by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Joseph F. Smith and Party, 27 July 1913, Henson Photo, LDS Church Archives (Used by Permission). Taken shortly after the site dedication service for the Alberta Temple, this wonderful image shows President Joseph F. Smith holding his son, Silas, to the right. President Smith’s wife, Mary Taylor Schwartz Smith, stand to his right in a white dress. Bishop Charles W. Nibley (Presiding Bishop of the Church) stands in the center of the photograph with a taller Elder George Albert Smith of the Twelve slightly behind him and to his right. The matriarch of the Alberta settlement, Zina Young Card, stands at the far right of the image. Alberta Stake President Edward J. Wood stand behind and between Bishop Nibley and Elder George Albert Smith.

Alberta Stake President Edward J. Wood unabashedly notes the following in his diary on 27 July 1913: “The Great Day for Canada–the greatest day in our history.”(1) The event to which he refers is the dedication by President Joseph F. Smith of the site for the first LDS temple outside the United States.(2) A local paper at the time noted: “The visit of President Smith and party in the dedication of the temple site and the conference held in Cardston, makes an epoch in the history of the Latter Day Saints in Canada.”(3) Elder B. H. Roberts of the First Council of Seventy and author of many historical works asserted that the dedication of the temple site in Cardston proved that the Mormon settlements in Alberta were “prosperous and constitute[d] a permanent territorial division of the church.”(4) Additionally, recent historians note that the decision to erect a temple in Canada signaled the beginning of the Church’s efforts to provide to all the members the same ordinances that were usually reserved for those living near Church headquarters.(5)

Historic Setting for Temple Site Dedication
As early as 1901, President Joseph F. Smith foresaw “the necessity arising for other temples or places consecrated to the Lord [beyond those constructed in Utah] for the performance of the ordinances of God’s house, so that the people may have the benefits of the house of the Lord without having to travel hundreds of miles for that purpose.”(6)

Nevertheless, when he announced to priesthood leaders during a Friday evening priesthood meeting in the Tabernacle in October 1912 that the Church would soon build a temple in Alberta, Canada, the congregation was astounded. President Wood, who was in attendance, records in his diary on this occasion: “President Smith . . . to the surprise of us all . . . announced that the Church would build a temple in Canada, and took a vote on it which received the especial support of all present.”(7)

At the dedication of the Alberta Temple in 1923, President Heber J. Grant recalls the effect the announcement of the temple by President Smith made on him:

I remember, as well as I remember anything that ever happened in my life, the thrill that went through my very being, the joy and satisfaction I experienced, as President Smith stood up in the Tabernacle and announced that a temple was to be erected in Canada. There are times in our lives when something comes into our souls in the nature, we might say, almost of an electric shock, that thrills our beings, and when we are thrilled by the Spirit of the living God, as I feel sure that audience was at the time of the announcement of the prospective erection of this building, we have not the language with which to express to God our gratitude for His blessing to us on such occasions.(8)

Shortly after the October 1912 conference, the editors of the Improvement Era announced to the general church body:

A Temple in Canada. The erection of a new Temple to accommodate the Saints who live distant from the Temples in Utah, has been under contemplation by the Church authorities for some time, and at the late semiannual conference, at the general priesthood meeting, a proposition was placed before the priesthood, by President Joseph F. Smith, to build a Temple in Canada. The suggestion met with unanimous support, and a building to meet the needs of the people will be begun and erected in some city in Alberta, Canada, as soon as arrangements can be perfected.(9)

Church Leaders Come to Canada
Sometime during the second week of July 1913, President Wood records: “During the week, we received a wire that Pres. Smith and party would be up on the 27 to dedicate the Temple site, which news we received with much gratitude.”(10)

In Salt Lake City, readers of the Deseret Evening News were apprised of the upcoming trip to Canada and the specific itinerary of President Joseph F. Smith’s party. The paper noted the company’s departure from “Salt Lake City at 1:45” on 23 July for a ten-day trip.(11) “The purpose of the visit to Cardston,” the paper continued, “is to definitely decide upon a site for the new temple.”(12) The report acknowledged that the decision on whether the temple would rise in Raymond or Cardston had already been made but stated that it would be “built in the Alberta Stake near Cardston and the exact site will be chosen upon the arrival of President Smith and Party.”(13) President Anthon H. Lund of the First Presidency also makes this point in his diary entry for 24 July 1913: “John [Peterson] took me to the Station where I bid Bros. Smith, Penrose and Nibley good bye and wished them a pleasant trip to Canada where they go to locate the Temple site.”(14)

