Historically US 89 wrapped around Temple Square in Salt Lake City as State Street on the west side and North Temple Street on the north. The route has been changed in recent years so if you stay on the marked route you will pass a couple of blocks to the west of the Salt Lake Temple. As soon as you see the spires, start looking for a parking space and plan to spend an hour or so at the heart of the Mormon church.
When Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, having lead the Latter-day Saints through the wilderness and many hardships, he selected a plot of ground and directed that a temple be built. The site was dedicated in 1853 with the laying of a cornerstone. Forty years to the day later, the temple was completed in 1893.
The Salt Lake Temple, like all Mormon temples, is considered to be sacred space and is only open to members of the faith so no public tours inside the temple are conducted. Other buildings on Temple Square include the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the LDS Conference Center and the Salt Lake Tabernacle where the world-famous Tabernacle Choir performs. Tours of Temple Square are conducted by missionaries and volunteers and are available at anytime from 9 am to 9 pm every day.
One of the best parts of spending time in Temple Square is people watching. Weddings happen everyday in the Temple, so brides and grooms can be seen posing for pictures among the beautiful gardens. As the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, people from many nations come to Salt Lake City to visit and attend to church business. And they all seem to wander among the gardens and statues in awe of the place.
Temple Square
To find your way to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, go to the Spanish Fork to Brigham City Road Trip Guide.
