The Arizona Temple

Improvement Era Vol. XXX OCTOBER, 1927 No. 12 THE ARIZONA TEMPLE By J. W. Lesueur The Arizona temple is finished and furnished and ready for dedication, and stands a work of art, a monument of simple grandeur. It is the ninth temple erected by the Latter-day Saints during their history. Formerly Dedicated Temples 1. The Kirtland temple was erected at Kirtland, Ohio, the corner stones of which were laid in July, 1833. The building was finished and dedicated in March, 183 6. It is now in use by the Reorganized church. 2. The second temple was built in Nauvoo, 111., begun in 1841, and completed in 1846. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1848, and the ruined walls were leveled by a tornado in 1850. 3. Next was the St. George temple, begun in November, 1871, and dedicated in April, 18 77. 4. The foundation of the Logan temple was begun in 1877, and the building was dedicated to sacred service in May, 1884. 5. The Manti temple was begun in April, 1877; the corner stones were laid two years later, and the building dedicated May 21, 1888. 6. The corners stones of the Salt Lake temple were laid April 6, 1853, and the temple was dedicated April 6, 1893. 7. The Hawaiian temple was begun early in 1916, and dedi- cated November 27, 1919, by President Heber J. Grant. 8. The Canadian temple, at Cardston, the corner stone of which was laid by Elder David O. McKay, of the Council of the Twelve, September 19, 1915, was completed in 1920, and dedicated August 26, 1923, by President Heber J. Grant. Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 110 3, Act of October 3, 19 17 : authorized on July 2, 19 18, $2 per annum. Address Room 4 0 6, Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.

1064 IMPROVEMENT ERA 9. The Arizona temple is, therefore, the ninth in this line of buildings erected by the Church, and it has been announced by the Presidency of the Church that the dedication of this temple will take place on the 23d day of October, 1927. The friezes of the temple represent the gathering of Israel in the latter days from east to west, as exemplified by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Represents two divisions: French peasants and Italians. Those in the rear of the first division with their climbing togs, having descended from the Alps, are on their way to Holland to embark for the land of Zion (America) . Those under the arbor are Italians; the wife having become converted is pleading with the husband to join her. History A petition to the First Presidency was sent from the Maricopa stake in 1912, followed, in the Fall of 1913, by a visit of Presidents Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Francis M. Lyman, and Elders Joseph Fielding Smith, Charles W. Niblcy, Horace H. Cummings, George Albert Smith, who inspected prospective sites;' but, on ac- count of the war, the choice was deferred until a later date. In October, 1919, President Heber J. Grant announced in conference that a decision had been reached that a temple would be erected at Mesa, Arizona. President Heber J. Grant, Elders David O. McKay, George F. Richards, Joseph McMurrin and Willard Young, with the Maricopa stake presidency, consisting then of J. W. Lesueur, O. S. Stapley and John Cummard, selected the site on the 1st of February, 1920, and authorized the purchase of the Kimball twenty-acre tract adjoining Mesa on the east. This location is an ideal one. The Apache trail, or Bankhead highway, leading from the Atlantic to the Pacific, passes it on the north. Hundreds of cars traverse this high- way daily during the tourist season. On the 28th of November, 1921, President Heber J. Grant dedicated the site, in the presence of President Anthony W. Ivins, Elders Rudger Clawson, Joseph W. McMurrin, Rey L. Pratt, Andrew Kimball, president of the St. Joseph stake, David K. Udall, pres- ident of the St. Johns stake, now President of the Temple, and rep- resentatives from the Snowflake and Juarez stakes, and the stake presidency of the Maricopa stake, who were among the speakers. About five thousand people were assembled on the occasion; and

THE ARIZONA TEMPLE 1065 3 E there was great rejoicing. Later, bids were in- vited by the First Pres- idency. Three firms of architects entered into com- petition for a design of the temple. The design se- lected was submitted by the firm of Young 8 Han- sen, consisting of Messrs. Don C. Young, Jr., Ramm Hansen, Harry T. Poll, of Salt Lake City, Utah, who were charged by the First Presidency with the design and execution of the work in all its phases1. The ground was then broken by President J. W. Lesueur, who held the plow, and the excavation was begun on the 25 th day of April, 1922, the architects being present, to- gether with the author- ities of the Maricopa stake and wards. The stake authorities alternated in holding the plow and scrapers. The First Presidency appointed as Executive Building Committee J. W. Lesueur, chairman; O. S. Stapley, John Cummard, Andrew Kimball, «with John T. Lesueur, treas- urer; Frank V. Anderson, asst. treasurer; G. C. Spils*- bury, secretary. On December 8, 1926, Elder David K. Udall, one of the foremost pioneers of northern Arizona, was announced by the First Presidency as the appointed President of the Arizona temple. Arthur Price, of Salt Lake City, was appointed the superintendent a X £ o c h *

