Truman O. Angell

Truman Osborn Angell ( "angel"; June 5, 1810 – October 16, 1887) was an American architect who served many years as the official architect of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The brother-in-law of Brigham Young, he was a member of the vanguard company of Mormon pioneers that entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. He designed the Salt Lake Temple, the Lion House, the Beehive House, the Utah Territorial Statehouse, the St. George Utah Temple, and other public buildings. Angell's modifications to the Salt Lake Tabernacle are credited with perfecting the acoustics for which the building is famous.

Early life Angell was born on June 5, 1810, in Providence, Rhode Island, the third son of seven children born to James W. Angell and Phebe Morton. Between the ages of 17 and 19, Angell learned the carpenter and joiner's trade from a man in the neighborhood of his family home. However, due to problems that his mother had with his father, at age 21 he moved with his mother to China, New York (near her family), where he met and married Polly Johnson.

Truman's sister Mary Ann Angell married Brigham Young.

Early work in the Church At age 23, Angell joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with his mother and his wife, and the following spring he served a mission for the church for nine weeks, traveling 500 miles. His mission companion was his cousin Joseph Holbrook (their mothers were sisters).

The following July, he and his wife settled in Lima, New York. In the fall of 1835, they moved to Kirtland, Ohio, and Angell helped build the Kirtland Temple. He was soon ordained a member of the Second Quorum of Seventies and the following spring commenced making arrangements to go on a mission.

With a day or two of work left, Joseph Smith approached him at work and asked him to build a store. Angell answered, "that in consequence of being a seventy I was about to go out into the vineyard to preach". "Well," Smith said, "Go ahead," and Angell continued his work. In Angell's words he says: The next day I looked up and saw the First Presidency of the Church together, distant about forty rods. I dropped my head and continued my work. At this time a voice seemed to whisper to me, "It is your duty to build that house for President Smith," and while I was meditating, I looked up and Brother Joseph Smith, Jr., was close to me. He said, "It is your duty to build that house." I answered, "I know it." Accordingly I changed my determination and yielded obedience. The numerous and continued calls to do this and that job soon plunged me in business so deep that I asked Brother Joseph if it was my calling to work at home. He said, "I'll give you work enough for twenty men."

During the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Angell recorded the following in his journal:

When about midway during the prayer, there was a glorious sensation passed through the house [Kirtland Temple]; and we, having our heads bowed in prayer, felt a sensation very elevating to the soul. At the close of the prayer, F. G. Williams being in the upper east stand—Joseph being in the speaking stand next below—rose and testified that midway during the prayer an holy angel came and seated himself in the stand. When the afternoon meeting assembled, Joseph, feeling very much elated, arose the first thing and said the personage who had appeared in the morning was the Angel Peter come to accept the dedication."

Work in the West

After the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple, Angell moved to Iowa and then went further west. He left his wife behind in Winter Quarters and went on with Brigham Young's pioneering company, entering the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847.

List of works Works include (with variations in attribution): Bear Lake County Courthouse, U.S. 89, Paris, Idaho (Angell, T.O.), NRHP-listed Logan Temple, Between 2nd and 3rd East and 1st and 2nd North, Logan, Utah (Angell, Truman O.), NRHP-listed St. George Temple, Bounded by 200 East, 300 East, 400 South, and 500 South, St. George, Utah (Angell, Truman O.), NRHP-listed Utah Territorial Capitol, Center St. between Main and 100 West St., Fillmore, Utah (Angell, Truman O.), NRHP-listed John M. Whitaker House, 975 Garfield Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah (Angell, Truman O. Jr.), NRHP-listed Brigham Young Complex, 63-67 E. South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah (Angell, Truman O.), NRHP-listed

Images of works