Farmington Ward Chapel Interior
Primary Memorial Chapel – the Primary Association was organized in this building in 1878. The Daughters of Utah pioneers plaque on the exterior of the building states 11 Aug 1878, while the caption of the chapel painting states 25 Aug 1878.
272 N Main
Farmington, UT
Built 1862
Click for Map Location of Building
LDS ARCHITECTURE 
I really like how the pulpit is positioned to the left. And of course the mural is fantastic! Is that Eliza R. Snow I see?
April 4, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I absolutely love the side pulpit as well and the design of it is quite nice also. I’ll post a close-up of it shortly.
April 6, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Is there information of when this mural was painted and displayed in the Farmington Ward chapel? I was a young girl living in Farmington and it seems to me the mural was painted by Lynn Fausett in the 40’s. Is this correct?
Also are there printed photo copies of this chapel scene that one can purchase?
April 24, 2011 at 7:27 pm
I’m still trying to track this one down, Joan. I don’t know off the top of my head, but will look further into it. There wasn’t an artist name on the mural that I was able to find. Nor did I see a date. I’ll try and see if there is anything in the copies of the plans that I have.
April 27, 2011 at 6:25 am
Thank you – I have contacted the history center at the Rio train station in SLC. Also the Harld B Lee Library in Provo. The HBL has photos of the mural but they will not photo copy them. Also, the artist I think also painted the “last wagon.” and murals in Washington D.C. and for the Utah state capitol. Bishop John Walsh was the ward bishop at he time the Primary mural was painted. It is very difficult to locate info concerning those who were decipted in the mural. The lady in gray is Eliza R Snow? The one in brown A Rogers? The reason I am franticaly researching the history of the mural and the 1st Primary is that I am writing a script for a play that will be presented in September in our ward at Twin Falls, Idaho.
Any info you may find would be very helpful and greatly apreciated. J Watson
joan.watson85@yahoo.com
May 15, 2011 at 12:08 pm
The mural in the Rock Chapel was painted by Lynn Faucett. It was dedicated by Charles A Callis, apostle, November 24, 1941. John Walsh was bishop of the Rock Chapel at the time.
June 6, 2011 at 9:12 am
Thanks so much for sharing your findings, Joan!
June 9, 2011 at 1:23 am
Does anyone know where a photo of the Primary mural can be obtained? The Harold B Library at Provo Utah has a photo but they cannot give copies because of copyright etc.
July 3, 2011 at 12:46 pm
The woman in gray standing in front of the pulpit is Aurelia Rogers. In a historic photo of her taken about the time of the organization of the Primary, she is wearing a dress with a long white lace bib with a pin or brooch the same as in the mural. I suspect one of the women sitting behind the pulpit is a portraiture depicting Eliza Snow as the two women sitting in front of the mural to the right most likely are Rogers two councilors. Who the woman in brown facing facing the congregation of children is unknown as is the other woman guiding the children. Too bad details of this mural are not readily available – or have been preserved?
July 4, 2011 at 9:36 am
In 1976 a woman named Margaret Steed Hess, daughter-in-law and niece of Bishop John W. Hess, authored a book entitled MY FARMINGTON 1847 – 1976. In her book, she has information about the mural and its dedication on 24 August 1941, the 117th birthday of Bishop Hess. The artist was Lynn Fausett. Bishop Hess was bishop of the Farmington Ward when he called and set apart Aurelia Spencer Rogers as the first Primary President. Bishop Hess is pictured at the podium in the mural. Margaret Steed Hess has included a picture of the mural on page 301 of her book. She was a child at the time of the first meeting of the Primary and identifies herself and many others depicted in the mural. Aurelia Spencer Rogers is the lady standing near the podium. To the right are two women, one holding a baby. The woman and the baby are described as “fill ins.” Elizy R. Snow is seated beside her. The Church used to publish card-sized and poster-sized pictures of the mural for use in Primary. I don’t know if they are currently available. Bishop Hess was my 3rd greatgrandfather.
Jay Dee Hendricks, June 19, 1912
June 19, 2012 at 2:54 pm
I am a great-granddaughter of Ezra T. Clark from Farmington and have a special interest in the mural of the first Primary. My ancestors grew up in Farmington and I have been told that some of them are pictured as children in this mural. Does anyone know the identity of any of the children? Also, my father’s cousin’s husband was Lynn Fausett, who painted this mural. I have a painting that he did for my mother, who was a Clark, that is beautiful. I would appreciate any additional information. Thanks
June 3, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Very few of the children are identified in the mural. There were 112 boys and 112 girls, ranging in ages 6 to 14, that attended the First Primary. Mr. Fausett simply did a “representation” of children during that period of time, and then painted in a few of the children that he’d been given pictures to go by. In Aurelia Rogers’ book, Life Sketches, she listed names of each of the children. If anyone is interested in a copy of the list, and would like a copy of a brief history of the Rock Chapel and the First Primary, I’d be happy to email them to them. I live in Farmington and attend the Rock Chapel, and I’m Executive Director of the Farmington City Historic Preservation Commission. You can contact me at a2ztidwell@msn.com.
August 20, 2013 at 9:51 pm
I was born, raised and still live in rural Rigby, Idaho. I first saw this mural many years ago as a child, while at a Christensen family reunion in Farmington. The gentleman with the white beard and mustache sitting behind the pulpit is my great-grandfather, Mads Christensen. He assisted in the building of the chapel, and was asked to assist in the meeting depicted in the mural. For years the only picture that my family had of the mural was a black-and-white copy of a copy of a copy … Before our children were grown we took them to see this historic chapel. My son who lives in Boise, Idaho, recently went back to the chapel, He is a free-lance photographer, and when he told the guide that he was a descendent of Mads Christensen, the guide gave him permission to take photos. Now I have beautiful COLOR copies of those pictures.
April 11, 2013 at 11:48 am
Any chance of getting a copy of some of the pictures your son took? The man standing in the pulpit is John W. Hess, my second great-grandfather. My name is Jay Dee Hendricks (see above comment of June 19, 1912).
April 11, 2013 at 2:30 pm
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My great grandfather was John Harvey Tippets (of the Mormon Battalion and The First Company). He settled in Farmington and is buried there. I was told many years ago, that my grandfather, Joseph Alva Tippets (John Harvey’s youngest child) was one of those depicted in this mural. My father, Joseph Henderson Tippets, was Joseph Alva’s youngest (eighth and only son).
October 23, 2014 at 7:36 am
Hi,
Does anyone know when the church published this picture in postcard form?
Are they still for sale today.
I found some in my mother’s home and am looking into why she would have them.
December 24, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Reblogged this on Dem Bones.
January 19, 2016 at 11:52 am
I get mixed up with the Kaysville Rock Chapel and the Farmington Rock chapel, even though they are SO different
April 19, 2017 at 6:24 pm