In his diary, Elder George Albert Smith provides additional information about the journey north: “At 1 PM we took train with President Smith and party for Canada. We had the use of Mr. Dunn’s car O[regon] S[hort] L[ine]. . . . We had a good cook and porter and were well taken care of. I slept in a standard sleeper with the boys as the private car wouldn’t hold us all. Meals were served enroute and they were well cooked.”(15)

The train made its way north to Butte, Montana, where the party arrived at 6 a.m. There, the private car used by Church leaders was “switched to the Great Northern station and left on the 8 A.M. train for Great Falls, arriving at about 2 P.M.”(16) The Deseret Evening News provided its readers updates on President Smith’s journey to Cardston over the next few days: “Prest. Smith and party arrived at Great Falls [Montana]” on 25 July 1913.(17) Here, the group made a visit to “the Great Spring and Great Falls of the Missouri” before retiring for the night in local hotels.(18)

The Salt Lake delegation continued its journey the following morning, leaving Great Falls at 9:15 p.m. President Thomas Duce, first counselor in the Alberta Stake presidency, met them at Coutts, Alberta, Canada, the international border.(19) The Salt Lake party finally arrived at Cardston around 9 p.m., where they were greeted by the “stake presidency, the choir members, the military band and several hundred citizens.”(20) Exactly how many people came from Church headquarters is not known, but Elder George Albert Smith noted that after the train left Great Falls, Montana, “About 200 people boarded the train and arrived at Cardston with us for the Conference.”(21) Whatever the total numbers who arrived on Saturday evening, President Wood and his wife, Mary Ann, had a major task of preparing for the arrival of guests and hosted the Church President and his wife in their own home.

President Woods notes: “Sat. afternoon we received word that Pres. Smith and party of 200 were coming in private car and that upwards of 150 would come from Taylor Stake. They came in the regular train and in great numbers and we were put to the test but we furnished accommodation. Pres. Smith–wife and their two baby boys Silas and Royal. Mary Ann quite enjoyed Sister Smith’s company especially and we all thought it was an opportunity to have them with us.”(22)All the living Wood children had the opportunity to meet and entertain the visitors from Salt Lake City during their stay.(23) At ninety-three years of age, Olive Wood Nielson recalls President Smith’s visit: “He came to Cardston. . . . Oh, yes he was nice.”(24) While she indicated what a privilege it was to have Church leaders come to their home, she also remembered, “There was always a lot of work.”(25)

The other visitors found lodging in homes of the Saints in Cardston as well. Elder George A. Smith, for example, stayed with Sterling Williams, second counselor in the Alberta Stake presidency.(26)

The Great Day for Canada-27 July 1913
An Alberta Stake quarterly conference, scheduled some three weeks later, was hastily called for Sunday, 27 July 1913.(27) Of the estimated fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred persons present on the occasion, most came from the Mormon settlements in southern Alberta, including Cardston itself.(28) Additionally, Latter-day Saints arrived from Calgary (where a branch of the Church had only recently been organized) and Lethbridge.

President Wood provides a record of his feelings on the occasion in an important diary entry: “The Great Day for Canada–the greatest day in our history. The day our Temple site was dedicated. We had 1,329 at our 10 a.m. meeting. President Smith, President Penrose, Bishop Nibley and George A. Smith, all spoke well and the music was excellent.”(29) The Raymond Leader reported: “The services, like all those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, were simple and impressive.”(30)

Apparently, local Church leaders asked all the young Sunday School children to attend the services specially dressed. At 102 years of age, Alma C. Hanson, who as a young woman was present at the services, remembered: “When we met in the Tabernacle, all the Sunday School children were dressed in white.”(31) Olive Wood Nielson, seven years old at the time, recalled being present in the meeting dressed in white herself: “It was a happy day. A special day.”(32) Hanson recalled: “We were all so thrilled. Quite a solemn occasion–a wonderful occasion.”(33) She added: “I recall the Sunday School children leaving the Tabernacle leading the way.”(34)

Although the general location was already decided upon before the trip north by the Salt Lake dignitaries, President Joseph F. Smith made the final decision on the exact location for the proposed temple between sessions of the joint quarterly conference. President Wood notes: “Between meetings we went out and decided on the NW corner of Tabernacle block. The NW corner of the Temple to be 66 feet east and 115 feet south from NW corner of the block.”(35)

The Deseret Evening News made this observation about the location selected by President Joseph F. Smith on this occasion: “The site was greatly admired. It is on Temple hill, the most prominent elevation in Cardston where a beautiful view of Cardston and surrounding country may be had.”(36)

Sometime after the site was selected, members of the Church gathered again in the Alberta Stake Tabernacle for the afternoon session of the joint conference. President Wood reflects: “The afternoon meeting was very crowded over 1,500 present. The brethren all spoke well.”(37) The Improvement Era report states: “The tabernacle was taxed to its utmost capacity, and the services were inspiring.”(38) The local Cardston paper estimated a much larger group at the meetings: “Services were held at 10 and 2 o’clock and the tabernacle was taxed to its utmost by an audience of over 2,500. Standing room was utilized as the large structure proved too inadequate for the occasion.”(39) Whatever the actual number attending was, the Alberta Stake Tabernacle was filled to capacity for the special occasion. Wood noted the attendance of one of the local Canadian governmental officials: “Senator W. A. Buchannan of Lethbridge spoke to us.”(40)

President Wood describes the actual site dedication: “We all went to the Temple site and never did I attend an out door meeting like it. We formed a hollow square and sang ‘We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet.’ George Albert Smith offered the prayer. We sang “O Ye Mountain High” and Pres. Smith offered the dedicatory prayer, which was inspired indeed. Bishop [Charles W.] Nibley spoke well and took a vote from the hundreds present. We sang ‘O God We Raise to Thee’ and closing prayer offered by Pres. Penrose. The Brethren except Geo. A. spoke in the evening. Sister McCune also spoke in the afternoon.”(41)

The Cardston Globe expands on President Wood’s diary entry:

At the conclusion of the [afternoon] services, the officials and members accompanied by the choir, proceeded to the site of the [dedication] . . . for the erection of the $250,000 temple, which is to be built just west of the present tabernacle. The services were opened by the choir and congregation singing a hymn, and prayer was offered by Pres. Penrose. Pres. Smith then led in prayer, officially dedicating the land to its holy purpose, and giving his blessing to the Alberta Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bishop Nibley, delivered a short address, stating that the Church was taking a step which would mark an epoch in the history of Mormonism in Canada. The services were concluded with a short prayer by Apostle Geo. A. Smith, and an appropriate hymn by the choir.(42)

The Deseret Evening News, the Improvement Era, and the Journal History of the LDS Church each provides additional insights to the events of the day.(43) The Journal History states, for example: “After the afternoon session of Conference, the saints assembled at the proposed site and held short services. President Penrose offered the opening prayer, after which President Smith dedicated the land to the Most High for the purpose of erecting thereon an Holy Temple to His name. Bishop Nibley stated that the action of this day would mark a wonderful epoch in the history of the Church in Canada. Elder George A. Smith offered the benediction.”(44)

The Deseret Evening News report of the event includes an architectural drawing of the “East Elevation of the Temple” and a photograph of Cardston with an arrow identifying the site selected by President Joseph F. Smith.(45) Additionally, the lengthy article informed its readers that “President Smith delivered a powerful address and stood on the spot where the cornerstone of the new structure will be laid.”(46)

The Improvement Era and the Journal History provide the text of President Joseph F. Smith’s prayer of dedication.(47) After beginning the prayer, President Smith turned attention to the occasion for which the Saints had gathered in Cardston: “We have met here this afternoon on this ground, which we have designated, to set it apart as a suitable place upon which to erect a temple to thy holy name, a place in which holy ordinances may be performed for the living and the dead.”(48) President Smith adds a special plea: “We pray, Holy Father, that we may be able to carry out thy plans, and fulfill thy laws and requirements in building this, another house unto thee, wherein thy Holy Spirit may dwell, also, the power of thy presence may be felt by those who administer and by those administered unto: that all things may be done according to thy requirements; and that all who enter may have in their hearts the love of God, the love of neighbor, and of mankind, and that they may be instrumental in thy hands for the redemption of the dead and the saving of souls from sin and death.”(51)

President Smith concludes:

And now, Holy Father, we have designated this piece of ground on which to build another temple unto thy name, for the benefit of thy people, and those who have departed this life who are in need, and shall prove worthy of the privileges and blessings of the gospel; sanctify–O Father, this plot of ground, and make it holy before thee. Fill those who walk upon it with the Spirit of Divine love. May they feel that they are walking on holy ground. . . . Holy Father, hear us, we pray, for we now set apart this ground, and dedicate it, and all that pertains to it, unto thee for the purpose of building thereon a House which shall be called the House of God, for the sole use and good of thy people, both living and dead. And we do it in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, and by virtue and authority of the holy priesthood. Therefore, accept of this dedication, sanctify this ground, the work which shall be performed, and the building that shall be reared hereon, we ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.(52)

After the services, several photographs were taken of President Smith and groups of people. Apparently, at this point, many of the local Saints took the opportunity to shake the hand of President Smith. Alma C. Hanson recalled: “Lots of people shook his hand. I shook his hand.”(53)

Conclusion
President Joseph F. Smith and party arrived in Salt Lake City on 1 August 1913 about 10:30 a.m., having completed a journey of about a thousand miles.(54) Communication between LDS Church leaders in Salt Lake City and Cardston continued as efforts to build the new temple progressed.

