Uses and Maintenance of Churches by the Latter-day Saints

Uses and Maintenance of Churches by the

Latter-day Saints

r.Y JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR., OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TWELVE

Previous to the settlement of the Latter-day Saints in the

Rocky Mountains, church buildings, aside from the temples at

Kirtland and Nauvoo, were almost unknown. In New York,

Ohio, Missouri and Illinois, when our people dwelt in these states,

from the organization of the Church, in 1830, to the expulsion from

Nauvoo, in 1846, there were no meeting houses where they could

assemble to worship the Lord. Public meetings in the settlements

of the Saints during that period were quite generally held in pri-

vate dwellings or in the open air. It is true, meetings of various

kinds were held in the Kirtland Temple, when the headquarters of

the Church were located in Ohio, and a school was taught for the

benefit of the elders who assembled in the various upper rooms in

that building for instruction.

When the Saints settled Nauvoo, the Lord commanded them

to build a temple to his name where ordinance work could be per-

formed for both the living and the dead. This labor so constantly

occupied their time that they had no opportunity to build meeting-

houses in the ten bishops' wards into which the city of Nauvoo had

been divided. After the expulsion from Missouri, the people were

in poverty, and all their spare means and time were devoted to

the building of the temple which was of magnificent proportions.

Under these circumstances the Saints were unable to erect other

buildings where they could gather to be instructed and in which

to worship. Public meetings in Nauvoo were generally held in

the open air, in the "grove" near the temple, or in some other

convenient place. These meetings were often disturbed, and the

people forced to adjourn because of rain, and at times even the

gen;ral conferences of the Church were adjourned, from day to

day, because of the inclement weather. Many times the Prophet

Joseph, his brother Hyrum and others, addressed the people in the

rain, while all protected themselves the best they could with um-

brellas and other temporary devices.

It was not until after the arrival of the Latter-day Saints in

Utah that any definite attempt was made to build ward meeting-

houses. In February, 1849, less than two years after the arrival

of the Pioneers, Salt Lake City was divided into nineteen bishops'

wards, and by 1851, in most if not all of these, substantial church

buildings were erected. The Saints felt that they were perma-

nently located and built accordingly. These structures erected in

the first nineteen wards —a custom followed also by the Saints in

SEVENTEENTH WARD CHAPEL. SALT LAKE STAKE OF

ZION

The Salt Lake Stake of Zion uses the Assembly Hall for their

stake conferences. The Seventeenth ward chapel is located at No.

143 West 1st North St. The corner stone of this building was lai'.

December 5, 1905, and the building was completed March 30, 1907,

and was dedicated the day following. The material is of buff brick

and grev stone with cement; interior is finished in gold and oak.

The architecture is Gothic, Ware & Treganza, being the architects.

The cost of the building was $26,000, not including $2,750 paid for

the grounds. The lower floor is six feet in the ground, and the

brilding is 45 feet high and 84 by 49 feet in size on the outside.

Tt Inqg 1 seating capacity of five hundred. There are five by ten rods

of land connected with it. The main floor consists of an auditorium,

I j-,,- 4S ic"^. bishopric's room, choir room, and has an art-glass win

dow 12 by 22 feet, representing the first vision. The lower floor con-

sists of seven class rooms, two toilets, lavatories, large hall, furnace-

room and fire-proof vault.

other settlements —served for all public gatherings; On Sundays,

the sacrament and other meetings were held in them. Later, the

Sunday schools, auxiliary organizations, and priesthood quorums,

met in them. The district schools were held in them on week

days, for many years. The people assembled in them for their

social entertainments and, from time to time, to discuss various

problems affecting the welfare of their communities. They were

looked upon as the general gathering places of all the people. As

the populatoin increased and these first buildings were outgrown,

and as conditions changed, due to the influx of a non-"Mormon"

MAINTENANE OF CHURCHES m

population, many of these meeting houses passed into tlie hands

of the city and county governments, and the Saints replaced them

with other buildings, more commodious and equal to the best of

the kind to be found in any land.

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Now, instead of making our meeting houses chapels, as some

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prefer to call them answer for all purposes, including social

gatherings and entertainments, most of the wards, where modern

buildings are erected, are also provided with commodious amuse-

ment halls. These amusement halls in some instances are enclosed

within the walls of the church building and adjoining it, or in the

basement others are separate and distinct from the regular house

;

of worship. In these amusement halls the people assemble from

time to time to engage in the dance, under proper regulation and

restrictions. —

The young people of the wards principally under

the direction of one of the orgfanizations such as the Mutual Im-

TWENTY-THIRD WARD MEETING HOUSE, SALT LAKE

STAKE

The Twenty-third ward meeting house is located on Fourteenth

North and Dexter Streets, Salt Lake City. This building was erected

in 1913, and is built of cement — concrete, cement-brick, stone trim-

mings, and shingle roof, at a cost of $10,500. Outside measurement

42 by 60 feet, 23 feet to the square, including a basement; Matthew

Noall, architect. There are eleven rooms, and the seating capacity

of the main hall is two hundred and fifty. Land connected with it, 100

by 125 feet.

