DOCSLIB.ORG

The Provo Tabernacle Fire Origin, Cause, and Circumstance

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Provo Tabernacle Fire Origin, Cause, and Circumstance The Provo Tabernacle Fire Origin, Cause, and Circumstance December 17, 2010 Incident: 201008977 Report Date: March 31, 2011 Abstract The Origin, Cause and Circumstance of the Provo Tabernacle Fire At 0243 on December 17, 2010, a fire was reported at the Provo Tabernacle by an off-duty Provo Police Officer, working as a private security guard. The security guard identified two areas of fire. The first area of fire identified was located near the center of the elevated stage. The second area of fire was located in the ceiling where a 10 x 20 foot hole oriented from east to west had appeared. Fire was visible around the edge of the hole in the ceiling. The fire continued to burn until the entire roof collapsed and the debris in the structure burned until approximately 1500 hours on Saturday, December 18, 2010. An investigative Task Force from Provo City and the Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office was established to determine origin, cause, and circumstances of this fire. The investigators worked to identify the heat source(s), the fuel (s), and the precipitating event that brought them all together, causing the fire. Using NFPA 921 as the reference standard, the following steps were completed. Identify the Problem The problem in this particular incident was that an uncontrolled fire consumed the roof structure and then the interior of the Provo Tabernacle. Define the Problem Specifically, a fire started high in the building and was undetected for a significant period of time. The fire was not reported at first detection. Investigators were aided by eyewitness statements about the location and size of the fire when reported. Based on eyewitness accounts, the area of fire origin was narrowed down to an area of the ceiling near two circuits of dimmable incandescent light fixtures. Collect Data The data collection began with the arrival of the first due fire units. Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield, the lead investigator on this incident arrived at 0308. Investigators were able to observe the initial fire behavior and then the fire progression. Photographs taken during the suppression activities provided details about the fire progression and the buildings response. Investigators interviewed witnesses including: the security guard, the lighting technicians, building coordinators, facilities maintenance personnel, BYU production staff, Gloria cast and crew members, and members of the public who had information about the circumstances surrounding this fire. Investigators took the information gathered from observations and witnesses and entered the structure on January 3, 2010. Over the next four weeks, the investigators located, diagrammed, i photographed, and logged evidence of fire behavior and fire spread. The investigators, working from the least damaged to the most damaged, focused on the area around the elevated stage. Analyze Data and Hypothesis Development The data on hand led investigators to the development of two hypotheses. Hypothesis I A heat source, specifically an incandescent light fixture with an energized 300 watt lamp, placed too close to combustible materials is a legitimate proximate cause of the fire at the Provo Tabernacle reported December 17, 2010. Hypothesis II A fuel source when heated to its ignition temperature and in a glowing combustion will continue to combust until it runs out of fuel, does not have sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion, or is suppressed. Test the Hypothesis Both hypotheses were tested. Hypothesis I was supported as a proximate cause of the fire at the Provo Tabernacle, December 17, 2010. Hypothesis II was supported as an extension of the proximate causes identified in Hypothesis I. Select Final Hypothesis The Task Force has concluded that based on witness statements, observed fire behavior, and physical evidence, the most probable cause of the fire at the Provo Tabernacle was a heat source, specifically an incandescent light fixture, with an energized 300-watt lamp, placed too close to combustible materials. Specifically, a wooden speaker enclosure is identified as the most probable cause of the fire at the Provo Tabernacle reported December 17, 2010. Conclusions Area of Origin: The attic space in the area of the dimmable incandescent light system. Point of Origin: The most probable point of origin is the center speaker enclosure located between the two east dimmable incandescent light fixtures. These light fixtures were set aside to suspend the lighting truss. Cause: The cause of this fire is accidental. Proximate Cause: The proximate cause of the fire at the Tabernacle is a heat source placed too close to combustible materials. Heat Source: An incandescent light fixture with an energized 300-watt lamp. ii Combustible Materials: A wooden speaker enclosure. Circumstances: The following circumstances contributed to the ignition, spread, and fire loss at the Provo Tabernacle, December 17, 2010. 