The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-07-06
TELLSOF The TEMPLE
Former Denison Boy Now il
Salt Lake City.
WRITES INTERESTING LETTER
G. X. Schafer Who is in the Civil
Service Describes Interesting
Points on the Mormon City.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,
Juue %. 1904.


l will try to write short sketch of
my experiences in this and other
places in Utah which | hope may con-
tain something of interest to your
many readers.
1t was surprise to me to be called
to this city. though of course in this
work we are liable to be sent to any
part of the northwest. Since I am
here l am pretty we'll satisfied that |
came. The city for the most part is
situated on gently sloping ground,
beautified by an abundance of trees and
wide streets. cleansed by numerous
little streams of water which hurry
along most of the streets and serve not
only as irrigation channels but also to
absorb much of the dust that would
otherwise be floating through the air.
There are some pretty residences
here too but Denison is good enough
for me. Much of the city wires are on
poles in the center Of the street and
the street car service is fairly good.
When it comes to living expenses it is
conceded that they are one-third high
er than in the Missouri Valley region.
Cherries and rawberries are at their
best now and are really tine.
OF course the things that attract
most tourists here are the ones con-
nected with the Utah Mormon church.
The first in interest is the celebrated
temple and tabernacle. OF the interior
beauties of the temple we Gentiles can
not discuss from personal knowledge
Tor only members of the church in
good and regular standing and possess
ed of certificate from the bishop or
priest OF their ward in which they re-
side certifying to this fact, can enter
the sacred editice which Is nsed for
sealing wives for time and eternity,
and also for the administering OF the
ordinances of baptism to the living and
for the dead. The man with whom |
All. rooming is recorder in the temple
and it is from him got most of my in,
formation. He says that one OF the
best things his church likes to Go is to
look up and trace their ancestors SO
that they may be baptised for them.
he also explained to me the meaning
of the symbols carved on the pilasters
of the structure aud showed an inclina-
ton to give me any information that |
might wish about the church doctrine
etc. This is the largest temple that
they have though there are three more
in this state, at Manti, Logan and ST.
George. In a publiclf the
other Sunday the minister stated that
the site for the temple was at Independ-
ence, Mo. and that even now they were
quietly securing lots there for that
purpose.
The tabernacle is of almost equal
interest though there is not the air OF
mystery about that for there every
body is made welcome and guide will
show you through it any day in the
week. 1t is large oval structure
without single supporting pillar for
its arching roof and capable of seating
comfortably 5000 people. We are told
that not single nail entered into its
structure for nails were n OF as common
then us now, and this no doubt gives it
part at least, of its fine acoustic
qualities The furnishings are very
plain, no cushions on the pews nor ia
there any carpet except in the aisles.
However all this is lost sight OF when
once the grand pipe organ begins
to fill the place with a great volume OF
sound and melody. 1t is said to be one
of the best but no more the largest, in
the world and was made of Utah
products and by Utah labor. 1t has
recently been remodeled or repaired
and is SAID to be better than ever. The
organist is man of no mean ability
and gives recital twice a week at
which the public is permitted to attend
free. One quality of this wonderful
organ is to initiate the human voice, in
Tact 40 QOU KNOW lOF sure even ycU III
1 was deceived or not. When one goes
from this tabernacle to one of the other
churches in town it seems like going
in child's house for size.
Some weeks ago | took trip down
to the southern part of the state to look
after some sheep there. say down
for it seems as if south ought to be
down, thou III in fact in this instance
the place was over 1000 feet higher
than Salt Lake. In this state they &c
not try to raise a crop without the aid
of irrigation so | got to see some o.
the results all along the way. Corn is
rarity, the principal crop is alfalfs
or as it is called here, lucerne. Dande
lions never saw growing in such pro
fusion. but they say that it does not
interfere much except on land that is
pastured after the hay is cut. There is
plenty of old hay in the country vet.
u L ! - . I-