Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-04-14

can De Obtained In North America" !"
The material selected for the founda-
tion was flrestone, from a canyon
four miles distant. When the walls
came to be built, cut granite, from
Little Cottonwood canyon, 1s miles
distant, was chosen as the most suit
able material. Prior to the advent
Of the railway, in 1870, this rock had
to be hauled by OK and mule teams.
On Feb. 6, 1853, ground was broken
and 25O men put to work on the exca-
vation. On the 9th of April follow
Ing the corner stones were laid l6
feet below the surface of the ground.
When Johnston's army came through
In 1858 the foundation of the temple
was entirely covered over with earth
and the people moved south from
Ssit Lake for time. Four years
after this work was resumed on the
building, and, with the exception of
two years, 1868 and 1869, when the
workmen Of the territory were most
ly employed in constructing the Union
Pacific and other roads, was continued
without serious interruption. The
cap stone was laic April 6, 1892, at
which time the date for dedication
was fixed for April 6, 1892, the 63d
anniversary of the organization of
the Mormon church, and 40 years
from the day the temple corner stone
was laid.
The building is 1864 feet long and
SO feet wide. With the towers, it
covers an area of 2l,s5O square feet.
The foundation wall is 16 feet thick
and 16 deep. On this the granite
walls are nine feet thick on the bot
tom, and narrow to six feet at the
square. There are six towers, three
on the east and three on the west.
The corner towers are 26 feet square
at the base. Those on the east are
200 feet high, and on the west 1874
feet. The east central tower at the
building is 1924 feet high, sur
mounted bya figure with trumpet
to his lips, proclaiming the Gospel.
The east part of the temple is for the
Meichisdec priesthood, representing
the higher or spiritual affairs. The
west is for the Aaronic priesthood,
representative of temporal existence.
The figure on the east central tower
symbolizes the angel named in the
18th chapter and sixth verse of Johns
Revelation.
There are in the building many
stones symbolical of different condi-
ti0ns of mankind. Around the base
are earthstones. Above these are
moonstones, showing the moon in its
various phases, and emblematic of
terrestrial glory. Still higher than
these are sun stones, typical of clees-
thar or the highest glory of the heaven.
There are also star stones, represent
ing the glory of stars. On the west
tower is the UrsA Major, pointing to
the polar star, and indicating that
there is fixed guide for fallen man
kind to return to God. Then there
are cloud stones and others of like
symbolical nature. The architecture
Of the building is without a known
parallel in ancient or modern times.
There are four doors to the temple,
two in the west and two in the east
corner towers. The cost of the build
ing, as near as .can be ascertained,
will be slightly in excess Of q, 900, 900.
The belief of the Mormons, or Lat
ter Day Saints, as they call them
selves, is that without the ordinances
and endowments that can be given
only in temple, they cannot obtain
complete salvation. These endow-
mcnts are the comforting of certain
blessings pertaining to their existence
hereafter for those who are living,
and also in belief of those who have
died without the opportunity of per-
sonally receiving in the flesh the de-
sirable ordinations. This accounts
for the activity and persistency of the
Saints in building temples. Among
temple ordinances are the scaling for
eternity, by divine authority, of fam
lily relationships, and those Of hus.