By Julie Cunningham
Thousands of twinkling lights adorn Temple Square and the surrounding area this holiday season, carrying on in the 37-year lighting tradition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Millions of people come to visit Temple Square throughout the year, and during the holiday season, thousands come every week to view the spectacular sights, said Dave Porter, church spokesperson.
'It is a sacred place,' Porter said. 'It has been dedicated, and so there is a special spirit about that particular area. If you really want to feel the spirit of Christmas, Temple Square is the place to be.'
The Church of Jesus Christ began lighting Temple Square in 1965 with hopes of creating a beautiful environment of peace, Porter said.
Over the years, the project has grown to include more lights, more decorations and a nativity scene. The display has expanded to the Main Street Plaza and the area around the Church office building.
'It''s already a beautiful place, but with the Christmas lighting it does put a warmth in people''s hearts as they walk through and look at the beautiful lights and at the nativity scene,' he said. 'Not only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but people from other denominations and walks of life like to come there and feel the spirit of Christmas.'
Each year the theme of the lights at Temple Square is centered on the birth of Jesus Christ, Porter said. Every light, flower, Christmas tree and nativity scene reflects upon Him.
'The Church did that to bring that feeling of beauty and the spirit of Christmas, the feeling of the Savior, and the Savior''s birth right on Temple Square,' he said.
New this year to Temple Square is a 50-foot diaphanous tree located at the south end of the Main Street Plaza, Porter said. This tree is made entirely of lights that start at the bottom and wind their way up to the top to form a point, which is then crowned with a 7-foot star.
The process of hanging the strings of lights begins as early as August and continues until the day after Thanksgiving, when the lights are officially turned on, said Kathy Mills, volunteer Christmas coordinator.
The Temple Square grounds crew is composed of 60 members, Mills said. The crew divides into 6 teams that are responsible for six different areas of Temple Square.
Volunteers are also welcome to help, Mills said. This month, 120 volunteers donated a total of 250 hours to the decoration of Temple Square, some of which included BYU students.
Porter said there is no indication how long the Church will continue lighting Temple Square, but this tradition is a special one for the Church.
'The Church does everything it possibly can to help people feel the warmth and the specialness of the Savior at Christmas time,' Porter said. 'The lighting on Temple Square is definitely one thing that does help people feel the spirit of Christmas and to remember the Savior.'
The lights at Temple Square will be turned on each day between 6:30-7:30 a.m., and every night between 5:30-10:30 p.m. They will continue through January 1.