April 15, 2012

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Brentwood Ward
Corner of North Stevens Street and Regina Street

The Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-Day Saints
Brentwood Ward
Spokane, Washington


Since 1979 the spire of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saints has signified this Mormon Church on the corner of North Stevens and Regina Streets in the Brentwood area of the northern part of Spokane.  The architectural plans for the building are based on one of the approved designs of the Mormon Church, (See Link 1.) but were modified by a local architect to conform to area Building Codes.  

The building plan includes a central gym with a stage surrounded by a hall.  The hall opens to  the Chapel, kitchen, meeting rooms, meeting room with the immersion baptismal font, and the Family History Office. 

The Chapel in the Brentwood Ward is of a similar design to that  in Edmonton, Alberta, pictured below.  The pews are arranged with two side aisles. The pew seating can be augmented by an addition on the other side of folding doors at the rear of the Chapel and further by additional folding doors leading to the gym.  Approximately 350-400 members  attend Sunday Services.  The front of the church holds banked theater styled chairs for the choir, a central lectern, and on the right, a communion table.  There is no cross in the church as the emphasis is on the risen Christ.  And there is no art work in the Chapel as it would be seen as a distraction during worship.
                    

  
  LDS Chapel in Edmonton, Alberta
           (Google Photo-similar to
    Chapel in Spokane, Washington)

However, there is artwork in the foyer at the entrance of the building and the Chapel, in the hallway, and in the meeting rooms.  Many of these are depictions of Jesus Christ and scenes from the Bible.  The print below of Jesus Christ was originally painted by Del Parsons and is now in one of the meeting rooms.

Print of Jesus Christ Painting by Area Artist

(in meeting room)

One of the meeting rooms is where the Women's Relief group meets.  This group of women work to support efforts for disaster relief for the benefit of members of the church as well as the society world-wide.  The February 18-19, 2012 Wall Street Journal article "What the Mormons Know about Welfare"  gives an impressive description the relief work of the new 15 acre "Bishop's Central Storehouse"  outside Salt Lake City, Utah.  

The Family History Center of the Brentwood Ward LDS Church is in the west wing of the church and also has its own entrance.  It is open weekdays for family research.  A Family History class is offered the 2nd Tuesday of the Month at 7:00 pm and is open to all.

Sunday Bulletin

Church services are open to the public. (See Link 3 for a description of the service.)  The service I was invited to attend was a 1 pm Sunday Sacrament Meeting in the Chapel.  The three traditional style hymns announced in the Bulletin and sung from the Mormon Hymnal were : "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", "As Now We Take the Sacrament", and "Testimony". The service also included an  Invocation, the Sacrament of Communion delivered by the young people of the congregation,  and Testimonies by  members of all ages.  Each Testimony closed with a confirmation that Jesus Christ was their Savior and Redeemer.

            

                                  Rear View of The Church of Jesus Christ of

the Latter-Day Saints

Brentwood Ward, Spokane, Washington

Thank you: To President Larry Larson and Helen for 

        information and an invitation to attend the

        Sacrament Meeting on March 4, 2012.

Photos: Taken in 2012 by SW.

Link1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_architecture_(LDS_Church)#Modern_center_spire_design

Link 2: http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

Link 3: http://mormon.org/faq/church-welcome-visitors/

Link 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints