Church Releases Explanation on Why the Historical Salt Lake Temple Murals Can't be Preserved

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an explanation regarding the decision to remove the historical murals painted in the Salt Lake Temple.

According to the First Presidency “the addition of new instruction rooms, a new method of presentation, seismic strengthening, and changes to meet accessibility requirements meant that the murals in the temple would need to be moved and/or repainted. It was impossible to know whether the murals could be preserved during such a move.”

“They were originally painted directly on lath and plaster walls, which had been repaired and repainted many times because of water damage and other deterioration. Further, the change to a film presentation meant that the rooms would be reconfigured. For all these reasons, the murals were carefully photographed and documented before removal, and some of the original portions are being preserved in the Church’s archives”