Church presidents exhibit completed
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The subjects of the LDS "hall of presidents" exhibit at the Museum of Church History and Art have some new company.
For years, the popular, permanent exhibit on the museum's top floor began with a historic display celebrating the life of the first Church president, Joseph Smith, then continued on through Joseph's successors, ending with President Spencer W. Kimball.
Visitors sometimes asked, "Where are the more recent presidents?" said exhibit curator Marjorie Conder.
Now Sister Conder and others at the museum have a welcome answer. Displays focusing on the lives of President Ezra Taft Benson, President Howard W. Hunter and President Gordon B. Hinckley were recently installed, completing the Church presidents exhibit.
Each station doubles as a historic treasure trove, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of the Church's three most recent leaders. As in the stations of the other Church presidents, the new displays are filled with documents, telling artifacts, biographical briefs and many other items capturing the spirit and prophetic mission of each man. Visitors who know little about the Church will leave the museum with a better understanding of the dynamic role of modern-day prophets. Longtime members will enjoy the nostalgia of, say, perusing President Benson's Book of Mormon collection or studying the inscription engraved upon a commemorative shovel used by President Hinckley to break ground for a new temple.
Each station also includes a portrait of the Church presidents painted at the time of their respective administrations.
"For President Benson, we focused on his life of public service and his love for the Book of Mormon," Sister Conder said.
One insightful photo in the Benson display witnesses the future president during a quiet moment of scripture study. Other items remind visitors of President Benson's contributions to his country while serving as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower administration. Included is a commemorative medal given to Cabinet members at "Ike's" inauguration and a presidential citation signed by President George H.W. Bush heralding Secretary Benson's civic service.
Church members will forever remember President Benson as a tireless champion of the Book of Mormon. A large cabinet filled with some 87 copies of the Book of Mormon — representing the number of language translations available at the time of President Benson's death in 1994 — symbolizes his effort to take the sacred tome into living rooms across the earth.
President Hunter served as president of the Church for less than a year. Still, the Church's 14th president left a deep fingerprint that impacts members today. It was President Hunter who encouraged members worldwide to become worthy for temple recommends in the years prefacing a chapter of historic temple building.
The station honoring President Hunter's life includes a temple recommend book, along with an issue of the Church News chronicling his presiding role at the dedication of the Orlando Florida Temple.
Also included in the Hunter display is a model of the BYU Jerusalem Center, which President Hunter dedicated in 1989. President Hunter's pivotal role in the development of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii is also represented.
The President Gordon B. Hinckley exhibit is evidence of a Church taking some dramatic steps out of obscurity. Through artifacts and photos, visitors will marvel at the impact President Hinckley has made in the Church's development over the past several decades.
Many will be surprised to learn a young Gordon Hinckley produced the first film used in the temple ceremony. The upright RCA microphone used to record the film's dialogue is prominent in the exhibit. Meanwhile, President Hinckley's role as "temple builder" comes full circle via a drawing the Church president sketched as he first envisioned the design for small temples that now dot the globe, making the temple accessible to millions.
Also included in President Hinckley's display is a model of the massive Conference Center that was built under his direction, along with a reproduction of the Conference Center podium carved from a walnut tree that grew outside the Hinckley home.
The Museum of Church History and Art is located at 45 N. West Temple, just west of Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and most holidays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
