Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood (sculpture)

The statue portrays an 1829 event in which Latter-day Saints believe the Aaronic priesthood was given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. It depicts John the Baptist in robes with his hands on the heads of Smith and Cowdery, both of whom are kneeling at his side. The act of laying on of hands was part of their ordination to the Aaronic priesthood.{{cite book |last=Fairbanks |first=Eugene F. |date=1994 |title=A Sculptor's Testimony in Bronze and Stone: The Sacred Sculpture of Avard T. Fairbanks |location=Salt Lake City |publisher=Publishers Press |edition=Revised |pages=50–53 |isbn=0-916095-58-4}}

The statue measures approximately 10 x 8 x 4 feet and rests on a stone base which measures approximately 7 x 10 x 6 feet. Formerly, a nearby plaque read: {{Blockquote|Restoration of the / Aaronic Priesthood / John the Baptist, the biblical prophet who / baptized Jesus Christ, conferred the Priest / hood of Aaron upon Joseph Smith (left) and Oliver Cowdery (right) on May 15, 1829, on the bank of the Susquahanna River in / Pennsylvania. The priesthood, which holds / the authority to baptize for remission of / sins and entrance into the kingdom of God / had been absent from the earth for centu / ries. The latter-day restoration by John / the Baptist made the blessings of baptism again / available to all mankind.{{Cite web|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!22038~!0#focus|title=Priesthood Restoration, (sculpture).|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428171200/https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!22038~!0#focus|url-status=live}}}}

The sculpture was originally announced by Joseph L. Wirthlin, the church's Presiding Bishop, during general conference in October 1956. The artwork would be part of a monument on Temple Square to commemorate the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood, to be dedicated on May 15, 1957, the 128th anniversary of the event. Funds for the project were raised from the Aaronic priesthood's membership, with youth members encouraged to donate 50¢ and adult members $1.00 ({{Inflation|US|1|1956|fmt=eq}}).{{cite news |author= |date=October 6, 1956 |title=LDS Reveals Plans for Monument |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6jx3p40/27648219 |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City |page=6 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} The idea for the monument dated back to the previous year, beginning with the Cottonwood 2nd Ward and its bishop, James E. Faust.{{cite news |author= |date=November 3, 1956 |title=Memorial Fund: Cottonwood 2nd Ward Is First To Send In Fund |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6dz56sk/25473262 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=9 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}

The statue was cast by Roman Bronze Works in New York City,{{cite news |author= |date=September 20, 1958 |title=Finishing Touches |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s647986k/25443030 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=11 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} and placed on Temple Square in September 1957 (resulting in its dedication being pushed later than originally announced). Prior to the bronze sculpture's installation, a copper box with the names of nearly 60,000 Aaronic priesthood members who had contributed to the project was placed into the monument's base. The church did not have to provide any funds for its completion, as donations covered the entire cost. After its placement on Temple Square, the statue would remain veiled until its dedication on October 4, during general conference.{{cite news |author= |date=September 14, 1957 |title=Aaronic Priesthood Memorial: Heroic Bronze Trio Placed Near Temple |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6jd9v7h/25498891 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=11 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} Shortly before the start of that conference, the church announced the meetings would be cancelled for that year, due to the 1957–1958 influenza pandemic.{{cite news |author= |date=September 28, 1957 |title=Conference Cancelled Because Of Flu Epidemic |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s60c9t6b/25499420 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=2 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} As such, the dedication was delayed and the Presiding Bishopric removed the covering from the monument on October 25, 1957.{{cite news |author= |date=November 2, 1957 |title=Dedication Planned: Presiding Bishopric Uncovers Aaronic Priesthood Memorial On Temple Square |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6421vks/25500825 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=13 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} The official dedication of the monument took place on October 10, 1958, with a prayer by David O. McKay, president of the church.{{cite news |author= |date=October 11, 1958 |title=On Temple Square: Aaronic Priesthood Memorial Dedicated |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sr3xrd/25443850 |newspaper=Deseret News and Telegram |location=Salt Lake City |page=4A |access-date=November 10, 2024}}

Image:Priesthood Restoration sculptures - Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah (looking southwest) - 26 April 2025.jpg]]

