Update: Which Temples, Tabernacles, and Meetinghouses are Safe?

Note: The 'Preservation Predictions' series examines what historic Mormon buildings may be renovated/preserved in the future. For all of the posts in this series, click here.

I originally wrote this post 5 years ago! In that post, I pointed out that in 2010, the Church had indicated that it had a list of 58 buildings that were designed as "safe"--buildings the Church would likely never sell or destroy.

Things change, and I'm not sure if the Church still has that list, or if it still has 58 buildings. Still, with recent preservation news from the past 5 years, and especially with recent concerning news about the likely future demolition of the Winder Ward in Millcreek, the ongoing fight to save the Murray First Ward,  and the upcoming sale of the University Ward Chapel, I wanted to revisit the Church's major buildings that are likely considered protected. I've marked buildings in green that I am fairly if not completely certain have a protected status. Other buildings in orange are good candidates.

Temples

1. St. George Utah (on NRHP, 2019 renovation)
2. Logan Utah (on NRHP, upcoming renovation)
3. Manti Utah (on NRHP, upcoming renovation)
4. Salt Lake Utah (on NRHP, 2019 renovation)
5. Laie Hawaii (2010 renovation)
6. Cardston Alberta (1991 renovation)
7. Mesa Arizona (2018 renovation)
8. Idaho Falls Idaho (2015 renovation) 
9. Los Angeles
10. Washington D.C.
11. Vernal
12. Provo City Center

The original article stated there were 10 protected temples.

Windows on the St. George Temple

Tabernacles

1. Salt Lake (on National Register of Historic Places)
2. Assembly Hall (on NRHP)
3. Bountiful (on NRHP)
4. St. George (on NRHP, renovated in 2018)
5. Logan (on NRHP)
6. Manti (renovated in 2015)
7. Paris, ID (on NRHP)
8. Brigham City (on NRHP)
9. Granite Stake (article confirms this)
10. Randolph (on NRHP)
11. Garland (renovated in 2000)
12. Alpine (renovated in recent years)
13. Hollywood (Los Angeles, CA; renovated in 2003)
14. Montpelier, ID (renovated in 2015)
15. Kaysville
16. Morgan
17. Richfield
18. Star Valley (Afton, WY)
19. Loa (renovated in 1983)
20. Honolulu, HI
21. Ogden (renovated in 2014)
22. Malad City, ID

The original article stated there were 20 protected tabernacles.

Interior of Kaysville Tabernacle

Meetinghouses

This one is particularly hard, because of the sheer number of historic meetinghouses. However, I can guess some of them. The original article said 23 meetinghouses were on this protected list.

1. Spring City Ward
2. Ogden 4th Ward (renovated 2012)
3. Cedar City 1st Ward (renovated 2012)
4. Logan 1st Ward
5. Logan 4th Ward
6. Farmington Ward (Primary Association organized there)
7. Brigham City 3rd Ward
8. Salt Lake Second Ward
9. Salt Lake Eighth Ward
10. Salt Lake Tenth Ward
11. Salt Lake Liberty Ward
12. Bonneville Ward (SLC)
13. Garden Park Ward (SLC; renovated 2008)
14. Manavu Ward (Provo)
15. Wells Ward (SLC)
16. Yale Ward (renovated 2011)
17. Forest Dale Ward (SLC)
18. El Paso Ward (TX, renovated 2015) 
19. Centerville 1st Ward 
20. Idaho Falls 5th Ward
21. Blackfoot 1st Ward
22. Whittier Ward
23. Beaver Ward
24. Tremonton 1st Ward
25. Timpanogos Ward (Orem)
26. Parowan 3rd Ward
27. Salt Lake 27th Ward (renovated 2018)
28. Salt Lake 20th Ward

Again, because of the number of unique meetinghouses, I'm sure there are many more that could be on this list.

Balcony of Spring City Ward

Other Buildings

The original article simply stated that five "other buildings are on the list."

1. Colonia Juarez Stake Academy (Academia Juarez, a high school in Mexico)
2. Maeser Building (BYU Campus; recently renovated)
3. Heber J. Grant Building (BYU Campus)
4. Joseph Smith Memorial Building (formerly the Hotel Utah)
5. Church Administration Building

Academia Juarez, a historic Church high school in Colonia Juarez, Mexico

This one is difficult. I'm not sure if I've left out any other significant structures that don't fall under the category of meetinghouses, tabernacles, or temples.

It's unfortunate to see the recent development of threatened chapels. While the Winder and Murray Wards are not owned by the Church (and were sold many years ago), it's very unfortunate to see the University Ward be sold. Even though it will be preserved, it's one that I wish the Church would have kept.

What do you think? Have I left off any obvious or glaring candidates? Let me know!

Harold B. Lee Recreation Hall

Stand-alone recreation halls were a little more common in the late 1800s and early 1900s for the Church. They were later integrated into the meetinghouse building. This stand-alone recreation hall serves the historic Pioneer Stake on the west side of Salt Lake City.

It was later renamed the Harold B. Lee Recreation Hall because of his role in its history. The Pioneer Stake was one of the hardest hit areas during the Great Depression. Harold B. Lee, the stake president at that time, was involved in my welfare projects to help bring relief. One was to put unemployed members to work building a recreation hall for the stake. Many of the materials for the building were salvaged from other structures.

They have pictures of Harold B. Lee and a small memorial to him in the lobby.

Columbus (OH) Branch

Image Source: Google Maps

This lovely building still stands in downtown Columbus, OH. It was built in 1930, and until the 1950s, it was the only LDS building in the state (besides historic buildings related to the Church located in Kirtland).

At some point, there was a lovely stained glass window of the Angel Moroni in the circular window near the top of the building.

The building was sold around 1960, and now is owned by Orthodox Catholic Church congregation. The window (not being suitable for a new congregation) was saved, and nearly 30 years later, when a meetinghouse was built in nearby Dublin (on the outskirts of town), the window was moved there.

Image Source: Google Maps

The new meetinghouse is not unique at all, but they still installed the original window above one of the entrances.

(Image Source)

It's a lovely little window, and I wish I knew more about the history of the building and when the window was made. Until then, I'm glad it's still enjoyed by members.

Mesa Second Ward

First built in the 1910s, the Mesa Second Ward is just a few blocks west of the Mesa Temple.

In 1934, the current chapel was built on just west of the original chapel. In the 1960s, the original chapel portion was demolished, but the 1930 chapel is still standing.