“Experience Holiday Sights, Sounds, & Lights.”
December brings holiday lights, sights and sounds to Salt Lake City. Excitement of the incredible music of The Tabernacle Choir, high school choral groups singing in Temple Square, and the lights around the city, easily create holiday and Christmas cheer. As first time visitors, we are excited to experience the sights, sounds and lights of Salt Lake City. Our visit is to attend the Bat Mitzvah for the daughter of a young man, Richard, was a Big Brother to in the Big Brother Big Sister program in Tampa, Florida. This on-going relationship has reached a milestone of 45 years. Our multi-religious visit takes us to Temple Square to the infamous Tabernacle Choir to a Bat Mitzvah to the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
THE SIGHTS:
With sturdy walking shoes and winter coats we set off to Temple Square to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Temple Square encompasses 35 acres in downtown Salt Lake City. Stopping at the Assembly Hall, this charming building built in 1882, was the meeting hall for church members. Its design has a warm coziness with its white spires and stained-glass windows. A short walk from Assembly Hall is the Tabernacle, the home of The Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square and Bells on Temple Square. Rehearsals are held here for the Choir and Orchestra except in December. The building is designed to provide excellent sound for the music. Lucky for us an organist is practicing so we can appreciate the acoustics. A special feature here is the ceiling décor of the Sego Lily. The docent explains that the Sego Lily saved the Mormons when their crops failed. The Indians taught them to eat the Sego’s bulbous root, about the size of a walnut that is sweet and nutritious. It provided them the food they needed to survive until they were able to grow their own food.
Continuing our self-guided walking tour, we step into the North Visitors’ Center, where the massive 11 foot marble Christus statue is compelling. This amazing statue of Jesus Christ has the solar system in the background. Additionally, the interactive map of Jerusalem provides an education on the city in the time of Christ. With Christmas at hand many of the paintings in the art galleries feature a variety of excellent Nativity paintings. While we attempt to visit, the Conference Center it is closed due to the upcoming Christmas performance of The Tabernacle Choir. A massive building the Conference Center has an auditorium that seats 21,000 people, a 7,708-pipe organ, and a 900 seat theatre. Amazing, the auditorium is the largest of its kind in the world and has no visible support columns. During the year the Auditorium is used for The Tabernacle Choir, concerts, Church meetings, and civic events. The Center also has extraordinary roof gardens with tours from April through October.
Walking around Temple Square we pass the immense and remarkable Salt Lake City Temple. The building, a vision of Brigham Young, took 40 years to complete. Astounding, church members were living in huts and sod houses, yet they had the vision and drive to see that this magnificent Temple be built. At the South Visitors’ Center, a docent explains that the Temple inside has different rooms and levels with each room representing the progression of mankind. A Temple “cut away” shows each level of the temple and its purpose. Prior to seeing this display we had assumed the Temple was like a church (cathedral) where it was basically all open space above the main floor. On the ground level is the baptismal font that has12 oxen under it representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The Creation room represents the Genesis creation story while the Garden room represents Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Terrestrial room and the Celestial room represent heaven. There is also an Ordinance room. On the top floors are the Sealing room, and a Holy of Holies. These two rooms are reserved for the administration of sacred ordinances such as baptisms and marriages. Now we better comprehend the significance of each room and levels and their meaning to the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. The Center also has interactive displays that help children (and adults) understand some of the philosophies and beliefs of the Latter Day Saints. Outside, we note that Temple Square is decked out for Christmas with a massive array of lights and life size manger scenes. A night walk is a must to view Temple Square in lights.
Scenic views of Temple Square and Salt Lake City await on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Next door is the Beehive House, the official residence of Brigham Young offering complimentary tours. Here our education on Brigham Young, the great colonizer of the American West, is expanded as the docent takes us through his office and home. She provides personal insight into Brigham Young, his family, his daily life and his visions. He had a strong love of music and even made musical instruments. The beehive is one of the most common and enduring symbols within Mormonism. It was adopted by the Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints in 1840. Accordingly, the Beehive House has a beehive icon on the roof. It is an official emblem for the state of Utah symbolizing industry, teamwork, and unity. The tour provides insight into the lives of Brigham Young during his lifetime, as well as, his family after his death.
It is all uphill to the Utah’s state capitol. On a cloudy day it is not as spectacular for photos but we thoroughly enjoy our self-guided tour of the building. The Visitor Area has excellent displays with historical information about the capitol building. Impressive to see the structure was redone recently to have it be able to sustain earthquakes. A few months after this visit, the area had an earthquake of a magnitude of 5.7. A Self-guide Brochure provides details on the building, its art, its history and more. For our visit we stroll the Hall of Governors, the amazing Rotunda that now has a huge and beautiful Christmas tree, featuring decorations special to the state. It even has a “beehive ornament.” We admire the Governor’s Suite, the House Chamber, as well as appreciate the murals, a cyclorama depicting 19th century Utah life, sculptures and more. With the Christmas holidays, a choral concert is scheduled so it is busy with arrival of a school choir and guests.
