by Annette Lyon

The First Vision. The Martyrdom. The handcart companies. These and other well-known stories from Church history inspire us. But many lesser-known events about our temples can do the same. Below are five lessons from early Utah temples.

Even If It Doesn’t Make Sense, The Lord Will Help Find A Way.

The site of the St. George temple was far from ideal, with one side soft, soggy, and full of sinkholes. Pleas to shift the site were met with resistance from Brigham Young. Workers had to make it work.

They planned to drive volcanic rock into the ground so it would be strong enough to hold a foundation. Just hauling the rock from miles away was a monumental feat. But what could the Saints use to drive the rock into the ground? They used an old Napoleonic cannon filled with lead. Hoisted on ropes by horses, it was dropped, pounding it into the ground (Curtis, Kirk, History of the St. George Temple).

When life throws us problems and the answer isn’t neat and tidy—or when it’s messy and hard—remember that the Lord will help us find a way. Chances are we’ll end up growing as a result, finding answers we wouldn’t have ever expected.

A Seeming Dead-end May Be A Shortcut.

It took a team four days to bring a single stone to the Salt Lake Temple block—assuming the wagon didn’t break. No matter the number of workers or teams, progress on the temple was little more than a crawl.

Seemingly out of the blue, President Young closed the quarry. The minimal progress stopped altogether. Many questioned his wisdom, even though he assured them that the decision would ultimately aid the temple’s progress.

Work efforts were redirected in building commercial railroad lines, and within about six years, a line went from the quarry to the temple lot. Instead of a four-day trip for a single stone, two dozen could be delivered a day. True progress didn’t happen until the railroad was complete (Raynor, Wallace Alan. History of the Construction of the Salt Lake Temple).

When we feel as if a door has been slammed in our faces—be it with work, education, family, health, or any other problem—instead of white-knuckling through the trial, remember that what appears to be stalling progress may be opening doors to possibilities not available without the “dead end.”

No Matter How Pure Something—Or Someone—is, Bad Things Can Happen.

In 1883 a heavy storm blew holes in the roof of the unfinished Logan temple. In the following years, the roof was repaired several times—three by 1896, when a wind storm blew off all the tin. It was repaired again 1899 and 1906, then replaced in 1909. In 1917, sixty wash tubs were requisitioned to catch rain falling through the roof (Olsen, Nolan. Logan Temple: The First 100 Years, 1978).

Fires, leaks, windstorms, and more have plagued our temples—the purest, most holy places on earth. If they aren’t immune to the elements of the world, neither are we.
Having trials doesn’t mean that we are sinful or otherwise unworthy. It simply means we’re mortal.

An Answer Isn’t Always What You First Think.

Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff had visions of the Salt Lake Temple, yet they disagreed on what it should be built of. Wilford Woodruff insisted on stone, while President Young lobbied for adobe.

They had both seen the temple in vision. Why did they disagree?

In the journal of Captain Albert Tracy from Johnston’s army, we read a description of Salt Lake City: “The buildings were almost entirely of adobe, giving them the appearance of grey cut stone.” (Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel. Every Stone a Sermon).

President Young likely thought he had seen adobe in vision. He saw adobe every day all over the city, and it looked very much like cut gray stone.

When we receive promptings that have a different meaning than we originally assume, we shouldn’t doubt that we felt the Spirit. Instead, we need to be open to understanding what the Spirit is saying.

Our Best Is Good Enough.

Carpenter Thomas G. Lowe grew frustrated making the golden balls to grace the towers of the Logan temple. Making them the same size—exactly 36 inches in diameter—and perfectly round bordered on impossible. The balls ended up almost identical: one 35 inches, the other 36. But raised 165 feet into the air, not even a picky observer can detect any difference. (Logan Temple: The First 100 Years).

While our best isn’t always perfect, the Lord will make up the difference. Our efforts will be consecrated and made beautiful.

With more temples gracing the world each year, learning stories about them can inspire and strengthen us as we apply those lessons to our lives, as Nephi did, “that it might be for [our] profit and learning.”