"THE OAKLAND TEMPLE: Portal to Eternity," by Richard O. Cowan and Robert G. Larsen, BYU Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, $29.99, 279 pages (nf)
In conjunction with the Oakland Temple's 50th anniversary, "The Oakland Temple: Portal to Eternity," a beautiful hard-bound book worthy of space on the bookshelf of any Bay Area Latter-day Saint, highlights the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the San Francisco Bay Area
It also includes details of the unique process of securing a temple in the Oakland Hills from a vision by Elder George Albert Smith in 1928 to the dedication 36 years later. Background of the Oakland Inter-Stake Center, visitors' center and Family History Center each housed on Temple Hill help paint a broad picture of the temple's significance in Oakland's history.
The table-top style book is filled with inspiring anecdotes that even historians of the LDS Church in the Bay Area may not know, from descriptions of the financial sacrifices of local children to contribute to the temple fund, to an experience President David O. McKay had as he stood up to give the dedicatory prayer. These details lend a spiritual balance to the factual overview of the Oakland Temple's history and make the book as intriguing and faith-strengthening as it is educational.
"The Oakland Temple: Portal to Eternity" is spotted with over a hundred visuals, from maps of the temple's construction plans to scans of dedicatory souvenirs and stunning two-page photo spreads of the temple as it stands today. The clear layout and impressive photographs make this book enjoyable to leaf through.
Among the book's features are a number of unique appendices that highlight the architectural features of the temple and list stakes within the temple district. It also contains the texts from the groundbreaking address, site dedicatory prayer and temple dedicatory prayer.
For those unfamiliar with terminology of the LDS Church, a robust glossary helps to fill knowledge gaps, making the book a worthy member-missionary tool.
Jennifer Ball is a journalism student at Brigham Young University. Email: jenniball91@gmail.com