1. Inadequate fire detection and notification system. 2. The lack of an automatic sprinkler system. 3. Additional fuel load brought in as part of the set for the Gloria production. 4. Human Error. iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. iii CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................................... vi FOREWORD .............................................................................................................................................. vii FIRE DISCOVERY.......................................................................................................................................1 FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE ............................................................................................................2 FIRE INVESTIGATION ..............................................................................................................................9 3.1 TASK FORCE INTERVIEWS ....................................................................................................................15 3.2 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................32 3.3 AREA OF FIRE ORIGIN ...........................................................................................................................37 3.4 BUILDING EVACUATION AND DATA COLLECTION ..................................................................................38 3.5 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS .....................................................................................................................39 3.6 SITE EVACUATION.................................................................................................................................... ORIGIN & CAUSE DETERMINATION .................................................................................................45 4.1 AREA OF ORIGIN ...................................................................................................................................46 4.2 POINT OF ORIGIN...................................................................................................................................50 4.3 CAUSE ..................................................................................................................................................50 HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................................................51 5.1 HYPOTHESIS 1 ......................................................................................................................................51 5.2 HYPOTHESIS 1 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................65 5.3 HYPOTHESIS 2 ......................................................................................................................................66 5.4 HYPOTHESIS 2 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................72 FIRE IGNITION AND SPREAD...............................................................................................................72 CONCLUSIONS ...........................................................................................................................................80 APPENDIX A ...............................................................................................................................................86 APPENDIX B................................................................................................................................................92 APPENDIX C................................................................................................................................................94
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Geographical Analysis of Mormon Temple Sites in Utah
    Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1992 The Geographical Analysis of Mormon Temple Sites in Utah Garth R. Liston Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Geography Commons, and the Mormon Studies Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Liston, Garth R., "The Geographical Analysis of Mormon Temple Sites in Utah" (1992). Theses and Dissertations. 4881. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4881 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 3 the geographicalgeograp c ananalysisysls 0off mormormonon tetempletempiepie slsitessltestes in utah A thesis presented to the department of geography brigham young university in partial fulfillment of the requiaequirequirementsrementscements for the degree master of science by garth R listenliston december 1992 this thesis by garth R liston is accepted in its present form by the department of geography of brigham young university as satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree of master of science f c- H L ricirichardard H jackson 1 committeeoommittee chair alan H grey committecommifctemeflermeymere er i w i ige-e&e date laieialeidleaaleig- J 6tevstevtpvnstldepartmentni d- epartmentepartment chair n dedication0 0 this thesis is dedicated to my wonderful mother
