Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-05-05
THE MORMON TEMPLE.
1T COST $50, 600. 600 AND TOOK
FORTY YEARS TO BUILu.
An Immense Structure Begun Under
the Direction of Brig ham
Soung-Descriptioa
of the Edificr.


the New YORK Recorder says it
was begun over forty years ago under
the direction of the prophet, brigham
Young. IL has been built a. cost of
nearly $50, 900, 900, aud its dedication
on the sixtythird anniversary of the or
ganizttion of the Mormon Cau-ch
formed the most solemn occasion in Its
history.
Work was begun on this monument of
the prophet in 1853. At this time the
Mormon doctrine IN Utah was all SUI
preme. Whatever one might think on
this subject be had to seal his mouth, for
to express an uuorthOdox opinion was
a dangerous matter in those DAYS in the
land of tie saints.
The new temple is to take the place
Of the old Tabernacle, an umbrella
shaped struc ture, within which the sc =
cret rites OF the Latter Day Saints have
been performed for half century. 1t
stands on the banks OF the River Jordan,
which river, lowing from sweet waters
OF Lake Utah, the Lake Galilee OF the
Mormon City, is by singular coinci-
dencs almost OF the exact length and
breadth and follows the same winding
course ss does the Jordan of ancient
Syria.
For seventeen years after the excava.
ton for the building had been made au
army OF masons worked day by day lay
ing the foundations, and at the end of
thnt oI L. had raanhal 20
a level with the ground. 1t now stands
ninety nine feet Higher, extending over
fifty feet below the surface. Down in
the depths there are the dismal csts-
combs, modelled after the great cats-
combs in Rome.
1t is said that no building in America
embodies sucl perfection of construc-
ton and soidity Of foundation. 1t is so
monumental that it is expected to trans
nit to the centuries to come the name
and fame Of its founder, Brigham
| Young, and the saints believe it des-
! tined to outlive even the millennium it.
self.
The material used in its construction
is the finest mountain granite, bright
gray in color, slightly hecked with blue,
the stones having been quarried from
near-by mountains aud land into their
places by p.ous Norman hands.
1t stands at the eastern end of what is
known as the Temple Block, plot con-
taIning ten acres of land, surrounded by
trees and luxurlant verdure, and from a
distance, as it rises OUT Of It's pedestal Of
green, reminds one Of ,ome great feudal
castle OF old.
rno central square Immediately sur
rounding the temple is inclosed by wall
twelve feet high, the base of stone aud
the upper portion OF 'dnbe and plaster.
This is surrounded By square turrets,
'e.ievlug the view every ten feet until
the entrance is reached. Here is a
massive gateway surm ounted by stone
arches at the ctntre OF each Of its -four
sides.
The interior is replete with rich and
costly fittings, though, unfortunately
none but the faithful are ever likely to
least their eyes on its magnifcence.
There are numerous grottoes, one
containing the golden plates which that
ingenious old gentleman, Joseph Smith,
claimed to have had given him by the
angel OF God on the hill of Cummorah.
The Book OF Mornon,' the Bible of
the sect, supposed to have been trans
lated from the plates, also holds a place
OF honor in one OF the recesses there.
Among the collections are two pre-
cious stones used by the Egyptian seer
IN ancient times, together with instru'
ments OF neCromsncy. There are altar
heavily laid in gold and baptistnal tub:
OF alabaster.
On the second floor a stage has been
erected, with scenery and all the para.
phernalia requisite for the performance
of the grand drama representing the
creation Of man, after the Mormon con.
ception OF that divine event. This EN-
bodies the expulsion of Satan and fall o
man, the coming of a Redeemer and thu
final deliyerance of mankind, with tin
admonitions of John the Baptist through
Joseph Smith on the occasion mentioned
This is presented to keep fresh in tn
minds of the Latter Day Saints tn
memory of the first martyr in the Nor
mon faith, whose death they have sworl
to avenge.
OF the secret chambers there are man,
in which the mystic rites of the sect ar,
performed; then there are others who's
uses can be surmised, and are known
only to a chosen few. Perhaps SOM
day the history of this great mysteriou
pile OF masonry may be told, but to-da
in the heat of religious fervor which per
vades all the Mormons its secrets are a
etTectually hidden as if buried in til
heart of the pyramids.