Salt Lake City
AA-2026-1E1D15
On the image
In the 1970s, people still built structures designed to last for centuries, like this one, ensuring future generations would have a clear visual reference for what "eternity" looked like when rendered in granite. The multiple spires point definitively skyward, leaving little doubt about the general direction of important thoughts.
The careful landscaping and meticulous upkeep of the grounds suggest a deep respect for both order and permanence, qualities one rarely finds combined outside of very specific organisational charts. An American flag flies nearby, a reminder that spiritual governance often finds itself alongside the more earthly kind.
At the very top, a golden figure announces that divine instruction is being broadcast from this precise location, a high-bandwidth connection established well before the internet was even a concept. It is an efficient system for those who require their guidance delivered with a certain level of architectural gravitas.
The historian's note
The Salt Lake Temple, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the central temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its construction began in 1853 and it was dedicated in 1893. This photograph from the 1970s captures the temple approximately a century after its completion.
This granite structure, designed in the Gothic Revival style by Truman O. Angell, stands on Temple Square, serving as a prominent architectural and religious landmark in the Western United States. The temple's spires are topped with statues, including the golden angel Moroni, a significant figure in Latter-day Saint theology.
The Salt Lake Temple is not merely a place of worship but a symbolic heart of the Church, where sacred ordinances are performed. Its imposing presence and intricate design reflect the enduring commitment and spiritual aspirations of its builders and members, making it a key site for understanding the history and growth of the faith in the 20th century.
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Salt Lake Temple, Utah, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-1E1D15. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/salt-lake-temple-utah-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20261E1D15,
title = {Salt Lake Temple, Utah, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-1E1D15},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/salt-lake-temple-utah-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Salt Lake Temple, Utah, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-1E1D15 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/salt-lake-temple-utah-1970s ER -
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