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief History of H
    A Brief History of H. Tracy Hall’s Term as Bishop of the Pleasant View First Ward of the Sharon East Stake July 4, 1976-July 19, 1981 I was called to be the bishop of the Pleasant View First Ward (to succeed Bishop Rey L. Baird) by Sharon East Stake President Ernest L. Olsen on July 1, 1976. I was sustained, along with William T. Woolf, First Councilor, H. Reese Hansen, Second Councilor, and Raymond D. Harrison as my Executive Secretary, in Sacrament Meeting on the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, July 4, 1976. The meeting commenced at 3:00 p.m. in the lovely, rock-faced chapel located at 650 East, Stadium Avenue in Provo, Utah and concluded about one and one-half hours later. The previous ward clerk, Lamar Paxman, and his assistant clerks, Richard L. Larson, Jack V. Dixon, and Burthel B. Mayhew, were retained as my clerks. The first two weeks as bishop were frenetic. Twenty-two meetings were attended. Twenty persons were released from their church callings and 33 persons were called to serve. Youth interviews, temple recommend interviews, a marriage interview, a mission call, and counseling interviews together totaled 56! Additionally, there were five visits to ward members, three evenings working at the stake welfare farm in the Provo River Bottoms near the power plant, a sitting for a photograph of the new bishopric, planning for a young men’s super activity, and the “setting apart” of those newly called to serve. A “prayer circle” in the Relief Society room at 5:30 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Lehi Historic Archive File Categories Achievements of Lehi Citizens
    Lehi Historic Archive File Categories Achievements of Lehi Citizens Adobe­Lehi Plant Airplane Flights in Lehi Alex Christofferson­Champion Wrestler Alex Loveridge Home All About Food and Fuel/Sinclair Allred Park Alma Peterson Construction/Kent Peterson Alpine Fireplaces Alpine School Board­Thomas Powers Alpine School District Alpine Soil/Water Conservation District Alpine Stake Alpine Stake Tabernacle Alpine, Utah American Dream Labs American Football League­Dick Felt (Titans/Patriots) American Fork Canyon American Fork Canyon Flour Mill American Fork Canyon Mining District American Fork Canyon Power Plant American Fork Cooperative Institution American Fork Hospital American Fork, Utah American Fork, Utah­Mayors American Fork, Utah­Steel Days American Legion/Veterans American Legion/Veterans­Boys State American Patriotic League American Red Cross Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW) Ancient Utah Fossils and Rock Art Andrew Fjeld Animal Life of Utah Annie Oakley Antiquities Act Arcade Dance Hall Arches National Park Arctic Circle Ashley and Virlie Nelson Home (153 West 200 North) Assembly Hall Athenian Club Auctus Club Aunt Libby’s Dog Cemetery Austin Brothers Companies Author­Fred Hardy Author­John Rockwell, Historian Author­Kay Cox Author­Linda Bethers: Christmas Orange Author­Linda Jefferies­Poet Author­Reg Christensen Author­Richard Van Wagoner Auto Repair Shop­2005 North Railroad Street Azer Southwick Home 90 South Center B&K Auto Parts Bank of American Fork Bates Service Station Bathhouses in Utah Beal Meat Packing Plant Bear
    [Show full text]
  • Reasons for Building Tabernacles
    Psi Sigma Siren Volume 4 Issue 1 Article 2 January 2006 Buildings at the Center: Reasons for Building Tabernacles Aaron McArthur University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/psi_sigma_siren Part of the American Studies Commons, Cultural History Commons, History of Religion Commons, Political History Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation McArthur, Aaron (2006) "Buildings at the Center: Reasons for Building Tabernacles," Psi Sigma Siren: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1 , Article 2. Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/psi_sigma_siren/vol4/iss1/2 This Article is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Article in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Article has been accepted for inclusion in Psi Sigma Siren by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CHAPTER 3 BUILDINGS AT THE CENTER Reasons for Building Tabernacles There were generally three different motivations for the construction of a tabernacle in a specific community. The first was that the leadership of the Church in Salt Lake directed communities to build one. Leaders did this in settlements that they believed were to become important central communities for gatherings and large meetings.1 The decision was also made in areas that the Church desired to strengthen their claim to, legally and emotionally.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of the Rivalry Between Jesse Knight and Thomas Nicholls Taylor on Architecture in Provo, Utah: 1896-1915
    Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1991 The Effect of the Rivalry Between Jesse Knight and Thomas Nicholls Taylor on Architecture in Provo, Utah: 1896-1915 Stephen A. Hales Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Mormon Studies Commons, and the Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Hales, Stephen A., "The Effect of the Rivalry Between Jesse Knight and Thomas Nicholls Taylor on Architecture in Provo, Utah: 1896-1915" (1991). Theses and Dissertations. 4740. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4740 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. LZ THE EFFECT OF THE RIVALRY BETWEEN JESSE KNIGHT AND THOMAS NICHOLLS TAYLOR ON architecture IN PROVO UTAH 189619151896 1915 A thesis presented to the department of art brigham young university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree master of arts 0 stephen A hales 1991 by stephen A hales december 1991 this thesis by stephen A hales is accepted in its present form by the department of art of brigham young university as satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree master of arts i r rr f 1 C mark hamilton committee0amimmiweemee chilechair mark Johnjohndonjohnkonjohnmmitteekonoon committeec6mmittee
    [Show full text]
  • School Buses May Soon Sport Ads
    Teens held for scare THE that shut down schools, page 4 Davis Local director returns Clipper to the past in new movie, page 9 75 CENTS VOL. 120 NO. 136 Chamber backs UDOT choice for West Davis CorridorINSIDE route, page 7 THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013 TODAY’S CLIPPER HELPING DAVIS RESIDENTS Live Well SCHOOL BUSES may be a source of income for the Davis School District under a plan presented to the school board. Photo by Louise R. Shaw | Davis Clipper School buses may soon sport ads BY LOUISE R. SHAW FIRSTYEAROFIMPLEMENTATIONAND #LIPPER3TAFF7RITER BYTHEFOURTHYEAR AC CORDINGTO"RIAN,ARSEN DIRECTOR FARMINGTONu3CHOOL OFTRANSPORTATIONFORTHEDISTRICT BUSESIN$AVIS3CHOOL$ISTRICTMAY )N THE5TAH,EGISLATURE Home of the Braves BESPORTINGADVERTISEMENTSNEXT PASSED(" ALLOWINGADVERTIS Bountiful High’s soccer team take the 4A YEAR AFTERAPROPOSALMADETOTHE INGONSCHOOLBUSESTHROUGHOUTTHE state title with a 2-0 shutout. See page 21 SCHOOLBOARDINAWORKSHOPON STATE for the complete story. -AY 4HEDISTRICTESTABLISHEDGUIDE Photo by Jen Barnett | photo-jen-ics.com !DVERTISINGCOULDBRINGTHE DISTRICTASMUCHAS INITS ■ See “BUSES” p. 6 Bountiful buys 7.5 acres for park near high school BY REBECCA PALMER SAID#OUNCILMEMBER*OHN-ARC+NIGHT ACCORDINGTOREPORTSFROMCITYSTAFFERS 4HEPARKNEARESTTHEPLANNEDPARKIS7EST #LIPPER%DITOR q9OUDONpTJUSTGETTHEOPPORTUNITYTOPUR 4HEFUTUREPARKISLOCATEDON-ILL3TREET -UELLER0ARKAT3OUTHANDABOUT CHASETHISQUALITYOFLANDINTHEMIDDLEOF ATABOUT%AST)TWILLCOMEATACOSTOF %AST BOUNTIFULu4HE"OUNTIFUL#ITY "OUNTIFULr MILLION WHICHWILLCOMEFROMTHE#APITAL q"OUNTIFULDOESNpTHAVEMUCHUNDEVEL
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Traverse Mountain Health Consultation (HC)
    Health Consultation TRAVERSE MOUNTAIN: THALLIUM IN DRINKING WATER LEHI, UTAH COUNTY, UTAH Prepared by Utah Department of Health DECEMBER 3, 2014 Prepared under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Community Health Investigations Atlanta, Georgia 30333 Health Consultation: A Note of Explanation A health consultation is a verbal or written response from ATSDR or ATSDR’s Cooperative Agreement Partners to a specific request for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release, or the presence of hazardous material. In order to prevent or mitigate exposures, a consultation may lead to specific actions, such as restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material. In addition, consultations may recommend additional public health actions, such as conducting health surveillance activities to evaluate exposure or trends in adverse health outcomes; conducting biological indicators of exposure studies to assess exposure; and providing health education for health care providers and community members. This concludes the health consultation process for this site, unless additional information is obtained by ATSDR or ATSDR’s Cooperative Agreement Partner which, in the Agency’s opinion, indicates a need to revise or append the conclusions previously issued. You May Contact ATSDR Toll Free at 1-800-CDC-INFO or Visit our Home Page at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov HEALTH CONSULTATION TRAVERSE MOUNTAIN: THALLIUM IN DRINKING WATER LEHI, UTAH COUNTY, UTAH Prepared By: Environmental Epidemiology Program Office of Epidemiology Utah Department of Health Under a Cooperative Agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Traverse Mountain / Lehi, Utah Health Consultation TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Rediscovering Provo's First Tabernacle with Ground
