Christmas is a time of giving, renewed devotion, hope, snow, festive songs and lights. And Christmas lights are a renowned specialty at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
The lights on Temple Square — lit this year on Nov. 27 — have been a tradition for decades.
In 1965, David O. McKay, then-president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asked arborist J. Leland Behunin to pioneer the project of stringing Christmas lights on Temple Square.
Nearly 15,000 people attended the first “Lighting of Temple Square,” according to a 2011 Deseret News article. When President McKay touched the button to turn on the 40,000 lights, the Deseret News reported that “a mighty aah of appreciation went up from the crowd.”
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On that historic occasion, President McKay said, “Our minds tonight should be on the babe of Bethlehem, whose coming into the world Christmas morning reminds us all that we each should have in our hearts the love of Christ.”
From 1965-1982, Behunin and his son, Ben, wrapped the Temple Square trees in Christmas lights. The church took over the undertaking after that.
Over the years, millions have enjoyed the atmosphere the lights create on Temple Square during the Christmas season.
Click through to see pictures of the lights on Temple Square through the years.
1965
President McKay speaks briefly after turning on the Christmas lights for the first time in 1965. At left is his counselor, President N. Eldon Tanner. | Deseret News archives
Following the lighting ceremony, the crowd fills the Tabernacle to capacity for a performance of the Christmas opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” | Deseret News archives
Crowds fill Temple Square on Dec. 9, 1965. | Deseret News archives
Viewing their handiwork at Temple Square are electricians Ned Huntsman, left, and Rudy Kaufmann. | Deseret News archives
A decorated Temple Square gate greets the crowd of thousands attending the lighting ceremony and Christmas opera. | Deseret News archives
Three wise men are displayed on Temple Square grounds on Dec. 22, 1965. | Deseret News Archives
One of the evening’s highlights was the appearance of the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choir sang several traditional holiday songs, and the thousands on hand for the lighting ceremony joined in one of the carols. | Deseret News archives
One of the biggest throngs ever gathered on Temple Square was on hand to see the grounds turned into a dazzling Christmas wonderland. At left is a life-size manger scene, which is part of the display, and in the background is the Tabernacle Choir. | Deseret News archives
1966
Edgar Larsen, left, and Ned Huntsman arrange Christmas lights and cables at the Seagull Monument in 1966. | Deseret News archives
Mary and Joseph are greeted by the innkeeper in a scene on Temple Square, Dec. 17, 1966. | J.M. Heslop, Deseret News archives
Lights glow at the second annual Christmas lights ceremony on Temple Square on Dec. 17, 1966. | Deseret News archives
The Seagull Monument and temple all aglow on Dec. 17, 1966, the second year of lights on Temple Square. | Deseret News archives
1967
Ben Behunin goes out on a limb to place Christmas lights on the tree next to the Salt Lake Temple in the fall of 1967. | Deseret News archives
Temple Square sparkles with 100,000 lights and Bethlehem scenes of Christ’s birth on Dec. 9, 1967. | Deseret News archives
Late 1960s
A cherry-picking machine helped J. Leland and Ben Behunin place Christmas lights on the tall trees at Temple Square in the late 1960s. | Deseret News Archives
1976
The recreation of the Christ child lying in a manger on Temple Square on Dec. 4, 1976. | Deseret News archives
1978
Christmas lights glow on Temple Square on Dec. 2, 1978. | Deseret News archives
1978
The Jay Thelin family admires the statue honoring the handcart pioneers, which is illuminated by the Christmas lights on Temple Square on Dec. 2, 1978. | Deseret News archives
1983
The Temple Square lighting ceremony held on Dec. 18, 1983, included exhibits inside the visitors center. Here, Jenny Cannon, 4, and her brother, Danny, 8, look at a Christmas tree. | Paul Barker, Deseret News archives
Christmas lights flood a snowy Temple Square with the holiday spirit on Nov. 27, 1983. | Deseret News archives
President Ezra Taft Benson and his wife, Flora, sit with other LDS Church leaders at the opening of the lights on Temple Square in December 1983. | Deseret News archives
1997
While a few autumn leaves cling to their branches on Oct. 24, 1997, Jacob Helmstetler of Rose Park hangs white Christmas lights on a tree on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It takes about two months for Helmstetler and other workers to hang the approximately 800,000 lights on the trees. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News archives
1998
The Christus on Temple Square during Christmas. | Tom Smart, Deseret News archives
The Christmas lights illuminate Temple Square on Nov. 29, 1998. | Chuck Wing, Deseret News archives
2000
The plaza next to Temple Square is decorated with Christmas lights Dec. 4, 2000. | Tom Smart, Deseret News archives
