The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse Church: A Community Legacy of Faith, Vision, and Dedication
Originally known as the North Jordan Stake Tabernacle or North Jordan Church, the building now fondly referred to as the Lighthouse Church stands as a beacon of unity, sacrifice, and enduring community spirit in West Valley City, Utah.
Plans for this structure began as early as April 1943, when the Granger Ward was divided into Granger 1st and Granger 2nd Wards. While both wards met in the old building, visionary discussions started on constructing a new, dual-purpose facility that could serve both ward and stake functions. After years of careful planning, construction began in the fall of 1947.
Designed by renowned architect William Frederick Thomas, later expanded in collaboration with the firm Pope and Thomas, the building was one of the first of its kind in Utah—a modern, dual-purpose structure uniting ward and stake operations. Its groundbreaking design featured above-ground classrooms, a coal heating plant, and air-conditioning—an innovative luxury at the time. The final structure spanned 23,000 square feet, seated 300 in the main chapel, and 175 in a separate junior Sunday School chapel. A 60x90 recreation hall, 30x36 banquet room, full kitchen, locker rooms, 14 classrooms, Relief Society hall, and complete recreation facilities were included.
The building’s red brick exterior, spanning 284 feet in length, would ultimately rise on 3.5 acres of a 10-acre plot at 3860 South 4000 West. Stake and ward members, alongside General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared in the financing—reflecting a unique blend of centralized leadership and grassroots fundraising. The cost was originally estimated at $150,000, later climbing closer to $200,000 as plans expanded to include stake offices and a baptismal font.
Construction officially began on August 5, 1947. On the day of the groundbreaking, a large crowd gathered as Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed the congregation, reminding them of the Church’s long tradition of building Zion through temples and tabernacles. That same evening, local priesthood holders picked up shovels and began digging the footings by hand—a physical and spiritual labor of love.
Thousands of hours of volunteer time were donated by local members. One striking example was the hand-laid parquet flooring in the recreation hall—installed plank by plank by dedicated community members.
To meet the financial demands, the North Jordan Stake organized community-wide celebrations, most notably the Fiesta Time fundraisers in 1948 and 1949. These events included mile-long parades, horse shows, vaudeville acts, floats, trick-riding, softball games, carnival rides (like the memorable half-track trolley), and stake-wide queen contests. In 1949, Miss Lenore Bennion was crowned Queen after a “penny vote” fundraiser. These festive fundraisers, chaired by Clyde Barker and coordinated by Stake President James D. Hill and his counselors, not only raised money—they built a spirit of joyful cooperation and civic pride.
Described by contemporaries as looking like a “Spanish castle,” the building became a central gathering place for over 5,600 members of the North Jordan Stake. It was both a sanctuary and a social hub—a place where faith, education, recreation, and service flourished side by side.
Today, the Lighthouse Church remains a cherished historic landmark. As it prepares for a new chapter of service—preserving local history and supporting community outreach—it stands as a lighthouse of unity, heritage, compassion, and community growth. Its legacy, rooted in faith and built by hundreds of hands and hearts, continues to shine brightly across generations.
