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| Cardston Alberta Temple ~ 1924 *Image source below footnotes |
Recently, I was told that the rumoured renovation of the Cardston Alberta Temple1 was going to be a seismic upgrade as soon as the nearby Lethbridge Alberta Temple was speedily constructed. An alarm bell immediately sounded. Not seismic again? please!
You see, the Salt Lake Temple “renovation / restoration” plan was pitched as a seismic necessity despite this unmentioned paragraph in its dedicatory prayer - Salt Lake Temple, 6 April 1893:
“Preserve these buildings, we beseech Thee, from injury or destruction by flood or fire; from the rage of the elements, the shafts of the vivid lightning, the overwhelming blasts of the hurricane, the flames of consuming fire, and the upheavals of the earth-quake, O Lord, protect them.”2So why is there seismic fear if God and a righteous people are in the picture? Do we imagine that God would topple His world-renowned symbol of Restoration? Do we not trust God’s power to preserve peoples and places while they live within His will3? And if not preserved, that they perish for a purpose and a witness4? So what are we afraid of? Or are the architects and engineers with their science and technology causing us to trust in the arms of flesh? Are we on a slippery, seismic (lucrative?) slope?
But the knowledge that should concern every “lover” of the Cardston Alberta Temple is how “seismic necessity” for the Salt Lake Temple rapidly morphed into massive destruction of buildings, walls, and landscapes that once sheltered Temple Square as a hallowed garden oasis. Then, in 2021 the morphing plan and expanding destruction of temple surroundings moved into the temple interior. Most of the upbeat press releases did not show or question the reality that some saw and documented5; nor the “refreshing” promises that slipped quietly by the wayside. If one reads the chronology of press releases and updates,6 one can see the increments that massaged us from “refreshing” a historic structure and its pattern of progression (with live actors) into single-room, film instruction. Are the original progressive pattern, proxy emphasis, and mental recitation no longer important7?
And why another “seismic necessity” when the Cardston Alberta Temple has its own preserving paragraph | Cardston Alberta Temple (Re-)Dedicatory Prayer, June 22, 1991:
“We dedicate the structure from the footings and foundation to the highest elevation of the roof that it may stand firm and immovable against any trembling of the earth and against the storms of nature that may beat upon these walls. We pray that thou wilt preserve it from desecration at the hands of any with evil intent.”8For those of us who know the Cardston Alberta Temple, can we even conceive what would / could be done in Cardston if the morphing reno of Salt Lake repeats to achieve single-room instruction? Would / could / should we stand silent if architects and engineers descend the slippery slope that evolved from seismic upgrade and refreshing of the progressive Salt Lake Temple to single-room instruction? If accessibility is a concern in Cardston, the nearby, soon-to-be Lethbridge Alberta Temple could be an accessible option in order to preserve one of the last remaining historical, progressive temples.
So I ask the question: Are some of us in a Uzzah9 anxiety that God might not be paying attention to seismic risk? On the same hand, am I in a related Uzzah anxiety? Yes, God can preserve the restored Alberta Temple according to its 1991 re-dedication, but if none of us are interested enough to know about and pray for its 1980s restored, progressive preservation, what might God do or not do? Maybe we could research what He did for the people's concerns respecting the original renovations intended for the historic Manti temple.10
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1. https://dejavu-timestwo.blogspot.com/2024/08/saving-restored-cardston-alberta-temple.html
2. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/salt-lake-temple/prayer/1893-04-06?lang=eng
3. A few of numerous examples: Noah and seven family; Moses, Joshua, and the children of Israel; David vs. King Saul; Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; Hezekiah and the 185,000 Assyrians; Elijah fed by the ravens; Abraham upon the alter; Joseph sold into Egypt; Mahonri and Jared; Lehi and family; Nephi; Alma & Amulek in prison; 2000 sons of Helaman; and the list goes on.
4. Abel, Abinadi, Jesus, martyrs of Ammonihah, Mormon killed by Lamanites, Christian martyrs, Joseph & Hyrum Smith, et. al.