1066 IMPROVEMENT ERA 4- T^l U- :tft r i -.. .. . Represents arrival in America. The leader is an Englishman, followed by the Welsh people in their native costume. Those at the boat arc Irish and the man in the rear, with the kilts, a Scotchman. of construction. He arrived in Mesa and began the work of con- struction in January, 1923. The contract for concrete work was let to Joseph L. Standage, and washed sand was obtained from the contractors in Maricopa county, Arizona. Albert Coplan was placed in charge of construction and Frank T. Pomeroy employed as in- spector of concrete. Great care was taken to test thoroughly the cement used in the building. Every carload was chemically analyzed, and the combination of the sand, crushed rock and cement was tested as to strength and durability. The mixing was properly timed, and the pouring was carefully inspected. The concrete and steel work was completed February 1, 1924, and was pronounced scientifically constructed, carefully measured, per- fectly organized and as nearly perfect as any ever put into a build- ing. It was "built to stand as a veritable 'rock of ages,' " as stated by F. T. Pomeroy. The cement used in the temple construction came from Colton, California; the crushed rock and washed sand from Tempe, Arizona; the terra cotta facing from Gladding-McBean Company, California; the rubber tile from the United Rubber Company; the marble was furnished by the Mt. Nebo Marble Company, of Utah; the lumber, by the Foxworth-Bush Lumber Company, of Mesa; and the hard- ware, by the O. S. Stapley Company, of Mesa, Arizona. The con- tract for the plumbing, heating and cooling system was let to the T. E. Thomas Plumbing Company, of Ogden, Utah; the plastering was under the direction of Hyrum Schupe and Sons, of Ogden; the electric wiring under contract to H. G. Holding Electric Company, Salt Lake City, Utah; and the structural steel was obtained from a steel company at El Paso, Texas. The trees and shrubbery were purchased, principally, from Riverside and Ontario, California. The cost of the building, when completed, will be approximately $750,000, including the grounds and furnishings. The temple will be closed to visitors a week previous to the dedication, announced to be held October 23, 1927.

THE ARIZONA TEMPLE 1067 Missionary Work m s 2 * -si It is said that more than eighty thousand names are on the register as having been guided through the temple, dur- ing the time it has been open to visitors, and fully twenty thousand have passed through without registering, for during the first year no register was kept, and a large number •failed to register, coming in crowds as they did. The Maricopa stake had a corps of missionary guides at the temple, assisted by mis- sionaries from the Cali- fornia mission. Every day, including Sunday, the tem- ple has- been open from 9 a. m. till 5 p. m. The average number passing through each Sunday was about one thousand, and during the week days about one hundred fifty each day. It is said that more than one hundred converts have joined the Churfch during the time the temple has been in course of construction, the contributing influence to- ward obtaining these con- verts having been the very effective missionary work at the temple. Tourists and people attending con- ventions were routed via the temple, and many who came to scoff went away imbued with a high regard for the work of the Lord. More than a quarter of a million tracts have been given away, including a souvenir temple booklet, and hundreds of Books of .S E o 3 * c U .2 5* *J n •c o r" O .2 t3 OO

IMPROVEMENT ERA . sfcasrf Represents a Yankee group crossing the plains in the early days with hand- carts, immortalizing that wonderful journey. Mormon, Articles of Faith, Voice of Warning, etc., have been sold. Each group spent about an hour in passing through, including a twenty-five minute lecture, in which the principles of the gospel were explained, leading up to Salvation for the Dead. Artists The following artists and painters, working under the direction of the architects, have added their talents to the decoration of the temple: J. Leo Fairbanks, the paintings in the Font room; F. Weiberg, the paintings in the Creation room; A. B. Wright, in the Garden room; Le Conte Stewart, in the World room; Lee Greene Richards, in the Grand Stair hall, a picture representing the Prophet Joseph Smith, life size, preaching to the Lamanites; B. F. LeBaron did most of the painting and placing of canvas on the walls; Thorleif S. Knaphus made the models for the oxen and the friezes, and A. B. Wright the sketches for the friezes. In the Grand hall is shown the Prophet Joseph and the Patriarch Hyrum delivering the Book of Mormon to the American Indians. The paintings in the various rooms are perfectly adapted to the uses for which temples are built, and express the symbolisms found in all other temples erected by the Latter-day Saints. New symbolism, however, is expressed in terra cotta, sculptured figures of the friezes decorating the temple between the architrave and cornice. They represent the movement of peoples? from the east to the west, in the order of numbering. These figures are explained in the accompanying photo- graphs. They are symbolical of the gathering of Israel. The keys of the gathering were committed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland temple. (Doc. and Cov. sec. 110.) The gathering of Israel in the latter days is a work carried on by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Dimensions of the Temple The exterior dimensions of the building are: 128 feet north and

