Temple Square

Mention Salt Lake City and the first thing most people think of is the Mormon church. The Olympics changed this to some degree, but the gothic spires of the LDS Temple are still the most recognized landmark in the city.

Construction began in 1853, just six years after the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. It took workers and artisans 40 years to build it, at a final cost of $8 million which was a simply astronomical sum at the time. The architect was Truman Angell who was the church architect and one of the original pioneers. He also designed the Lion and Beehive houses (Residences for Brigham Young and his family), the territorial statehouse and the St. George Temple.

The temple is 210' tall at it's highest point and it's granite clad walls are 9 ft thick at the base. The center tower is topped with a statue of the angel Moroni. The sculpture was done by Paris-trained sculptor, Cyrus E. Dallin. Though born in Utah, Dallin was not Mormon and had turned down the initial offer to do the sculpture. He later changed his mind and it has since become one of the more famous works from a very prolific sculptor.

Temple Square is also the location of the Church office building and genealogical library, assembly hall, the relief society building, Main St. Plaza and the Tabernacle, home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Useful links: http://www.visittemplesquare.com/ , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_architecture_(Latter-day_Saints), http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/saltlake/


	Various Images of the temple above The Church Office Building during the Olympics.


	Above: Main Street Plaza at Chirstmas. They truly deck Temple Sqaure out for Christmas. Assembly Hall Below: These guys were getting into it. Sort of a Mormon glee club.