Book of Mormon | Alma 14:10-11
10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
5. https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2019/04/494-salt-lake-city-temple-closure.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2020/01/20200108-slc-temple-removal-from.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-war-zone-at-temple-square-demolition.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2021/03/latest-removals-from-salt-lake-temple.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2021/05/recycyling-salt-lake-temple-gravestone.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2021/06/when-will-removals-end-latest-casualty.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2021/11/efficacy-of-salt-lake-temple-dedicatory.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2022/08/all-of-spires-now-removed-from-salt.htmlv https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2023/01/renovation-really-latest-on-progress-of.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2023/02/temple-changes-from-active-participants.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2023/03/more-delays-to-salt-lake-temple.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2023/09/underground-slc-temple-sealing-rooms.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2023/10/cheap-imitation-of-original.html
https://barerecord.blogspot.com/2024/04/anticlimatic-ceremony-of-angel-moroni.html
6. Apr 8, 2019, 8:53 AM | Updated: 11:04 am
https://kslnewsradio.com/1903669/historic-salt-lake-temple-close-renovations-amid-new-temple-announcements/
In addition to the eight new temples across the world, President Nelson also announced that major renovations would come to the faith’s earliest pioneer era temples. ...
“Ours is the sacred responsibility to care for them.”
With that responsibility, President Nelson announced that all of the pioneer temples in Utah will “soon undergo a period of renewal and refreshing,” with some going through some serious restoration.
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19 April 2019 - Salt Lake City News Release
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/plans-unveiled-salt-lake-temple-renovation
Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the pioneer-era temple [Salt Lake Temple] will close December 29, 2019, and will remain closed for approximately four years while undergoing a major structural and seismic renovation. The temple is expected to reopen in 2024 with a public open house.
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19 April 2019, 10:08 AM MDT
https://www.thechurchnews.com/2019/4/19/23214980/president-nelson-salt-lake-temple-4-year-closure-temple-square-lds-mormon-renovation/
The Salt Lake Temple will close Dec. 29 and remain closed for approximately four years, President Russell M. Nelson announced Friday morning, April 19. ...
“The project will enhance, refresh and beautify the temple and its surrounding grounds,” he said. “Obsolete systems within the building will be replaced. Safety and seismic concerns will be addressed.” ...
The following changes will be made to the temple and Temple Square:
• The mechanical systems of the temple will be updated and replaced.
• The temple will be refreshed, renovated, and structurally strengthened “to serve and protect patrons and to preserve the temple for years to come.”
• Modifications will be made for accessibility.
• The South Visitors Center and the current temple entry buildings and annex on the north will be removed and replaced with new facilities.
• The plaza and landscapes from State Street on the east to the Main Street Plaza will be repaired and refreshed with greater emphasis on the visitor experience and on the Savior.
• West of the main street plaza, the temple renovation and nearby site improvements will extend from North Temple to South Temple and between the Tabernacle and Main Street Plaza.
• The current temple entry/annex will be removed.
• Two new temple entry pavilions and guest waiting areas will be built on the north side of the temple, and two new visitor’s pavilions on the south.
• The architecture of the pavilions will be complementary and supportive of the historic temple.
• The renovation will include a significant seismic upgrade to help the temple withstand a large magnitude earthquake.
• A base isolation system — a collection of structural elements which should substantially decouple the temple from the earth — will be installed. [My Question: You mean, to be no longer grounded?]
• The isolation system will preserve the historic footings of the temple.
• A new access tunnel under North Temple Street will be installed.
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Published: April 19, 2019, 8:53 p.m. MDT
https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/19/20671430/salt-lake-temple-to-close-for-four-years-as-temple-square-undergoes-seismic-change/
President Nelson said parts of the temple and surrounding grounds will be restored to resemble original conditions that existed in 1893. ...
For example, murals inside the temple will be renovated or rejuvenated, said Bill Williams, director of temple design. He said many parts of the temple's interior were covered with white paint during the 1960s renovation.
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April 25, 2019
https://templehousegallery.com/news/have-questions-about-the-salt-lake-temple-renovation-find-answers-to-faq-here/?srsltid=AfmBOor7ZlfPUXdhmQG7x50ZdQds374_Jyytembf4Szfe6HPx6WFuJ7W
[?] What will be different about the sacred work of the Salt Lake Temple when the renovation is complete?
Following the renovation, the Salt Lake Temple will include live and film sessions.
The Salt Lake Temple currently has no ability to accommodate patrons who do not speak English. When the renovation is completed, the temple will be able to serve members who speak more than 86 different languages. ...
[?] What will change/remain the same about the Salt Lake Temple’s exterior/interior?
