In the heart of Salt Lake City's north slope lies the Twentieth Ward, a community whose origins are as intertwined with the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they are with the very landscape of the city itself. Established 150 years ago during the semiannual general conference, the Twentieth Ward was carved out of the sagebrush-covered hills, marking the first new ward formation in the area since the creation of the Salt Lake Stake and its original 19 wards in 1847. This fledgling community, bounded simply by "A" Street to the east and South Temple Street to the north, started with just 18 families.

The early years of the Twentieth Ward were fraught with uncertainty and danger. Within its first year, the ward's future was threatened by the arrival of Johnston's Army in 1857, leading to a dramatic call from Brigham Young to "utterly lay waste this land" rather than see it fall into enemy hands. The members of the Twentieth Ward, led by their faith and resolve, prepared for the worst. Among them was Vilate Romney, wife of the later Bishop George Romney, who exemplified the spirit of the ward during these trying times. She meticulously prepared her modest home for destruction, stacking wood in the middle of the floor as for a bonfire, determined that if her home was to become a "burnt offering," it would be a beautiful one, pleasing in the sight of God. In the midst of this turmoil, Vilate gave birth to a son in a cave near Point of the Mountain, away from the pouring rain, a testament to the resilience and faith of the early settlers.

With the peaceful resolution of the conflict, the Romneys and other ward members returned to their homes in March 1858, never to be driven out again. The Twentieth Ward flourished, initially meeting in Brigham Young's schoolhouse before constructing a towering 60-foot meetinghouse that became a central feature of the community. As the ward grew, so too did its need for a larger and more permanent home.

By 1884, the original meetinghouse on 2nd Avenue between D and E streets had outlived its usefulness. The decision was made to sell the property, with the proceeds going toward the construction of a new, grander building. The present site of the Twentieth Ward meetinghouse was purchased, and the ward turned to two of its own members, renowned architects Lewis Telle Cannon and John Fetzer, to design the new structure.

The result was a masterpiece of Neoclassical architecture, with Renaissance Mannerist influences evident in its double gable, discontinuous cornice, and Palladian-style entry. The cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1924, by Apostle James E. Talmage, himself a member of the ward. The building quickly became a beloved landmark, with its classical elegance, gilded wood, and stained glass windows creating a chapel that echoed the spiritual and aesthetic values of an earlier day.

The Twentieth Ward meetinghouse was dedicated by Church President Heber J. Grant on April 17, 1927, marking the culmination of years of planning, sacrifice, and devotion by the ward's members. Over the decades, the building has seen several additions, each designed to complement the original structure, ensuring that it remains a vibrant and functional space for worship and community gathering. The stained glass windows, added in the mid-1970s, continue to bathe the chapel in a warm, ethereal light, a symbol of the enduring faith and beauty of the Twentieth Ward.

Today, as members of the Twentieth Ward reflect on their history, they see a narrative of resilience, faith, and community. From its humble beginnings on a sagebrush-covered hill to the construction of a magnificent meetinghouse, the ward's story is one of overcoming challenges and celebrating triumphs, a testament to the spirit of those who built and sustained it over the past 150 years.

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