Temple Square

If you travel to Salt Lake City, you must visit Temple Square !
By Patricia A. Knudsen

Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City is the most visited site in Utah.  For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it is considered the symbolic heart of this worldwide church. 

The square and the surrounding gardens and church buildings make up 35 acres.  It is an ideal place to spend a pleasant and interesting day or afternoon.

If you plan to visit Salt Lake City, I recommend going to Temple Square (visit the official website). 

The ten-acre city block is surrounded by a rock and brick wall built during the time of the first Governor of Utah and leader of the Mormon church, Brigham Young.  It gave work to the men newly emigrating into Salt Lake City.  The enclosing wall now gives a quiet, peaceful place to enjoy the beauty of square.

"Christmas Lights at Temple Square", Copyright 2006 photo by Howard Knudsen

Walk toward the Temple and stroll around this beautiful, six-spired granite building.  It always reminded me of a medieval castle. 

Most likely you will see bridal parties happily taking pictures. 

"Wedding Day Pictures in Front of Salt Lake Temple Doors" copyright 2007 by Howard A. Knudsen

Or, visiting with family and friends on their happy day...

"Visiting at Salt Lake Temple on Wedding Day" copyright 2007 by Howard A. Knudsen

When you visit, look closely at the beautiful doors and windows.  Notice the symbols of stars, moons, and suns carved into the granite.  Also, there are beehives, symbolic of industry. 

On the top of the east center spire is the shining, trumpet-bearing statue of the Angel Moroni.  The statue is hammered copper covered with gold leaf. 

There is a tiny, old fashioned garden spot on the south east corner, near the Temple.  I like to rest on one of the benches and enjoy the beauty and majesty of the Temple.

The plan for the Salt Lake Temple was conceived by Brigham Young, and the details were planned by Truman O. Angel, the church Architect.  Ground was broken in 1853. 

Most of the great stones came from Cottonwood Canyon, twenty miles away.  At first they were hauled by ox cart and then later by railroad. 

The Temple was completed in 1893, forty years later.  The building of the Temple was a mammoth pioneer project and the completion was cause for much celebration. 

For a short time before the dedication, the public was allowed inside, but as with all Mormon Temples, after the dedication only members in good standing can enter.  The building is used by members of the church for religious rites such as proxy baptisms for deceased ancestors, marriages, and religious instruction.

The South Visitors’ Center has an exhibit on the Building of the Temple, and pictures of the interior.  (Books are available at the Deseret Book Store that describe and illustrate the temple’s interior and its religious functions, like The Salt Lake Temple: A Monument to a People.)  It also has a room for meditation, which has a beautiful view of the Temple.

The Seagull Monument, just west of the South Visitors’ Center at Temple Square, was always one of my favorite sites as a child.  Partly because I was allowed to throw coins in the pool that surrounds it.  You still can do that and the coins are given to charity.  I also liked the story the memorial told, how the seagulls came and saved the crops of the pioneers during the cricket invasion of 1848, soon after the pioneers arrived.

Take a peek inside the Assembly Hall.  It is a granite, semi-gothic building located in the southwest corner of Temple Square.  The interior is pretty and ornate.  There are flowery stained glass windows and an attractive pipe organ.  The wall behind the organ is painted a lovely sky blue.  The hall was completed in 1882, and seats about 2000 people.  It is used for religious gatherings and free musical concerts.  (Call 1-801-240-3323 for a schedule.)

Next site to see at Temple Square is the Tabernacle.  (Right now it is being renovated.  It will be opened in April of 2007.) The Tabernacle has an oval, self-supported roof. 

"Tabernacle on Temple Square" copyright 2007 by Howard A. Knudsen

Clarissa Young Spencer, Brigham Young’s daughter, told how Brigham Young came up with this idea.  He was trying to decide how a building could hold the most people.  One morning he had a hard-boiled egg for breakfast.  Instead of breaking the egg in half as usual, he cut it “endwise” and set it up on toothpicks.  He was strongly impressed that he could use this idea for the Tabernacle. 