The Church plans to preserve the historic aspects of the Salt Lake Temple’s exterior wall and hopes visitors will feel more welcomed to Temple Square.
The work of the project is a mix of preservation, restoration, renovation, and new construction.
All of the temple’s aging mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be replaced.
Extensive research has been undertaken regarding such things as soil composition, granite strength, concrete and plaster sampling, and vibration movement modeling, along with additional research in cooperation with the Church History Department on the historic aspects of the temple, including its original design and subsequent modifications. A detailed study of this research includes paint samples, murals, millwork, and furniture.
The renovation will include a significant seismic upgrade to help the temple withstand a large magnitude earthquake. A base isolation system will be installed.
The stone spires and walls will need to be strengthened.
As part of the project, a new access tunnel will be installed under North Temple Street. The tunnel will grant direct entry to the temple from the Conference Center parking area.
The renovation of the plaza east of the temple will make it more public and friendly, with seating areas and new corridors.
There will be times during the construction when scaffolding will cover the temple and nightly lighting will be reduced.
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January 25, 2023 03:00 PM MST | Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
https://www.ldsliving.com/watch-video-and-photos-of-progress-made-on-the-salt-lake-temple-renovation-in-august/s/92250
As part of the renovation project, many of the grounds and areas surrounding Temple Square are being remodeled. The new landscape design will better integrate the temple grounds with Main Street, the Church Office Building plaza, and the northeast areas of the temple that surround it.
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March 26, 2023, 7:14 a.m.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/03/26/reopening-historic-salt-lake-lds/
The release pointed to a milestone in the monumental task of safeguarding the temple against earthquakes. Earlier this month, crews poured concrete for the footing of the first base isolator underneath the edifice, an “important step for the base isolation system.”
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Updated: Sep. 19, 2024, 12:41 p.m. from April 19, 2019, 8:00 a.m. original post |
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/04/19/latter-day-saint-leaders/
Undertaking a huge overhaul at the heart of Utah, the LDS Church will close its landmark Salt Lake Temple for four years starting Dec. 29 to strengthen the 126-year-old structure against earthquakes, replace several adjoining buildings and give a face-lift to the adjoining plaza and Temple Square, the state’s most visited attraction. ...
Significant renovations are planned to the temple’s baptistry. Live performances that attend the “endowment” ceremony inside the temple will be preserved but with additional capacity to show the ordinance in more than 80 languages. ...
Beyond restoration of some of the Salt Lake Temple’s original historic aspects, the feel and character of its rooms, murals and interior architectural flourishes will be unchanged. ...
A major motivator of the project — and much of the reason it will take four years — is the earthquake retrofit and protecting the temple and church members in the event of a major temblor along the time-is-ticking Wasatch fault.
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Published: Sept 21, 2024, 1:28 p.m. MDT
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2024/09/21/latter-day-saint-leaders-say-renovated-salt-lake-temple-to-include-significant-changes-preservation/
Church leaders, architects and project managers have said that protecting the temple from earthquakes — the massive undertaking that has taken five years so far — would require substantial change both underneath and inside the temple. ...
Church officials said some elements that were in the temple when it closed at the end of 2019 could not be restored.
For example, many of the interior walls were made from unreinforced masonry and had to be removed.
For that reason and to accommodate changes to instruction rooms, the interior floor plan was changed.
The instruction rooms, used for the temple endowment ceremony, will no longer include live actors.
Films will take their place, increasing capacity and allowing the instruction to be conducted in more than 90 languages.
Many parts of the interior had to be removed. ...
Murals in the instruction rooms had been hand-painted on plaster and were removed. ...
Some of the changes to the foundation, exterior and interior during the renovation were the result of discoveries made after the work began.
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Accessed Oct. 20, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_Temple
The temple was closed in December 2019 for a general remodelling and seismic renovations, which were initially estimated to take approximately four years.[3] Subsequent updates[4][5] extended the estimated completion to 2026, for a total renovation timeline lasting an anticipated six or seven years. ...
