Erastus Snow — Inspired Wisdom for the St. George Temple Foundation

During the construction of the St. George Temple in the early 1870s, builders encountered a serious problem: the southeast corner of the site was a boggy 'seep' that would not support the weight of the stone walls. Erastus Snow, as the presiding authority in the Dixie Mission, sought divine guidance for the project. The solution—an unconventional and inspired engineering feat—involved using a heavy, old Mexican War cannon as a pile driver. By dropping the rock-filled cannon repeatedly, they packed the marshy ground with volcanic rock until it was solid. This inspired wisdom allowed the foundation to be completed, ensuring the stability of the first temple completed in Utah.