A new emigrant, Henry Grow, who was familiar with bridge building, had the knowledge to build it.  Henry Grow thought this idea was feasible, and proceeded to plan it and build it.

When completed, the vast elliptical dome rested upon forty-four buttresses.  Giant wooden arches, 10 feet thick, making a span of 150 feet, 80 feet high at the center, are under the dome.  Between Buttresses are twenty doors, which permits the evacuation of the building in a few minutes.  The auditorium used to seat 9000 people.  Now with the new renovation it will hold less. 

The Tabernacle was completed sufficiently to hold the church semi-annual conference in 1867.  It was considered an architectural wonder for its time.  The interior is simple.  The ceiling inside is covered with smooth white plaster.  It has a balcony.  Wood pews are of pine, but painstakingly painted to look like hardwood.

The great pipe organ at the west end of the Tabernacle is the centerpiece of the Tabernacle.  It was first constructed in 1867, with 700 pipes; since then, it has been enlarged to include 11,000 pipes, ranging from 3/8 inch to 32 feet in length.  It is considered one of the great organs of the world.

The building was used until recently for the church’s semi-annual conferences, other church meetings, and for community functions and also for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts and concerts.  In April 2007 the Tabernacle Choir broadcasts will again originate from the Tabernacle.  Most of the other meetings will take place at the Conference Center just across the street from Temple Square.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a very important part of my life.  My husband was a member of the choir for twenty years.  It has been eleven years since he retired from the choir, but I am sure many of the things are the same.  To be part of the choir takes great devotion. 

There is, of course, a rehearsal every Thursday night, and a rehearsal and broadcast Sunday morning.  But also if the choir is giving a concert, or recording a CD, or traveling to give concerts, more rehearsals and time are needed. 

All the choir members are unpaid volunteers.  Almost all of them work other jobs and most have family to care for.  The choir members must all audition.  The competition is high.  Also, they must know musical theory.  Even so it is an honor to be part of the choir and for those who love to sing, a great joy.

I loved occasionally going with my husband to rehearsals, and broadcast, and concerts.  It was thrilling to hear them sing.  I loved traveling with the choir and hearing them sing in some of the great halls all over the world.  While he was in the choir, I went with him to Brazil, Japan, Israel, and Europe.  Also, they sang at the inaugurations for President Reagan, and the first President Bush.  These events were great experiences for my husband.

The public is invited to Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square rehearsals most Thursdays, 7:30-9:30.  You can come and go as you want.  Also you may attend the choir, and orchestra broadcast each Sunday morning.  You must be seated by 9:15, for the 9:30 broadcast.  Until April they will be held at the Conference Center.  Organ recitals are also given daily.  Check for times.

At the North end of the square is the North Visitors’ Center.  The most impressive attraction here is the imposing eleven-foot marble Christus statue.  The original was sculpted by the Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen.  My husband and I were privileged to see the original in a church in Copenhagen on one of our trips with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I must admit I like the Christus in Copenhagen better, but the one in the Visitors’ Center is breath-taking. 

"Christus Statue at Temple Square's North Visitor's Center" copyright 2007 by Howard A. Knudsen

Also there are several art galleries.  I especially like the one with paintings portraying scenes from the Old Testament. 

"North Visitor Center Paintings of Christ after Resurrection" copyright 2007 by Howard A. Knudsen

There is an interactive map of Jerusalem. 

Several church movies also shown.  My favorite is “Legacy.”  It is a portrayal of the early years of the church and the westward trek of the Mormon Pioneers.

At Christmas time lights sparkle everywhere, especially in the trees. 

In the spring tulips, daffodils, pansies, and a myriad of other flowers, blossom.  Other flowers keep blooming well into late fall. I would go to Temple Square just to see the gardens.

There are many guides on Temple Square.  They are usually nice, young ladies wearing name badges, each with the flag of the country they are from.  They are missionaries for the Mormon Church.  They can answer any questions you have and they will take you on a tour of Temple Square.

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