Star Valley Tabernacle
The Star Valley Tabernacle, also known as the Afton Stake Tabernacle, stands in Afton, Wyoming. Built from 1904 to 1909, the 140-foot building was dedicated on 15 August 1909 by President Joseph F. Smith. Built under the direction of A. V. Call, architect and A. Lu Hale, chairman of the building committee, it was the largest Latter-day Saint Church building in Wyoming at the time.
Tabernacles built by early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were places of religious and community significance. They were large religious and community gathering places. In some respects, community tabernacles, built and funded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ and its leadership, served as stake centers, although more architecturally ornate. They were used for meetings with several congregations combined.
The first members of the Church of record arrived in Star Valley from England in 1858 to labor on the Lander Cutoff. By 1870, Church cattle were pastured in the valley. Church members settled in the Star Valley area in 1877 and then—Church President, Brigham Young, dedicated the valley as a gathering place for Latter-day Saints the following year. In 1879, a directive was issued to colonize the Salt River Valley—renamed Star Valley the next year. Members were first organized into a branch of the Bear Lake Stake. In 1892, the Star Valley Stake was organized with 7 wards.
The building was enlarged in 1941 to acquire classroom and office space. The exterior was also altered and the original spires on the tower and the corners of the building were removed. Further renovation occurred in 2009.
On 14-15 August 2009, the centennial celebration of the dedication of the Star Valley Tabernacle was held, beginning with 100 rings of a pioneer church bell and the shot of a cannon. A 70-voice Star Valley Tabernacle Choir initiated the celebration with a concert featuring special guest Tom Osmond (of the famouse Osmond Family), whose great-grandfather, George Osmond, Jr., was the first President of the original Star Valley Stake. An organ solo was also performed on a pipe organ acquired from the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in 1987. Saturday began with a 10-mile bike-a-thon from the tabernacle stone quarry to the tabernacle. Other activities included a ceremonial flag-raising, patriotic concert by a Centennial Brass Band, and numerous indoor and outdoor festivities. A display in the tabernacle featured historic photographs, tools used in construction, and a video of historical and modern views of the tabernacle. The celebration ended with the unveiling of artifacts from a time capsule that had recently been discovered in the tower cornerstone.
