MORMONS AND THE SALT LAKE CITY IN UTAH (USA)
In North America, during the early 1800s, many people led by Joseph Smith embraced a new creed in Christianity which emphasised visions, dreams, and what they called spiritual gifts. The sect headed by Joseph Smith who, as they believed, had a vision of Jesus in a forest sometime in 1820. The sect later came to be known as Mormons or members of the 'Church of Latter Day Saints'. The followers of this Church believe that the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus through Joseph Smith brought light and truth to a world in darkness. Joseph Smith also translated the ancient Book of Mormon. The Mormons believe that Joseph Smith had many interactions with Moroni, the heavenly messenger. They believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost as distinct beings, and they consider the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and other scriptures to be the word of God. Core beliefs include eternal families, modern prophets, and salvation through faith in Jesus and righteous living. Adherents follow the "Word of Wisdom," a health code that advises against alcohol, tobacco, and coffee/tea. They accept the Bible and supplement it with additional scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon states, “Black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). This is the Church’s official teaching. People of all races have always been welcomed and baptised into the Church since its beginning. In fact, by the end of his life in 1844, Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opposed slavery..
Joseph Smith married Emma Hale in 1827. Joseph Smith organised the Church of Christ in Pennsylvania in 1830 for his followers, baptising them, including his parents. The sect of 'Latter Day Saints' moved to Missouri. However, in Missouri, they were officially exterminated by the order of the Governor calling them enemies. Many Latter-day Saints were killed by militiamen. Joseph Smith and many of his followers were put in Jail. After being directed to move away to some other area, Joseph Smith and his followers shifted to Illinois. They named this new place Nauvoo and built their Temple. However, here again the sect faced violent attacks. In 1846, the Latter Day Saints community started leaving Illinois. Finally, they arrived at a desert in Utah and created Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by a group of Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The early Mormons were fleeing religious persecution in the eastern United States, especially from Illinois and Missouri. They were in search of some remote place where they could practice their religion freely without any hostility. Brigham Young found Utah an ideal place, and the fleeing Mormon caravan settled in this area. They began building Salt Lake City immediately upon arrival in July 1847.
In Salt Lake City (Utah), the Mormons started from agriculture and transformed this arid zone into a bowl of cash crops. Later, they invested in industries and mining. The Temple Square created in the heart of Salt Lake City has a Museum, Church ( under repairs at present ), a huge Choir house, a Park, Statues and a library. While the grounds are open to the public, the temple building itself is currently closed for seismic renovation and can only be entered by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons.
THE TEMPLE SQUARE IN SALT LAKE CITY
Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the spiritual\ and historical heart of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and it's also one of Utah’s most visited tourist destinations.. The Temple Square has the Iconic granite temple, built over 40 years (1853–1893). On the day of our visit, the Temple was under extensive renovation, so entry for visitors was closed. We were told that renovations shall be completed in May or June 2026. We also visited the Tabernacle, the home of the renowned Tabernacle Choir (formerly Mormon Tabernacle Choir).
There was a pin drop silence inside, and we were told that free organ recitals and sometimes choir rehearsals are open to the public.
Another building that we saw in the Temple Square is the Assembly Hall, a beautiful Gothic-style building completed in 1882. and used for concerts, devotionals, and public events. This building is surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. Another building worth seeing is the Conference Centre. It is a spacious, modern building that seats 21,000+ people. It is used for the annual General Conference. It has beautiful artwork, a rooftop garden, and free guided tours.
One of the impressive and most visited buildings in the Temple Square is the Church History Museum, which houses Interactive and informative exhibits about LDS Church history, pioneer life, and more.
Opposite to the Museum is the FamilySearch Library (formerly Family History Library), a world-renowned centre for genealogy research. The massive digital and microfilm records are there to trace one's family tree.
A team of helpful volunteers and staff guide the visitors in uploading and searching. Then there are the Temple Square Gardens, which are full of seasonal flowers, fountains, and shaded walkways.
Apart from these structures, the Temple Square has statues and monuments connected with the Church of Latter-day Saints.
(Salt Lake City )
(Salt Lake City )
During the days of our visit, in the last week of August 2025, a conference of youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was in progress in Salt Lake City. We saw the young and smiling participants from all corners of the world in Salt Lake City. We saw them in restaurants, on the streets, in parks, museums, and at other public spaces.
The city was laid out using a grid system, centred around Temple Square. It took them 40 years to complete the buildings in Temple Square. They built irrigation systems, farms, and roads, transforming the arid desert into a livable and thriving area.
Temple Square originally referred to the single square block on which the temple stood, but today it refers to a 35-acre area, including the original block in which with the Temple, Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, and Visitors Centers are located; the city block to the east—the site of several historic residences, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the Relief Society Building and Church Office Building; and areas to the north and west where the Museum of Church History And Art, the Family Search Library, and the Conference Centre are located. In 2001, the original Temple Square block was connected to the block due east by a pedestrian plaza that includes a reflecting pool. The Church History Museum is the premier museum operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is opposite the west gates of the church's Temple Square.The museum contains collections of art, artifacts, documents, photographs, tools, clothing and furniture from the almost two-century history of the LDS Church. It was dedicated and opened on April 4, 1984.
Salt Lake City became the headquarters of the LDS Church and the cultural heart of Mormonism. Today, it’s the capital of Utah and a major city in the western U.S., with a diverse population and economy beyond its religious roots.
( Avtar Mota)
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