Salt Lake Temple Garment Advertisement, c. 1895 Lithograph 22 × 17 in. Framed: 36 x 31 in.
This advertisement was produced at a pivotal moment in Utah history, just as the Salt Lake Temple neared completion (dedicated in 1893) and the Utah Territory transitioned toward statehood (achieved in 1896). During this period, Latter-day Saint communities were emerging from decades of federal pressure, including anti-polygamy legislation that had targeted both religious practice and church-controlled economic systems. In response, local industries such as the Salt Lake Knitting Works played an important role in fostering economic self-sufficiency within the community.
“Temple garments,” referenced here, were (and remain) sacred clothing worn by endowed members of the Church, typically produced under controlled or approved circumstances. By the 1890s, their manufacture had begun to shift from purely domestic production to more organized, semi-industrial systems. This advertisement reflects that transition—presenting a religiously significant item within the framework of modern manufacturing and distribution, while still emphasizing its spiritual association.
