As we’re sure you know, Utah is home to some truly beautiful gardens and parks. You can enjoy more than 100 acres of gorgeous gardens and hiking trails at Red Butte Garden, or take a stroll through this little slice of paradise in Salt Lake City. Not far from these two pretty spots is another garden … one that’s both beautiful and even features an unusual Joseph Smith Sphinx. Read on to learn all you need to know about one of the most interesting places in Utah.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a unique destination full of sculptures and stones inscribed with scripture and poetry. You'll find this interesting place in Utah tucked in a neighborhood near Trolley Square in Salt Lake City.
BouvOnTheMove/Tripadvisor
The garden is free to visit!
As you make your way through what we think is one of the most interesting places in Utah, you'll notice a mixture of religion, poetry, and masonry. The garden's creator, Thomas Battersby Child Jr. was a stonemason, a bishop in his church, and an artist. He also had a flair for the creative and quirky.
createandcapturelife/Tripadvisor
The garden includes 12 sculptures, the most famous of which is the Joseph Smith Sphinx.
MeraKi25/Tripadvisor
It's by far the most unique rendering of the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As a Mormon Bishop, Child was fascinated by how sphinx represented riddles and mysteries. He also believed that his church held the keys to those mysteries through its gospel.
The Monument to the Trade depicts Child himself. It includes perfectly-joined flagstones, along with masonry tools hanging from the walls.
mini/Tripadvisor
Child was the bishop of the LDS tenth ward for 19 years, and the church building is also depicted here.

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One of the most curious pieces of art in the garden is the one entitled, "Malachi."
Google/SteveW
This unusual sculpture is based on a scripture found in the Bible and depicts the heart of a living person. It also shows the heart of one who's passed away by showing human hands turning the two toward each other.
Although some of these works of art can seem gruesome, we believe they make sense once you understand the biblical reference.
Carrie Eardley/Google
This piece is called, "The Last Chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes." It depicts the objects in this verse: "…the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden…the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bow be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." The head of the old man represents the first chapter, which discusses man's mortality.
To better understand the sculptures here, such as the Joseph Smith Sphinx, feel free to pick up a free brochure at the gate when you enter.
createandcapturelife/Tripadvisor
The Gilgal Sculpture Garden is open to the public every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Phil_Montano/Tripadvisor
From April through September, hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. October through March, visit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Have you had the chance to visit the Gilgal Sculpture Garden? If so, what did you think of the Joseph Smith Sphinx sculpture?

To see more Joseph Smith Sphinx photos and learn more, visit the Gilgal Sculpture Garden website. We also suggest following what we consider one of the most interesting places in Utah on Facebook.

When you’d like to explore some more, check out our guide to attractions and activities in Utah. We also recommend referring to AllTrails for ideas of where to have outdoor fun in the Beehive State.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Joseph Smith Sphinx

Marla S. | April 30, 2024

What are some interesting places in Utah to visit?

The following list highlights some interesting places in Utah to visit.

  • Thanksgiving Point in Lehi: This eclectic destination includes gardens that span 55 acres, the Museum of Natural Curiosity, the Museum of Ancient Life, and other unique points of interest.
  • Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen: We think kids of all ages will have a blast checking out the different dinosaur bones and searching for fossils at this interesting spot in Utah.
  • Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins: This outdoor amphitheater tops our list as one of the most interesting places in Utah to enjoy live entertainment.

 

For more ideas of where to visit, check out our Attractions in Utah guide.

What are some fun facts about Joseph Smith?

Aside from the Joseph Smith Sphinx photos in the above article, here are some fun facts about the religious leader.

  • Joseph Smith was born in Vermont.
  • At 24, he published the "Book of Mormon."
  • Memorials of the founder of Mormonism and Latter Day Saints are in Salt Lake City, Vermont, and on Brigham Young University's campus.
  • The Joseph Smith Sphinx at Gilgal Sculpture Garden is 25 tons.

 

If you'd like to learn more about Joseph Smith, please enjoy our previous coverage of Utah's pioneer history.

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Gilgal Sculpture Garden, 749 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, USA