Around 1987, I was living with Leila Rawlinson Trumbo Ethington (granddaughter of Col. Isaac Trumbo, an ex-Mormon greatly responsible for Utah gaining statehood) in her home on 2nd Avenue (between N and O Streets) in Salt Lake City. She was 84 at the time and all of her life Leila had always had close friends who were Gay men. In the early 1970s she opened up her home as a boarding house for several young Mormons, including several Gay men and one Lesbian (mainly members of one family). I was the last youth to pass through her inviting home which we lovingly dubbed "The Leila T. Ethington Home for Wayward Boys and Cats". She had a very warm spot in her heart for strays of all kinds.
Leila had become a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir around 1925, after Evan Stephens had retired as its director. (She is listed on the official choir website as Leila T. Senior since she was married to Clement Senior at that time.) However during her years in the Choir, she met and befriended Stephens, who eventually told her that he himself was "that way" (her words), meaning he was homosexual. She told me she often visited his beautiful estate on State Street, with its boating pond and beautiful grounds, where he held many social events especially for the young people of the church and choir.
When Stephens died October 27, 1930, Leila knew that his non-Mormon housekeeper (Sarah Daniels) would have no idea how to dispose of his temple garments and robes properly, so Leila went to his home to take care of those items of ritual apparel. Leila disposed of all his temple clothing except for his temple apron. She kept this because there was a note stuck to it that indicated he had worn that very apron during the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 1893. (Note that Stephens had also composed the music to The Hosanna Anthem, with words by C.L. Walker, specifically for the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, and I believe it has been sung at the dedication of every LDS temple worldwide since.)
Temple Dedication, April 6, 1893
(Note the line of people around the base of the Temple, waiting to get in)
Taken from the May 1893 ContributorIn the early 1990s I removed the straight pin and note that was attached to the apron because the pin was starting to rust and the note was on acidic paper and I didn't want them to damage the fabric. Unfortunately I misplaced the note and despite several searches cannot find it. Although I doubt that the apron was worn during the dedication ceremony itself (I think street clothes were worn), I assume Stephens wore the apron during the first of the endowment sessions that commenced right after the dedicatory sessions were over.
Leila held onto Evan's temple apron for another 57 years. When Leila's homophobic son learned in 1987 that I am Gay, he called me up and summarily evicted me from his mother's home. As I was packing to leave, Leila handed me Evan Stephens' apron he had worn to the temple dedication, told me the story once again, and said she knew that it would be best if I took it, since I was "that way too". That 113 year old (plus) apron has been one of my most cherished possessions, connecting me deeply to my Gay Mormon heritage, as nothing else could ever possibly do.
Thank you Leila
November 15, 2006Below are posted two photos of the apron. I do not wish to offend Mormons who hold temple aprons as sacred, but some have questioned that I actually had a hundred-plus year old apron, and since temple clothing, including aprons, are publicly displayed at Mormon funerals, I decided to include respectful photos as evidence of the apron's existence.
Apron Front
(Once green to represent fig leaves, now faded to a light brown)
Back of Apron
(Backed by a Handkerchief of thin Irish Linen)
