midterm 1

For this paper, students will look at a few key issues related to Mormonism and the
creation and sustaining of the Salt Lake Temple. First, students must integrate Eliades
concepts of chaos/order and cosmicization to explain the Zion-Making Process by which
Temple Square came about (be sure to detail Eliades arguments). Secondly, and in relation
to this last point, Reading 13 notes that the Mormons early acceptance of Zion ideology
created otherness between them and other Americans. In creating their own cities,
homes, and temples (especially Temple Square), which were intended to reflect Zion on
earth, Mormons believed in a strict sacredness of place, separating themselves spiritually
and physically from the outside world. However, even at the inauguration of the Salt Lake
Temple, a few non-Mormon, Gentiles, were allowed to tour the premises. The tourism of
Temple Square has only increased in time and now stands as Utahs second most visited
attraction. Using Reading 2 and Reading 14, explain the differences between
pilgrimage and tourism with special attention given to how tourism at Temple Square
took-off (and became accepted) even in light of Zionist ideology of otherness.