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St. George Utah Temple
Number	1
Dedication	April 6, 1877, by Daniel H. Wells
Site	6.5 acres (2.6 ha)
Floor area	143,969 sq ft (13,375.2 m)
Height	175 ft (53 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
← Nauvoo Temple St. George Utah Temple → Logan Utah Temple
Additional information
Announced	31 January 1871, by Brigham Young
Groundbreaking	9 November 1871, by Brigham Young
Rededicated	November 11, 1975, by Spencer W. Kimball 10 December 2023, by Jeffrey R. Holland
Designed by	Truman O. Angell
Location	St. George, Utah, United States
Geographic coordinates	37°6′1.450800″N 113°34′41.17439″W / 37.10040300000°N 113.5781039972°W / 37.10040300000; -113.5781039972
Exterior finish	Native red sandstone quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon and plastered white.
Temple design	Castellated Gothic
Baptistries	1
Ordinance rooms	3 (stationary)
Sealing rooms	18
Clothing rental	Available
Visitors' center	Yes
(edit)

The St. George Utah Temple, formerly known as the St. George Temple, is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah. Completed in 1877, it was the third temple constructed by the church and the first in Utah, following the westward migration of members from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of church founder Joseph Smith.

Situated in the southwestern city of St. George, the temple was designed by Truman O. Angell, displaying greater architectural similarities to the Nauvoo Temple rather than the church's subsequent temples. The St. George Temple is the oldest temple still actively used by the church. It has three ordinance rooms and 18 sealing rooms, covering a total floor area of 143,969 square feet (13,400 m). The St. George Temple was the first where church members could perform all temple ordinances for their ancestors.

History

Brigham Young, the church's president, announced the construction of the St. George Temple on November 9, 1871. Young selected St. George for the temple’s location, citing the presence of loyal church members in the area and a desire to unify a region considered challenging to settle. St. George was founded by 309 families as part of an initiative announced at General Conference called the "Cotton Mission," intended to support the local economy through cotton production. At the announcement, some were a "mix of emotions," and others were said to shout "Glory, hallelujah!" The settlement period posed challenges of starvation and economic hardship, and the construction of the temple provided both employment and a source of economic stability.

At the time of the St. George Temple’s announcement, the Salt Lake Temple was still in the early stages of construction and would not be completed and dedicated for another 22 years, until 1893. The St. George Temple met an immediate need for a place to conduct temple ceremonies and ordinances, and it later became the first temple where members could perform all ordinances for their ancestors. The temple became the third completed by the church and the first in Utah following the Latter-day Saints' migration westward after the death of church founder Joseph Smith.

Young chose a six-acre plot as the temple site, and, despite health difficulties, he supervised the construction from a winter home nearby. When workers encountered swampy conditions at the chosen site and suggested relocation, Young remained firm that this was the site for the temple. A 1942 interview with a local resident stated that Young said the location had been dedicated by ancient Nephites (a people described in The Book of Mormon) for a temple. This account, however, surfaced nearly 70 years after Young’s death and is not documented during his lifetime. Young also sent scouts to explore additional potential sites for the temple.

To address the issue, workers created drains to eliminate as much water as possible before adding in stone for the foundation. Teams of oxen brought large lava rocks from a nearby quarry to the site to be crushed into gravel to create a dry foundation for the temple. Workmen suggested using an old cannon that the city had acquired to crush the stone.

The old cannon was made in France and used by Napoleon during his siege on Moscow. During Napoleon's retreat, the cannon was left behind. It went to Siberia, then Alaska, ending up in California. Members of the Mormon Battalion acquired the cannon, mounted it on wheels, and brought it to Utah. After creating a pulley system using horsepower, the cannon was filled with lead, encased in timbers, lifted thirty feet in the air, and then used as a pile driver to compact the foundation. It was reported that Young told the workmen that "when the cannon was dropped and it bounced three times, then the foundation was solid enough."

