Patina Work on the Payson Utah Temple

To watch on Youtube click here: https://youtu.be/z6fGZdGKeXQ

To listen on Spotify click here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/krystine-stephenson/episodes/Payson-Temple-Stair-Railing-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints-e33p7l7

The artwork in all Latter-day Saints Temple throughout the world is designed to deepen the connection of God's children to their Heavenly Father. With paintings and finishes throughout the special building designed to remind patrons of their eternal purpose. Often times, only the artwork on the walls throughout the temples are recognized as artwork, but the finish work is artwork unto itself. The patina work on the railings of the Payson Temple was done by a faithful member who stretched herself by learned new skills with the help of God to get the patina on the stairwell railings done the way the Lord intended.

This incredible woman was contacted by the Church in 2013, asking if she would do the patina work on all the stair railings on the interior of the Payson Temple. Her specialty is patina on bronze work, and she had done some patina work on other temples on some hardware. This project was a lot larger in scale and was working with a different than she had ever done before, she knew that with God's help it would be possible and accepted the job.

The Payson temple assignment was to match the patina from the door hardware to the stair railing. This was particularly difficult because the material used for the stair railing was aluminum, and she only worked with bronze before. Not having any prior experience working with aluminum, she went to the Lord for help.

She said "I knew if God brought this to me I would find a way. Over the next few months I spent a lot of time praying, researching, ordering supplies, making calls and talking to people who might be able to help me and practiced perfecting this patina process on aluminum that would mimic bronze."

In 1993, Elder Neil L. Andersen gave a talk entitled “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” he said

"I have heard President Monson say “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies. I know that when we are on the Lord’s errand, he will be with us, he will strengthen us, he will build our capacities. I have experienced it. I have felt his lifting Spirit. In the months and years ahead, I will need him so very much.

I pledge all that I am to this sacred calling. I promise to be teachable, and I pray that I can be sufficiently meek that the Lord can mold and strengthen my spirit to accomplish his purposes. I commit to you and to the Lord that I will consecrate myself to advancing the cause of the Restoration and to loyally following his chosen leaders."

Just as Elder Anderson spoke on "Whom the Lord calls he qualifies" this faithful patina artist was stretched in her abilities. She believed that God would use her and teacher her, she sought direction and help from all different resources, and learned how to accomplish the task. She had the faith that God would help her rise to the occasion, and would not abandon her in this journey.

Every day before she began the work on the railing she began with a prayer, knowing she needed Gods help in this difficult process. To patina the aluminum railing it was a difficult, six step, process. Her biggest worry was that the temple superintendent would send the railing back to be done again, not having the time of the energy to do it again.

The railings were never sent back, and she was told that others were impressed with the work done to patina these railings. When the temple was close to finishing she was working over 60 hours a week to get the job done, and her husband started working with her full time, to help finish this incredible project.

The end result is perfect. The craftsmanship of the Payson Temple is a tribute to our Father in Heaven. She said "Each time we had been there working(in the Payson Temple) we had felt the sweet spirit there as we listen to the other construction workers. They sing, whistle and hum while they are working. We have been richly blessed by this temple already. I can only imagine what blessings are ahead of us. I have a firm testimony of the Lords gospel and of the sacred ordinances that are performed in behalf of the living and our kindred dead in The Holy House of the Lord. I am forever grateful that I was chosen to help in this sacred work of building temples. I know that He loves us so much. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives."

References:

Church Archives
"The Payson Utah Temple, 2010-2015" Page 100-101