The Salt Lake City Temple in 1912

In 1912 the Church published a book by Elder James E. Talmage called "The House of the Lord". This book contained the first series of official photographs of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, or of any LDS Temple. These photos were made by respected pioneer photographer Charles R. Savage, at the request of President Joseph F. Smith, to illustrate Elder Talmage's book. The book was intended to explain LDS temple practices and beliefs to the non-mormon public and to counter rumors about what happened in the temples. Since 1912 the book has been republished several times, but the pictures have not been included, until the new 1999 edition. Some of the rooms pictured in this book have never been photographed again, or at least any such photos have not been published.

These pictures illustrate the changes that have occured over the years to the rooms of the temple, especially the adition of murals to the walls of the Creation Room, and the changes to the veil area of the Terrestiral Room.

Pictures of the Interior:

The Anex, where the patrons assembled before sessions (combining the functions of the Waiting area and the Chapel).
Source: Talmage.


The hall connecting the Anex to the Temple proper.
Source: Talmage.


One of the tower staircases, these ran the full height of the corner towers.
Source: Talmage.


The first Anteroom, patrons participating in live sealings would climb the stairs to this room on their way to the live sealing room.
Source: Talmage.


The second Anteroom, children would wait in this room until their time to be sealed to their parents, the door into the live sealing room is open.
Source: Talmage.


The live Sealing Room.
Source: Talmage.


The proxy Sealing Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Baptistry.
Source: Talmage.


The downstairs hall, the Creation and Garden room open off this hall to the left, the baptistry is behind the wall to the right.
Source: Talmage.


The Garden Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Creation Room.
Source: Talmage.


The upstairs hall, the hall to the World Room is through the doorway just before the top of the stairs.
Source: Talmage.


The hall leading to the World Room. Note the old position of the stained glass depicting Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden.
Source: Talmage.


The World Room.
Source: Talmage.


Another view of the World Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Terrestrial Room, looking toward the entrance.
Source: Talmage.


The Terrestrial Room, looking toward the veil.
Source: Talmage.


The Celestial Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Celstial Room, looking toward the veil.
Source: Talmage.


The Holy of Holies.
Source: Talmage.


A close-up view of the Stained Glass window in the Holy of Holies.
Source: Wadsworth.


The hall on the council room floor.
Source: Talmage.


The Elder's Council Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Seventy's Council Room.
Source: Talmage.


The High Council's Council Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Quorum of the Twelve's Council Room.
Source: Talmage.


The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve's Council Room.
Source: Talmage.


The Assembly Hall.
Source: Talmage.


Another view of the Assembly Hall.
Source: Talmage.


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