Mr. Meant-To
Author Unknown
Mr. Meant-To has a comrade,
And his name is Didn’t Do;
Have you ever chanced to meet them?
Did they ever call on you?
These two fellows live together
In the house of Never-Win,
And I’m told that it is haunted
By the ghost of Might-Have-Been.
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| This stained glass depicting the First Vision is located in the LDS Church Museum in Salt Lake City. |
This magnificent stained glass artwork portrays a moment of great historical significance: Joseph Smith's First Vision. The event took place in 1820 when a young Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees near his home in upstate New York to pray and seek guidance on which church to join. However, what he experienced during that prayer altered the course of history forever.
In response to his sincere prayer, Joseph was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ. They conveyed to him that the fullness of the Gospel would be revealed to him at a future time. As a result, God restored the true Church of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. This restoration brought forth additional scripture, such as the Book of Mormon and the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. The authority to act in God's name, known as the priesthood, was also reinstated on earth. Furthermore, temples were established, allowing families to be sealed together for eternity. All these blessings became possible because of the profound impact of the First Vision and its subsequent events.
Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church and nephew of Joseph Smith, described the First Vision as the most significant event in the world since the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During the early 20th century, there was a resurgence of interest in stained glass within American church architecture due to the Arts and Crafts movement. As a result, the subject of the First Vision became a popular theme for art glass windows in Latter-day Saint places of worship. One such example was a 12-foot window commissioned by the First Presidency for the Salt Lake Temple's Holy of Holies in 1892. Many other First Vision windows were also commissioned from different artists for Latter-day Saint meetinghouses.
The specific window in question was created in 1913 for the Adams Ward chapel in Los Angeles and is an example of the stained glass work from that period. The scene is painted on the back side of the glass, and along the bottom are the words of the Father to Joseph: "This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!" While stained glass is no longer as popular in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses today, this artwork serves as a beautiful reminder of the pivotal moment in history - the First Vision, which remains a cornerstone of Latter-day Saint faith.
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| Old photo of stained glass of the First Vision commissioned for the Salt Lake Temple. |
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| Color photo of the First Vision stained glass in the Salt Lake Temple. |
Sources:
Church of Jesus Christ or Latter-day Saints. (n.d.). The First Vision Stained Glass. https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/content/museum/museum-treasures-first-vision-stained-glass?lang=eng
Bridger Talbot. (2017, February 12). Latter-day Stained Glass: Part 2 - First Vision Stained Glass Depictions. Historic LDS Architecture. http://ldspioneerarchitecture.blogspot.com/2017/02/latter-day-stained-glass-part-2-first.html
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| The focal point of the stained glass is a beehive. |
Between 1912 and 1913, the original Lehi Fourth Ward building was erected. The congregation decided to commission a sizable stained glass window, which was initially installed at the rear of the chapel. This Gothic arched window prominently features a beehive at its center, surrounded by two vases of flowers. Elaborate vegetal patterns and lines embellish the top and bottom sections of the window, adding to its beauty.
Unfortunately, in 1985, the original meetinghouse was demolished. However, the cherished stained glass window was not lost, as it found a new home in a newly constructed building just a few blocks away. The relocation ensured that the window's intricate craftsmanship and significance remained preserved and appreciated by the community.
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| Originally the stained glass was at the back of the chapel. |
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| The original Lehi Fourth Ward was located at 880 North 700 East. The stained glass taken to a new building several blocks away where it is now located. |
Sources: Brigham Young University Museum of Art.
Bridger Talbot. (2016, June 30). Historic LDS Architecture: Lehi Fourth Ward. https://ldspioneerarchitecture.blogspot.com/search/label/Lehi%204th%20Ward
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| Stained glass window depicts the Savior with outstretched hands. |
Built in the popular Neo-Gothic style and completed in 1907, the Murray First Ward chapel stood proudly at 184 East Vine St. Its creation was made possible by contributions from members of the first ward, most notably Mary Jean Gardner Miller and Margaret Gardner Miller. These two individuals played a significant role in commissioning a magnificent stained glass window, portraying the Savior with outstretched hands. This window serves as a memorial to honor the Miller sisters' late husbands, James and Ruben, whose names are etched at the bottom of the glass.
Although the building was sold in 1970, the cherished stained glass was not lost. Instead, it found a new home in a newly constructed chapel nearby. Today, the window can only be viewed from the exterior of the building, where it is beautifully illuminated from behind during the night. Inside the chapel, a large pipe organ now covers the window.
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| A pipe organ covers the stained glass so it can't be seen from inside the chapel. |
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| The stained glass can be backlit at night showing the stained glass from the exterior of the building. |
