Eldon Cannon, grounds manager at Temple Square, took time during the Christmas light preparation season to answer questions about the lights on Temple Square.
Q: Why are there no lights on the temple?
A: Our charge from senior church leaders is to use the lights and other ornamental elements to beautify Temple Square as opposed to illuminating the temple itself.
Q: Have you ever considered placing lights around the Tabernacle? Its windows? The Assembly Hall?
A: Actually, there are lights placed on the Tabernacle. On each of the sandstone pillars we install a welded metal framework that resembles a tree branch. Strands of lights are tightly wound (around) this structure accentuating its organic form. We’ve found this to be a very tasteful way to add lights to the building while maintaining a natural, rather than geometric display of the lights.
Q: How many lights are there on Temple Square and in the Plaza?
A: Cannon says the actual amount is not known. "We have thousands of strands of lights and each of those strands have about 25 bulbs per strand, and so if somebody wants to do the math, they can figure some of that out." For example, he estimated the number of lights on the Cedar of Lebanon that sits near the east gate to the Salt Lake Temple has had 75,000 lights on that tree alone.
Q: Is it true they used to cut the lights off the trees? Do they just uncoil them now?
A: I’m not entirely sure how the lights were removed in times past, but we simply uncoil them. Even if we cut the strands, some measure of unraveling would be required which must be done carefully to protect the bark and new spring growth of the tree. When removing the lights, we are very cognizant of protecting tree health.
Q: Where are there still incandescent lights?
A: Incandescent lights can still be found in a few locations around church headquarters. I believe there are still some larger incandescent bulbs near the Church Office Building Plaza. However, with the color quality and tone our suppliers are able to provide, they are very difficult to distinguish these lights from the LED lights without a close inspection of the bulb. Within a few more years, all of the incandescent bulbs will have been replaced with LED lights through our regular replacement schedule.
Q: What role do the lights on Temple Square play in furthering the missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
A: We hope the lights remind visitors of our devotion to Jesus Christ and contribute to each visitor's experience in reflecting on the life, mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ at Christmastime.
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