THE SOUNDS:
We have tickets to CHRISTMAS with THE TABERNACLE CHOIR! With only three Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concerts each December, we are thrilled to be attending. On Thursday evening, we arrive early to the Conference Center. IMPRESSIVE! Entering the massive 21,000 seat Auditorium is stunning and seeing it beautifully decked out for Christmas makes it inspiring. It is open seating by section. We locate Plaza 7 in the front left of the auditorium and select seats. The Auditorium is buzzing as attendees enter, locating their sections. An announcer welcomes us and explains that tonight’s concert is being recorded by PBS for a later showing. The lights dim, the orchestra begins to play “Star in the East,” as choir members slowly walk single file down the aisles, each holding a lighted (faux) candle. It is moving to hear and see the choir elegantly arrive on stage. The Christmas Program is a major production featuring Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas. Spectacular! The concert is an amazing continuous program of songs, dancing, readings, as well as, the Bells on Temple Square. The elegance of the dancers create a magical fairyland feeling. Absolutely fantastic! Everything is superb! Truly a fabulous Christmas concert. TIP: We are so thankful to have tickets to this coveted performance. Luckily, our friend was able to get tickets. There is a lottery system for tickets – with a million people seeking tickets for the 3 performances each holding 21,000 people. Attendees are required to be in their seats 30 minutes before the performance. Then, if seating is available, people willing to take their chances are allowed to come on walk-in basis.
The LIGHTS
The brightest and most remarkable phenomenon that happens in downtown Salt Lake City is when Temple Square comes alive with festive lights and decorations for the Christmas. Strolling through the Square, the number of lights is absolutely amazing. Every tree is decorated, every branch, each shrub, and more! It is truly a Christmas Lights Wonderland. The huge fountain in front of the Tabernacle has a beautiful Manger Scene. Everyone is snapping photos with the Smart Phones attempting to capture the moment and essence of the amazing lights. Buildings are outlined in lights and the Temple with its massive spotlights is a magnificent focal point.
THE BAT MITZVAH:
Welcome and Shabbat Shalom! On a snowy Saturday morning we arrive at Congregation Kol Ami where Hayden Garber is called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. We are excited to be a part of Hayden’s Bat Mitzah. In the Jewish tradition this is a time when Hayden makes the transition to a young adult member of the Jewish Community and assumes personal responsibility of carrying on her Jewish heritage. Rabbi Samuel Spector, shares details of the rites for those who are not Jewish. A Bat Mitzvah is an important ritual passing on Jewish knowledge and traditions from generation to generation. The Tallit Presentation begins the service as parents, Melissa and Mike Garber, present the Tallit (a shawl) to Hayden. Very touching moment as Hayden puts on the shawl “in honor of Lillian Garber, Hayden’s Great-grandmother.) Today, we watch Hayden and the members of her family as they participate in this beautiful service. We may not understand Hebrew, but are most impressed as Hayden reads the Torah. She has grown into an amazing young lady. Later it is fun time of celebration at “Up in the Clouds” for dinner and dance. A finale celebration of the Bat Mitzvah.
THE CATHEDRAL OF MADELEINE
Attending Sunday, 11:00AM Mass we, the Cathedral of Madeleine is impressive with its Romanesque exterior and Gothic interior. The Cathedral is a beautiful church that has a significant history in Salt Lake City and remains substantially the same today outside as it did upon completion in 1909. Then in 1917 the original plain interior was transformed. Inspired by the Spanish Gothic of the late Middle Ages it has colorful murals, the reredos shrine of St. Mary Magdalen. The Cathedral’s dramatic polychrome is evident throughout the building. For this service, the youth “children’s choir” proceeds in with the priest and is seated in the screened area behind the altar. Their beautiful voices and songs adding a special depth and aura to this December service.
Salt Lake City definitely shines during the Christmas Holidays. It is a fantastic visit to an impressive and amazing city, especially in December as the city is bright with Christmas lights, cheer, voices and fun. Visiting Temple Square to learn more about the Latter Day Saints, seeing the phenomenal Tabernacle Choir, taking in the magnificent Christmas lights, attending a special Bat Mitzvah and attending mass at the Cathedral of Madeleine make this a memorable trip.
If you go:
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, 15 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
www.monaco-saltlakecity.com
The hotel was selected for the function we were attending in Salt Lake City. The rooms were very nice and comfortable. Most impressive were the staff and their assistance on any issue with our stay. Location, Location, Location – it has it. Just a few blocks to Temple Square, on Main Street so close to TRAX, a block from City Creek Shopping and more. We found it convenient to all attractions we were wanting to see. They have a nice wine and cheese each afternoon. Well-appointed rooms with a rich feel and very comfortable. Easy to recommend for travelers to Salt Lake City. A very good restaurant and bar.