Payson Tabernacle - Original Tabernacle

The Church was formally organized in Peteetneet (Payson) on December 20, 1850. This was two months to the day after the new settlement was established. The branch was organized under the direction of Apostle George A. Smith. James Pace was appointed to preside over the branch. The name of the settlement was later changed to Payson. In 1870 a meeting was held to discuss the first L. D. S. church to be constructed by funds raised from taxing all able-bodied men who were members of the church. Up until that time, meetings had been held private homes, public schools or private building locations. The settlers had constructed a temporary bowery near the center of the fort. It would later become the location of the first tabernacle. It was located at 182 North Main in today's address system. It was located near the center of the old fort. The meeting house, known as the Payson Tabernacle, was designed to accommodate approximately 800 people. There was a balcony located in the west end of the building. The Payson Tabernacle was built from 1870 to 1872. The building was constructed at a cost of $27, 447.03 and was dedicated by Apostle Wilford Woodruff on July 20, 1872. This structure was later destroyed by fire in 1902 or 1904. A newer tabernacle would be built on the same site in 1907 called the Nebo Stake Tabernacle.