salt lake temple

The Seal of Melchizedek – Part 4

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Satellite Photo of the San Diego California Temple with the "Seal of Melchizedek" overlayed 13 times

Satellite photo of the San Diego California Temple with the “Seal of Melchizedek” overlayed 13 times.  I particularly like the symbol used in the skylight of the atrium in the center of the temple.

(Continued from Part 3)

To continue my research I wanted to know as accurately as possible the story about this symbol, the “seal of Melchizedek,” as it was used in the San Diego Temple.  I couldn’t find a good account online, so I decided to go to the source.  Who better would know than the design architect of the temple?  So I gave him a call.  [Read more…]

Salt Lake Temple in 3D with Microsoft Photosynth

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If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I like computer graphics.  I’ve worked in the industry for almost a decade, and enjoy new technologies that make computing a more visual experience.  You’ve seen my 3D model of the Salt Lake Temple for Google Earth, and the Google Street Views of the temples along the Wasatch Front.  Well, here is one more cool technology to add to the list.

Microsoft has built some free software called Photosynth with which you can take many photographs of an object or place, and the software will automatically overlay them together seamlessly and construct a 3D model from their similarities.  You can then fly around the object or place in real-time and zoom in to see details in the photographs.  It’s fascinating technology.  See a fuller definition here.  It’s been in beta for a while now, but has just been released for anyone to make their own “synths.”  A designer from the Church has picked up on it.  [Read more…]

The 1978 Temple Revelation of the Extension of Priesthood

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Video created by the LDS Church to commemorate and celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ action in June 1978 to extend its lay priesthood to men of all races – entitled “He Inviteth Us All.”  The revelation from God came quite clear from heaven to prophets and apostles of God, gathered in the upper rooms of the Salt Lake Temple.  I imagine the revelatory experience was somewhat like Peter’s when he was commanded by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles, previous to which it had been taken only to the Jews (Acts 10:9-48).  Surely the Lord God has His own timetable (Isa. 55:8).

Holiness to the Lord

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Plaque on Salt Lake TempleA member of my ward emailed me this quote from Elder Holland’s April 2000 Conference address.  I thought it was a very good story of dedication, hard work, and faith:

One other account from those early, faithful builders of modern Zion. John R. Moyle lived in Alpine, Utah, about 22 miles as the crow flies to the Salt Lake Temple, where he was the chief superintendent of masonry during its construction. To make certain he was always at work by 8 o’clock, Brother Moyle would start walking about 2 a.m. on Monday mornings. He would finish his work week at 5 p.m. on Friday and then start the walk home, arriving there shortly before midnight. Each week he would repeat that schedule for the entire time he served on the construction of the temple.

Once when he was home on the weekend, one of his cows bolted during milking and kicked Brother Moyle in the leg, shattering the bone just below the knee. With no better medical help than they had in such rural circumstances, his family and friends took a door off the hinges and strapped him onto that makeshift operating table. They then took the bucksaw they had been using to cut branches from a nearby tree and amputated his leg just a few inches below the knee. When against all medical likelihood the leg finally started to heal, Brother Moyle took a piece of wood and carved an artificial leg. First he walked in the house. Then he walked around the yard. Finally he ventured out about his property. When he felt he could stand the pain, he strapped on his leg, walked the 22 miles to the Salt Lake Temple, climbed the scaffolding, and with a chisel in his hand hammered out the declaration “Holiness to the Lord.” ((Jeffrey R. Holland, “As Doves to Our Windows,” Ensign, May 2000, 75))

Inside the Salt Lake Temple

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Salt Lake Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Fifteen years ago, a great article appeared in the March 1993 Ensign entitled, “In His Holy House.” Several articles in this edition of the Ensign were focused on the Salt Lake Temple. This particular article had large photographs of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple that are not often seen today. ((There are other publications which have many more photographs of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, including maps and other diagrams. The Salt Lake Temple: A Monument to the People, University Services Corporation, 1983. The Salt Lake Temple: A Centennial Book of Remembrance – 1893-1993, LDS Church, 1993.)) These photos were taken by Welden Andersen, a top Church photographer. ((On a side note, Welden Andersen is also an expert marksman and instructor in concealed weapons, and teaches Utah Concealed Carry Weapon Permit classes, which I have attended. You can visit Welden’s website here – www.self-defensesolutions.com. He is also a good friend of my father.))

See this link for the photos of the inside of the temple: ((The photos in the original Ensign publication are much larger and more detailed than are included online.))

  • The creation room
  • The baptistry
  • The garden room
  • The lower grand hallway
  • The world room
  • The upper grand hallway
  • The terrestrial room
  • The celestial room
  • A couple temple sealing rooms
  • The main assembly room
  • The council room of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles
  • The council room of the Twelve Apostles.
  • The council room of the Presidency of the Seventy.

Some of these rooms, such as the council rooms and assembly room, I don’t think I had ever seen before. The council room of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles is probably where the brethren met on February 3rd, 2008, in order to reorganize the First Presidency. President Packer gives us some more insight into this special room:

Here each week [I believe it’s usually Thursday morning] the Brethren assemble to sit in council. First the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles meets; later in the morning the First Presidency arrives and the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is convened. Here the Brethren wrestle with the weighty matters of the kingdom of God upon the earth, for its management is upon their shoulders. Here, dressed in the proper way for temple ordinance work, they approach the altar in the true order of prayer to seek divine guidance and inspiration as they consider these matters. The Presidents of the Seventy meet in their council room as well. ((Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 3))