Idaho Falls Fourth Ward: Interior & Mural

Most records show that the Idaho Falls 4th Ward was completed in 1937. However, space was left at the front of the chapel for a mural, and Robert L. Shepherd, who was painting the mural in the Garden Room at the new Idaho Falls Temple at the time, was invited to create a mural for the ward. The result was a lovely mural depicting the parable of the ten virgins.

Image Source: Church History Library

When the building was sold in 1993, local officials asked Church headquarters if the mural could be moved to a nearby family history center. When asked what the parable of the Ten Virgins had to do with family history, the director responded that "five virgins were wise and had their family history completed and five didn't." The move was approved. The ceiling had to be raised in the family history center in order to accommodate the mural, and the painting itself had to be cut into 3 sections, transported over to the center, have its old glue removed (which took two weeks), be hung in the center, and then have the three sections blended to create one whole mural again.

The mural is still in the center and still in good condition. Only two years after its move, there was a question about whether the mural should be kept, but it was kept and appraised at $600,000. Lighting and a fan were installed to highlight and preserve the painting.