Tour shows details, unique spirit of Payson Temple
Colette Erickson, of Texas, and Christine Oberhandsley, of California, both former BYU students, take a selfie while touring the grounds of the Payson LDS Temple on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
A sealing room in the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Payson Utah Temple Baptistry. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Stained glass in the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Elder Kent F. Richards, executive director of the Temple Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during a media preview day at the Payson LDS Temple on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
Kirk Kimball, a volunteer gardener from Payson, works in a flower bed at the Payson LDS Temple on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
People tour the Temple grounds during a media preview day at the Payson LDS Temple on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. SPENSER HEAPS, Daily Herald
The Celestial room in the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Payson Utah Temple entry way. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Baptistry recommend desk in the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Angel Moroni stands atop the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
"Holiness to the Lord — The House of the Lord" is inscribed on the Payson Utah Temple. © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
PAYSON – Once a waystation for those heading to points south of Utah County, Payson now touts a new resting place — one of the largest temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On Tuesday, local media were treated to their own tour and press conference of the new temple, led by Elder Kent F. Richards, executive director of the church’s Temple Department.
“This is a particularly beautiful temple,” Richards said. “There’s lots of history here.”
It was determined a number of years ago by the First Presidency of the church that a temple would be built in Payson, according to Richards.
As media were invited to enter the temple they were reminded it isn’t just a beautiful building — it’s the House of the Lord.
“We create beautiful temples in reverence to God,” Richards said.
Putting on slippers to keep the carpets pristine, the media began a 45-minute tour of the 100,000-square-foot edifice.
Known as the “Apple Blossom” Temple, the motif is centered on the apple blossom and wheat, indicative of the local agriculture.
Unusual to the temple are the two major entrances, with two temple recommend desks and large, elaborate staircases or mahogany-lined elevators for those needing a ride.
The mahogany wood abundant throughout the five floors is from Africa. The marble used extensively throughout the temple comes from Spain, Portugal and Turkey.
The furniture, tapestries and walls feature color schemes that include cream, light green, light blue, maroon and gold. Chandeliers and light sconces are throughout, with 12 large crystal chandeliers lighting the celestial room.
The baptistry
Entering the large doors into the baptistry, one is welcomed by a room surrounded by a beautiful mural of snow-capped mountains and verdant valleys with livestock, clouds and laborers in the fields. It is a replica of a mural used in the Calgary Temple.
Primarily used by youth of the church to do proxy baptisms for those who have died, the area features a beautiful, small chapel with a window looking out on the baptismal fount. Two confirmation rooms are across the hall with inset art glass.
Richards noted that as described in 1 Kings 7 in the Old Testament of the Bible, the baptismal fount is set on the backs of 12 white oxen — three facing east, three west, three north and three south.
There are several paintings throughout the temple with two basic themes: the life of Christ and the beauties of nature. There are 19 original paintings featured in the temple from various artists.
Brides’ room
“The brides’ room is unique to each temple,” Richards said.
The room is elegant, with a robin-egg-blue color and tapestries. The circular room features four grooming tables and mirrors. Side chairs in the room are 200 years old and were retrieved from a castle in England.
An original painting by Elspeth Young hangs just outside the matron’s office and features a mother and child surrounded by a field of sunflowers. The ceiling appliques in all areas of the temple were hand-painted by local artists.
Ordinance rooms
Richards took those in attendance through the elaborate chapel area, with tapestry-covered pews and a stained-glass ceiling. Quiet organ music allows patrons to meditate as they prepare to offer service at several areas in the temple.
“There are three ordinance rooms,” Richards said. “This is where we received endowment instruction. We learn about the purposes of mortality. It speaks to our belief in life before and after mortality.”
Celestial room
“The celestial room symbolically brings us to God’s presence,” Richards said.
The décor, while not overdone, is ornate, calming and peaceful. Several tufted couches and chairs in green, tapestries and golds are in the room. The detailed carpet is a light cream. Two-story, stained-glass windows and interior walls and ceiling continue the apple blossom theme, but unlike the other levels the flowers are in full bloom.
There are seven sealing rooms, with three of the rooms holding approximately 70 patrons. The rooms are typically used for temple marriages or sealings that LDS Church members believe go beyond this life, for eternity.
“This room represents the ultimate ordinance in mortality,” Richards said. “It is the essence of temples. We kneel at the alter and make covenants between each other and with God.
“It is a wonderful testament that God loves his children. His promises are wonderful blessings.”
Exterior
The temple grounds feature raised flower gardens, small patches of lawn and xeriscaping rock gardens with wheat grass and other indigenous plants.
According to Payson Temple committee chairman Larry Duffin, open house tickets are limited. The committee will be releasing another 100,000 tickets Wednesday morning. There have been more than 308,000 tickets reserved in the past week.
Prior to the three temple dedications on June 7 there will be a Youth Celebration on June 6 at LaVell Edwards Stadium on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo.
The temple will be open for regular temple work on Tuesday, June 9.