Comments on: [Updated] The Provo Temple Grounds Renovation and Mormon Concepts of Architectural Beauty and Utility

By: Kai

Kai — Sat, 01 May 2010 07:13:13 +0000

If you think the Provo and Ogden temples are ugly, then you don’t have an appreciation for modern architecture. C’mon folks, what’s wrong with some great originality?!
And the spires were better in the gold color, without the angels on top. So cool when lit up at night!
It’s a classic modern design, and you watch… it will become an icon of modern church architecture.
And now, sadly, they’re redoing the exterior of the Ogden temple! It’s going to cost as much as a new temple… for a building that works great AS-IS. What a waste of money! Shouldn’t we be sending this money to feed people in Africa?
I do like the Provo grounds re-design. And a great posting, too. Thanks!
But hey Pres. Monson, LEAVE THE PROVO TEMPLE ALONE!

By: GLBJ

GLBJ — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:41:56 +0000

Yes, they did take the escalators out of the Ogden Temple. They also did a major re-design of the grounds of the Ogden Temple and, like the Provo Temple, added and angel Moroni and painted the spire white.

By: Mark D.

Mark D. — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:07:46 +0000

I agree that stairs are better. Did they take the escalators out of the Ogden Temple too?

By: Jacob J

Jacob J — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:25:23 +0000

The Provo temple is dead to me. I loved the escalators and I loved the pillar of fire. When I was there this summer I say they painted the pillar of fire white and my wife had to endure a lot of complaining.

By: California Condor

California Condor — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:01:02 +0000

Great post.

I think the temple looked better with the golden spires.

1970s architecture is starting to take on an appealing vintage quality. It’s a shame that the Church painted the gold spire white.

By: Jared T

Jared T — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:34:21 +0000

Thanks, Chris. They are indeed impressive up close.

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:28:11 +0000

Jared,

Thanks for this post (or re-post). It made me realize that while I have been in Provo since Aug. 1, I have yet to go to the temple. I better get on that, if anything to see the exterior changes.

By: Jared T

Jared T — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:22:23 +0000

Margaret, very interesting! Thank you for your first hand perspective, RE the increase in weddings.

Also, I got a little more info from the designers and a few photos, so I’ll be updating this post this week.

By: Margaret Young

Margaret Young — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:10:57 +0000

I explained the symbolism of the Provo Temple to an African missionary who wants to be an architect, and sent him photos of the temple as it was when I attended its dedication way back when. To another missionary, I said that I thought it was rude to put Moroni on a pillar of fire. And I have periodically joked about doing a YW project wherein we paint the spire gold again. Nonetheless, I am at the Provo Temple every Saturday, and I know from my own experience that there has been a significant increase in weddings since the improvement of the grounds. I always spend a bit of time looking at the flowers–so beautifully placed–and at the fountain. And we even get a little Nativity for Christmas. Nothing like what the SL Temple gets, but nice.

By: Jared T

Jared T — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:35:20 +0000

I just got in contact with the Grassli group that the Church approached. The rep is going to get back to me with more info, but he mentioned briefly that they had a relatively small window for construction, so they had to work quickly. When they get back to me, I’ll update the post.