ,holies4           
,nauvoo ,temple1 #ad1 #abf1 #bde4       
,necessity of obedience to laws and     
ordinances of the ,gospel1 #fd4         
,need of temples1 #fc4      ,nephite    
temples1 #aa4      ,oracle1 see ,holy of
 ,holies4      ,ordinances in modern    
temples1 #hi4      ,ordination and      
endowment1 #ic4      ,organ1 in ,salt   
,lake ,tabernacle1 #bjd1 #cbc4          
,prayer1 at dedication of ,salt ,lake   
,temple1 #afa4      ,priesthood1        
ordination to1 #ic2 authority of        
necessary in temple      ministrations1 
#bg1 #ajc2 ,aaronic order1 #bcf2        
,levitical1      #bcf2 ,melchisedek1    
#bcg4      ,quorum1 distinctive use of  
term1 #bcj4      ,record stones1 ,salt  
,lake ,temple1 #aea1 #agf4              
,repentance1 a ,gospel requirement1 #ff4

      ,royal ,porch in ,temple of       
,herod1 #ef4      ,st4 ,george ,temple1 
#bji1 #cbi4      ,salt ,lake ,temple1   
#ae2 historical account of1 #acf2 early 
description      of1 #add2 laying of    
capstone1 #adi2 dedication1 #aeb2       
exterior1 #agb1 #bdg1      #bdi2        
interior1 #aha1 #bfa-cae4               
,salvation and exaltation1 #ie4         
,sanctuaries in earlier dispensations1  
#ag4      ,sealing in marriage1 #aja1   
#ajf2 of parents and children1 #ajh4    
,sealing rooms1 #aia1 #bhg-bic4         
,smith1 ,hyrum2 see ,hyrum ,smith4      
,smith1 ,joseph2 see ,joseph ,smith4    
,solomon's ,porch in ,temple of ,herod1 
#ef4      ,solomon's ,temple1 #f1 #cj4  
,star-stones1 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 #agh4
      ,sun-stones1 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 
#agg4      ,tabernacles1 ancient2 the   
,provisional1 #ai2 of the ,congregation1
      #c1 #bj2 the ,third1 #bi4         
,tabernacles1 modern2 the ,old1 ,salt   
,lake ,city1 #bjb4 ,at ,salt    ,lake   
,city1 #bjc2 exterior1 #cba2 interior1  

#cbc2 organ1 #bjd4      ,telestial      
glory1 #ih4      ,temple ,block1 ,salt  
,lake ,city1 #bja1 #cai4      ,temple   
site at ,far ,west1 #abc2 at            
,independence1 ,mo41 #aab4              
,temples1 ancient3 of ,solomon2 #f1 #cj2
 of ,zerubbabel1 #i1 #de2 of    ,herod1 
#aa1 #ec2 of ,ezekiel's vision1 #dc2 of 
the ,nephites1 #aa4      ,temples of the
 present1 #aaj2 at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1    
#ad1 #aad1 #bdc2 at      ,nauvoo1 #aaa41
 #ad1 #abf1 #bde2 at ,st4 ,george1 #bji1
 #cbi2 at ,logan1 #baf1      #cca2 at   
,manti1 #bbc1 #ccc2 at ,salt ,lake      
,city1 see ,salt ,lake ,temple4         
,terrestrial glory1 #ig4                
,terrestrial room1 #ahh1 #bgi1 #bha4    
,testimony1 ,the1 #ah4      ,veil1 in   
,tabernacle1 #bd2 in ,solomon's ,temple1
 #cg2 in ,temple of ,herod1    #ei2 in  
,salt ,lake ,temple1 #ahi4              
,vicarious service for the dead1 #aa2   
temples required for same1 #hf4         
,world room1 #ahg1 #bge1 #bgg4          
,women1 equality of1 #id4               

,zerubbabel1 ,temple of1 #i1 #de4       
,,transcriber',s ,,note    ,this edition
 is meant to reproduce the original     
#aiab edition4 ,it moves  what were     
originally footnotes to the end of each 
chapter4 ,though some  of the plates    
contain copyright symbols and are noted 
as copyrighted1  this copyright         
protection has expired in the ,united   
,states4