    Rediscovering Provo’s First Tabernacle with Ground-Penetrating Radar John H. McBride, Benjamin C. Pykles, Emily Utt, and R. William Keach II uring the early morning hours of December 17, 2010, fire broke out in Dthe Provo (Utah) Tabernacle, virtually gutting the historic building and leaving only the exterior walls standing in stable condition. On Octo- ber 1, 2011, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the ruined tabernacle will be restored as the second temple of the Church in Provo (the Provo City Center Temple), giving a second life to the tab- ernacle. However, this building is not the first tabernacle in Provo. Many years before the present tabernacle was constructed, the “Old Tabernacle” (or “Old Meeting House”) stood immediately north of the tabernacle that burned (figures 1 and 2) (in this article, we will refer to the Old Taber- nacle as the first tabernacle and the burned Provo Tabernacle as the second tabernacle). The first tabernacle was razed in 1919. Over time, this building and all associated structures disappeared from the surface of the site, replaced by open landscaping north of the second tabernacle, and the exact location of the old building was forgotten. Prior to the excavation of the first tabernacle site, the roots of a great sycamore tree had spread beneath an area once occupied by the north entrance of the first tabernacle. Underneath the tree’s towering branches, generations of picnickers have unfolded their blankets on the ground, little aware of the rich legacy buried there. Because the area of the first tabernacle will undergo extensive modifica- tion in preparation for the new Provo City Center Temple, it was critical to understand the location and character of the buried nineteenth-century structures in order to provide information that could be used to help plan the development.
    [Show full text]
  • BYU Education Week Booklet
    BYU EDUCATION August 19–23, 2019 | educationweek.byu.edu Helaman 5:12 BYU CONTINUING EDUCATION Program Highlights Campus Devotional Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Tuesday, August 20, 2019 Marriott Center 11:10 a.m. • Topics include marriage More than 1,000 classes and family, communication, health, history, fnance, the that Renew, Refresh, and arts, personal development, Recharge! a wide variety of gospel subjects, and more! • Come for a day, an evening, or the entire week! Evening Performances See pages 44–45 for information Beauty and the Beast, a SCERA Production GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio Welcome to BYU Education Week Building Our Foundation upon Christ (Helaman 5:12) We are pleased to welcome you to BYU Education Week, a program now in its 97th year, with more TABLE OF CONTENTS than 1,000 classes to strengthen and enrich your life! Education Week brings together 240 REGISTRATION AND CLASS INFORMATION presenters, more than 600 volunteers, and hundreds of BYU employees to provide a unique, Registration and General Information 46–50 outstanding educational experience Monday Concurrent Sessions 4–5 This year’s theme—Building Our Foundation upon Christ—is taken from Helaman 5:12 Tuesday–Friday Concurrent Sessions 6–10 President Russell M Nelson taught, “Without our Redeemer’s infinite Atonement, not one Tuesday–Friday Class Titles 11–32, 37–38 of us would have hope of ever returning to our Heavenly Father Without His Resurrection, Continuing Legal Education Classes 39 death would be the end Our Savior’s Atonement
    [Show full text]
  • The Provo Tabernacle: My Strange and Lonely Place
    PERSONAL VOICES The Provo Tabernacle: My Strange and Lonely Place Kim Abunuwara My grandmother knew where people went when they died. I feel less certain, though my continual return to her faith is a necessary part of me, and the humility at the core of Christianity argues for a return. The recent fire, destruction, and transformation of the Provo Tabernacle as a temple have been both a personal allegory as well as a symbol for the growing LDS Church. For this Provo girl, the tabernacle is a historic and paradoxical representation of the tension that exists between the past and the present, between orthodoxy and belief. Truthfully, the Provo Tabernacle was an old building, falling apart. It was uncomfortable to sit and look sideways in the slant- ing balcony seats with no legroom, and it was never the right temperature in the summer or the winter. But it was also beauti- ful. The choice to preserve the exterior architecture and its place as the center of Provo is wise and admirable. To make it into a sacred structure after the tragic fire and not tear it down honors its history. But it is also a loss. Something is gained, but something very important is lost. The tabernacle was built in 1883 next to another building, built in 1861 that was too small for its purpose of holding large church meetings. This type of building was somewhat typical of early Utah pioneer communities. It was paid for and built by the few Mormons who had only begun building a community in Provo some fifteen years earlier.
