Discovering Great Mormon Buildings

Pulpits

Paradise Ward Farewell

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Yesterday I was fortunate to visit this building for the first time. It also happened to be the last day that worship services would be held. Even though it was Easter Sunday, members of the ward lingered long after services to reminisce, take pictures and just to sit and enjoy the Chapel for the last time while the bell in the tower rang outside for the small community of Paradise to hear.

As you can see, part of the building has already been removed exposing the original stone of the 1877 chapel. There was a nice display in the lobby with old photos of the chapel, some of the original stone as well as drawings of the new building to replace this one. Apparently they will save the bell to put into the new steeple. This bell was part of the original 1877 chapel. Also, some of the original stone will be used on the front elevation as a decorative feature.

Some of my favorite features of the building were the exposed stone, the railing in the lobby, the cry room in the balcony behind glass, the pulpit, the hand-painted flowers throughout the chapel, the abundance of natural light in the chapel, and the pews up in the cry room. I may be completely wrong, but if I were to guess, I would say those pews in the balcony are from the original building. The pews down in the chapel appeared to be from the 1952 addition. Rumor has it that some of the interior painting in the chapel was done by the same artist who painted scenes in the Salt Lake Temple Celestial room.

There was an attempt to save the building and have it be used as a community center that made it all the way to the First Presidency, but that request was denied. As a result the building that has stood here as a centerpiece for the town since 1877 will very soon be demolished.

9060 S 200 W
Paradise, UT
Original Chapel built 1877
Classrooms added 1902
New chapel addition 1952 by architect Lawrence D Olpin
Cultural Hall addition 1979
Scheduled to be torn down April 2012
Map Location of Building

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Bear River Stake Tabernacle Pulpits


Inside this beautiful chapel is one of the most unique features I have yet to encounter in an LDS building. There are two pulpits on the stand, one slightly larger and slightly higher than the other; both are perfectly aligned on the center axis of the room. If anyone has the background story as to why there are two pulpits, I would be very interested.

140 W Factory St
Garland, UT
Built 1906 by unknown architect; Remodeled 2000 by CRSA
Click for Map Location of Building


Henderson 3rd Ward Pulpit

303 S Cholla St
Henderson, NV
Built 1964
Architect: Dean Pierce
Map Location of Building


Manila YSA Ward Pulpit

835 N 900 E
American Fork, UT
Map Location of Building


Lake Ridge Ward Pulpit


Two very similar buildings were built by the same architect in Magna during the 1950’s. The interior of these two buildings reflect a pronounced use of angles in the detailing, including in this fantastic pulpit design. I currently have interior pictures from this building and exterior pictures from the other one.

3151 S 7700 W
Magna, UT
Built 1950’s
Map Location of Building


Mesa 2nd Ward Pulpit

15 W 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ
Architect: Louis Alexander
Chapel Built 1934
Click for Map Location of Building


Mesa 2nd Ward Pulpit

15 W 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ
Architect: Louis Alexander
Chapel Built 1934
Click for Map Location of Building


Spring City Ward Pulpit

164 S Main
Spring City, UT
Built 1902
Click for Map Location of Building


Granite Stake Tabernacle Pulpit

Also known as the Lincoln Ward Meetinghouse
2005 S 900 E
Salt Lake City, UT
Plans dated April 1929
Architect: Anderson & Young (Edward O Anderson & Lorenzo S Young)
Click for Map Location of Building