Following the stabilization of the foundation, construction began on the temple structure. The walls were built using the red sandstone common to the area, with a final plaster finish for a white appearance. The workers donated one day in ten as tithing labor, and historians James Allen and Glen Leonard made note of the pioneer's dedication to building the temple in Southern Utah. Some members donated half their wages to the temple, while others gave food, clothing, and other goods to aid those who were working full-time on the building. Women decorated the interior with handmade carpets, along with fringe made for the altars and pulpits all from Utah-produced silk. It took local church members six years to complete the temple. At its completion, it contained 1,000,000 board feet (2,000 m3) of lumber, which had been hand-chopped and hauled between 40 and 80 miles (60 and 100 km). They also used 17,000 tons of volcanic rock and sandstone, hand-cut, then hauled by oxen.

To commemorate the finished structure, on April 6, 1877, the church's general conference was held there, during which the dedicatory prayer and services took place. It was first dedicated by Daniel H. Wells, Brigham Young's second counselor in the First Presidency. The St. George Temple was the only temple completed during Young's 29 years as church president. The St. George Temple is the oldest temple still actively used by the church.

Cupola

Young was initially displeased with the height of the tower, but because construction had taken so much time, historians speculate that he did not want to delay the project any longer. Two years after his passing, in 1883, the tower was struck by lightning, resulting in a fire that destroyed the tower, while leaving the remainder of the temple unharmed. Local legends vary in interpretation, some narratives suggesting the lightning strike and subsequent fire were perceived as a means to appease Brigham Young, while alternative accounts propose that he may have instigated the event. The reconstructed tower doubled in height as a homage to Young's expressed preference.

Story on the Founding Fathers

According to an account by Wilford Woodruff, then temple president and apostle, in August 1877, the spirits of the founding fathers and other "eminent" historical figures appeared to him in the St. George Temple. They asked why the rite of the endowment had not been performed on their behalf, despite the length the Endowment House was in use. Woodruff documented these occurrences over multiple occasions spanning two days and two nights in his personal journals. Subsequently, baptisms and endowments were performed in the temple by John D. T. McAllister, Woodruff, and other church members in the area, contributing to ordinance work for a total of 100 men and women. Some individuals mentioned in these records include George Washington, Christopher Columbus, John Wesley, and Marie Antoinette. It is said that shortly after the visitations of the founding fathers and other historical figures, 85 Native American Chiefs had baptisms performed on their behalf.

Renovations

Over its history, the temple has experienced ten renovations, including repairs to the cupola necessitated by the previously mentioned lightning strike. Noteworthy instances include upgrades in 1917, marked by the enlargement of the annex. In 1938, significant modifications were made to the floor plan, involving the relocation of endowment rooms from the basement to the main level, the introduction of murals, and the alignment of the temple with architectural trends of the 20th century. In 1975, the annex was expanded to facilitate the transition from live actors to a film presentation of the endowment.

On November 4, 2019, the temple temporarily closed for renovations. During this refurbishment period, crews systematically removed specific 20th-century additions with the dual purpose of restoring the original architectural style and incorporating seismic upgrades. Renovations throughout the building and on the site included motifs such as a five-point gold star and a quatrefoil. Additional elements were introduced, such as a skylight, a bride's plaza, trees and landscaping improvements, an entrance to the baptistry, steel trusses, murals, a new annex, an updated electrical system, and heating and cooling units.

Design

The temple was designed by Truman O. Angell under Brigham Young's supervision. Angell worked as a carpenter on the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples, from which the design borrows architectural elements. The temple has a rectangular shape made up of two stories, an octagonal spire, and a large assembly hall. The temple is situated on a 6.5-acre plot (2.6 ha) with multiple pedestrian plazas, along with gardens, seating elements, and a tiered water feature.

Exterior

While the St. George Temple has a similar overall layout to the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples, the exterior designs differ. The St. George Temple has a combination of Neo-Gothic Architecture, combined with a French Norman Revival Style, with parapets and battlements, and inside these towers, Angell introduced hexagonal staircases. Certain elements like the neoclassical pilasters of Nauvoo and Kirtland were replaced with thin buttresses, and in the space between them, he added a porthole motif. Contemporary temples such as the Salt Lake City, Logan, and Manti Temples were designed to have the appearance of a fortified castle. The temple has is a total of 143,969 square feet (13,400 m).

