Nebo Stake Tabernacle

The third LDS Stake in Utah was the Utah Stake organized in 1851 covering the area of Utah County. The stake was centered in Provo. Fifty years later in 1901, the Utah Stake was divided into the Alpine, Provo, and Nebo Stakes. The Nebo Stake included Payson, Spanish Fork, Salem, Benjamin, Lake Shore, Santaquin, Spring Lake, Genola, Elberta and the Tintic District in Juab County. Payson was the center of Nebo Stake from 1901 until 1924 when the stake was divided. The Nebo Stake was without a stake house until the new Nebo Stake Tabernacle was dedicated in November 1907 by President Joseph F. Smith. The building was constructed at a cost of $20,000. It was paid for and dedicated in a period of eighteen months. This was considered a record at that time. The building could seat over 1,000 people and was filled to capacity for the dedication of the new building. It was constructed in such a manner that the sound of the speakers could be heard in the furthest corners of the building. In 1925 the building was remodeled making a stage with draw curtains built in the east end of the building. The basement was enlarged for installation of a kitchen with serving rooms, ret rooms and a coal room. Later in the late 1940's a cyclorama and other stage curtains along with new lighting was added in the auditorium. An organ was also installed in the building. There ware many Operettas and stage plays presented on the stage by local church and schools in the community. The annual Payson High School graduation exercises were also held in the building. The Tabernacle served the needs of the community for over 60 years until a new Nebo Stake Center was constructed in Payson. The building stood vacant for several years and vandals did some damage to the building. In 1968, the Payson Senior Citizens was organized and Payson City obtained a long term lease on the building to house the new Senior Center. The group member set out to clean and repair the building and make changes to meet the needs of the group. The Senior Citizens called this building home until the early 1980's when a new Senior Center was established in the newly renovated Payson City Center which was in the building that once housed the Payson Hospital. The building was later sold to a Utah County banking company. After a study of the building was completed, it was determined the costs to rehabilitate and remodel the building to meet the needs of the new owners would be prohibitive and the building was demolished in the 1980's. It was replaced by a new modern banking facility. The Peteetneet Museum is fortunate to have the original podium, council chair, bench, a window, balustrade and numerous other items from the original tabernacle. The museum felt it was very important to save many of these artifacts from the past history of the community. If you are in the area, drop in and this important display located in the museum. (thanks....peteetneetmuseum.blogspot.com!)

Nebo Stake Tabernacle - Payson Utah