The sculpture's original placement on Temple Square was just north of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. When construction on the North Visitors Center started in 1960, the statue was boxed in to prevent damage since it was so close to the site of the new center.{{cite news |author= |date=August 6, 1960 |title=Building Area Cleared On Temple Square |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6wm6bp5/25412757 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=6 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} The monument was later moved to a location just south of the Salt Lake Temple, near the eastern wall of Temple Square. In 2006, it was placed next to Fairbanks' Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood sculpture in an area between the temple and South Visitors Center.{{cite book |editor-last1=Plewe |editor-first1=Brandon S. |editor-last2=Brown |editor-first2=S. Kent |editor-link2=S. Kent Brown |editor-last3=Cannon |editor-first3=Donald Q. |editor-link3=Donald Q. Cannon |editor-last4=Jackson |editor-first4=Richard H. |editor-link4=Richard H. Jackson (geographer) |date=2014 |title=Mapping Mormonism: An Atlas of Latter-day Saint History |location=Provo, Utah |publisher=BYU Press |page=117 |isbn=978-0-8425-2879-5}} Both statues were moved to the southwest quarter of the block as part of the 2020s redevelopment of Temple Square.{{cite press release |author= |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Temple Square Renovation Update: February 2025 |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-square-renovation-update-february-2025 |location=Salt Lake City |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |access-date=May 25, 2025}}

The artwork is administered by the church's Museum of Church History and Art. It was surveyed by the Smithsonian Institution’s “Save Outdoor Sculpture” program in 1993.

Image:Aaronic Priesthood Monument Oakland, PA June 2006.jpg]]

While work on the Temple Square monument was progressing, the church announced the project would expand to include a granite marker near the Pennsylvania site where the Aaronic priesthood had been restored in 1829.{{cite news |author= |date=June 15, 1957 |title=Susquehanna Marker To Be Erected |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6mm1bb9/25495591 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=11 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} This marker would also be created by Fairbanks, and include a reproduction of his Aaronic priesthood sculpture, expect that it would be in the form of a relief. Similar to the 1957 monument, the church asked that the Aaronic priesthood provide the funds for its creation.{{cite news |author= |date=January 16, 1960 |title=Campaign Begins: Funds Sought For Susquehanna Marker |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6ck3bnk/25404432 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=13 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} The completed {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} carnelian granite monument with bronze relief was dedicated at the Priesthood Restoration Site on June 18, 1960.{{cite news |author= |date=May 14, 1960 |title=Dedication Set June 18 For Aaronic Priesthood Monument |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66f0r73/25409266 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=13 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}{{cite news |author= |date=June 18, 1960 |title=Presiding Bishopric's Message Marks Monument Dedication |url=https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6b04345/25410802 |newspaper=Church News |location=Salt Lake City |page=13 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}

Fairbanks' original, full-size plaster model of the sculpture is on display at the Fairview Museum of History and Art in Fairview, Utah.{{cite news |last=Luke |first=Theron H. |date=August 8, 1968 |title=Dr. Fairbanks Interested In Creating Cultural Center |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-payson-chronicle/127163448/ |newspaper=The Payson Chronicle |location=Payson, Utah |page=5 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wmHK3Q_Restoration_of_the_Aaronic_Priesthood_Fairview_Museum_of_History_and_Art_Fairview_UT_USA |title=Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood - Fairview Museum of History and Art - Fairview, UT, USA |author= |date=July 17, 2013 |website=Waymarking.com |access-date=November 10, 2024}}

In September 2015, the church dedicated the newly restored and enhanced Priesthood Restoration Site. During the development of the site, new bronze castings of both of Fairbanks' Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood restoration statues were placed near the meetinghouse/visitors' center.{{cite press release |author= |date=September 19, 2015 |title=President Nelson Dedicates Priesthood Restoration Site |url=http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-nelson-dedicates-priesthood-restoration-site |url-status=unfit |location=Sat Lake City |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921232656/http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/president-nelson-dedicates-priesthood-restoration-site |archive-date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=November 10, 2024}} The castings were created by Peter M. Fillerup, a former art student of Fairbanks.{{cite web |author= |date=December 19, 2024 |title=Priesthood Restoration Statues |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/locations/priesthood-restoration-statues?lang=eng |website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org: New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |access-date=January 20, 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |author= |date=August 1957 |title=Aaronic Priesthood Memorial to be Dedicated |url=https://archive.org/details/improvementera6008unse/page/562/mode/2up |journal=Improvement Era |pages=562–563}}
• {{cite journal |last=Fairbanks |first=Avard T. |date=December 1960 |title=The Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood: Captured in Bronze and Granite |url=https://archive.org/details/instructor9512dese/page/402/mode/2up |journal=The Instructor |pages=402–403}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Public art in Salt Lake City}}

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Category:Bronze sculptures in Utah

Category:Joseph Smith

Category:Outdoor sculptures in Salt Lake City

Category:Sculptures of John the Baptist

Category:Sculptures of men in Utah

Category:Statues in Utah

Category:Temple Square