By Heather Whittle Wrigley
Church Magazines
The Lord commands us to remember (see D&C 21:1), but history, like a photograph bleached by time, often fades until it is lost—unless someone steps in and stops it from being lost.
Steven L. Olsen, senior curator of the Church History Department and former member of the Church Historic Sites Committee, is one of those people. The Historic Sites Committee collaborates with several departments to help stop time in its tracks by preserving places of historical value to the Church.
"We preserve sites to help provide an experience that opens a person's heart and soul to the message [of the gospel]," he said. "Many have found the beginnings of their testimonies when they have gone to the historic sites and had the Spirit bear witness to them."
The Church History Department stewards the historical accuracy of the messages, furnishings, and settings found at historic sites.
The Missionary Department takes care of managing the sites daily, welcoming visitors, giving tours, and answering questions.
The Temple and Special Projects Departments are responsible for managing any maintenance concerns for temples and for the construction of major new projects.
The Meetinghouse Facilities Department ensures that each site is properly constructed and maintained and that the site stays accurate, attractive, and appropriate.
These departments work with historians, architects, archaeologists, lawyers, artisans, contractors, and groundskeepers to preserve historic sites, landmarks, and markers.