Initially the interior and its historical artifacts were planned to be preserved[25] (although plans were later changed and many historic elements were removed[26]) and plazas and landscaping modified.[27]
... Before reconstruction started, church leaders indicated that the temple's unique historicity would be preserved.[3] Church employees stated that special efforts would be made to highlight and honor the pioneer craftsmanship[25] and indicated the interiors would essentially remain the same.[28 Various renderings were released showing the instruction rooms used for the endowment ceremony would remain intact, with the original layout, woodwork and murals being preserved.[25]
In March 2021, the church announced significant changes to the renovation plan that affected many elements in the temple's historic interior. The progressive room-to-room live endowment ceremony would be removed and the layout of the temple would change, with the baptistry being moved to the annex and new instruction rooms constructed in its place. Other rooms and walls would be reconfigured, requiring the removal of the temple's murals. The murals and many other historic features of the building were photographed and otherwise documented before being permanently removed or destroyed.[26] These changes will allow for greater patron capacity, but the removal of many historic elements was met with criticism, especially the destruction of the temple's murals. One prominent historian described the changes as a "huge and unnecessary loss" and another noted them as a loss of "priceless cultural artifacts".[29]
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Salt Lake Temple Update accessed on Oct 20, 2024
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/salt-lake-temple/
Temple Renovation
At a news conference held on April 19, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced that the Salt Lake Temple would close on December 29, 2019, for approximately four years of renovation and restoration including improvements to the surrounding grounds and facilities.1 On March 12, 2021, modifications to the planned interior of the temple were announced, which will significantly increase capacity and likely increase the length of closure.2 Highlights of the project include the following:
• Structural reinforcements to the walls and roof of the temple will work in conjunction with a base isolation system installed under the massive foundation to mitigate the impact of seismic activity.
• Modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will replace the aging and outdated equipment located throughout the temple.
• The existing annex and sealing room wing on the north side of the temple, built in the 1960s, will be demolished and replaced. Two smaller patron pavilions will replace the annex, and the sealing room wing will be rebuilt slightly wider and more true to the design of the exterior wall that it extends.
• The recommend desk will be located underground, featuring expansive skylights with generous views of the temple above. This area will be accessible from the patron pavilions through a grand hall or by way of a patron tunnel from the Conference Center parking facility.
• The historic interior of the temple will be restored and refreshed, returning to a Victorian-inspired palette of dark woods, rich colors, and patterned fabrics.
• Two more instruction rooms, ten more sealing rooms, and a second baptistry will be added to increase the capacity of the temple. The new instruction rooms will replace the former baptistry, and two new baptistries will be built in the lower level of the north annex.
• The progressive room-to-room presentation of the endowment by live actors will be replaced by single-room video presentations. The instruction room murals will be photographed, documented, and permanently removed.
• Sections of the historic wall that currently surround Temple Square will be replaced with ornamental fences, providing better views and access to the temple from the north and south.
• The South Visitors’ Center will be demolished and replaced with two visitor pavilions connected by a full basement that will not obstruct views of the temple from the south.
• The plaza and landscaping south of the Church Office Building will be repaired and renovated to place greater emphasis on the international presence of the Church and improve the visitor experience.
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How it used to look: https://ldspioneerarchitecture.blogspot.com/2015/08/salt-lake-temple-interior.html
7. What is the pattern? Who are “them”? “My servant Joseph and his counselors”?
Doctrine and Covenants | Section 115:14-16 (bold emphasis added)
14 But let a house be built unto my name according to the pattern which I will show unto them [v. 16].
15 And if my people build it not according to the pattern which I shall show unto their presidency, I will not accept it at their hands.
16 But if my people do build it according to the pattern which I shall show unto their presidency, even my servant Joseph and his counselors, then I will accept it at the hands of my people.
8. https://www.thechurchnews.com/1991/6/29/23260491/cardston-alberta-temple-touch-the-hearts-of-thy-people-with-the-spirit-of-elijah-the-prophet/
9. Old Testament | 2 Samuel 6:2-9
2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 ¶ And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10. Manti Utah Temple
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/manti-utah-temple-priceless-murals-preserved
https://religionnews.com/2021/05/01/mormons-petitions-help-to-save-historic-artwork-in-manti-utah-temple/
https://www.change.org/p/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-save-the-manti-temple-murals
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/3/24/22349015/church-of-jesus-christ-will-preserve-manti-temples-minerva-teichert-murals-history-renovation/
https://exponentii.org/blog/an-artist-story-how-one-person-saved-the-minerva-teichert-murals-in-the-manti-temple/
*Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:L.D.S._Temple._Cardston._Alta.jpg
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/L.D.S._Temple._Cardston._Alta.jpg
Attribution: Author Unknown | Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
