Additional Eyewitness Accounts of Angels at the Salt Lake Temple Dedication

After reading Melodie's grandfather's account I did some research and found out that his experience was not unique. Many others also heard and saw angels at the Salt Lake Temple dedication. These accounts were verified through eyewitness testimony to people of my generation. No history books were required.

An Eyewitness Account by Alice Minerva Richards

"I witnessed a 'Heavenly Manifestation' at the time of the dedication of the Temple and heard beautiful music, beyond anything I have heard elsewhere. I was only eight years old and saw angels on the ceiling. I have always been grateful for the privilege of attending on that sacred occasion...I still thrill when I think of what I saw and heard."

An Eyewitness Account by Hans Jenson Hale

I and [my] family and two hundred members of the Ward had the privilege to be at the dedication services and had a splendid time... Rich instructions [came] from the authorities [of the Church]. Angels of God were seen coming in the south-east window and sitting on the corners. Two of them moved across the large hall over the people and went out the north window.

75,000 Attended the Salt Lake Temple Dedication

Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: On April 6, 1893 the temple was ready for dedication. President Wilford Woodruff offered the dedicatory prayer which was followed by the Hosannah Shout led by President Lorenzo Snow. These services were repeated almost daily until April 24. Thirty-one meetings were held, and a total of seventy-five thousand people had the privilege of attending. As a young man holding the Aaronic Priesthood, it was my privilege to be present at the opening session.

I am certain that among the 75,000 people that attended many others saw angels as well. Researching all the participants and their records would take months and months. Suffice it to say that God accepted the Salt Lake Temple and it is "the House of the Lord."

Pure in Heart Shall See God in the Temple

The Lord and his angels dwell in the House of the Lord! This is direct fulfillment of the prophecy given at the hand of Joseph Smith in D&C 57:15-16:

15 And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;

16 Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

Brigham Young's Vision of the Salt Lake Temple

The eyewitness accounts at the Salt Lake Temple dedication support the statement by Brigham Young that he saw the Salt Lake Temple in a vision four days after he arrived in the valley. The temple site was dedicated on 14 February 1853, and the cornerstones were laid on 6 April 1853. Forty years later to the day, 6 April 1893, the temple was dedicated.

Brigham Young commented at the laying of the cornerstones, "I 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. … It will have six towers to begin with, instead of one." Those towers represent the Melchizedek Priesthood on the east and the Aaronic Priesthood with the slightly lower west towers.