Temple Square

Overview

Temple Square is a complex in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, serving as the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Centered on the Salt Lake Temple, it includes the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, and visitor centers. Founded in 1847 after Latter-day Saint pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Temple Square is the spiritual and administrative center of the Latter-day Saint tradition.

Present

Temple Square functions as the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an active center of worship and administration. The Conference Center hosts General Conference, the church's semiannual worldwide assembly, broadcast internationally. The interior of the Salt Lake Temple is reserved for church members holding a temple recommend, a certification of standing in the faith. The temple is undergoing a comprehensive multi-year renovation, including seismic strengthening of the structure.

Religious Significance

Temple Square is the most prominent site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and home of the Salt Lake Temple. Latter-day Saints believe that Joseph Smith (1805–1844), the founder of the church, restored the original church of Jesus Christ, which they hold had fallen into apostasy, a loss of divine authority, after the death of Jesus's apostles. Temples serve purposes distinct from regular meetinghouses: they are where Latter-day Saints perform sacred ordinances, including celestial marriage (the sealing of families for eternity), baptism on behalf of deceased ancestors, and the endowment, a ceremony of instruction and covenant-making. Only members in good standing may enter a temple. The Salt Lake Tabernacle, completed in 1867, is home to the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, which performs weekly broadcasts and tours internationally.

History & Structure

Latter-day Saint pioneers led by Brigham Young, who headed the church after the death of its founder Joseph Smith, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, and within days designated the site of Temple Square as the location for a temple. Construction of the Salt Lake Temple began in 1853 and continued for 40 years, slowed by limited resources, the Utah War (an armed confrontation between the church and the United States government in 1857–1858), and the challenges of quarrying and transporting granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon. The temple was completed and dedicated in 1893. The Tabernacle was built between 1864 and 1867, and the Assembly Hall in 1882. The FamilySearch Library, opened in 1985 as the Family History Library, provides public access to the church's genealogical collections.

Resources

• Official website: Church of Jesus Christ: Temple Square
• Book: The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith by Matthew Bowman (2012)