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SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Temple renovation team recently honored the temple’s trailblazing original builders in a spirited Pioneer Day speech that commemorated the two groups’ cross-generational partnership in creating and preserving an enduring symbol of faith for people around the world.
More than 1,000 team members were on hand at Brigham Young Historic Park to hear remarks from Jacobsen Construction VP, Project Executive Josh Fenn, who is leading the renovation, about the historic role of the ongoing project in “honoring the craftsmanship of those who came before.” Attendees also enjoyed a catered barbecue lunch and received commemorative coins and helmet stickers as part of the special occasion, held on Monday, July 21, 2025.
Fenn’s full speech to the project team is shown here:
It’s an incredible sight to see all of you here — over 800 strong. Builders, engineers, architects, and partners: Each of you has played a vital role in something truly historic. And as we gather for the last time as the full workforce for Pioneer Day, I want to reflect on a theme that couldn’t be more fitting: finishing strong together.
More than a century and a half ago, a group of determined pioneers set out to build the Salt Lake Temple. They didn’t have tower cranes or Building Information Modeling. They had chisels, wagons, and a vision. It took them 40 years. Forty years of grit, sacrifice, and faith. They weren’t just building a temple — they were building a future, a symbol of devotion that would stand the test of time.
Today, you are the new pioneers.
Since January 2020, you’ve taken on the sacred responsibility of renewing and strengthening this iconic structure. But this isn’t just a renovation — it’s a pioneering effort in its own right. You’ve worked with cutting-edge technology, seismic innovation, and historical preservation techniques that are setting new standards in the construction world.
You’ve done all this while honoring the craftsmanship of those who came before.
You’ve worked through a global pandemic, navigated complex logistics and collaborated across disciplines. And you’ve done it with excellence, humility and heart.
That’s what it means to finish strong together.
It means showing up every day with purpose. It means lifting each other — literally and figuratively. It means knowing that the work you do, though often unseen, will be felt for generations. Just like the pioneers of the 1800s, your legacy is being written in stone, steel and spirit.
This temple will stand long after we’re gone. But when people walk its halls, they’ll feel the strength of what we built together.
So as we approach the final stretch of our work, let’s carry that pioneer spirit with us. Let’s finish with the same determination that started this journey. Let’s finish with pride, with unity and with gratitude.
Let’s finish strong together.
Thank you — for your work, your sacrifice and your legacy.
