photographs

Newport Beach California Temple Interiors Video

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Here is yet another excellent temple video, this time of the interior of the Newport Beach California Temple. It was compiled by a member of the church, mikebatie on YouTube, from official photos published by the Church, taken probably during the time of the open house of the temple before the dedication. The temple in Newport Beach was announced on April 21, 2001. The groundbreaking was on August 15, 2003. After a several week open house to the public, President Hinckley dedicated the temple on August 28, 2005. See the Google Maps Street View of this temple.

An interesting anecdote of the placement of the angel Moroni during construction comes from LDSChurchTemples.com:

On January 13, 2005, a statue of the angel Moroni crowned the temple. During placement, a remarkable solar halo was visible, which surrounded the sun. Once Moroni was in place, the phenomenon dissipated. ((http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/newportbeach/, “Topping the Temple,” Los Angeles Times 14 Jan. 2005: B3.))

The excellent music is entitled “The Power of Heaven,” with words and music by Steven Kapp Perry, arranged by Greg Hansen, and from the 1999 album “As Temples Fill the Earth.” The vocalist is Tammy Simister Robinson. You can buy the album at the BYU Bookstore or at Deseret Book.

To see the other videos I’ve posted on Temple Study, see the video tag.

Early Byzantine Veil with Gammadia

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Early Byzantine Veil in Agios Eleftherios church, AthensLast night a reader referenced me to what appears to be a new blog by Bill Hamblin, a well-known LDS scholar and Associate Professor of History at BYU, and particularly about a post of his of a couple week ago. Dr. Hamblin talks about early Byzantine veils, and especially one that he has photographs of in an old church, the Agios Eleftherios, in Athens.

We have examined the iconostasis on this blog previously, an icon wall which stemmed from an earlier chancel screen or templon, a barrier or partition which separated the holy area where only the priests could go from the area of the laity.

This ancient Athens church retains its original chancel screen, including a curtain or veil. This veil is particularly interesting in that it includes the original gammadia marks, right-angled symbols like the Greek letter gamma (Γ), which we’ve also mentioned before. As Dr. Hamblin notes, these gammadia were often used to mark veils, altar cloths, and priestly robes in early Byzantine Christianity. Almost all of these veils have now been replaced by iconostases in modern churches.

Read the whole post at Bill Hamblin’s Things Unutterable. Thanks Reed!

An Even Newer Proposed Daguerreotype of Joseph

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New Proposed Photocopy of Daguerreotype of Joseph SmithConsidering all the commotion over the supposed daguerreotype photo of Joseph Smith that has been going around like wildfire (which the Church has not authenticated), I thought I might post this new proposed photo of Joseph Smith. This one actually looks much more how I would imagine the prophet than the first one, considering the death mask. Historian Will Bagley apparently notes that Joseph made mention of a photograph he had taken in 1844 (does anyone have the original reference to Joseph’s statement, if it exists?). We’ll see what this turns up.

The story of how the finder acquired this image is interesting, mentioning how the Brazilian book he found it in only said that it came out of New York in 1845. When was the last time Joseph was in New York? Why would it be in New York? He also includes higher resolution scans of a photocopy that he has of the original (which is currently lost). Correction: the photocopy is from a book. The original daguerreotype is in the Museu Paulista – Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil). [Read more…]

Temples Photo Gallery – New

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Photo Gallery pageI thought it would be appropriate on a blog all about temples to include a photo gallery of some of the best photos I’ve found of temples. The temples of the Church are exquisitely beautiful structures exhibiting some of the best artistry and architecture found in all the world. Indeed, the architecture of the temple itself stands as a symbol of what occurs therein. The spires are an indication of where the temple directs us and where it connects us. The often white stone exterior is symbolic of purity and cleanliness. The water fountains represent the living waters. The flower gardens represent the Garden of Eden, the first temple on earth, that paradise to which the earth will return once it is cleansed. The angel Moroni represents that angel who was prophesied to be flying in heaven in the last days to proclaim the true gospel once more upon the earth in the winding-up scene:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelations 14:6-7)

The temple is truly the house of God, the gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17).

The 80+ photos shown in the gallery all come from the best that are available on Flickr. If you like a particular photo, please visit Flickr and give credit to the respective photographer.