Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Fifty-Eight
The St George Temple, Wilford Woodruff, and the Founding Fathers
The St George Temple site was first dedicated by Book of Mormon Prophets –In 1871 Brigham Young went to St George to select a temple site. The site selected was swampy but he insisted on it anyway because he said it had been dedicated by ancient Book of Mormon prophets. (See Kirk M. Curtis, “History of the St George Temple” Master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 1964, p. 24-25)
My ancestors participated in the building and dedication of the St George Temple – Ground was broken for the St George Temple on November 9, 1871. Frank Petty, my great grandfather, was an experienced logger. He cut and hauled timber 8o miles to be used for the St George Temple.
Wilford Woodruff’s journal noted that on January 16, 1877, he was in the temple in meetings with local priesthood leaders. Henry Lunt being a bishop, stake president, and patriarch in Cedar City for 20 years was likely involved. Henry attended the dedication of the St George Temple which took place on April 6, 1877.
Shortly after the dedication Brigham Young returned to Salt Lake City for the last time. He stayed in Cedar City at Henry’s home where he gave the last interview of his life to the New York press.
Wilford Woodruff as president of the St George Temple had a profound impact on temple work
- Baptisms for the dead began on January 9, 1877. The first endowments and sealings for the dead in this dispensation were administered two days later. This was a great advancement of the work of the Lord on both sides of the veil, and the beginning of temple service as we know it today. Now members could come to the temple often to be reminded of their covenants.
- President Woodruff was the first to write down all temple ordinances. This is the basis of how these ordinances are performed today. This established necessary order and consistency.
- On February 1, 1877, Wilford dressed completely in white as he served in the temple. This set the pattern that continues today of people dressed in white while serving in the temple.
- On March 1, 1877, President Woodruff was inspired to allow members to be proxies for non-family members. This change has greatly increased temple attendance and has had a profound influence on obedience, consecration, and righteousness of individual members.
- One of the wonderful results of this expansion was that in August 1877 the signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared and asked that their temple work be done. (See Lessons on Freedom and Patriotism Lesson 8) As a result various temple ordinances were performed in the St George temple for the Founders and many other distinguished men and women. It is likely that George and Martha Washington, John and Abigail Adams, and many other worthy couples were sealed for eternity at about that time.
- The appearance of these worthy men and women was significant because it demonstrated the appropriateness of doing vicarious temple work for people who were not family members. It also is evidence that our family members, who never had the gospel in this life but received it in the spirit world, have a great desire for their ordinances to be done.
Testimony – Temple worship has a great impact on our obedience and personal righteousness. Now with new technology and many more temples being built we have the opportunity to attend the temple more frequently, and do more family history for our own ancestors. Susan and I know that temple worship is especially meaningful when we do family ordinances.