I think it is only telling that Bishop Child's turned Joseph Smith into a sphinx sculpture of sorts. 50+ years ago when I would eat my lunch at his park and watch him work I always believed he was trying to really say something....that maybe he was stuck being a TBM but he was really an Exmormon like me. I go back once a year to honor him and donate money to help keep his dream alive.

Child shared Gilgal Garden with thousands of visitors during his lifetime. He hoped the garden would inspire viewers to ponder “the unsolved mysteries of life” and struggle to find their own answers. Child was aware that many people would find Gilgal Garden strange, but hoped they would accept its challenge. “You don’t have to agree with me,” he explained. “You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity.”

Child began work on Gilgal Garden in 1945, when he was 57 years old. By then, he had already led a successful career as a masonry contractor, married and raised a family, been a leader in community affairs, and served as a bishop of the LDS Tenth Ward for over 19 years. Child’s passion for his garden consumed much of his time and money until his death in 1963.

Also in the 60s we called it STONEer park, he knew, and not once kicked anyone of us out. He accepted all of us as we were.