Time capsule placed in new library
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The filling and sealing of time capsules in newly constructed buildings to preserve a snapshot of history has long been a tradition in the Church. It's a small wonder that such a tradition would be observed with the new 230,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Church History Library.
The library will not be dedicated until June, but news media representatives for the first time were allowed inside the structure March 25 for the time capsule ceremony, along with some 300 staff members and service missionaries of the Church. It was the first formal occasion in the library.
President Thomas S. Monson attended the event with his counselors in the First Presidency and topped off the assortment of objects placed in the time capsule with an item of his own: an autographed copy of his book Faith Rewarded: a Personal Account of Prophetic Promises to the East German Saints.
Speaking in a personal vein to the audience, President Monson told of his love of history and said he almost chose it as his academic major but selected business instead.
"You can't read history and not have a greater appreciation of the past and an awareness that every day we are writing a history for others one day to read," he said. "I hope that they will say of all of us, when that day comes, 'This our fathers did for us.'"
In presenting his book for inclusion in the time capsule, President Monson reminisced about the occasion when he with other Church authorities sought approval from Erich Honecker, then the general secretary of the German Democratic Republic, for the 1983-85 construction of the Freiberg Germany Temple.
"The Lord blessed us," he said. "I knew they needed hard currency, so I hastily mentioned that we would build the temple with Dutch guilders and Swedish kronor."
He also said Church members honored and obeyed the law of the land.
But, President Monson recalled, just before he left to go on the assignment he took with him as a gift for the official a statue of a mother and father teaching a young child to walk. He felt impressed to select this instead of the typical souvenirs that were presented by Church authorities on such occasions.
Years later, President Monson said, he met with people who knew the history. One of the former aides to the government official said, "'I knew when you presented Herr Honecker that statue of a father receiving a little 2-year-old from the mother that you were inspired.' We had no way of knowing that Herr Honecker had lost a grandchild at the same age and tears came to his eyes as he saw that statue of a mother and a father and a little child, the one I have never taken anywhere, since or before."
Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, Church Historian and Recorder, gave remarks before introducing President Monson. He said the new library "creates the feeling of reverence and awe that I feel Church history deserves." The building is "strong evidence that the Church treasures its past" and reflects confidence in the future because it should serve the Church's needs for the next 30 to 50 years, he affirmed.
"One needs only to compare the very humble circumstances under which most of the Church's history has played out with the worldwide presence and strength of the current Church to know how richly the Lord has blessed us individually and institutionally," he said.
He thanked the First Presidency for authorizing construction of the building "and for permitting it to be located on what I think is the choicest remaining parcel of real estate in downtown Salt Lake City," 15 East North Temple, to the north of the Church Office Building and east of the Conference Center.
He praised the Presiding Bishopric, Physical Facilities Department of the Church, architects, engineers and contractor for turning the specifications of the Church History Department "into a state-of-the-art library that warms the heart of anyone who has ever loved a book, a journal, a manuscript, a photograph or a record of any kind."
He said the Church's priceless historical collections gathered over 180 years will be moved into the new facility, "and they will reside here in I think as favorable a circumstance as man can create."
"This is our time to be stewards of a very vital part of God's work, the history of His Church," Elder Jensen said. "Let us individually and collectively rise to this occasion. Let us keep a record from which a future Nephi, Moroni or Mormon, using even the 'hundredth part' [see Jacob 3:13], might write an epic and sacred history."
Included in the time capsule — a 16-by-18-by-24-inch stainless steel container placed in an interior wall of the library — were photos of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve and Presiding Bishopric; a Conference Report of the Solemn Assembly in which President Monson was sustained; a current edition of the scriptures; a current list of stakes and missions; a talk delivered by Elder Jensen at the Feb. 27 Church History Symposium at BYU titled "Making a Case for Church History." (See the online edition of this article at www.ldschurchnews.com for a complete listing of the time capsule contents. See also the March 7 Church News for a report of Elder Jensen's talk.)
Attending the ceremony in addition to President Monson were President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President Dieter F. Ucthdorf, second counselor. Also attending were Elders Dallin H. Oaks and Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, advisers to the Church History Department; and the Presiding Bishopric, Bishop H. David Burton and his counselors, Bishop Richard C. Edgley and Bishop Keith B. McMullin.
Addressing the audience briefly near the end of the program was Richard E. Turley Jr., Assistant Church Historian. He drew the attention of the audience to the swirling pattern of the carpet in the main-level meeting room where the ceremony was held. He said it was a pattern that was typical of the pasted-down end leaves in 19th Century books, which were often made with "marbled paper" created by skillfully swirling inks and paints in a vat of water.
A special public open house with free admission is June 12-13 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
President Monson will dedicate the library June 20 at 11 a.m. Attendance is by invitation. The library will open to the public June 22.
rscott@desnewscom
Church History Library Time Capsule Inventory
March 25, 20009
1. Faith Rewarded; A Personal Account of Prophetic Promises to the East German Saints, by President Thomas S. Monson
2. Official Report of the One Hundred Seventy-Eighth Annual General Conference, April 5 and 6, 2008, including the solemn assembly in which President Thomas S. Monson was sustained as President of the Church
3. Current edition of the Standard Works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price)
4. The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 1, The Church Historian's Press, 2008
5. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Two-Volume DVD set
6. Deseret News 2009 Church Almanac
7. Copy of Church History Library architectural drawings on DVD and microfilm
Binder 1
8. List of the languages into which the Standard Works are translated.
9. Photographs of the current First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, Presidency of the Seventy, Presiding Bishopric, First and Second Quorums of the Seventy; Church History Department executive leadership, directors council, department work groups; and the Church History Library project administration
10. Maps of ecclesiastical areas, including current Area Presidencies
11. Photographs of current events in the Church, including photographs of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Church History Library
12. Business cards of Church History Department leaders: Elder Marlin K. Jensen, Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky, Richard E. Turley Jr., Steven L. Olsen
Binder 2
13. "Scriptural Foundation for Church History"
14. "Making a Case for Church History," a talk on the value of Church history, Elder Marlin K. Jensen, Church Historian and Recorder
15. "Church History: Past, Present and Future,' a talk by Elder Marlin K. Jensen on the office of Church Historian and Recorder
16. "Assistant Church Historians and the Publishing of Church History," a talk by Richard E. Turley Jr., Assistant Church Historian and Recorder
