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Show 911812015 Uon and Beehive Houses are 'gathering places' While women ran the household and children did chores, schoolwork and played, President Young entertained more than 6,000 dignitaries and other guests, including the emperor of Brazil; U.S. President illysses S. Grant; Mark Twain; and William H. Seward, U.S. secretary of state during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. "I think a lot of them were very curious," said Sister McNaught, a tour guide and missionary from Idaho Falls, Idaho. "What would bring so many thousands of people to the middle of the desert? Brigham Young was able to build relationships with them." After President Young's death, the home was sold to his son, John Willard Young. He remodeled and increased the number of rooms from 14 to 27. Following John Willard Young's ownership, the home was eventually purchased by the church and became the official residence for church presidents. Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith inhabited the home from the tum of the century until President Smith died in 1918. Shortly before his death, it's interesting to note that President Smith received the revelation that became Doctrine and Covenants 138 while sitting in the parlor room of the Beehive House. For a time, the majestic home sat vacant. The Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association obtained ownership in 1920, and for the next several decades the Beehive House became a boardinghouse for young women. In 1959, LDS Church leaders opted to restore the home to its 1854-77 appearance. Approximately 21 rooms were restored. Upon completion, it opened to the public for free tours on July 24, 1961, the 114th anniversary of the pioneers' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. "What is amazing about this home is that it highlights so much about the gospel that people ask questions," said Sister Beecraft, a missionary from Maryland. "Anyone can relate to this house because it reflects family and faith." Lion House The same year the Beehive House was completed, President Young started construction on another next door. When it was completed in 1856, he installed a 1,200-pound stone statue of a lion above the entrance. President Young was often called "The Lion of the Lord." The home became known as the Lion House. Made from sandstone, the pioneer mansion was a hub of family activity. The basement included a kitchen, laundry and dining areas. The main floor had several bedrooms and a large parlor. The third level had 20 bedrooms. At one point, house historian Nancy Thomas Davies estimates 75 people lived in the house, including 40 inhabitants under the age of 13. In the 1860s, a porch was built that functioned as a gymnasium. Each night at 7, President Young rang a bell three times to signal everyone to gather in the parlor for prayer. http://www.deseretnews.com/articielprintl7053696051Lion-and-Beehive-Houses-are-gathering-piaces.htm I 215 |