THE ARIZONA TEMPLE 1069 south, and 184 feet east and west; elevation, 55 feet; wall footings on the north, 10 feet 4 inches; on the east and west, 10 feet 11 inches; on th3 south, 12 feet 6 inches. On these footings the walls are four feet in thickness. The skeleton structure is reinforced concrete. The terra cotta facing is of egg-shell fin- ish, called "pulsichrome," a cream color that is very pleas- ing and not tiring to the eyes. Architectural Features The architecture of the temple is an original adapta- tion of classic. The annex on the east and west and the open courts on the north and south of the temple proper are attached to the main structure. This is again surrounded by a ter- race built up to the height of about four feet, and extend- ing around the temple about thirty-five feet in width. The enclosed area will contain flowers and shrubs, and the terraced grounds have grass, flowers and shrubs growing upon them. The Roof Surrounding the roof, and as a finish to the walls of the building, is a parapet about four feet high. The concrete roof gradually slopes from the parapet to the cen- ter, and is covered with a layer of hot asphalt, and imbedded into this is a sheet of linum, and on top of this are layers of black asbestos finished white-asbestos sheets^ flax- with

1070 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Heating and Cooling Arrangement The boiler house is located about 350 feet south of the temple. Two oil-burning boilers supply steam heat to the basement of the temple along a con- crete tu'nnel. About 120 feet south of the temple is placed what is known as the fresh-air intake, through which the fresh air is drawn into the build- ing by a suction fan lo- cated in the machinery room in the basement of the temple. It is then dis- tributed to the rooms of the temple through aper- tures in the floor, covered by adjustable caps- to dis- tribute the air under the seats. During the warmer months its temperature will be reduced by the air passing through a water- vapor cooling d eyv i c e. There is no direct radia- tion in the building. In addition to the larger pro- pelling fan, a smaller fan of similar type is provided in the machinery room to which various exhaust ducts are connected. This smaller fan exhausts the vitiated air from all the rooms, forcing it up- ward through the central ducts in the building out through ventilators provid- ed in the roof. Since the warm, pure, fresh air is supplied to the en- tire building, and as the vitiated air is expelled, the combined system provides a perfect ventilation arrangement. It is, therefore, un- necessary for the windows at any time to be opened for ventilation.

THE ARIZONA TEMPLE 1071 Represents a Hawaiian group who are peacefully pursuing their daily vocations ■ — making poi, and catching fish. The young lady standing by the grass house is playing the ukulele. The Annex The annex, in connection with the open courts, contain, in the west side, the cloak rooms, linen room, children's room, recorder's room, stenographer's room, assembly room and President's office, all leading into the- foyer, or large hall, of the temple. The foyer extends the full width of the temple proper and has convenient tables and seats to accommodate the workers. The cloak rooms have suitable individual lockers and racks. The House of the Lord There is a metallic inscription over the entrance of the annex leading into the temple which reads: "THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, Erected by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dedicated October , 192 7." Just over the door on the west, leading out of the foyer, is the inscription: "Blessed are they who have obeyed my Gospel." Over the door on the east leading into the temple proper is the inscription: "Holiness to the Lord." Standing in the doorway of the temple and looking along the marble corridor, one sees at the east end the font room and baptistry. The font is supported by twelve oxen. Midway of the hall are two stairways, one on either side, leading up to the grand stairway to the Celestial room. The glorious temple in Arizona is a credit to the Latter-day Saints, and will prove a wonderful blessing to the people comprising that temple district; viz., Maricopa, Juarez, St. Johns, St. Joseph, Los Angeles and Hollywood stakes. It is a fitting and enduring

1072 IMPROVEMENT ERA monument to the integrity, faith and good works of the Latter-day Saints and of those who settled, toiled and died there. Long live their faith and integrity in the hearts of their children and succeeding generations. Remarkable Coincidence There is a striking coincidence between the following accounts of our environment: one from the highest authority in science and the other from revelation. Take this from science. "A whole world may exist beyond our senses, may exist even in space and close to us for all we can tell, and yet if it has no means of connection, no link with the material world, it must remain outside our consciousness; and this isolation must last until we grow a new sense, or otherwise develop fresh faculties, so that intercommunication and interaction may begin." — Sir Oliver Lodge, Science and Immortality. Now take this from revelation, "Key to Theology," page 1332: "The spirit world, as to its location, is here on the very planet where we were born; or, in other words, the earth and other planets of a like sphere, have their inward or spiritual spheres, as well as their outward or temporal. The one is peopled by temporal tabernacles, and the other by spirits. A veil is drawn between the one sphere and the other, whereby all the objects in the spiritual sphere are rendered invisible to those in the temporal." The explanation of this condition is afforded us in the account of the interview of the brother of Jared with the Savior, when it was said, "Ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence." Here we are informed what is necessary to make the "connection" of which Sir Oliver speaks. Further along we are told of a time and a condition when we may all hope to make this same connection. ' Manti, Utah. L. A. WILSON.