Protection from Storm During Dedication

On the day of the initial dedication, 6 April 1893, the Salt Lake Valley experienced severe weather characterized by a violent, blustering storm that rattled the city. Despite the intense wind and rain occurring outside the temple walls, those inside the Salt Lake Temple reported a profound sense of tranquility, peace, and spiritual protection. The contrast between the chaotic conditions outside and the serene, hallowed atmosphere within was interpreted by many as a divine act of God. The physical barrier of the temple appeared to hold back the storm, allowing the inaugural sessions of the dedication to proceed without disruption. This atmospheric contrast became a lasting memory for those in attendance, reinforcing their belief that the temple was a sacred space shielded by divine power, providing a refuge from the literal and figurative storms of the world.

Fuller account of this event (from LaRene Gaunt, "The Power of God Was with Us," Ensign, Mar. 1993, 28–31):

The first day of dedication was stormy. "It had been predicted [that] the Devil would howl," wrote Lucy Flake of the day, "and sure enough he did, for Salt Lake City had never witnessed such a storm, wind, rain and snow, many houses and trees were blown over. … Hundreds of people stood in the snow for hours waiting for the temple doors to open." Outside, the storm raged all day and then turned to snow in the late afternoon. But inside the temple, peace and calm filled the assembly room, where the First Presidency—Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith—and the Quorum of the Twelve waited to begin the dedication services.