LDS CHURCH REMOVES HISTORIC MURALS FROM SALT LAKE TEMPLE

Manti Temple Terrestrial Room

Imagine the Catholic Church painting over the Sistine Chapel walls and ceiling...

​The world would not allow it! Even if the paint was falling off the walls (like in Da Vinci's Last Supper) we would find a way to preserve the work. Ironically, it was a Japanese TV network that donated over 4 million dollars to restore the Sistine Chapel frescoes in exchange for filming access.

This news that the LDS church will be removing the murals from the SLC and Manti temples feels like an unnecessary and devastating loss. This move is totally unexpected from an organization that places so much emphasis on heritage. The movement to sterilize, modernize and integrate Mormonism into the mainstream of christian culture moves forward, but at what cost?

I'm guessing the Parable of the Olive Tree (Jacob 5) was used to justify this decision. It feels like 21st century Mormonism is attempting to conquer 20th century Mormonism, after it attempted to conquer 19th century Mormonism. It is obviously necessary for organizations to molt as they grow, but this feels a bit more like self amputation. Within the specific sphere of Mormon art, I would argue it's a lot more like losing a limb or an eye than losing a layer of old dead skin.

My hope is that the murals are somehow preserved and put up for display in other more publically accessible locations.

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Peggy Fletcher Stack

Hired in 1991 to cover Utah's various faiths, particularly Mormonism, Peggy has talked forgiveness with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, nearly fainted waiting for the Dalai Lama, fasted with Muslims during Ramadan — and has reported on 50 consecutive semiannual LDS General Conferences.

In a blow to preservationists and many Latter-day Saints, historic murals in the iconic Salt Lake Temple — some that were painted by Mormon artists sent to study in Paris in the 1890s — have been removed during the ongoing renovation and will not be returned.

The same extraction also is planned for the pioneer-era Manti Temple, which houses one of Mormonism’s artistic gems — a “world room” mural painted by the famed Minerva Teichert, who studied at the Chicago Art Institute in the early 20th century.

This is being done in part because officials in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints decided to eliminate the “live endowment,” in which templegoers move from room to room in a symbolic-rich reenactment of the creation, Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and humankind’s mortal journey and ultimate return to God’s presence.

THE REST OF PEGGY'S ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND AT SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/03/12/lds-church-removes/