Weber Stake Tabernacle

Construction of this immense adobe tabernacle began in downtown Ogden in 1856 under direction of Stake President Lorin Farr. It was in use by 1857. It was later dedicated on October 10, 1859 when all debts were settled. About fifty families donated labor and materials. The foundation was rock, the walls adobe were two feet thick, and interior finished with red pine from Strong's Canyon, floated down Ogden River and sawed at Farr's mill. The roof arches were fastened with wooden pegs. The tabernacles design was similar to the Old Salt Lake Tabernacle. The Ogden Tabernacle served as the center of the community and region. After its dedication, the adobe and red-pine-wood building served many function in the community including as a meeting hall for stake conferences and other religious meetings. The Ogden Tabernacle Square was considered by many to be the town's most sacred spot. It is possible that every president of the Church up through David O. McKay spoke in the tabernacle. The most famous discourse given inside was Elder Melvin J. Ballard's "Three Degrees of Glory" sermon given in the 1920s. The building also served as the performance hall for an Ogden Tabernacle Choir. This group lasted from around 1869 until 1949 with up to 250 members.

With a growing community, The Weber Stake Tabernacle was remodeled in 1896 (at a cost of $15,000) with a Renaissance revival style by W.W. Fife, the son of the original architect. The old Pioneer Tabernacle remained on the Square for many years after the dedication of the second structure, even being used as a branch genealogical library. The old tabernacle wasn't needed by the early 70's during the time the Ogden Temple was being constructed so the unanimous decision of 26 stake presidents in Weber County was to raze the old tabernacle. They said it was a "very apparent visual conflict with the temple now nearing completion."

By the 1920s, it looked like an even larger building would be needed but construction didn't begin on a new one until 1953. The new tabernacle would serve the eleven stakes of the Church existing in Weber County at that time. This newer building was similar to the style of the temples being built at that time, London, England, Hamilton, New Zealand, and Bern, Switzerland. In 1956, the new tabernacle was dedicated by President David O. McKay a Weber County native. This new Ogden Tabernacle went under renovations in 2011-2013.

Weber Stake Tabernacle (Ogden Tabernacle)