Springtime in Temple Square

Tours are free throughout Temple Square. Visit the grand, new Conference Center, the Museum of History and Art, the Tabernacle, the Temple Visitor's Center. Art and artifacts are everywhere, and there is always someone willing to answer your questions. Don't miss "The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd" movie in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Quick Tips:

The Family History Library contains the records for more than 2 billion names, with more added constantly. World-renowned for its extensive collection and knowledgeable staff, you can pop in and look up your own ancestors. But don't be surprised if you end up staying longer than you planned--it's easy to get hooked!

If the huge library is too intimidating, a short, hands-on lesson on finding your ancestors can be taken at the FamilySearch Center in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Dee's Family Restaurant is a convenient, inexpensive place to eat, located behind the Museum of History and Art.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is a , outdoor parking lot right next to the Conference Center. Underground parking beneath the Conference Center is . Both lots are convenient to all of the places mentioned in this journal. Everything in the Temple Square area is an easy walk, and wheelchair accessible.

Thousands of tulips in all varieties and colors are a gift to spring visitors to Salt Lake City’s Temple Square. The gardens have been recognized with prestigious awards from gardening organizations, but are designed to display the beauty and diversity of God’s creations. The fondest hope of those tending these gardens is that visitors will experience feelings of peace and reverence as they stroll through these lovely flowerbeds, 150 years in the making.

The garden flowers change with the seasons, utilizing 50 designers and 50 planters. Those who plant the flowers and bulbs are often volunteers. My own daughter, along with her church group, was able to help plant bulbs that would bloom in spring. Fall and spring have a "down time" of less than 10 days between plantings.

While I strolled through the grounds on a Saturday afternoon, many brides and grooms posed romantically for their wedding photographers in front of the vividly-colored tulips. The Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the city and a spring or summer Saturday will boast a parade of wedding parties in the square.

The Salt Lake Tabernacle offers some very worthwhile, free entertainment. Organ Recitals are held daily. Listen to the famous Tabernacle organ with its 11,623 pipes played by a different organist every day. Each organist chooses pieces and arrangements that are special to him or her.

The Tabernacle itself is a marvel of construction. The acoustics are so good that one can hear a pin drop. A demonstration of those acoustics is given at the beginning of the 30 minute recital.

The Tabernacle is also where you can listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in rehearsal or in concert for the "Music and the Spoken Word" program. I haven't had a chance to attend a choir performance yet, but plan to on my next visit! Click on the links for information on performance times.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building, built in 1911, was formerly the Hotel Utah. It’s been renovated and is a stunning piece of architecture and design.

Inside, stand in the middle of the vast lobby and just enjoy the beauty of the wrought iron balconies, marble pillars and tasteful artwork. Visit the FamilySearch Center near the west entrance for help in getting started on your genealogy if the massive Family History Library is too intimidating for you.

Keith Merrill, a director known by most people for his work on the 1981 movie Windwalker, directed The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd. This magnificently filmed, very moving show is screened several times daily, Monday through Saturday. Admission is free. Tickets may be obtained up to 90 days in advance by calling (801) 240-0080 or 1-866-LDS-TIKS. Advance tickets are not usually necessary, but calling ahead wouldn’t hurt. Click here for a synopsis and stills from the movie.

The Garden Restaurant is on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I'm not going to do a full review of the restaurant. The food was okay, and decently-priced. Service was satisfactory. The draw here is the gorgeous view of Temple Square from 10 floors up.

The Conference Center is an amazing edifice. It houses an auditorium that seats 21,000, with not a bad seat in the house! It was constructed so that there are no pillars blocking the view of the stage. Conferences for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are held here, as well as plays, programs and musical shows. All performances must meet requirements that are family-friendly in accordance with the sacred essence of the building.

A free, guided tour of the immaculate granite building will bring you through the auditorium with stops at many striking pieces of art that fill the halls. Artwork by Arnold Friberg, (you may be familiar with his painting, "Prayer at Valley Forge,") Carl Bloch, and my new favorite artist, Walter Rane are featured. Rane's painting depicting the last supper titled, "In Remembrance of Me" is stunning. His style of painting makes me feel as if I’ve been brought right into the scene.

By the way, the original Carl Bloch painting, "Christ Healing by the Well of Bethesda" can be seen on display in Provo at the Brigham Young University Museum. It is a massive painting and incredible to behold.

The tour of the Conference Center concludes up on the roof, a garden paradise. The view of the Wasatch Mountains is incredible and the planters are filled with native trees and vegetation that blend in with the surrounding landscape. This would be a lovely place for family picnic, or to relax and meditate alone. In fact, it was designed with just that in mind. However, after the 9/11 attacks, no one is allowed up there unaccompanied by a tour guide. That truly is a shame.

The Museum of Church History and Art is located adjacent to Temple Square, next door to the Family History Library.

History
The front portion of the building showcases artifacts from the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pieces that caught my attention:

-- Heber J. Grant, 7th president of the church was known for, among other things, his refined apparel. A stunning top hat and coat that he wore are on display.

-- Brigham Young’s trendy, green-lensed sunglasses

-- Joseph Smith’s flintlock pistol, sword scabbard and epaulettes

--A 45-star flag

Art The Sixth Annual Art Competition drew over 700 entries from Latter-day Saint artists around the world. 171 works were selected and are on display through September 1, 2003.

Many media and styles are exhibited, including oil, watercolor, sculpture, stained glass and fabric. Artists from 30 countries are represented and a good number of pieces reflect the culture of those countries. Among my favorite pieces:

--"Elizabeth H. Jackson: Pioneer Mother" by Megan Rieker. A painting of a pioneer mother huddled by a small fire, one child at each side and another on her lap. This oil painting took me in and brought me to tears even before I read the story behind it. On the trek westward in the bitter winter, many pioneers died along the way, including Elizabeth’s husband. The men who were left became too weak to even pitch tents. As a weary Elizabeth and her children gathered close to the fire, she fell asleep. Her husband appeared to her in a dream saying, "Cheer up, Elizabeth; deliverance is at hand." Very soon after the dream, a rescue party arrived bringing food and supplies and guided the exhausted travelers to their new home in the west.

--A carved wood sculpture by artist Louie Kinyon titled, "In the Hand of the Lord," depicts a small pioneer handcart resting in the cup of a protecting hand.

--"Sarah & Isaac", by Scott Snow. An oil painting of the lined and aged Sarah, marveling at her newborn son, Isaac.

--"Peace, Not as the World Giveth," by Michael Malm . This oil painting depicts one of the wise virgins with the flame from her lighted oil lamp reflecting on her face. Stunning use of light in this painting.

Spend a couple of hours in this museum, enjoying excellent, uplifting art and artifacts from the pioneer history of the west. Admission is free.