    [Show full text]
  • Utah Valley Chapter Newsletter Every Problem Has in It the Seeds of Its
    FEBRUARY 1998 No. 6 FEBRUARY ORGAN WORKSHOP From scriptural references, we learn that hymn singing has been an important part of the worship and praise of deity throughout history. Since hymns and hymn singing are so common in today’s churches, we may have a tendency to take the hymns for granted. Hopefully, the chapter-sponsored Hymn Playing Workshop for Organ will give us all an incentive to give our hymn playing new life and focus. AMERICAN We would like to reach as many organists and pianists in the valley as we can. So GUILD OF please tell those you think would be interested. Enclosed is a flyer you can copy and ORGANISTS give to people or post in a place where people can be notified of the workshop. th 1 9 9 8 The workshop will be held on February 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Heritage Music, 557 N. 1200 W. in Orem—take the 800 North Orem exit off I-15 and go south on 1200 W. to 557 N. At 9:00 a.m., Douglas Bush will speak on the importance of hymns in our worship service. At 10:00, we will split into three groups: 1. Lori Serr will teach beginners the basics of organ playing (getting to know the Utah Valley console, fingering and pedaling techniques, basic hymn playing). 2. Lella Pomeroy will teach organists the basics of registration and how to make the Chapter organ sound beautiful. (These two classes will last two hours.) Newsletter 3. From 10:00 until 11:00, Carol Dean will teach organists when repeated notes should be tied in the hymns.
    [Show full text]
  • Herald Media
    Seeing the Provo City Center Temple through a blogger’s eyes September 28, 2014 9:00 am • Genelle Pugmire DAILY HERALD PROVO -- Provo residents and their cameras have been affixed on the corner of 100 North and University Avenue since the early hours of Dec. 17, 2010, when the Provo Tabernacle was engulfed in flames. The curiosity of what has happened on that corner during the past four years, and the desire to be a part of it, has kept camera shutters clicking, bloggers blogging and hundreds of thousands of readers reading. Google “Provo City Center Temple” and there are pages of media coverage and blog posts on the construction and transition going on at that downtown block -- which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced in October 2011 would undergo a transformation from LDS tabernacle to LDS temple. Julie Markham, a Provo blogger, has been taking weekly photos of the construction site since about the time the building was put on metal piers that looked like stilts. “My first post went up April 5, 2012,” Markham said. “At first I didn’t go very often, but once they put the tabernacle on piers, I started going several times a week. “Sometimes the pictures go up quickly, but usually I spend an hour or two at the site, and then four or five hours working on pictures and putting up the post.” Markham’s blog, newtempleinprovo.blogspot.com, has since received thousands of visits. A bit of history When LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson announced the burned-out tabernacle shell would be restored and become a temple, the building and surrounding grounds attracted fans like a rock star.
    [Show full text]