The plaza next to Temple Square is decorated with Christmas lights on Dec. 4, 2000. | Tom Smart, Deseret News Archives
2001
Christmas lights illuminate Temple Square on Dec. 7, 2001. | Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News archives
Christmas lights illuminate Temple Square on Dec. 7, 2001. | Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News archives
2002
Temple Square groundskeeper Kathryn Brown strings lights on trees planted along the Main Street Plaza on Oct. 3, 2002. | Keith Johnson, Deseret News archives
2003
The Christmas lights at Temple Square and the LDS Salt Lake Temple are seen with a long exposure zoom effect on Nov. 28, 2003. | Jeremy Harmon, Deseret News archives
2004
Jason VanWagenen, of Colorado, carries his son Dallin on his shoulders for a better view as they look at the lights on Temple Square during the Lights On celebrations in downtown Salt Lake City on Nov. 26, 2004. | Jason Olson, Deseret News archives
2005
Three-year-old Jacob Scheffner peeks inside a luminary outside the Church Office Building as he and other visitors gets their first look at the lights on Temple Square after they were turned on as part of a downtown Lights On celebration on Nov. 25, 2005. | Jason Olson, Deseret News archives
Visitors gets their first look at the lights on Temple Square after they were turned on as part of a downtown Lights On celebration on Nov. 25, 2005. | Jason Olson, Deseret News archives
2006
This Nov. 24, 2006, picture captures the first day of the Christmas lights on Temple Square for the 2006 season. | Tom Smart, Deseret News
Visitors to Temple Square take in the Christmas lights surrounding the Salt Lake Temple on Nov. 24, 2006. | Tom Smart, Deseret News
2007
Christmas lights shine on Temple Square on Dec. 2, 2007, in Salt Lake City. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News archives
2008
The church’s Christmas light display on Temple Square traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas season. Hundreds of thousands of lights beckon to visitors who have made visiting the display part of their Christmas tradition. | Tom Smart, Deseret News
Holiday lights shine around Temple Square. | Tom Smart, Deseret News
2009
One of the Nativity scenes at Temple Square on Nov. 27, 2009. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News archives
One of the Nativity scenes at Temple Square on Nov. 27, 2009. | Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News
2010
Sister missionaries stand and look at the temple amid the Christmas lights on Temple Square on Nov. 26, 2010. Thousands of visitors walk the grounds of the temple each year to see the Nativity scene and enjoy the Christmas lights. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Months of preparation and countless lights contribute to the holiday decorations on Temple Square. Visitors from around the world gather each year to celebrate the season and focus on the Savior. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
2011
Larry Smithee hangs Christmas lights near the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Oct. 26, 2011. In the background is the Salt Lake Temple. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
Downtown visitors walk through the Christmas lights on Nov. 25, 2011. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Downtown visitors walk through the Christmas lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 25, 2011. | Ravell Call, Deseret News archives
2012
Christmas lights at Temple Square on Nov. 23, 2012. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News archives
The Christmas lights are turned on at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 23, 2012. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News archives
Christmas lights at Temple Square on Nov. 23, 2012. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News archives
2013
Spectators come out to watch as the Temple Square lights are turned on for the first time for the 2013 season on Nov. 29, 2013. | Matt Gade, Deseret News archives
Spectators come out to watch as the Temple Square lights are turned on for the first time for the 2013 season on Nov. 29, 2013. | Matt Gade, Deseret News Archives
2014
Pedestrians check out the lights on the trees at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 28, 2014. Putting up the lights takes approximately four months. Full-time grounds employees and temporary workers, along with hundreds of volunteers, began preparing holiday decor on the first day of August 2014. | Hugh Carey, Deseret News
Pedestrians check out the lights on the trees at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 28, 2014. | Hugh Carey, Deseret News
2015
Temple Square missionaries sing hymns as Christmas lights shine for the first time this season at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 27, 2015. | Chris Samuels, Deseret News
The Salt Lake Temple is seen amid Christmas lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Nov. 27, 2015. | Chris Samuels, Deseret News
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