ST. GEORGE — Clusters of onlookers gathered on the sidewalk Monday evening near the west end of the St. George Temple as heavy equipment tore down the back end of the building.
A cloud of dust was kicked up as a large chunk of white wall fell to the ground. The dust spread out across the temple grounds and washed over the onlookers filming the demolition with their cameras on the other side of the fence line before dissipating.
Passersby in their vehicles also slowed down to watch the display, resulting in St. George Police officers being sent to the scene to make sure traffic ran smoothly while crowds continued to gather.
The end of the St. George Temple that was torn down was part of a previous addition made in the 1970s. The demolition exposed the original end of the temple as the addition was removed little by little.
As a part of the major restorative work being done on the temple during its three-year closure, previous additions have been or are being torn down to make way for additions that better match the architecture of the temple proper.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first announced the temple would close for renovations in January 2019. The closure was a part of an overall push by the church to renovate and upgrade its pioneer-era temples.
The St. George Temple closed in early November and will remain so for three years, according to church officials.
Work has included the demolition of the temple’s annex, which will be rebuilt in a style matching the overall architecture of the temple proper. The new annex will continue to serve as the St. George Temple’s primary entry once reopened.
The temple’s landscaping will also be given an overhaul, with plans for palm trees to line the walkway from the east entry to the steps of the building.
The east entry will also be remodeled to include a new plaza. A new bride’s exit and plaza will be added to the east side of the annex, and a new baptistry entrance and exit will be added on the temple’s south side.
Parts of the restoration work will also include restoring elements of the temple that were changed or removed during the last major renovation that took place in the mid-1970s – such as the one torn down Monday night.
“The St. George Temple has always maintained a significant role in the history of this great church,” Ralph Atkin, a local public relations official for the church, said.
The temple is also considered significant to the LDS church due to the role it is believed to have played in the church’s doctrine involving baptism for the dead.
The St. George Temple is the oldest and longest-operating temple in the church. Construction began in November 1871, and the building was dedicated for use on April 6, 1877. Since that time, the St. George Temple underwent major renovations in 1917, 1938 and 1975.
Following the St. George Temple’s closure on Nov. 4, 2019, the LDS church announced that a new temple would be built in the Washington Fields area of St. George.
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A part of the LDS St. George Temple that was added in the 1970s is torn down by heavy equipment in order to make way for structural upgrades and renovations, St. George, Utah, Jan, 2020 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
A part of the LDS St. George Temple that was added in the 1970s is torn down by heavy equipment in order to make way for structural upgrades and renovations, St. George, Utah, Jan, 2020 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
A part of the LDS St. George Temple that was added in the 1970s is torn down by heavy equipment in order to make way for structural upgrades and renovations, St. George, Utah, Jan, 2020 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
A part of the LDS St. George Temple that was added in the 1970s is torn down by heavy equipment in order to make way for structural upgrades and renovations, St. George, Utah, Jan, 2020 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
A part of the LDS St. George Temple that was added in the 1970s is torn down by heavy equipment in order to make way for structural upgrades and renovations, St. George, Utah, Jan, 2020 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News.
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