manuscripts, and local Church unit histories; 13,000 historic photographs, posters, and maps; 23,000 audiovisual recordings and

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATT REIER MATT BY PHOTOGRAPH microfilm rolls; and 3.7 million patriarchal blessings. The library has everything from last month’s Ensign to a board game called Mormonopoly; Brigham Young’s journal from 1844; a first edition copy of the Book of Mormon that Joseph Smith hand-addressed to Vienna Jacques, one of the three women referenced in the Doctrine and Covenants; and the Joseph Smith Papers.

A Growing Need The has needed a new home for some time. For nearly 40 years its documents have been housed in the east wing of the Church The new Church History Library is set to open to the public at the end of June. Office Building. However, the Church Office Building was not designed to be an archive. Church History Library Set to Open It does not have the appropri- ate seismic and fire protection he property on North precursor to the Provo Utah Church History Library, said or sufficient temperature and Temple Steet between Missionary Training Center. that preserving Church his- humidity controls. TState Street and Main While the lot has hosted tory and making it available In addition, the available Street in , Utah, many buildings that have to members is important space for employees, Church- USA—just north of the become a part of history, it because it helps “them to service missionaries, and the Church Office Building—has will now host history itself. increase their faith and to collections has been dwin- been home to many buildings make and keep their sacred dling because the library adds since the pioneers settled the The Church History Library covenants. One of our main 500 to 700 archival collec- Salt Lake Valley. The newly finished purposes . . . is to bless the tions—as well as some 6,000 Originally owned by Church History Library opens lives of the members of the published items—each year. Heber C. Kimball (1801–68), to the public on June 22, Church,” as well as to create The Church announced First Counselor to President 2009. The 230,000-square- “a great archival facility to plans to build the Church Brigham Young (1801–77), foot (21,000-square-meter) preserve” Church materials History Library on April 20, the land has been occupied library will hold more than as long as possible. 2005, and broke ground on by homes, a school, a mill, a four million Church docu- The five-floor building will October 11, 2005. blacksmith shop, a pharmacy, ments from around the hold 270,000 books, pam- a cafe, an ice-cream shop, a world, ranging in date from phlets, magazines, manuals, A State-of-the-Art Building dance academy, a bowling 1830 to the present. and newspapers; 240,000 Church History alley, an advertising agency, Christine Cox, director original, unpublished Department specialists and and the mission home—a of customer service for the journals, diaries, papers, the company that designed

76 the building consulted with Fahrenheit (-20 degrees C) average 40 inches (106 cm) Access to the library is free international experts on with 30 percent relative wide. and open to the public; how- records preservation and humidity. The structure is not ever, since it is an archival archival design in order to None of the individual only well-built, but it is also facility, photo identification is create a building that would archival storage areas connect “green,” or environmentally required to request materials best meet the needs of the to one another, and rein- friendly, according to from the storage rooms. Church. forced concrete walls sur- Leadership in Energy and “We’re trying to get the The new building has round each compartment Environmental Design (LEED) message out that we are open wireless access, general-use in order to limit damage to standards.1 The building is to everyone and we welcome and special collections read- Church records in the event designed to recycle waste, people to come in and use ing rooms that are open to of a fire. The building has fire help control building temper- the facility,” Sister Cox said. the public, 14 storage rooms, sprinklers for the 55-degree atures with window shades, and a records preservation vaults and is equipped with and use environmentally A Design with a Message area. smoke and heat detectors sustainable materials. The goal of the Church The record storage that constantly take samples History Library’s design was vaults will have temperature, of the air. The -4 degree A Library for Everyone to help explain why the humidity, and lighting con- rooms rely on an oxygen sup- The facility has an open Church keeps records. trol and seismic and fire pression system to immedi- stacks collection and a preser- The main foyer of the protection. Of the 14 main ately put out a fire before it vation collection. Documents building will have replicas storage areas, 12 will be kept can damage the valuable from both of these collec- of the ’s at 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 records. tions are available for public bas-reliefs representing Old degrees C) with 35 percent Kevin Nielson, Church viewing. Those from the Testament, New Testament, relative humidity. For color History project manager over open stacks collection are in Book of Mormon, and cur- motion picture films, photo- the building, said the new the public library area. Staff rent dispensations. The graphs, and records of spe- library is prepared for the mil- members retrieve the docu- engravings symbolize how cial significance, the other lions of documents it will ments from the archival record keeping has been an 2 storage rooms will be hold. Its storage rooms con- preservation storage rooms important part of each dis- maintained at -4 degrees tain 40,048 shelves that for visitors upon request. pensation. Brother Nielson said the bas-reliefs were posi- tioned so visitors would be able to see a representation of record keeping in different dispensations and then be able to see the people in the library reading and studying records of this dispensation. The is in full view of the building’s main entrance and window- enclosed main foyer. Brother Nielson said the building’s position was chosen to com- municate to visitors the important relationship between record keeping and making and keeping sacred covenants. ■ NOTE 1. LEED is a certification program that evaluates and rates build- PHOTOGRAPH BY MATT REIER MATT BY PHOTOGRAPH ings on their impact on the The Church History Library (center) was designed to point visitors to the Salt Lake Temple as a environment and their use of reminder of the relationship between record keeping and making and keeping covenants. sustainable resources.

