Did you know that the LDS temple in Salt Lake City is Utah's number one tourist attraction? Sites such as U.S. News & World Report and Planetware.com rank it as the number one place to visit in the Beehive State. ForbesTraveler.com ranked it one of the top 25 attractions in the entire country. This might come as a surprise to some, especially since visitors can't actually view the inside of the temple (this fact is often a surprise to tourists).
If you're Mormon, (with a temple recommend), you've probably visited the temple itself. If you're not Mormon, Temple Square might still be worth a visit - it's an integral part of Utah's history, and the grounds really are quite amazing.
The Salt Lake Temple was dedicated in 1893.
It took the pioneers 40 years to build the Salt Lake Temple - several others in Utah were completed first.
You can't go into the temple itself unless you're an "active" Mormon with a temple recommend.
But you can stroll through Temple Square and the surrounding gardens.
Visitors can learn more about the LDS Church and its history at the Visitors' Center
It's open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.
The tulips in the spring are gorgeous.
The reflecting pond is a pretty spot, especially in summer months.
The fountains are cool on a hot summer's day.
Temple Square employs seven full-time gardeners.
The grounds include 250 flower beds, with more than 165,000 plants.
Assembly Hall was completed in 1882, at a cost of $90,000.
It seats 1,400 people. Visitors to Temple Square can often hear free concerts in this historic building.
Fall at Temple Square is stunning.
Fewer tourists mean a more quiet stroll through the fall foliage of the gardens.
The grounds are beautiful at Christmas.
More than 300,000 lights adorn the trees and grounds during the holiday season.
Have you visited Temple Square?
Only 60 percent of Utah's population is Mormon - there are many other religions here, too! For some other amazing cathedrals and churches in our state - check out this article!
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