Tarleton Lewis — Inspired Engineering for the St. George Temple

During the 1870s, Tarleton Lewis served as the master mechanic for the construction of the St. George Temple in Southern Utah. The builders faced a significant technical challenge: they needed to lift and place massive stones and a heavy cast-iron baptismal font without the aid of modern industrial machinery. According to the history compiled by his granddaughter Eugenie Hunt, Lewis sought divine assistance through prayer to solve these engineering hurdles. He was subsequently inspired with the design for a specialized crane and derrick system. This machinery, constructed under his direction, functioned perfectly and allowed the heavy materials to be hoisted into place, a feat considered a 'remarkable inspiration' given the isolation of the Cotton Mission and the scarcity of resources in Utah's Dixie.