St. George Tabernacle - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Visit the St. George Tabernacle, the "jewel in the desert" and a symbol of the town's pioneer beginnings. While at the tabernacle, you can also hear interesting stories about the tabernacle's glass and why the balcony had to be moved. Tours of this amazing historical masterpiece are free.

The St. George Tabernacle became the town center for more than one reason. For instance, it seats 1,200, so most large gatherings took place there. The tabernacle's tower featured a clock and bell that set time for the town and the surrounding communities. One townsperson said: "It was grand to have a clock. We loved it because it gave us prestige. We went to church on time, came home on time, opened and closed parties on time."

Built under difficult circumstances, the St. George Tabernacle stands as a symbol of pioneer solidarity. In 1993 much of the tabernacle was restored to resemble as closely as possible its original state. Today, the tabernacle is home to church services, weekly music recitals, and the weekly Dixie History and Music Series.

In 1863, Orson Pratt, Amasa M. Lyman, Erastus Snow, Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, laid the corner stones 18 months after pioneers arrived in St. George. Truman O. Angell, Sr., architect. Miles Romney, Supt. of construction, assisted by Edw. L. Parry, Archibald Mcneil, Samuel Judd, Wm. Burt, David Milne and many others. Peter Nelson Gave $600 cash. Tower capstone laid Dec. 1871, costing over $110,000. It was dedicated 14 May 1876, by Brigham Young Jr.

Erastus Snow was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 1818. He entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 21, 1847 in advance of the first company of Mormon Pioneers. He was ordained an Apostle at the age of thirty. As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he crossed the Great Plains seven times and published the first foreign translation of the Book of Mormon in Denmark in 1850. Elder Snow presided over the Cotton Mission from 1861 to 1888 and supervised the construction of the St. George Temple and Tabernacle.

Brigham Young's purpose in building this tabernacle was to provide an ornament to the city. Its 3 foot thick basement walls of hand cut limestone bear individual stone cutter marks. Roof trusses were hand hewn and the twin spiral staircases with balust rades were also hand carved. The ceiling and cornice work were locally cast, but the 4 faced clock was made in London. Started in 1863, the building was completed in 1871.