The House of the Lord: Introduction

9$ "The House of the Lord Announcement has already been made by the First Presilency of the Church to the effect that a book dealing with the subject of temples and temple work is now in course of preparation and will shortly be published. The book will appear under the expressive title, The House of the Lord, and the author of the forthcoming volume is Dr. James E. Talmage. The work will deal with the temple-building spirit as characteristic of the Church of Christ, and with the temples of historic interest in former ages, as also with those of the present dispensation. A detailed description of the great Temple in Salt Lake City will be a prominent feature of the book, and this description will be illustrated by approximately fifty full-page plates, showing in fine photogravure every room in the great structure. There will be also illustrations of other existing temples, and reproductions of the best and most reliable pictures of the temples of old. It is intended that the work shall be published in the best style possible, including pictures of the highest order. The letterpress matter will probably range from 150 to 200 pages. We are very fortunate in being permitted to present to our readers the first chapter of this important work. This chapter is in the nature of a pre-view of the entire subject, the several topics of which will be taken up and treated at length in their proper places in the body of the work. The illustrations presented in connection with this article are selected from among numerous photographs already prepared for use in the forthcoming book, The House of the Lord. The photographs were made by Ralph Savage, of the C. R. Savage Company, Salt Lake City, and every picture is excellent. The brief description printed in connection with each picture is taken from a later chapter in Dr. Talmage's book, which chapter deals at length with the interior of the great Temple. The plates, copyrighted by President Joseph F. Smith, 191 1, for the Church, are loaned to the Era by courtesy of Benjamin Goddard, of the Bureau of Information, publishers of A Description of the Great Temple, by D. M. McAllister. The Editors.

I I THE GREAT TEMPLE, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH On the principal Inscription Stone, which is set above the windows in the center tower at the east end, appears the following in deeply graven letters faced with gold: HOLINESS TO THE LORD The House of the Lord, built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Commenced April 6, 1853. Completed April 6, 1893. In one of the upper rooms there is a splendid art window which presents a picture of the completed building, with side inscriptions as follows: Corner Stone laid April 6, 1853, Dedicated April 6, 1893, by Presiby President Brigham Young, As- dent Wilford Woodruff, Assisted sisted by his Counsellors, Heber by his Counsellors, George Q. C. Kimball, Willard Richards. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith. These memorial tablets in stone and jeweled glass give in succinct form the essentials as to dates in the history of the great Temple.