SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one year into its massive renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square, which is expected to continue until 2024.
At this point, everything on the north and south sides of the historic temple has been demolished and removed, leaving the pioneer foundation exposed.
What does that mean for the annual display of Christmas lights and other traditional Temple Square activities during the holiday season in Salt Lake City?
With limited public access, the church hopes a virtual celebration of the Savior’s birth will still provide the desired inspirational experience.
Public access to Temple Square and church buildings will be closed with the ongoing construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, but the seasonal lights will turn on in the evening after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, according to a church statement.
Lights will also be turned on at temples in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
With the plaza fenced off and the gates closed, the Temple Square lights will only be viewable from surrounding roads and exterior city sidewalks. The church encourages those walking by to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Only those driving by in vehicles will be able to view the lights in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Although restricted, sister missionaries serving on Temple Square will host a virtual event that includes a guided tour of the Christmas lights. This event will be broadcast live on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the Temple Square Facebook page on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. This program will be published in 11 languages and available for viewing on demand after the live broadcast.
The First Presidency Christmas Devotional will be broadcast from Temple Square on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m., with Christmas messages by church leaders. The program will also feature previous musical recordings of The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. A livestream of the devotional will be available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
From Dec. 2-23, Christmas musical performances submitted from around the world will be broadcast from Temple Square. These concerts will be broadcast in English but include songs in other languages. The broadcasts can be viewed primarily on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on Tuesday and Friday evenings on the Temple Square Facebook page, starting at 6 p.m.
As previously reported, the Tabernacle Choir will air its 2019 Christmas concert featuring Tony Award-winning star Kelli O’Hara and actor Richard Thomas. Visit the choir’s website for viewing information during December.
Other Christmas activities during the month include:
- “Piping Up: Organ Concerts at Temple Square,” a live concert series with the Tabernacle organists streamed live on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon on YouTube, ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the choir’s website.
- Sing along and serve along with some well-known musicians on Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. Find the stream at ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Temple Square Facebook page.
- “Music and the Spoken Word,” which airs every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Tabernacle Choir channels. There will be a Christmas special each Sunday from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20.
