The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-04-11

the constant. direct communication of God
with man, and even the ancient Hebrew
looked not IA the sky with more expectancy
from the base of fiery Sinai than did the
Mormon peaSantry at their temple gates
today.
'tns temple is the huge structure. the
site for which was selected July %, 1S4I,
the fifth day after the Mormon pioneers
entered the great Salt Lake valley. brig
ham Young, president OF the chuFch, WIN
a number of apostles, was viewing the
prospect in the place selected as his new
home, where all seemed barren waste,
and in passing the southwest corner OF
where the temple now stands, struck ms
cane on the ground and exclaimed; Here
will be the temple of our God.
The southeast corner of 4; tcn-acre plat
selected as the temple block. was made the
initial point for laying ont the city, ana
was afterward adopted by government OF
fcals as the base meridian line. four
years later at the October conference OF
the church. in 1851. Il vote of the people
was taken TO build a temple of the best
material that can he obtained III North
America The material selected for the
foundation was firestone from canon
four miles distant. When the walls came to
be built. cut granite from Little Cotton
wood canon, eighteen miles distant, was
chosen as the most suitable material.
Prior to the advent Of the railway IN
1870. this rock had to be hauled by OK and
mule teams. On February 6, 1S33 ground
was broken and go men put to work on
No ovcayation. On the 9th of April follow
ing. the corner stones were land sixteen 1eet
hollow the surface of the ground.
When Johnston's army came through III
1853. the foundation Of the temple was en-
tirely covered with earth ana the people
,,Yoved south from Salt Lake for time.
IHour wears after this, work was resumed on
tbe buildinc and with the exception OF TWO
Years, 1865 and 1869, when the workIncn
If the territory were mostly employed III
constructing the Union Paciilc ana o!her
railroads. has continued without SERIOUS
;rtnrruntjon. The capstonc was laid April
e 1900 .t which time the date for dellica-
lion was fixed for April 6, 1893. the sixty.
tbird anniversary Of the organization OF
the Mormon church, and forty years from
thn date the temples corner stones were
laid.
uv,o b,Iildiue is 1856 ID feet long and 80
feet wide With the towers II covers an
ar,.o of ~ $50 square feet. The foundation
VII is sixteen feet thick and sixteen Ieet
deem. On this, granite walls are nine te"e
thick at the bottom and marrow |" SIX lcct
ot the SQUARE. There are SIN towers, t1Itc
on the east and three on me Wes'' Ky ne o' nd
ner towers are twcnty-siX feet hIGh ana
ON the west 194 feet. The east ccl!r;u
t,,vnr Of the building is 3D. Il lret hl&h,
s,,r,nounted by Il figure with trumpet TO
his; lips, proclaminE the gospel. y" east
crn part of the temple IS Tor inc Mc!'I'lS-
d dnre PR priesthood. representing the higher
"r' spiritual officers The west is of the
G Hnr Sl '" PRIESTHOOD rcprcsentiyc of tenn
moral existence. The figure on the east cen
trai tower Symbolized the, angel named IN
the fourteenth chapter, sixth verse OF John
revelation. The cost of the ouildlhS, as near
nc can be ascortained. will be slightly III
cxccss of S5.WD.OtD.
Arrangements have been perfected to adj
NIT between GO.0OO and 10000 persons be
fore the services are at an end and there IS
= strong probability. from Official reports
received, that even the latter NUMBER VIII
no avcppdpd