Brigham Young — Sees the Salt Lake Temple in Vision Before It Was Built (July 1848)

At the April 1853 general conference, Brigham Young announced the groundbreaking for the Salt Lake Temple, and five years later, in February 1853, the chief cornerstone was laid. Standing at the ceremony, Brigham Young testified that the spot was chosen by revelation — five years earlier, in July 1848, he had seen the temple in vision standing not ten feet from where the cornerstone was laid: 'I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Cornerstone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me.' In a companion account the same year he explained that even while the scouting parties were still out surveying the country — 'to the right and to the left, to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west' — before a single report returned, 'I knew, just as well as I now know, that this was the ground on which to erect a temple.' He even described its form before any plans existed — that it would have six towers instead of one. The temple, dedicated in 1893, was built on the very ground he pointed out.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Cornerstone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. They will be borne upon the four corners of the Temple, and one upon each end of the main building, and they will be the highest part of the building. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. They will be borne upon the four corners of the Temple, and one upon each end of the main building, and they will be the highest part of the building. It is to be built of the best materials that can be obtained in the mountains of North America, and that the Presidency dictate where the stone and other materials shall be obtained.