A couple pose for a photo amid a cluster of crimson lights; a woman crouches beside a child to point out a lifelike depiction of the Christ child's birth; a man stops to contemplate the pure white Christus statue; and sister missionaries usher a family into the glowing warmth of the Tabernacle to listen to renditions of familiar Christmas music. These are among the scenes observed as thousands gather on Church grounds to admire the hundreds of thousands of glittering lights blanketing the trees, shrubs and ground covers on Temple Square.
Over the years, the Church's Christmas lights display has become a beloved tradition to the community and a must-see for visitors. Brian and Robin Simmons said they bring their children every year to "feel the Spirit and enjoy the lights" as they prepare for the Christmas season.
Church leaders began the holiday celebration this year by turning on the lights the evening of Nov. 27.
The decorating of Temple Square began a few decades ago when President David O. McKay and his wife, Emma Ray Riggs McKay, decided they should do something to show the world that Latter-day Saints celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. What started as a humble display south of the North Visitors Center has grown to include the area between the Church Office Building, the Church Administration Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building as well as the grounds of the Conference Center and Main Street Plaza. This year, workers also decorated the interior of the new Church History Library with Christmas trees.
Among the changes this year is a new narration of the Nativity scene located just south of the North Visitors Center. The narration now closes with words from President Thomas S. Monson.
Also this year, workers began the implementation of energy-saving LED lights on some of the trees. Eldon Cannon, group manager for Temple Square's Ground Services, explained that the LED lights have many benefits.
"They do not use nearly as much electricity," he said. One strand of LED lights uses about one-sixth of the amount of energy used by one strand of incandescent lights. "As a result, we will be saving energy and saving costs."
Not only do the LED lights save energy but they are cooler in temperature. Brother Cannon explained that the incandescent lights heat up, and when thousands are wrapped around a tree they can produce an artificially warm environment around the tree that disappears when the lights are turned off. The continued freezing and thawing can be harmful to the tree.
"LED [lights] are less of a heat problem and therefore will be better on our trees," he said.
One of the first trees to benefit from the new lights is the famous cedar of Lebanon. Brought to Temple Square as a seedling, the tree was taken to the head gardener by a woman who had returned from a trip to Lebanon. Planted near the east gate to Temple Square, the tree now, 75 years later, is one of the largest on Temple Square. Brother Cannon said it took workers anywhere from three weeks to five weeks to wrap the 70-foot tree in red LED lights.
After the trees are lit, Nativity scenes are placed throughout the grounds. Last year, the gleaming white mannequins dressed as Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus were placed in the middle of the reflecting pool on Church Plaza on the east side of the temple. Viewed from the east side of the pool, the Holy family sits at the center of the reflection of the Salt Lake Temple.
"It's a nice focus on the Savior's birth and really puts Christ at the center of the celebration," Brother Cannon said.
Amber Simmons, age 10, said her favorite part of all the Christmas decorations was the smaller Nativities placed around the area in front of the Church Office Building that depict the Savior's birth from the perspective of different cultures.
Brother Cannon said children often enjoy these Nativities because the figures are child-size and more approachable.
Visitors can also enjoy fabric and metal luminarias lining the fountains and walkways of Temple Square. Hand-stenciled by volunteers, the fabric luminarias feature messages of Christmas in various languages while the metal luminarias depict different scenes from the life of Christ.
The process of decorating Temple Square begins in August when workers start setting up the light display and ends when the lights and displays are taken down, inventoried and put away in March.
Seeing everything come together to emphasize the true meaning of Christmas makes the extensive process all worth it, Brother Cannon said.
"It's a celebration of the birth of Christ."
