The House of the Lord
Encyclopedia
The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries, Ancient and Modern is a 1912 book by James E. Talmage
that discusses the doctrine and purpose of the temples
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Published by the LDS Church, it was the first book to contain photographs of the interiors of Mormon
temples.
On September 16, 1911, the Salt Lake Tribune published an account of individuals who had secretly taken photographs of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple
while it was undergoing renovation. The photographers had written to the First Presidency
of the LDS Church in an attempt to blackmail
the church: the church was offered the photographs for $100,000; if it refused, the photographers would publicly display the photographs. Church President Joseph F. Smith
was outraged and refused to deal with the photographers.
In response to this report, Talmage wrote to the First Presidency, proposing that the LDS Church pre-empt the revelation of the photographs by authorizing the publication of a book that contained high-quality photographs of the interior of church temples. Talmage also proposed that the book could contain an explanation of the purpose and importance of temples to Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency agreed with Talmage's proposal and on September 22 assigned Talmage to produce such a book. The book was completed on September 30, 1912; in the midst of his work in December 1911, Talmage was ordained as an apostle of the church.
The House of the Lord contained 46 photographic plates with descriptive captions and included photos of the interiors and exteriors of the Kirtland Temple
, Nauvoo
, Salt Lake
, St. George
, Logan
, and Manti Temples, which were the six temples that had been built by 1912. The majority of the photos—31 of them—were of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, including one of the temple's Holy of Holies
. In the 1968 edition of the book, the photograph of the Holy of Holies was omitted.
Talmage's book "had a significant and long-lasting effect on nonmembers and members alike". The book has gone through a number of editions and remains in print. In October 2010, an adapted excerpt from the book was published by the LDS Church in its official magazine. In 2000, Signature Books
published a 1912 first-edition reproduction.
James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1911 until his death in 1933....
that discusses the doctrine and purpose of the temples
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Published by the LDS Church, it was the first book to contain photographs of the interiors of Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
temples.
On September 16, 1911, the Salt Lake Tribune published an account of individuals who had secretly taken photographs of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
while it was undergoing renovation. The photographers had written to the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
of the LDS Church in an attempt to blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
the church: the church was offered the photographs for $100,000; if it refused, the photographers would publicly display the photographs. Church President Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
was outraged and refused to deal with the photographers.
In response to this report, Talmage wrote to the First Presidency, proposing that the LDS Church pre-empt the revelation of the photographs by authorizing the publication of a book that contained high-quality photographs of the interior of church temples. Talmage also proposed that the book could contain an explanation of the purpose and importance of temples to Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency agreed with Talmage's proposal and on September 22 assigned Talmage to produce such a book. The book was completed on September 30, 1912; in the midst of his work in December 1911, Talmage was ordained as an apostle of the church.
The House of the Lord contained 46 photographic plates with descriptive captions and included photos of the interiors and exteriors of the Kirtland Temple
Kirtland
Kirtland may refer to:*Kirtland, Ohio, a city located in Lake County, Ohio, USA*Kirtland, New Mexico, a census-designated place located in San Juan County, New Mexico, USA*Kirtland Air Force Base at Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA...
, Nauvoo
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
, Salt Lake
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
, St. George
St. George Utah Temple
The St. George Utah Temple is the first temple completed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the forced exodus of the body of the Church from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of its founder Joseph Smith, Jr.-Description:The building is located in the SW Utah city of St....
, Logan
Logan Utah Temple
The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Logan, Utah, it was the second LDS temple built in the Rocky Mountains .The LDS temple in Logan was announced on May 18, 1877, just after the dedication...
, and Manti Temples, which were the six temples that had been built by 1912. The majority of the photos—31 of them—were of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, including one of the temple's Holy of Holies
Holy of Holies (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Holy of Holies is a room in the Salt Lake Temple wherein the church's president — acting as the Presiding High Priest of the church — enters to act as High Priest of Israel in direct relationship with God, in accordance with the...
. In the 1968 edition of the book, the photograph of the Holy of Holies was omitted.
Talmage's book "had a significant and long-lasting effect on nonmembers and members alike". The book has gone through a number of editions and remains in print. In October 2010, an adapted excerpt from the book was published by the LDS Church in its official magazine. In 2000, Signature Books
Signature Books
Signature Books is a press specializing in subjects related to Utah, Mormonism, and Western Americana. The company was founded in 1980 by George D...
published a 1912 first-edition reproduction.