The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries Ancient and ModernTalmage, James E. (James Edward)
Religion
The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries Ancient and Modern
Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Latter Day Saint temples; Temples
_The Garden Room:_ In striking contrast with the room last described is
the apartment on the south, entered from the lecture room by an arched
doorway hung with portieres. While of about the same size as the room
described, and seated to accommodate the same number of persons, in
all its appointments it is of more elaborate design. Ceiling and walls
are embellished with oil paintings--the former to represent clouds and
sky, with sun and moon and stars; the latter showing landscape scenes
of rare beauty. There are sylvan grottoes and mossy dells, lakelets and
brooks, waterfalls and rivulets, trees, vines and flowers, insects,
birds and beasts, in short, the earth beautiful,--as it was before the
Fall. It may be called the Garden of Eden Room, for in every part and
appurtenance it speaks of sweet content and blessed repose. There is
no suggestion of disturbance, enmity or hostility; the beasts are at
peace and the birds live in amity. In the centre of the south wall, is
a platform and an altar of prayer, reached by three steps. The altar is
upholstered in velvet, and on it rests the Holy Bible. On the sides of
the altar are large doorways opening directly into a conservatory of
living plants.
_The Grand Stairway_ starts near the south end of the lower corridor
already described. It is provided with a stately newel post and a
massive balustrade, both of solid cherry. This stairway comprises
thirty-five steps with {187} three landings, and at its top is the
upper corridor, running forty feet north and south. A large canvas
depicting the resurrected Christ instructing the Nephites on the
western continent occupies twenty feet of wall space on the east of
this corridor; and smaller paintings adorn the other walls.
_The World Room:_ Leading off to the west from the first landing
below the top of the grand stairway is a side corridor nine feet wide
and fifteen feet long. This contains an art window in rich colors,
elliptical in form, about ten feet in height, depicting the expulsion
from Eden. It is of special significance in the journey from the Garden
Room below to the symbolical apartment into which this side passage
leads. At either end the corridor terminates in an arch way; between
these the ceiling is of fine panel work. The room is of equal size with
those below, forty-five by forty feet. It is carpeted in rich brown,
and is seated in the usual way. At the west end is an upholstered
prayer altar, on which are placed in readiness for use the Holy
Scriptures. Near the altar is a stairway leading to a small waiting
room adjoining the elevator landing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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