Building (JSMB) where we work, we turned north to see these figures.
Here again is the reflecting pool below the temple. You'll recall the daytime photo of this
same pool I showed you at the beginning of Page 1. Notice the lights floating on the water.
We turned briefly in the opposite direction to see more of these figures.
Someone in the crowd had told us of these nativity scenes from around the world. This
one looks like it came from south of the border.
... and this one looks distinctly African.
There these lamp baskets placed along the walls everywhere. These were metal. Some
were paper and had holiday greetings imprinted on them from many languages all around
the world.
We turned west to see this plaza decorated in the shadow of the temple's east face.
As we passed by the gardens surrounding the JSMB, this rose caught our eye. It's
amazing to me these and other flowers can withstand such cold weather over short
periods of time. With the weather getting down in the 20s and teens soon, the flower
may not be with us long. Still, it managed to stick around to bring a little joy to temple
square visitors there to see the Christmas lights.
Inside the JSMB was this huge decorated Christmas tree.
I'm not sure how tall the tree is but you can see it goes all the way up to the Mezzanine.
That's gotta be at least 20 feet or more.
Outside once again, we caught sight of Santa riding in a horse drawn coach.
Here are three such coaches waiting to carry passengers on a slow tour around the block.
South of temple square toward the more commercial part of town, we saw these blue trees.
We've never figured out where these red lines came from 'til yet. My best guess is it's a
light from some store window somehow reflecting off the camera lens.
Here's a rare night shot of the well-lit Joseph Smith building where we work. The JSMB
is 10 floors high topped with two nice restaurants. It also houses space for receptions,
business conventions, a ground level sandwich shop, and lots of office space for the
employees and missionary volunteers (like us) in the Family and Church History Dept. We
work on the third floor west, facing the temple. Our windows are beyond this photo to
the left, the highest windows visible on that side.
These street musicians were caroling. Their guitar strumming was very simple, as was
their harmony. The familiar lyrics were fitting to the occasion and their talents well
appreciated.
As we turned we got this really neat photo of Trax, the electric powered street car seen
throughout the city. They replaced these type electric cars many years ago where I came
from. Now only gas burning buses are used.
Some business had these massive revolving snow flakes displayed on the side of their
building.
Then we turned north once more to re-enter temple square through the south gate.
As we passed the Assembly Hall again, I felt something I've felt many times. I so
appreciate being a member of the Salt Lake 2nd branch which is part of the Salt Lake
Stake. Being a history hobbiest, I've had the pleasure of enjoying few things as much
as actually being a member of the oldest stake in the church.
The Salt Lake stake recently celebrated it's 160th anniversary here. We were there for the
semi-annual stake conference held in this historic building a few weeks ago. The history
of the Salt Lake Stake is tightly interwoven with the history of the pioneers in this valley.
Although the stake was organized a few weeks after the saints arrived in 1847, it would
be nearly 2 years before the first wards would be organized. Even then, for decades
thereafter, Sunday meetings continued to be held on this spot in the old tabernacle or in
one of the many boweries built here in those early years.
I should also mention that, being from the south, I used to feel a bit left out. I used to
think all the early pioneers were from the northeast. But the first bowery built on this
spot was erected by Captain Brown's soldiers belonging to the Mormon Batallion. History
records that Captain Brown's men entered the valley Thursday morning, July 29th, 1847.
Accompanying the Mormon Battalion were a group of saints from Mississippi and Alabama
who had wintered with the soldiers in Pueblo, Colorado. The Tuscaloosa Ward in Alabama
is the area, according to one LDS historian, where some of these saints came from. This
ward is part of my home stake. So saints from Tuscaloosa can proudly proclaim that the
first converts from their area were also some of the first to enter the Salt Lake Valley, arriving
there less than a week after Brigham Young's pioneer company.
We walked down the north side of the Assembly Hall to view the Nauvoo Bell near the
west wall. The bell was rescued from the mob who had captured the Nauvoo temple after
driving the saints from their homes in 1845 and '46. It was brought here where it now
chimes each hour during the day.
The west corner of the historic Tabernacle came into our view as we turned to the right.
Construction was begun on this building in 1863. It was partially completed enough in
time for the October 1867 general conference. The building is 150 feet wide, 250 feet
long and 80 feet high. The roof was originally covered with wooden shingles, replaced
by tin about 50 years later, now surfaced in aluminum.
The acoustics of the dome are so fine you can clearly hear a pin drop 200 feet from the
podium. It was my great pleasure to sing from the choir seats where the Tabernacle
Choir sits. I joined my paltry voice with our mission choir, the Elijah Choir there a few
weeks ago. Though the Tabernacle Choir took it's name from this building, the choir
was organized many years prior to it's construction. The choir now boasts the longest
continuous radio program in the United States.
As we exited temple square we got one last significant photo, these bags were placed over
every parking meter near temple square. Now THAT'S the way to celebrate the season!
As we neared the end of our day, we got this one last photograph of the trees around
the conference center. The conference center was built about 10 years ago and covers
the same space as all the buildings on temple square combined. The young trees so
beautifully display the direction the church is growing in. As the new and massive
conference center faces the aging temple square, it's young trees betray how new the
church is to most of its current members. But these young trees can almost get shade
from the blazing desert sun. Some of that shade could be coming from the well rooted
trees on temple square which protects a guarded position right next door.
As we depart the festive atmosphere of the evening of lights on temple square, let's not
forget the main theme. Recall the first thing we saw inside temple square were the orient
kings enroute to the manger scene depicting the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Like those eastern noblemen, we too should consider the reason for the season. We can
tell our children and grandchildren what the gifts mean and which gift was greatest, the
gift of a little newborn child sent from the bosom of God Almighty to save to the world.