ENSIGN JUNE 2009 77 The theme for the description that came with competition is the painting was part of a “Remembering the song from the Children’s Great Things of God.” Songbook. This year’s competi- Brother Davis said that tion drew nearly 1,100 even though the artwork entries from both pro- came in many forms, it all had fessional and amateur the common subject matter member artists. A jury of the gospel. evaluated the entries In the painting The Spirit and selected 266 for dis- of Prayer, which received a play. Robert Davis, sen- purchase award, Claudio ior exhibit developer for Roberto Aguiar Ramires, from the museum, said one Brazil, painted three images of Louise Parker of South Africa earned a purchase award for third of the selected Nephi kneeling to pray. The her piece, Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman? II. pieces came from outside of the United States; they repre- Church Displays Selections sent 44 countries. Jurors looked for new art- from Eighth International work centered on gospel themes and representing Art Competition worldwide cultural and aes- thetic traditions, styles, By Kimberly Bowen, Church magazines and media. Some of the media represented in the he Church History opened to the public in the competition include paint- Museum’s Eighth Conference Center on ing, drawing, sculpting, TInternational Art March 23, 2009, and will run needlework, and Competition exhibit through October 11, 2009. woodcarving. One of the three- dimensional pieces in the exhibit is a bronze cast statue of two horses harnessed together in a field, where a bishop left them when he felt Ruben Alfredo Cabrera of inspired to check on an eld- Uruguay earned a merit erly member in his ward. award for his wood carving, Another entry, from Syria, is Together Forever. an Armenian lace starburst. The lace represents the great first image shows Nephi things of the Lord the artist kneeling to pray for help as learned from her mother, he was building the ship. The who also taught her the lace- second image depicts him making art. A member from tied to the ship during the Uruguay entered a carved storm as he struggled to kneel wood image representing and pray. The third image por- marriage and the seal- trays him praying after arriv- ing power. A Hungarian mem- ing at the promised land. ber contributed a painting “[Nephi] was always Donna Moyer of California, USA, earned a merit award for of a woman reading to her thankful to the Lord and rec- her quilt, Consider the Lilies. child from the Bible. The ognized His hand in his life,”

