Most People Don’t Know This Surreal Garden In Utah Even Exists
I’ve lived in Utah my entire life, but I only found out about Gilgal Garden a few years ago. It’s very hidden—tucked into the backyard of an unassuming little house of a quiet Salt Lake City neighborhood. When I visited the Garden, I found it both creepy and interesting.
Gilgal Garden is the work of Thomas Child, a masonry contractor, community leader and LDS Bishop. He began working on his collection in 1954 and continued until his death in 1963. The 12 sculptures and over 70 engraved stones he placed in his backyard each express his spiritual beliefs in some way.
You can visit Gilgal Garden seven days a week (it’s closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day). It’s located at 749 E. 500 S. in Salt Lake City. Admission is free.
The Joseph Smith Sphinx is probably the strangest and most popular sculpture in the garden. It was envisioned by Childs and crafted by sculptor Maurice Brooks. Childs felt that faith, not intellect, was the way to find the answers to life’s greatest questions. The Egyptian Sphinx represents mystery and riddles; Child’s use of the LDS Church Founder Joseph Smith’s face represents his belief that faith in the Mormon priesthood is the only way to solve those riddles.
“Captain of the Lord’s Host” is a depiction of the Biblical captain who gave Joshua the plan to conquer Jericho. The head is just a large, gnarled rock. Childs stated that he had no intention to carve it into a head, but wanted to rely on, ‘the liberties of modern art.”
Yes, those are human hearts. The white one represents a person who has died; the red represents a living person. The sculpture is called “Malachi” and refers to a scripture that says, “...he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers . . .” LDS beliefs include the idea that families can be sealed together for eternity. This is Childs’ interpretation of that principle.
Childs titled this one “Monument to Peace.” It includes swords, pruning implements and wrought-iron hooks and a plow. It’s meant to depict the scripture from Isaiah: ” . . . and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
The stone mason’s version of a selfie, this statue of Thomas Child is called “The Monument to the Trade.” In one hand, he holds blueprints; in the other, a Bible. Masonry tools hang from the wall. Childs’ pants are made of bricks!
“Daniel II: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream.” If this one doesn’t give you nightmares, nothing will! King Nebuchadnezzar dreamt of a giant that was killed (and apparently dismembered) by, “a stone cut out of the mountain without hands.” Daniel interpreted that to mean that different body parts of the giant represented several kingdoms that wouldn’t come together until God’s kingdom was established. Child’s felt that the founding of the LDS church was the beginning of God’s kingdom.
“The Monument to the Priesthood” includes a stone arch, a spire, and a sculpture of four books. The keystone on the stone arch is supposed to represent Christ. The rocks on either side represent prophets. The arch sits on two large boulders that represent Christ and Adam.
The sculpture of books represents the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price (all scriptures of the LDS Church).
You can take a video tour of the entire garden here:
What do you think? Is Gilgal Garden an inspired artistic vision of LDS Church teachings, or just a strange collection of work by an eccentric guy? Have you ever visited the garden? I’d love to read your comments!
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
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