Within a few months of the site dedication by President Joseph F. Smith, the ground-breaking ceremony was held in early November 1913, when Daniel K. Greene turned the first furrow of sod.(55) The cornerstone ceremony followed nearly two years later, conducted by Elder David O. McKay later in September 1915. Work on the outside structure of the temple neared completion with the capstone-laying celebration taking place in September 1917, just a month before the death of President Joseph F. Smith. Eventually, the first temple constructed in Canada was dedicated by President Heber J. Grant in August 1923, the fulfillment of the dreams and hopes of the early pioneers of southern Alberta and the vision of President Joseph F. Smith.(56)

President Anthon H. Lund provided a summary for the 1913 trip by LDS Church leaders when he recorded in his diary, after hearing President Penrose’s report of the excursion to Cardston: “They had a nice trip and reported the people feeling more encouraged [about the Mormon settlements in southern Alberta].”(57) President Wood, providing a Canadian perspective, recalled: “Their visit was indeed a red letter day for the church in Canada” when President Smith dedicated the site for the “only L.D.S. Temple in the British Empire.”(58)

Notes
1. Edward J. Wood Diary, 27 July 1913, Edward J. Wood Collection, 1884-1982, Archives Division, Church Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah; hereafter cited as LDSCA. Edward James Wood (1866-1956) was born in Salt Lake City and later moved with his family to Canada. Following his arrival in Cardston in 1901, he quickly became involved in all aspects of life in the Mormon settlements in southern Alberta. He was chosen as president of the Alberta Stake in 1903 (serving for thirty-nine years) and later as the first president of the Cardston “Alberta Temple” in 1923 (serving for thirty-five years) before his death in 1956. Because he often made weekly entries, brackets are used for those entries that are tied to a date (under a weekly entry) but are not necessarily made on a specific date. An excellent life overview of President Wood written by his daughter, who used extensive citations from his diaries, is Olive Wood Nielson, A Treasury of Edward J. Wood (Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1983).

2. Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918), known as Joseph F. Smith, was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

3. The Raymond Leader, 1 August 1913, 1.

4. B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1930), 6:275-76. This was also stated at the time of the dedication: “The location of the Temple in Cardston should set at rest any fears that any one may have felt respecting the permanency of the Latter Day Saints as residents of Canada.” See the Raymond Leader, 1 August 1913, 8.

5. See, for example, James B. Allen and Glen M. Leonard, The Story of the Latter-day Saints, revised and enlarged (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992), 475.

6. See Conference Report (April 1901), 69.

7. Wood Diary, [4] October 1912.

8. As cited in V. A. Wood, The Alberta Temple: Centre and Symbol of Faith (Calgary: Detselig Enterprises Ltd., 1989), 25-27. Heber Jeddy Grant (1856-1945) was not present at the site dedication; but later, following his succession to the presidency of the Church upon the death of President Joseph F. Smith, he dedicated the temple in 1923.

9. “A Temple in Canada,” Improvement Era 16 (November 1912): 85, emphasis added.

10. Wood Diary, [13] July 1913.

11. “Will Select Site for New Temple,” Deseret Evening News, 22 July 1913, 1.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. Anthon H. Lund Diary, 24 July 1913, typescript, Anthon H. Lund Papers 1844-1921, LDSCA. President Anthon Henrik Lund (1844-1921) was ordained an Apostle in 1889, became a member of the First Presidency in 1901, and was sustained as the first counselor in 1910.

15. George Albert Smith Diary, 24 July 1913, George Albert Smith Papers, MLUU.

16. Smith Diary, 25 July 1913.

17. “Prest. Smith and Party Arrive at Great Falls,” Deseret Evening News, 26 July 1913, 5.

18. Smith Diary, 25 July 1913. The “Great Spring” is one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, pumping out 134,000 gallons of water per minute. The 201-foot Roe River, which runs from the spring into the Missouri, is the shortest river in the world. “Great Falls of the Missouri” is a series of five falls in the area, making boat navigation on the Missouri impossible at this point.

