Duncan Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I don't have any sources handy but I am given to understand that Pres. Brigham Young and others? saw in vision the Salt Lake Temple. I am also given to understand that in the 1850's several people, who were involved in the design of the Temple, went to Europe to study the Cathedrals and other buildings there. So, my question is if the Temple was seen in vision why didn't they just tell the designers what is what and skip the Europe trip? If you know what it's supposed to look like why get info from other sources?
ksfisher Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I believe that the people who went to Europe were studying painting. From what they learned they painted many of the murals that are in the ordinance rooms. Also, knowing what something is supposed to look like and knowing how to do it are two different thing. 3
Robert F. Smith Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) This is reminiscent of King David receiving the "plan" (Hebrew tabnit) for the temple by inspiration (I Chron 28:12), resulting in the construction by Solomon of a temple which followed well-known architectural styles of temples in the Levant at that time. See Biblical Archaeology Society Staff, “Searching for the Temple of King Solomon: How the ʽAin Dara temple in Syria sheds light on King Solomon in the Bible and his famous temple,” Bible History Daily, Oct 2013 (updated Aug 10, 2015), online at http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/temple-at-jerusalem/searching-for-the-temple-of-king-solomon/?mqsc=E3812059&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=BHD+Daily%20Newsletter+Daily%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=E5BO01 . LDS architectural historian Paul L. Anderson has written and lectured extensively on the historical context of all Mormon architecture, and I recommend reading his comments: See, for example, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1977/07/first-of-the-modern-temples?lang=eng . See also the comments of an outsider: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2002/02/latterday_fortresses.html . Edited October 27, 2015 by Robert F. Smith 1
KevinG Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I believe the European Art Missionaries were there to study in order to paint murals in the Temples, not create blueprints for temples. It seems that Truman O. Angell, the architect of the Salt Lake Temple, served a mission at his own request, but that was a standard proselytizing mission. https://www.lds.org/liahona/1993/06/truman-o-angell-builder-of-the-kingdom?lang=eng William Ward who also served as an architect on the Salt Lake Temple was previously trained in England. 1
busybee Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) I lived in Cork. Ireland for 12 years. While I was there I was told that the angel statue at the rear of St. Finbar's Cathedral was inspiration for the Angel Moroni statue that was placed on the Salt Lake Temple. It is known as the 'Resurrection Angel' or , more fondly, as the Goldy angel by locals Edited October 27, 2015 by busybee 3
Sanpitch Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 My wife's granddad, John Fairbanks was one of those who went to Europe to study painting in order that they could paint the murals in the temple. He is the father of Avard Fairbanks who produced many sculptors of Abraham Lincoln Christ and others.
Duncan Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 My wife's granddad, John Fairbanks was one of those who went to Europe to study painting in order that they could paint the murals in the temple. He is the father of Avard Fairbanks who produced many sculptors of Abraham Lincoln Christ and others. wow! that's cool! There is a lady in our ward who is related to that Torleaf Knofhouse, who was that sculptor who also did Moroni's and other statues.
SmileyMcGee Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 (edited) not sure how extensive the vision was, but having a picture of something doesn't say much about the engineering of that thing, nor is a person typically endowed with the ability to build something by simply seeing a picture of it. That said, Nephi didn't need to be instructed by humans on how to build a boat. Maybe BY and others were just too dang faithless...or too distracted: "Enough with the polygamy, Brigham! I'm trying to tell you how to build my temple!" Edited October 27, 2015 by SmileyMcGee 1
Sanpitch Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 wow! that's cool! There is a lady in our ward who is related to that Torleaf Knofhouse, who was that sculptor who also did Moroni's and other statues.Are those murals done by Fairbanks and the other still in the SL Temple, we've been curious as neither one of us has ever been there.
