Church unveils new statue on Temple Square highlighting 'ministry of the women'

SALT LAKE CITY — A new Temple Square statue is "glorious — everything we hoped and expected."

That's what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' General Relief Society President Camille N. Johnson said Wednesday. She and her presidency were invited to participate in selecting a statue for that area, near the entrance of the Relief Society Building at 76 Main Street in Salt Lake City.

This this one caught their attention because of the way it depicted women from around the world supporting each other.

"The oil of conversion is in their lamps, and that light is shining brightly, following the command of our Savior, Jesus Christ, 'Let your light shine,'" she said.

President Johnson said the statue reflects women around the world shining their light and blessing others. She mentioned that one woman has her arm around another, and they are helping each other. She expressed a hope that women who visit Temple Square see themselves in the sculpture.

"We hope that all who come to Temple Square, and those who enjoy the Relief Society Building, will feel the spirit of this magnificent piece. It's a joyful reflection of the work of the women, the ministry of the women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," she said.

President Johnson said she finds it significant that the woman positioned highest in the sculpture is facing the temple, noting that members draw strength from participating in temple ordinances and that the temple can fill their metaphorical lamps. She also said the statue is a celebration of the work in the Relief Society Building and around the world.

The Five Wise Virgins statue is the fourth new statue on Temple Square with the extensive renovations but the first on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple. The three other new statutes include one of the First Vision, one of Joseph Smith receiving the plates and one entitled Come Follow Me, which shows Jesus Christ inviting two fishermen to follow him.

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said this statue is an example of an effort to have Temple Square statues reflect Jesus Christ. He said in addition to the Christus statue, which will return to Temple Square in a new building, there will multiple other sculptures of Christ including him teaching children, in the Garden of Gethsemane and carrying a cross.

"The First Presidency was very clear, when they were speaking about sculptures that would be here, that they wanted sculptures that depict the life and ministry of the Savior," he said.

He said the First Presidency has been very careful throughout the process of selecting and refining sculpture designs. He said they wanted a statue for this location that represented the role and influence of women in the church and in families.

"It conveys unity among the sisters of the world. ... It shows the importance of the women in our lives and women in the church," he said.

Bishop Waddell said before the renovations, there were statues of handcarts and the restoration, but he said church leaders recognized a need for more statues pointing to the Savior.

"You won't be able to walk on Temple Square, on any portion of Temple Square, without seeing some depiction of the Savior and his ministry. And so everything here will just elevate those thoughts and point us to Christ," he said.

He said the new statue's unveiling is a reminder that Temple Square is open for visitors, even though the Salt Lake Temple is still under construction and will not be open for visitors until 2027.

Bishop Waddell said "everyone is invited" to general conference this Saturday and Sunday to be taught by church leaders and be reminded of Jesus Christ's gospel and role. He said the timing of the statue's placement just before general conference is due to "heavenly help" — everything fell into place.

Ben Hammond, the American Fork-based sculptor of the Five Wise Virgins statue, said he sculpted the original from clay in about a year and a half, and then it was cast in bronze.

He said he wants people who visit the statue to create a connection of their own and appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty. Hammond says others do not need to have the same experience with the statue — noting that each of the women tells a different story and has different expressions visitors can connect with.

"I tried to create an image that shows women looking inward and outward, and that's what I think the Relief Society represents ... to lift the individual but also look outward, see how you can help others," he said.

Hammond said the sculpture is "aiming toward the temple for a reason," noting that the story of the virgins is intended to lead people to Christ.

Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, said Hammond did an "inspired job" with the statue.

"It's beautiful because this is going to be here till, 'til he comes again. This is women preparing for the Second Coming of Christ," she said.

Sister Yee said the purpose of the Temple Square experience is to focus on Jesus Christ and to help people feel his spirit and think about what he has done in their lives — taking a step toward a relationship with him.

"This is his work, this is his church and ... the whole idea is meant to point each of us to him," she said.

She said the visualization in artistic representations helps people come closer to Christ. She said certain works can carry his spirit, speaking about her own experiences as an artist and with seeing Hammond's work.

Sister Yee said she loves the motion in the statue, with each of the women leading the viewer's eyes and moving them upward toward the temple, representing that it isn't an individual journey.

"We kind of wrap around each other and lift each other upwards to the temple," she said about women in the church.

Sister Yee said they had seen versions of the statue, but it wasn't until the day before the unveiling that she was shown a picture by President Johnson and agreed there was a similarity between her and one of the women.

She said the woman facing the temple directly was "not intentionally" created to resemble her but "interestingly" does.

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