19. Thomas Duce (1846-1926) served as a counselor in the Alberta Stake presidency from 1889 through 1902. He was called again when the stake was divided to create the Taylor Stake in 1903 and served in that capacity until 1923.

20. “Site of New Temple Dedicated by President Joseph F. Smith,” The Cardston Globe, 1 August 1913, 1.

21. Smith Diary, 26 July 1913.

22. Wood Diary, [26] July 1913. Mary Ann Solomon Wood (1868-1962), like many wives of local Church leaders, entertained General Authorities on numerous occasions while her husband presided over the Church in the Alberta Stake.

23. Edward Glen Wood (1893-1933), known as Glen; Fern Elizabeth Wood [Smith] (1896-1990); Myrtle Wood [Smith] (1902-1991); James Forest Wood (1903-1997), known as Forrest; Olive Wood [Nielson] (b. 1906); William Dale Wood (1908-1989), known as Dale; and Alfred Vi Wood (b. 1911), known a Vi, are pictured in one of the photographs taken at this time (see plate seventeen). Edward and Mary Ann named all their children, including Ivy Wood (1900-1904), with names associated with nature (Vi is the Samoan word for tree).

24. Olive Wood Nielson Interview by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, 9 August 1999, Cody, Wyoming.

25. Ibid.

26. Smith Diary, 26 July 1913. Sterling Williams (1872-1965) served as a second counselor in the Alberta Stake Presidency from 1895, when the stake was created, until 1900. He was sustained again as second counselor in 1903 at the time of the division creating the Taylor Stake, serving until 1925. He was the son of Zina Young [Card] and Thomas Williams (1828-1874). His mother married Charles O. Card following the death of Thomas Williams.

27. “Site for Temple in Canada Dedicated,” Deseret Evening News, 28 July 1913, 1.

28. These included Aetna (founded in 1890), Barnwell (founded in 1902), Beazer (founded in 1891), Caldwell (founded in 1898), Frankburg (founded in 1902), Glenwood (founded in 1908), Hill Spring (founded in 1910), Kimball (founded in 1897), Leavitt (founded in 1893), Orton (founded in 1901), Magrath (founded in 1898), Mountain View (founded in 1890), Raymond (founded in 1901), Stirling (founded in 1898), Taber (founded in 1903), Taylorville (1898), Welling (founded in 1901), and Woolford (1900).

29. Wood Diary, 27 July 1913.

30. The Raymond Leader, 1 August 1913, 1.

31. Alma Coombs Hanson Interview by Jeni Broberg Holzapfel and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, 7 August 1998, Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Hanson was born on 28 November 1896 in Salt Lake City and eventually moved with her parents to southern Alberta in 1904.

32. Olive Wood Neilson Interview.

33. Alma C. Hanson Interview.

34. Ibid.

35. Wood Diary, 27 July 1913.

36. “Site for Temple in Canada Dedicated,” Deseret Evening News, 28 July 1913, 1.

37. Wood Diary, 27 July 1913.

38. “Temple Site in Canada Dedicated,” Improvement Era 16 (September 1913): 1150.

39. “Site of New Temple Dedicated,” The Cardston Globe, 1.

40. Wood, “Years Together.” William Francis Asbury Buchannan (1876-1954).

41. Wood Diary, 27 July 1913.

42. “Site of New Temple Dedicated,” The Cardston Globe, 1.

43. See “Site for Temple,” Deseret Evening News, 28 July 1913, 1; “Temple Site in Canada,” Improvement Era, 1150; and Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27 July 1913, 3-5, LDSCA.

44. “Temple Site in Canada,” Improvement Era, 1150-52 and Journal History, 27 July 1913, 3. In a later article, a photograph taken at the site dedication (see plate nine) was included with no attribution to identify the photographer; see Joseph F. Card, “The Cardston Temple,” Improvement Era 26 (September 1923): 1002.

45. “Site for Temple,” Deseret Evening News, 28 July 1913, 1.

46. Ibid.

47. Journal History, 27 July 1913, 3-4.

48. (49)

49. Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27 July 1913, 3.(50)

50. Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27 July 1913, 3.

51. Ibid.

52. Journal History, 27 July 1913, 3-4.

53. Alma C. Hanson Interview.

54. See Smith Diary, 1 August 1913, and Journal History, 1 August 1913, 13.

55. The record does not indicate why Daniel Kent Greene (1858-1921) was chosen to preform this task.

56. The ten-year time frame from site dedication (1913) to the temple dedication (1923) is best explained by the severe Canadian winters, the need to import building material to a remote location, and the interruption of World War I.

57. Lund Diary, 1 August 1913.

58. Wood, “Years Together, 1892-1952.”

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