Provo Tabernacle to become second Provo temple
Rendering of the LDS temple that will be built where the fire-gutted Provo Tabernacle now stands. (Courtesy of the LDS Church)
Provo Tabernacle between 1898 and 1902. (Photo courtesy of the LDS Church)
David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A choir sings at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Henry B. Eyring and President Thomas S. Monson are seen at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Evan Keller and his son Kristian gaze up at the Temple after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Pipes on the organ at the Conference Center are seen during the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A young boy rests in Temple Square after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
President Thomas S. Monson, center, Henry B. Eyring, left, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, right, sing along with the choir at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A choir sings at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A group of missionaries hang out in Temple Square after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Preston Cardinet and Lauren Clegg hang out in Temple Square after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A group of young men sing in Temple Square after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Henry B. Eyring and President Thomas S. Monson great another man at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A choir sings at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A couple embraces while listening to a speaker at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A crowd crosses a street at Temple Square before the start of the Priesthood meeting during the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
People wait in line outside the Conference Center before the start of the afternoon session of the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Greg Fields and Elder Robert Christiansen hang out in Temple Square after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Ian S. Ardern speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Men stand in a line outside the Conference Center asking passersby if they have extra tickets to the Priesthood meeting at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Steve Carson, of Kanab, Utah, holds a large cross outside the Conference Center after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A man stands with a red umbrella before the start of the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Church members listen to a speaker at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A woman holds a sign for tours of Temple Square in Hindi after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Henry B. Eyring holds up his hand to vote for Church issues including the sustaining of their President and Prophet Thomas S. Monson at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
People walk around Temple Square following the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Church members listen to a speaker at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A choir sings at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
People walk around Temple Square following the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Church members raise their hand in a vote for Church issues including the sustaining of the Church's President and Prophet Thomas S. Monson at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Stephanie Hintze and Brad Ackerson discuss their notes after the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
People walk around Temple Square following the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
Courtesy of LDS Church Rendering of the LDS temple that will be built where the fire-gutted Provo Tabernacle now stands.
A worker with guest services at Temple Square directs a man before the start of the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
A couple grasp each other's hands outside the Conference Center before the semiannual general conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. SPENSER HEAPS/Daily Herald
The fire-gutted Provo Tabernacle will become Provo’s second temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Church President Thomas S. Monson made the surprise announcement just after 11 a.m. Saturday morning during the first session of the 181st Semiannual General Conference of the church.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to rebuild it with full preservation to become the second temple of the church in the city of Provo,” he said to audible gasps from the audience. He said that the tabernacle had been “much beloved by generations of Latter-day Saints.”
The announcement was followed by an immediate deluge of activity on Twitter, and within moments of the announcement the new temple had even been given a name online — the “Provo Tabernacle Temple.” Many people tweeting the news expressed joy and even astonishment.
The church also immediately released an artist’s rendering of the temple online, showing the tabernacle with a tall central steeple topped with a gold statue of the Angel Moroni, as is traditional on temples.
The converted tabernacle will become the 16th temple in Utah. No timeline for reconstruction was announced. The tabernacle was originally constructed from 1883 to 1898 and is located on University Avenue between Center Street and 100 South.
“Since the 2010 fire, church leaders have worked with architects, engineers and historical experts to determine the future of the building,” said church officials in a statement. “The project will include a complete restoration of the original exterior. To facilitate these plans the church has recently acquired additional property near the tabernacle.”
Just last week, the Provo Municipal Council approved the sale of property on the corner of 200 South and University Avenue. Sources say an underground parking garage will be built there.
This will be the second time the church has converted an historic tabernacle into a temple. The Vernal Utah Temple, which was dedicated in 1997, was constructed within the brick exterior of the 1907 Uintah Stake Tabernacle.
Monson also announced several other temples, including one in Star Valley, Wyo. — he joked that perhaps he would dedicate it himself because the area has “good fishing.” Others include Paris, France; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Durban, South Africa; and Barranquilla, Colombia.
“The building of temples continues uninterrupted,” he said. “No church-built facility is more important than a temple. The temple is the place where relationships are sealed together to last through eternities.”
Other church authorities spoke about the scriptures, and the purpose of life.
“Scriptures are pure truth,” said Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds. Great power can come from memorizing scripture. Pondering a passage of scripture can be key to revelation. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges. I testify by all that is sacred, [the Book of Mormon] is true.”
“All human beings, male and female, were created in the image of God,” said Elder Boyd K. Packer, also of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Each a beloved daughter or son of God. Every living soul who has a physical body has power over the adversary and his angels. Youth today are being raised in enemy territory, with a declining standard of morality. Avoid all immorality and personally degrading practices. You are never far from the sight of your Heavenly Father.”
“Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as his sons and daughters,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of the church.
“We have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. You could pile up the accumulated currency of the world and it could not buy a loaf of bread in the kingdom of heaven. God himself said we are the reason he created the universe.”
Speaking in the afternoon session, Elder David A. Bednar of the Twelve asked youth to spend more time in the work of redeeming the dead through temple ordinances, “rather than video games, surfing the Internet, and Facebooking.”
Elder Neil L. Andersen said the biblical commandment to “multiply and replenish the earth” is still in force, and should be a priority over financial and leisure goals. He called the church “a sanctuary for families where we honor and help mothers.” For the Savior’s birth there was “no designer crib” only a humble manger. “Families are central to God’s eternal plan.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve spoke of repentance and sanctification.
“The invitation to repent is an expression of love,” he said. “If we do not invite others to change or demand repentance of ourselves, we fail in a duty we owe to one another. Repentance means striving to change.”
• Caleb Warnock can be reached at cwarnock@heraldextra.com.