Interior

Historically, the temple was originally designed with two large assembly halls akin to the earlier Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. The lower Assembly Hall was partitioned with curtains to facilitate the ordinance rooms for the endowment ceremony. Currently, the temple's interior comprises a large assembly hall, a baptistry (for performing baptisms for the dead), three rooms designated for ordinances (such as the endowment and initiatory), and eighteen sealing rooms (where sealings are performed to eternally unite a husband and wife or children to their parents).

Following the renovations in 2023, the design focused on evoking the historical pioneer era. According to Andy Kirby, the director of the Church's historic temple renovations, "The interior design matches the historic temple and furnishings that would have been appropriate in the 1870s and 1880s." Lighting fixtures match the time period with wheel-cut glass shades with a gothic/grapevine design. The millwork is period-specific throughout the building. The 2023 updates also introduced new murals for each instruction room, commissioned by three different artists. Each mural was crafted to "capture the rugged natural beauty of the southwest Utah landscape."

Admittance

Like all temples of the church, the St. George Temple is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship. The visitors’ center is available to the public.

Presidents

Notable presidents of the temple include Wilford Woodruff (1877–84); John D. T. McAllister (1884–93); J. Thomas Fyans (1992–95); and Bruce C. Hafen (2010–13).

See also

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah
• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Endowment House
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)

References

1. reference
2. ^ "St. George Utah Temple | Church News Almanac". Almanac. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
3. ^ "St. George Temple day; a significant, sacred beacon for over 140 years". Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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9. "'Absolutely incredible'; LDS church reveals details of pending St. George Temple renovations". Retrieved October 14, 2023.
10. "Read the original St. George temple dedicatory prayer and why Brigham Young was not the one who gave it". Church News. October 31, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
11. "A look inside the renovated St. George Utah Temple". The Spectrum. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
12. "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to unveil newly renovated St. George Temple". ABC4 Utah. August 30, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
13. "A path still trod". Deseret News. March 29, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
14. ^ Curtis, Kirk (October 19, 1964). HISTORY OF THE ST. GEORGE TEMPLE. Brigham Young University. pp. 23–28.
15. ^ Kirk, Curtis (1964). HISTORY OF THE ST GEORGE TEMPLE. Brigham Young University. pp. 43, 64, 142.
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23. "St. George LDS Temple, Utah's first, to close Nov. 4 for several years to undergo seismic upgrade and major renovation". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
24. "Temple burns — but not angel". Deseret News. July 11, 2003. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
25. Ingram, Aleah (October 6, 2023). "10 Fascinating Facts About the St. George Utah Temple". LDS Daily. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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28. ^ "Chapter 4: Wilford Woodruff: Fourth President of the Church". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
29. ^ "8 Columbus and the Founders in the St. George Temple". Lessons on Life. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
30. "Eminent Spirits Appear to Wilford Woodruff". December 28, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
31. ^ "What You Didn't Know About the Founding Fathers' Temple Work Story". LDS Living. May 15, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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33. Kahkonen, Delores. "Lecture on 85 Indian Chiefs" (PDF). Washington County Historical Society.
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41. Admin, Westland (September 21, 2014). "St. George Temple Renovation | Westland". Retrieved October 16, 2023.
42. ^ "St. George Utah Temple Fact Sheet" (PDF). Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Newsroom. p. 3. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
43. "Temple Designs | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
44. "Sealing". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
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46. ^ "Renovated St. George Utah Temple Ready for Tours". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. September 6, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
47. ^ "See inside the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple as media, special-guest tours begin". Church News. September 6, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
48. ^ "Of Chapels and Temples: Explaining Latter-day Saint Worship Services". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. November 15, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
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Further reading

• Allen, James B.; Leonard, Glen M. (1992) , The Story of the Latter-day Saints, Deseret Book, ISBN 0-87579-565-X

External links

• St. George Utah Temple Official site
• St. George Utah Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

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