The project hampered by conflict with Native Americans, the foundation was all they had to show for their efforts when Brigham Young came for a conference in 1855 and announced that this was not the place. But when the settlers began work on an extensive tabernacle foundation, they did it five blocks to the west of this location (at present-day Pioneer Park). In 1849, while examining land southeast of the Fort Utah outpost, Brigham Young and his counselors made plans for a settlement with a meetinghouse at its center. Pioneer lesson: When the prophet declares a location “the place,” take heed. The pioneer edifice would be restored, refined, and once again filled with a multi-hued flood of light.Īs the temple is made ready for its March dedication, BYU Magazine here recounts the building’s long, intertwined history with Brigham Young University. Exterior brick would be scrubbed, a Moroni-topped steeple added, and stained glass replaced. Monson astounded the Church with plans to rebuild the structure as Provo’s second temple. The official remodeling announcement came 10 months later, in general conference, when President Thomas S. You know whose house this is? If I want to remodel, what’s it to you?’” “It was like it said to me, ‘Okay, Richards. Sitting upright atop the rubble where the foyer had been was a framed print of The Second Coming-scorched everywhere except around the figure of the descending Savior. An original Minerva Teichert painting had been reduced to ashes. Peering through a window, Richards surveyed the devastation-“like something from WWII.” The balcony had crashed down. They were there to determine if the walls were stable enough for an investigation to begin. Two days after the fire, President Richards stood with fire officials in the snow outside the charred eastern doorway.
#Body and mind provo rec center windows#
And beneath windows depicting beehives, books, and lighted torches, these students had attended to words academic and spiritual-body and mind both illuminated as tinted columns of light passed over their heads with unhurried grace, like a blessing. They had leaned back from the balcony’s brass rail, eyes closed, as a December choir’s hallelujahs reverberated around and within. Generations of BYU students-hundreds of thousands of them, now scattered around the world-had crammed into the wooden pews for a spring convocation or dashed up a spiral staircase, late for a rehearsal. That’s what made it such a consecrated spot.”Īs word of the fire spread, feelings of grief extended far beyond Utah Valley. Richards says what he misses most is “the mix-from the Rachmaninoffs to the road shows the amazing speakers, the William Jennings Bryans to the sweet little gal who’s asked to get up and bear her testimony-scared to death. Over more than a century, the Provo Tabernacle had hosted stake conferences (often three on a Sunday), world-famous speakers and musicians-even a Catholic mass. The city’s old pioneer friend was lost, and the valley sat in mourning as the ruins smoldered. “When the flames were over the organ, I thought, ‘I’ve just got to go home. “Smoke was just pouring out of both ends.” He watched as the flames burst through the roof and cast trembling shadows in the night. “I walked up there and just-ohhh,” he remembers. Thought you should know.” Richards put on warm clothes and trudged through the icy night to University and Center. phone call came to him: “Smoke is coming out of the attic of the tabernacle. In December 2010 Richards, a BYU professor of educational leadership and foundations, was serving as president of the Provo South Stake, caretaker of the Provo Tabernacle. LeGrand “Buddy” Richards (BS ’75, PhD ’82), his laugh tinged with pain, even five years later.
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