How a 1911 Temple Blackmail Plot Against the LDS Church Completely Backfired
In 1911, Gisbert Bossard, a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, secretly photographed the interior of the Salt Lake Temple—over 60 images in total. Along with his partner Max Florence, he tried to extort the Church by offering to sell seven of the photos back for over $100,000 (over $3 million today).
But Church President Joseph F. Smith didn’t flinch. Instead, he published the photos in the Deseret Evening News, killing their exclusivity. He then had better, authorized photos taken and released in popular magazines and the Church’s 1912 book The House of the Lord by James E. Talmage.
Florence and Bossard’s plan collapsed. A public viewing of the photos in New York drew just eight people. What started as a blackmail attempt ended in total failure.
@keystonelds Leaked photos of an empty temple wouldn’t even make the news today, but in 1911, no interior SLC Temple photos had been published before. Unfortunately for Bossard & Florence, they were masterfully outmaneuvered by President Smith & James E. Talmage. churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints lds latterdaysaints ldstemple
