Salt Lake City Temple Square Lights

The weather has been unseasonably warm here in Idaho and Utah. We decided that since we didn't have a storm or snowy roads we would make a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah. I haven't been back to SLC since I moved over 10 years ago. I really miss visiting Temple Square to look at all of the beautiful lights and to feel the spirit of Christmas through our Savior Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City is only 3 hours away from Pocatello, which seems so much closer when you are on the eastern side of Idaho verses from Boise. Away we drove on Saturday afternoon arriving in SLC about 3:00 PM. We checked into a small hotel, The Metropolitan Inn for only $58 for 3 adults and 1 child. It wasn't deluxe but would do on a small budget.

After we checked into the hotel we went for a walk around a couple of blocks. Our hotel was only 6 blocks away from Temple square, so it is downtown. I haven't been to SLC since they had the Olympics or added light rail system. The freeway was quite different, but I found my way around OK. There was a ton of traffic because they were having a Jazz game that night.

We ordered Pizza to the hotel for dinner and then decided to drive down to temple square. That was probably a mistake because the traffic was so very busy. We could have walked there in the amount of time it took us to drive 6 blocks and find a parking lot only 1 block away.
We arrived to the beautiful Temple square. Oh how it makes my heart leap for joy to be able visit again. I LOVE it and have really missed the Christmas feeling you get when you visit this sacred place.

The lights are awesome! There is so much to see that you don't even know what to look at first. There were LOTS and LOTS of people everywhere. It was definitely the place to be.

This tree of lights is between Temple square and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. This is the first thing we saw as we walked down the street. Here is Brady and Sondra posing for a picture by the tree of lights.

We listened to the nativity story. It really brings the true message of Christmas to light. The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is the meaning for the season and listening to the story told so beautifully is a wonderful way to start the season.


By this time, my children were not happy at all that I wanted to take pictures. I hate to keep begging, but one day they will be happy that I documented these memories. I didn't get to many pictures because they wouldn't let me - plus it was pretty crazy with so many people around.


We went towards the visitor center to see the Christis. Sharon is not LDS so I told her about what we believe. I probably over did it, but the gospel means so much to me. Hopefully she felt the spirit in being there and it didn't freak her out too much.
I love being in the Christis room, the spirit is so very strong. It's been such a long time since I've been there! I love it! There were tons of people there though - a little too crowded for my liking, but we still had a seat to sit in and they were reverent as they played several scriptures from the bible - Jesus' life.

Next we went to the Conference Center across the street. I've never seen it in real life - I moved away before it was built. It is seriously huge! Jason and Sharon were VERY tired of walking around, so they let us sit in the seats to rest. We arrived too late to take a tour - which was kind of sad - but we were able to sit at the top of the first level (not the balcony). It is just awesome. Someday I hope to attend when General Conference is going on.

This is the Joseph Smith statue in the Conference Center. We didn't make it to the Joseph Smith Memorial building because my kids were toooo tired..
Outside the Conference Center looking on to the temple. It was such a great view I couldn't resist taking pictures. Jason took this one of Sharon, Sondra and Brady.

I told Sharon and Jason this was the spot to get married.. They could do it in one year. They needed to make it a goal.. They just looked at me and rolled their eyes. I have to put in the plug when I can. I'd love it if they would get married in the Temple - it's a huge dream - but I am still going to dream it.

Our little eternal family behind the temple where it all started. I loved being there. It was a short trip but a good opportunity to go with such nice weather!!