PIONEER STAKE HOUSE

Located in Salt Lake City, on Fifth South between West Temple

and First West. It was erected in 1884, and completed in 1885, and

was dedicated on the 17th of April, 1910, bv President Joseph F.

Smith. The original building was purchased from the Board of Edu-

cation, in 1905, for $5,500, and was later enlarged by the erection of

a brick and adobe building, at a cost of another $5,000. The main

building measures 32 by 80 feet, and the annex 27 by 30 feet. The

seating capacity of the main hall is about seven hundred. There

are six and a half by ten rods of land, lawns having been planted in

front of the building.

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provement Association present for the entertainment of the pub-

lic, dramas, operas, engage in friendly debates, declamations, mu-

sical, oratorical and other contests, in which they are trained and

instructed, and thus a social and neighborly influence is increased.

The churches, or meeting houses, are used now almost ex-

clusively for worship or instruction in matters pertaining to re-

ligious or moral education. We do not use them merely on the

Sabbath day. They are more than ornamental, and more than

places for Sunday, religious worship only. They are in use on all

days of the week, by one and then by another of the organizations

of the Church. On the Sabbath day, the priesthood quorums

occupy them from nine until ten thirty in the morning. The Sun-

day schools occupy them from ten-thirty until noon. In the after-

noon or evening, as local circumstances determine, the regular

Sacramental meetings are held. Here the Saints assemble to

partake of the emblems of the Lord's supper, and to be instructed

HOME OF THK RKTJEF SOCIETY, PAROWAN WARD

This beautiful and commodious building was erected in 1909,

by the sisters of the Society.

TAROWAN STAKE HOUSE

Located in Parowan. It is one of the old-time structures erected

less than fifteen years after the arrival of the pioneers. It was built

in 1862 of stone at a cost of $10,000, and, strange to say, has never been

dedicated. The height of the building is 28 feet with 45 by 50 feet

outside measurement. It has a seating capacity of 800, and seven

rooms. The architects were Ebenezer Hanks, Edward Dalton, and

William A. Warren. The house stands in the center of an eight-acre

block. An entrance to the building leads from each side of the block.

On either side of the paths leading from the gates, are avenues of

trees, some ornamental and some fruit. A man is paid to take care

of the grounds and do the janitor work in the building. Part of the

730 • impruvi:m]':nt era

grounds are used for raising crops. The President of the stake, Lucius N.

Marsdcn, in giving a description of thc_ building, says: "If the peo-

ple would now build a meeting house according to their means, as the

people did in 1862, wt would have a most magnificent building."

by the elders of the Chttrch. There are no especially appointed

speakers at these services. One or more of the elders may be

called unexpectedly from the congregation to the pulpit to dis-

course upon the principles of the gospel. All the members are

expected to be prepared to give a reason for the hope within them,

and to have a general knowledge of the gospel and a living testi-

mony of the truth.

Once a week, the Primary association occupies the building

on a given day. This is an organization of the smaller children of

the Church, who are taught the principles of the gospel, and to put

into practice in their daily lives the many important things which

they are taught.

On other days the Religion classes meet. These classes are

composed of the children of the district school age. In this organ-

ization the idea is to impart to these young members the religious

and ethical knowledge which cannot be supplied to them in the

district schools. They also, are instructed in the knowledge of

the gospel that there may be a proper balance to their education

which, because of the various creeds of men and lack of religious

belief of many people, cannot be supplied in our public schools.

The Young Men's and the Young Ladies' Mutual Improve-

ment Associations also occupy these buildings one night each week

in their study and in their social and educational programs pre-

pared for them bv their respective general boards.

The Relief Society, an organization of the sisters, where they

have not a separate building for their own use, are also provided

with a home in manv of our meeting houses. This organization,

the oldest of the auxiliary societies of the Church, was established

bv Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, March 17, 1842. It is a benevolent

society and assists in the care of the poor, the nursing of the sick

and the burial of the dead. In this way. our churches are occu-

pied on the several davs of the week for religious, social and edu-

cational services, and the people are constantly brought in contact

with each other, a condition which draws them nearer to and in-

creases their desire to labor and their love for the work of the

Lord.

Once each year the people assemble in ward conference, and

once each quarter in conference of the stake, (a stake is a division

of the Church composed of several wards — some as high as twenty

or more\ to be instructed, attend to such church business as may

come before them, and to vote for all officers appointed to the

various positions of resnonsibilitv. These stake houses arc for

the stakes what the ward houses are for the wards —

and are fre-

RIVERTON WARD MEETING HOUSE, JORDAN STAKE

Jordan has no stake house, but the Riverton ward house, located

at Riverton, Salt Lake County, Utah, is sometimes used for stake

purposes. Stake conferences are held in six different wards of the

stake alternately, and in each of these wards are beautiful buildings.

