Temple Square is the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City at 50 North Temple. Entry is free. You can walk the grounds on your own or join a free guided tour led by volunteers. The domed Tabernacle, the Gothic Revival Assembly Hall and the visitor centers are all on site. The Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece, but it is not open to the general public. Flower beds fill the grounds in spring and summer, and lights and nativities take over in winter.
Why the city centers on this block
When Brigham Young led pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, he chose a spot at the mouth of City Creek Canyon for the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church is still based there. Salt Lake City was laid out on a grid around the site, and the Brigham Young Monument on the square marks the zero point for the city's street numbering.
The church owns the complex, and visitors of any faith are welcome to walk the grounds.
The buildings on the square
The Salt Lake Temple stands at the center. Construction was finished in 1893 and took about 40 years. The stone came from the nearby Wasatch range. The Temple has six spires and a statue of the angel Moroni, and weekly meetings of the church's governing bodies are held inside. It is not open to the general public and is a sacred destination for members of the faith. Visitors can see it from the grounds.
The Tabernacle dates from the 1860s, and the Assembly Hall, a Gothic Revival building, from 1882. The Beehive House was built in 1853. The Conference Center, finished in 2000, is the newest large building nearby. Statues around the grounds show scenes from the life of Christ and from church history. The Seagull Monument and the Pioneer Memorial Museum are also on the square.
The Family History Library is across a street from the square. It is the largest genealogy library in the world.
The Tabernacle and its choir
The Tabernacle is a domed auditorium built so that sound carries cleanly. A pin dropped at the pulpit can be heard from the far end of the hall. Its organ has 11,623 pipes.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square rehearses and performs here. The weekly Music and the Spoken Word broadcast has gone out on Sundays since 1929, with a live broadcast at 9:30 am, and anyone can attend without paying. On Thursday evenings the choir rehearses. People outside the building can sometimes hear it through the walls.
The Assembly Hall nearby holds free organ recitals at noon each day.
Gardens and the winter lights
The grounds hold around 250 flower beds, more than 165,000 bedding plants and over 700 plant varieties from around the world. Hundreds of volunteers replant the beds every six months. Fountains, reflecting pools, shaded benches and open lawns make it easy to stay a while, and families often spend time on the grass.
From Thanksgiving until the new year the trees are covered in lights and the grounds hold nativities. Paper lanterns are also part of the display.
Tours, visitor centers and where to eat
Guided tours are free and led by volunteers, including young missionaries. They are offered in around 30 languages. The North and South Visitors' Centers explain the history of the church and the city through interactive exhibits. The South center has a cross-section view of the Temple. Printed maps are available on site.
The LDS Church History Museum, a children's museum and the Family Discovery Center are also in the complex, though what is open changes during renovation work. At the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building you can see over the city for free, and the Roof Restaurant and Garden Restaurant are in the same building. City Creek Center, an indoor and outdoor shopping center, is just across South Temple.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee for Temple Square?
No. Visiting the grounds is free, and so are the guided tours. The Tabernacle Choir's Sunday broadcast is also free to attend.
Can you go inside the Salt Lake Temple?
No. The Temple is not open to the general public and is reserved for members of the church. You can see it from the grounds, and many of the other buildings and visitor centers are open to everyone.
When can you hear the Tabernacle Choir?
The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings, and visitors can sit in for part of it. The Music and the Spoken Word broadcast is held on Sundays, with a live broadcast at 9:30 am.
Where do you park at Temple Square?
There is metered street parking and an underground garage. Tickets for the garage can be validated when you take a tour or visit a museum, which makes parking free.
Do you need to book a tour?
Free guided tours are offered, and booking ahead is recommended for the guided tour below the visitor center. You can also explore on your own, using the printed maps on site.