78 Brother Ramires said, explain- Lake City, Utah. Visitors may themselves,” Brother Davis The Liahona and Ensign ing why he had painted each enter at door 15. Exhibit said. “Art is a personal thing, often feature many of the of the images. hours are Monday through and I think it draws from the submissions. Selections from Adam Abram, from Utah, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to divine. People have a unique- this year’s exhibit as well as USA, who received a merit 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from ness that comes out in their past exhibits are also available award for his painting, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. art, but they also serve as a on the Church History Web Gethsemane, said about his “It’s satisfying to see witness of the gospel in many site at www.lds.org/churchhis artwork, “This isn’t a painting the way people express different ways.” tory/museum/competition. ■ about suffering, it’s a painting about getting through the suffering.” He said his hope Art Competition Award Winners for the painting is that people will look at their own strug- Merit Awards gles and trials in life and Adam Abram, Utah, USA, Leroy Transfield, New Michael Tom Malm, Utah, know that with the Savior’s Gethsemane Zealand, Joseph and the Boy USA, Saving That Which help they can prevail. Ruben Alfredo Cabrera, Jesus Was Lost The museum offered 18 Uruguay, Together Forever Lesa Udall, Utah, USA, Eréndira de Martínez Purchase Awards to add the Jaimie Davis, Montana, Whenever I Hear the Song of Hernández, Mexico, With pieces to its collection. The a Bird No Exception of Persons jury awarded 20 Merit Awards USA, Schimmelbusch at a reception on Friday, Family Quilt Rebecca Wagstaff, Utah, USA, Emily McPhie, Utah, USA, March 20. Another three Jacob Elton Dobson, Passageway Windows of Heaven pieces will receive Visitors’ Indiana, USA, Articles of William Whitaker, Illinois, Valentina Olekseeyeevna Choice Awards near the clos- Faith 2 and 3 USA, Seven Generations: Museeyenko, Ukraine, ing of the exhibit. Tracy Ann Holmes, Rachel Wears Black As Sisters in Zion The Church has held the California, USA, The Three worldwide art competition Sherri Williams, Utah, USA, Louise Parker, South Africa, Gardens every three years since 1987. Behold Your Little Ones Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman? II The museum initially created Irene Monson Jenkins, Blanche Wilson, Utah, USA, Utah, USA, Heirloom the competition to increase I Remember Emmalee Rose Glauser its art collection. Blessing Dress Powell, Utah, USA, Joseph Janis Lorene Wunderlich, “I’ve been associated with Lurain Lyman, California, William Billy Johnson: Ohio, USA, Family Frenzy all of the shows, and it’s been USA, Garden Tomb Holiness to the Lord very satisfying,” Brother Davis Donna Moyer, California, Claudio Roberto Ramires, said. “It’s a good thing. I can Purchase Awards USA, Consider the Lilies Brazil, The Spirit of Prayer think of nothing in the world Jubal Aviles Saenz, Mexico, GayLynn Lorene Ribeira, that quite approaches this.” Nnamdi Okonkwo, Nigeria, We Will See Each Other Again California, USA, Bring Up In the past, the exhibit has Love on the Other Side been shown in the Church Your Children in Light and Kathleen Bateman History Museum. However, Cassandra Barney, Utah, USA, Truth Peterson, Utah, USA, The with the growing response Atonement Child Ai Meng Tsai, Taiwan, Teach to the art competition, the Chin Tai Cheng, Taiwan, Me to Walk in the Light Walter Clair Rane, exhibit moved to the Many People Shall Go Conference Center this year California, USA, Blessed Colleen Wallace, Australia, to allow it more room. The Are They Who Are Faithful Rose Datoc Dall, Virginia, Coming of Christ artwork will be displayed and Endure USA, Flight Elspeth Young, Utah, USA, during both the April and J. Kirk Richards, Utah, USA, Ramon Ely Garcia Rivas, For Such a Time as This October general conferences. The Greatest in the Ecuador, I’ll Go Where You The exhibit is in the Josephus Matheus Kingdom Want Me to Go Grand Atrium Foyer of the Wilhelmus Van Gemert, Conference Center, 60 West Randall Todd Stilson, Utah, Filiberto Gutierrez, Texas, Netherlands, I Am the North Temple Street, Salt USA, Salvador Mundi USA, Come unto Jesus Alpha and the Omega ■

ENSIGN JUNE 2009 79 WORLD BRIEFS

Construction Begins attend other temples, as their records for 1850, 1860, Comment on The Gila Valley Temple circumstances permit, while 1870, 1880, and 1900. Ground was broken for the temple is closed. Some Guided on the Bus The Gila Valley Arizona nearby temples are open by BYU Professor Receives Riding the bus to work one Temple on February 14, appointment only, so patrons Religious Freedom Award day, I read President Henry B. 2009. It will be the third and priesthood leaders will Brigham Young Eyring’s address “Our Hearts temple in Arizona. The first, need to contact the temple in University law professor Knit as One” from the in Mesa, was completed in advance. The Atlanta Temple W. Cole Durham Jr. was October 2008 general confer- 1927. In 2002, some 100 was dedicated on June 1, 1983. awarded the First Freedom ence (Ensign, Nov. 2008, 68). temples later, the Snowflake Center’s 2009 International There was wonderful symbol- Arizona Temple was dedi- FamilySearch Releases First Freedom Award for ism with knitting and how it cated. With the dedication 1900 U.S. Census helping to increase the con- relates to gaining unity. No of the Draper Utah Temple FamilySearch has now stitutional protection of sooner had I finished reading in March, there are now 129 made the 1900 U.S. Census religious freedom. Brother the message than I looked up operating temples through- available on its online data- Durham counseled with the and there in front of me was a out the world. Another 16 base. The census contains Iraqi government about the lady knitting! As I watched are announced or under information on more than current Iraqi constitution her, the symbolism President construction, including two 76 million people, including and was present when it Eyring had used made even others in Arizona. many who left family in their was signed. He has also more sense to me. I count home countries when they advised government this as a tender mercy from Atlanta Georgia Temple immigrated from around the authorities in Albania, the Lord. Of all articles to to Close for Renovation world. The 1900 census Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the choose from that day, I feel The Atlanta Georgia included information such as Czech Republic, Estonia, I was directed to that one. Temple is set to close on how long an immigrant had Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Brad Peterson July 1, 2009, for renovations been in the country along Lithuania, Peru, Romania, Utah, USA that will take approximately with their naturalization Russia, Slovakia, and