The Riverton ward house was erected during 1899-1909, and has not

yet been dedicated. It is built of brick with a granite foundation, and

cost approximately $22,000. The building is 85 feet high and meas-

ures 60 by 80 feet on the outside; Richard Kletting, architect. The

seating capacity of the main auditorium is 800. The ground floor is

used for Sunday school class rooms, and for amusement hall pur-

poses and will accommodate about 400. There are nine rooms in the

building, exclusive of the boiler room, and closets. Two acres of

ground belong to the building, one and a half acres of which is

plotted in lawn and trees. Adjoining is a five and a half acre public

field used for baseball and athletic sports improved with a grand-

stand and used for field exercises by the auxiliary organizations.

quently used during the week for one organization or another.

Some of the stake houses are provided with secial halls for recrea-

tion and amusement, just as many ward houses are.

Our churches are not built to accommodate the rich in prefer-

ence to the poor and lowly. They are not provided with pews to

be rented according to the price members are able or willing to

pay. All seats are free and open to the rich and poor alike with-

out any reservation. The stranger within our gates is made just

as welcome as the most favored member, and may choose any seat

he desires in the congregation of the Saints. The treatment ac-

corded each other by the members is quite democratic. Their free

and neighborly consideration for each other, in all their religious

and social gatherings, increased their regard and respect for each

other's rights. A person in affluent circumstances is not respected

on that account more than the humblest member. Faithfulness to

the cause we represent, and not wealth, is the standard by which

all church members are judged. There are no castes or class dis-

tinctions in the Church. The work of the ministry is not confined

732 IMPROVEMENT ERA

to one or two who arc looked upon as the spiritual advisers of the

people, but is distributed among all the members, so that all who

will may perform a portion of the labor, and each faithful member

has some important work to do. All are expected to perform

their parts and perform some duty in the interest of their fellows.

The whole gospel plan is one of service, in which each member

may play an important part.

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The presiding officer the bishop of the ward may be but

a day laborer, or engaged in any one of the humblest of pursuits.

Yet he is respected by the people as much as if he were a leading

financier. Members who are abundantly blessed with means and

influential in the community, pay to him the deference due his

calling, and with him work hand-in-hand, and under his direction

in the ward, in harmony and brotherly fellowship and love. The

matter of wealth, or the lack of it, does not enter into the consid-

eration of choosing and sustaining officers of the Church, but

faithfulness and ability to labor in the work of the ministry.

Unity and fellowship prevail, as Paul said : "There is neither

Greek nor Jew, * * * * Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free,

but Christ is all and in all." (Col. 3:11.)

There are no collections taken in our meetings, nor passing of

collection plates. Our churches are maintained by voluntary con-

tributions, made generally on the fast-Sunday, the first Sabbath of

the month, and from the tithes of the people. On the first Sunday

in the month the Saints assemble in the spirit of fasting and prayer.

On this day, and generally at this service, they pay their tithes to

the Bishop of the ward and donate of their means free-will offer-

ings for the sustenance of the poor, and to meet the current ex-

penses of the building in which they worship.

Our Church buildings are erected in the same manner, by

offerings thus donated tend to develop in the people a spirit of

liberality, and increase their love for the work of the Lord. In

these houses rooms are provided for the use and benefit of the

Priesthood quorums, Sunday school classes, Mutual Improvement

and other auxiliary organizations. These several societies take

pride in fitting out the rooms which are assigned to them as reg-

ular meeting places. The little children of the kindergarten and

primary classes, in this matter, are not overlooked, but bring their

nickels to their teachers to create a fund to furnish with carpets,

chairs and suitable pictures in a home-like manner, the rooms they

occupy. This is not requested of the children simply as a means

to raise the necessary funds, but to create in their hearts the feeling

that they have assisted in the work, and therefore have an interest

in the rooms. This custom not only gives to them a pride in keep-

ing neat and clean their own room which they helped to furnish,

but a reverential feeling for the entire building and generally for

sacred things. They are taught that it is indeed the house of the

BANNOCK STAKE TABERNACLE

Located in Grace, Bannock county, Idaho, was commenced on

the 20th day of June, 1910, and the first conference was held in the

building. May 21, 22, 1911. It has not yet been dedicated. It is built

of cement blocks, with concrete and stone foundation ; is steam

heated and electric lighted. The height of the building to the top

of the tower is 74 feet and 55 feet rear gable. It has eleven rooms.

Size of the building, 38 by 80 feet. John Nufifer, Preston, Idaho,

architect. The seating capacity is about nine hundred. There were

927 souls at the first conference. The cost was $18,000, including

the grounds. There are two and a half acres with the main building,

and seven and a half acres laid out for playgrounds, making a total

of ten acres enclosed in a temporary fence. Preparations are being

made for planting lawns and trees within the enclosure surrounding

the house. The balance of the eight acres will be devoted to park,

ball grounds, etc. A paid janitor is employed for the care of the

building. The house will be dedicated as soon as paid for.

Lord, and that they have had the honor of assisting in its erection

from the Httle funds they have been able to save or have received

for this purpose from their parents. Their hearts swell with

thanksgiving within them for this honored privilege. In this they

but emulate the feelings and example of their parents who also

freely give. And after all, there is no joy like that which comes

from heart-felt giving, where the offering is intended for the

eternal benefit and blessing of mankind.