John Rowe Moyle

Recently our family had the opportunity to learn about Geoff’s Maternal Great, Great, Great Grandfather, John Rowe Moyle. On September 29th, we watched a DVD about his life and then went up to visit his home in Alpine. We had a picnic dinner and then a private tour of his homestead (Moyle Park). It was a unique experience to be in his home and hear stories about his life. It was on this tour that Geoff received inspiration for an excursion he would take with Abby and Farrell the following Friday…..

….John Rowe Moyle was a skilled stone cutter and builder, he was personally called by Brigham Young to work on the Salt Lake Temple. He lived in Alpine and every Monday morning he would rise at 2:00am walking over 22 miles to arrive at the SL Temple by 8:00am for a full days shift. He would stay with his son in Salt Lake during the week and then return, walking home to Alpine, on Fridays starting at 6:00pm, usually arriving back home by midnight. He would only have just the short weekend to do the chores and maintain his farm. He did this for many years, until an accident which caused his right leg to be amputated just below the knee. Shortly after the misfortune, he fashioned a wooden leg and was eventually well enough to once again walk to Salt Lake and back on a weekly basis so he could continue to fulfill the calling extended him by Brigham Young, as a stone cutter. He did this for years. John Rowe Moyle was the person who carved the plaque, “Holiness To The Lord, House of the Lord” on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple.

…….okay, so Geoff’s inspiration was to take Abby and Farrell on the same hike/walk that his Great (III) Grandfather did. So, the 3 of them began their journey in the wee hours of the morning (literally 2:00 am) starting at John’s home and walked, and walked, and walked….. As they were moving over the top into Draper, Farrell became sick (and released the sickness) so they trekked 6 miles back to the truck, Geoff piggy-backing Farrell & Abby piggy-backing Farrell's backpack. They returned home around 5:00am….. If you were to ask Abby or Farrell, and certainly Geoff, if they’ll try again – the answer is a resounding ‘YES’ – but maybe a little later in the morning, I wonder?

Geoff came home from the priesthood session that Saturday night and said that President Uchtdorf talked about John Rowe Moyle in his talk Lift Where You Stand. That was the icing on the cake for our family. :)

BTW, if you want to see a really neat family film (only 16 minutes) watch T. C. Christensen's Only A Stonecutter.


At the cemetery, gravestone of John Rowe Moyle.