18 months to complete. status. FamilySearch has digi- Ukraine on laws relating The Gift of Many families know what joy adoption can bring as they ■ welcome a new son ADOPTION Members are invited to talized and indexed census to religious freedom. or daughter. But what about those BIRTH MOTHER offered education about teen parenting and more. I learned on the other side of I could trust her. NAME WITHHELD adoption—the giving I started attending weekly classes with other girls in my side? Here, four hen I was 16, I spent a lot of time seeking the situation and their parents. We met to talk about our fears, attention and affection of boys, and of one in expectations, and hopes. Some of the girls were going to people (none of them W particular. By my 17th birthday, I was pregnant. raise their babies, some were placing them for adoption, connected) share I had been raised by righteous parents and some were still undecided. their stories. who were steadfast in the gospel. They When I fi rst met my Part of the class was spent with our par- taught my siblings and me to make correct ents present, but part of the session included choices, but I wanted to try something new caseworker, Sherri, just us girls. We needed each other more and different. I consciously made several than we realized. Those times of confi ding decisions I knew weren’t right because I laid out my plan to in each other were invaluable—even our I wanted to do things my own way. best friends didn’t know what it was like to When my parents learned that I was her. I told her up front be unmarried and pregnant. These group pregnant, they were shocked and disap- meetings helped me to not feel so alone. pointed by my behavior and broken- that I wouldn’t give up I continued to meet privately with hearted at the result. I was scared and Sherri, as did my boyfriend. She encour- confused, but I wasn’t as worried as my my baby and that she aged both of us to pray about all of our Which Was Your Favorite Ensign Article? parents seemed to be. After all, I loved options. Had she asked me to do this babies and had always wanted children. couldn’t make me. earlier, I might have refused, but by this I decided I would just marry my boyfriend point, I had learned that I could trust her. and have a little family. I was also realizing how inadequately pre- My parents wanted me to talk to counselors at LDS Family pared I was for parenthood. My boyfriend and I agreed Services. I didn’t want to go—I was certain that they would to pray about what to do. just tell me to place my baby for adoption, which was the At that point, my life changed. I received such a direct last thing I wanted to do. But my parents insisted I attend a answer to my prayer that there was no doubt in my mind counseling session, and there was no room for argument. about what we were supposed to do. When I talked with my When I fi rst met my caseworker, Sherri, I laid out my boyfriend, I found out that his heart had also been touched. plan to her. I told her up front that I wouldn’t give up my We knew that this baby was supposed to go to another fam- baby and that she couldn’t make me. She won my affection ily. That confi rmation helped us stick to our decision when quickly when she said she just wanted to talk to me and we felt caught between seemingly endless advice from fam- aybe you’ve been an new about the gospel. Maybe help me make a good life for my baby and myself. Sherri ily and friends and our own feelings and desires. POSED BY MODELS CASEY; BY ROBERT PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS ENSIGN FEBRUARY 2009 37 Ensign reader for only it was an article that helped Ma year or two. Maybe you change your life or over- Real-Life Miracles you’ve been reading since the come a challenge. Send us Please continue to pub- magazine began in January of the title and when it was lish articles about adoption 1971. Either way, we’d like to printed by August 15, 2009. like “The Gift of Adoption” know: Of all the articles Send your suggestions to in the February 2009 issue you’ve read in the magazine, [email protected] or to: (p. 36). I am the grand- what was your favorite? Ensign Magazine, Room 2420, mother of the adoptive fam- In January of 2011, the 50 E. North Temple Street, January 1971 was the first ily in our case. The two open Ensign, New Era, and Friend Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220. edition of the Ensign. adoptions my daughter and will celebrate their 40th Editors of the New Era her husband have had have anniversaries. If you will help and the Friend may also want Era or the Friend, please been real-life miracles— us make a list, the Ensign to reprint articles that stand send your suggestion to everything about them. I would like to reprint in 2011 out in the minds of readers [email protected] or have been educated and some of your favorite articles. who grew up with their maga- [email protected]. The blessed beyond words. Maybe it was an article zines. If you remember a mailing address is the same Pam Brennan that taught you something favorite article from the New as that of the Ensign. ■ Arizona, USA

80