Duncan Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 not sure how extensive the vision was, but having a picture of something doesn't say much about the engineering of that thing, nor is a person typically endowed with the ability to build something by simply seeing a picture of it.That said, Nephi didn't need to be instructed by humans on how to build a boat. Maybe BY and others were just too dang faithless...or too distracted: "Enough with the polygamy, Brigham! I'm trying to tell you how to build my temple!" well, who can blame them, they were in Utah after all!
Duncan Posted October 27, 2015 Author Posted October 27, 2015 Are those murals done by Fairbanks and the other still in the SL Temple, we've been curious as neither one of us has ever been there. beats the wappum outta me, yeah I've never been to the SLC Temple
ksfisher Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Are those murals done by Fairbanks and the other still in the SL Temple, we've been curious as neither one of us has ever been there. I believe the garden room still contains some of the originals. The configuration of the rooms have changed a bit since they were originally painted, but I'm pretty sure that at least one wall is still original. The style is a bit more impressionistic than the more recent work.
Sanpitch Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 I believe the garden room still contains some of the originals. The configuration of the rooms have changed a bit since they were originally painted, but I'm pretty sure that at least one wall is still original. The style is a bit more impressionistic than the more recent work.Thank you. We both knew Avard Fairbanks, John's son and wondered about those paintings. Wife thinks John spent a year or more in Europe studying the painting art but I'm not sure. We have the history here somewhere.
Sanpitch Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 (edited) I've been reading a little history of John B Fairbanks who helped in the painting of the SL Temple and who studied painting art in France for the church. Besides the two years in France, he spent two years for the church looking for BofM relics in Central America with another partner and a two year mission to the Southern States. He was married during all of this time and had three to eight children at different periods of time. Stay at home wife supported the family by selling books and other little projects and with the help of oldest son. What's the matter with those people, my granddad also left a wife and two kids at home and went on a mission to the Southern States leaving grandma home to fend for her self and children, in the early 1900s. Ed to add: John Fairbanks spent two years in Europe studying painting according to his history. Edited October 29, 2015 by Sanpitch 1
Duncan Posted October 28, 2015 Author Posted October 28, 2015 I've been reading a little history of John B Fairbanks who helped in the painting of the SL Temple and who studied painting art in France for the church. Besides the two years in France, he spent two years for the church looking for BofM relics in Central America with another partner and a two year mission to the Southern States. He was married during all of this time and had three to eight children at different periods of time. Stay at home wife supported the family by selling books and other little projects and with the help of oldest son. What's the matter with those people, my granddad also left a wife and two kids at home and went on a mission to the Southern States leaving grandma home to fend for her self and children, in the early 1900s. very patient people,divorce laws were different back then! My family weren't members then but in 1898 my Great Grandpa went first to north of where I am to get a homestead and then sent for his wife and 5 kids all under the age of 9 to come after, all by themselves to a place they hadn't ever been to before and by wagon-I can't imagine living back then! What took her and the kids a week to do back then it takes us 2 hours by car today
Jeanne Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 I was engaged to a young man whose great great Grandfather did some of the paintings..last name is Alsop.
Sanpitch Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 very patient people,divorce laws were different back then! My family weren't members then but in 1898 my Great Grandpa went first to north of where I am to get a homestead and then sent for his wife and 5 kids all under the age of 9 to come after, all by themselves to a place they hadn't ever been to before and by wagon-I can't imagine living back then! What took her and the kids a week to do back then it takes us 2 hours by car todaySince I love the north, Canada and Alaska, your story sounds interesting. Care to go into more details, locations and etc? We've drove through Canada to Alaska a few times and love it. 1
Sanpitch Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) This is wandering off topic a little but it is about the son of John Fairbanks who helped in the painting in the SL Temple. This article is in the current LDS Living e-mail I receive. The story of the Ram Symbol on the dodge vehicles created by Avard Fairbanks. It was interesting to me. http://ldsliving.com/The-Famous-Brand-Symbol-Sculpted-By-a-Mormon/s/80201 Ed to add: In Avard's story of the event of the Ram symbol he says that Dodge company gave him a new car for his work on the symbol. Edited October 29, 2015 by Sanpitch 2
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