Washington, D.C.'s National Cathedral

In a world growing increasingly troubled and contentious there is great comfort in knowing that among members of the LDS Church there is a shared worldwide devotion to the Savior Jesus Christ and to his teachings of brotherly kindness, love, and concern for others. However, we cannot forget that Christianity is not our exclusive domain. Millions of people the world over also worship and adore, within various denominations, Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world and the author of salvation.This truth was brought home to me two weeks ago on a trip to Washington, D.C., when I visited one of my favorite places, the National Cathedral. Each time I venture back to the capital of the United States my trip is incomplete until I do homage at the National Cathedral, a breathtaking edifice located on Mount Saint Alban. Its location was chosen by the Rev. Henry Yates Satterlee, the first bishop of Washington, because it is the most commanding spot in the Washington area. Spectacular views of the entire city can be had from 360° vantage points, on the 11th story of the cathedral's tower.To my mind it matches, in every respect, the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. Gothic in design the cathedral soars to great heights, with pointed arches, boss stones, ribbed vaulting, magnificent stained glass windows, gargoyles scattered at points on the exterior walls, and flying buttresses that artfully distribute the weight of the structure.Made of limestone quarried in Indiana, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world. As with Christian cathedrals it is in the shape of a cross with a nave that is 1/10th of a mile long and two shorter transepts. The architecture is meant to instruct and inspire Christian belief. The overall iconographic theme chronicles redemption through faith in stained glass and stone. Beginning with creation, it follows the tale of humankind; their victories, their defeats, great martyrs and inspired men and women. This theme culminates at the sculpture of Christ in Majesty at the high altar.While the cathedral — officially the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul — awes visitors, it is the gardens that captivate me. Peaceful, beautifully groomed with flora and fauna interspersed among paths, nooks and crannies, fitted with benches, gazebos, and inviting lawns, nothing is more enjoyable than a simple lunch, a good book, and meditation in the comfort of the gardens with breathtaking views of the cathedral.It is, however, the purpose and intention of the cathedral that matters. In 1791 President George Washington commissioned Major Pierre L'Enfant to fashion a visionary plan for the nation's capital. L'Enfant conceived the idea of "a great church for national purposes." However, it was not until 1893 that Congress granted a charter to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation and plans went forward for the National Cathedral. On Sept. 29, 1907, the foundation was laid with a stone from a field near Bethlehem set into a larger piece of American granite. The inscription on its face reads, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). The portion of the cathedral known as the Bethlehem Chapel began worship services in 1912 but it was not until 1990 that the cathedral was completed and officially dedicated.The cathedral is proclaimed to be, "a church for national purposes, an Episcopal cathedral welcoming to people of all faiths and perspectives ... a voice for generous-spirited Christianity and a catalyst for reconciliation and interfaith dialogue to promote respect and understanding. We invite all people to share in our commitment to create a more hopeful and just world."Cathedral Dean Samuel Lloyd explained his desire for those who visit: "My hope for this Cathedral is that it will be known not only as a great and holy building, but as a Voice of generous spirited Christianity; as a Place of reconciliation and healing, and a People serving Christ and working for justice among the broken and hurting of our world." The hope is that people will "find inspiration, beauty, peace, and joy within" the cathedral walls and grounds.When all is said and done, we are not only part of the LDS Church, and at our core, a community of believers that love and worship God and the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Additionally, as the National Cathedral reminds — and in some sense as Christian cathedrals around the world remind — we are part of a vast worldwide community that loves the Savior Jesus Christ, that seeks his peace, his love, and seeks to extend his charity to all mankind.