Dear Brother Becerra and others,
My name is Jennifer Bruton. I live in Provo, Utah, just a
few blocks away from the City Center Temple. While I love my view of this
beautiful, historic building, “my temple” will always be the Provo Utah Temple.
I grew up in the Edgemont Neighborhood, where the Provo
Temple resides. My home was several blocks north of the Temple, and I loved
being so close.
Around the age of 8, my younger sister and I began a
tradition of walking the 6 or 7 blocks to the Provo Temple every morning in the
summer around 6 am. We studied our scriptures there, we wrote in our journals,
we walked the grounds. My love of the architecture and beauty of the Temple
began then.
When I was a little older, a neighbor in my ward educated me
on the incredible story and symbolism of this Temple’s design. In Exodus
chapter 13 verse 21, it is written that “The Lord preceded them, in the daytime
by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a
column of fire to give them light.” Emil B. Fetzer took that scripture and
created an architectural design that embodied that beautiful tradition of God
leading the children of Israel out of bondage and to safety. The base of the
temple as the column of cloud and the spire as the column of fire.
I thought the story was beautiful, but even more than that
it struck a chord deep within me.
My daily summer journey to the Temple as a young woman became
more than just a time for reflection: it was a time of healing. I began my recovery
as a victim of sexual abuse and found incredible solace on the Temple grounds
and within its sacred walls performing baptisms for the dead. Every time I saw
that beautiful column and the cloud, I was reminded that the Lord would go
before me, paving the way for me to clasp hold of the Atonement and recover.
My spiritual journey with the Atonement began at the base of
the Provo Temple.
At the age of 21, I was married to my best friend and sealed
within the walls of the Provo Temple. There really was no other Temple that we
considered to be sealed in: we wanted our family to begin within those walls. We
wanted our children to look to the Temple, to see the column and cloud, to
remember that God would forever go before them through their trials, through
their wilderness, and know that He was there.
The mid-century modern architecture of this building is
iconic, beautiful, and worth preserving.
Have you ever looked up at the Provo Utah Temple as the sun
is setting across Utah Lake? The sun glints along the narrow windows, the gold
details casting light across the temple grounds and illuminating the faces of
those who wander its peaceful setting.
Or maybe you’ve driven into Provo via University Avenue and
seen the temple glowing on the mountain leading the way. Or from I-15 heading
north, you might exit at Provo’s Center Street and see the column of fire
illuminated despite the dark.
The missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints who are trained at the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) right
across the street can look out of their classroom windows and see the columns
of fire and cloud and remember that the Lord will precede them as they traipse
the world, teaching God’s children about Christ and His church. The Lord
precedes us, leading the way through the wilderness, whether physical, mental,
or emotional, and the Provo Utah Temple stands as a stalwart symbol of His
loving hand.
With respect, I urge the Temple Department to reconsider
their plans for completely redoing the exterior of the Provo Utah Temple. I
understand that the Temple needs seismic updates and some reconstruction. I
love that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does its best to keep
its people safe in the event of an emergency. I also urge them to keep
this building safe.
Just as the Provo Tabernacle received a virtual “lift” in
2021, I respectfully ask that the Provo Utah Temple receive similar treatment.
It is worth preserving. It is worth the cost. Just as the Oakland, Washington,
D.C., Mesa, Salt Lake City, Logan, Jordan River, and Manti Temples have
received care, I beg you to consider the worth of the Provo Temple to people
like me. I believe that President McKay and Brother Fetzer were INSPIRED in the
design. I know that they received revelation as to how it should function as
well as how it should look.
Please do not discount their sacrifice. Please consider my
humble opinion and those of my fellow Provo Temple community members, and
please, save our temple.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to
contact me in any way, at any time.
Most sincerely,
Jennifer Rose Bruton
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