Updated Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, will be open to the public this Christmas season with displays and limited lights. Construction and the COVID-19 pandemic have modified some of the plans for this year’s celebration, but families are invited to walk around parts of the grounds (see map) and experience an animated nativity in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Virtual opportunities to experience Christmas on Temple Square and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ are also available during the holidays.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Historic Temple Square is the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Here are some of this year’s activities:
Peace on Earth
A Christmas nativity in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
This Christmas season, see an animated nativity projected on the ceiling of the Salt Lake Tabernacle for the first time. This new presentation, entitled “Peace on Earth,” uses shadow graphics, narration and musical underscore to tell the Christmas story in a child-friendly way that adults will also enjoy. Showings begin Friday, November 26 and will continue daily every 15 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The presentation lasts about four minutes and will alternate between Spanish and English. The images and audio tracks from the presentation will be made available at TempleSquare.org for recreating this Christmas story at home.
Witnesses of Christ
Join us Sunday, November 28 at 6:00 p.m. MST on ChurchofJesusChrist.org to kick off the Christmas season with the musical presentation “Witnesses of Christ.” In this 50-minute tribute to Jesus Christ’s birth, we’ll hear thought-provoking messages and new arrangements of favorite carols performed by the Truman Brothers, the Utah State University Chamber Singers, Daniel Beck and many others. Host David Butler will remind us that as we interrupt the ordinary rhythm of our lives for something holy, we also become witnesses of Jesus Christ’s divinity. “Witnesses of Christ” will be available for on-demand viewing after the event and throughout the Christmas season.
First Presidency Christmas Devotional
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host its annual Christmas devotional broadcast on December 5, 2021. The program will include Christmas messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church. Music will be provided by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. There will be no public attendance this year. Watch the livestream at 6:00 p.m. MST on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The Conference Center will be open most days to visitors from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. It will temporarily be closed for event preparation from December 1-5 and December 13-19.
Viewings of “The Christ Child” will be available in the Conference Center Theater every 30 minutes in the evenings. In addition, organ recitals are offered daily in the Tabernacle. The Legacy Theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building will also provide showings of "The Christ Child," "Behind the Scenes of the Christ Child" and "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition, organ recitals are offered daily in the Tabernacle.
Lights on Temple Square will be turned on in the evenings beginning November 26 but will be limited in number due to the ongoing construction.
Attendees at any events on Temple Square are required to wear masks and be vaccinated if in the eligible age categories.
International nativities will be located near the Assembly Hall. In the Assembly Hall guests can rest and meditate while listening to Christmas music in the background. (Note that the Assembly Hall will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday-Friday after December 8 due to necessary building repairs).
Light the World Giving Machines that have been located on Temple Square in previous years will be available at the nearby City Creek Center this year.
Christmas plans for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square can be found at TabernacleChoir.org.
Crowd sizes, as well as COVID-19 conditions, will be monitored during the season and adjustments may be made to these announced plans.
Stay up to date with happenings on Temple Square at TempleSquare.org.