By Jessica Price
Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Temple Square to marvel at the array of lights illuminating the grounds.
'The lights and other ornamentation have been adorning Temple Square since 1965,' said Coke Newell, media relations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Since then, the number of lights has increased with every decade. In 1990, the million lights mark was met. The numbers of lights vary every year depending on the design.
The lights take over four months for volunteers to complete.
'We went as a ward in early November,' said Kristen Cheney, 19, English teaching major from Earlysville, Va. 'It was fun to be apart of it.'
On the day after Thanksgiving, those on Temple Square clapped as the lights turned on for the season shortly before 6 p.m.
'All the tree limbs are covered,' said 10 year-old David Halliday from Mesa, Ariz., Halliday''s family came to Utah for visit Temple Square and celebrate the first night of the temple lights.
'It''s wonderful to see all the people come and enjoy,' said Temple Square couple missionaries Elder and Sister La Var.
A reflection pool, nativity scene, and thousands lights wrapped around trees decorate one of the nation''s most visited places.
'My favorite part is the lights in the reflecting pool water,' said Louna Beauregard, from South Jordan.
The reflecting pool lights are actually electronic floating candles encased in watertight plastic balls and lit with and incandescent lantern. Invented by Gary Burgess in 1998, the floating candles are a big decorating hit.
After gazing at the lights, visitors can take part in many of the other happenings on Temple Square.
'You can go to see The Testaments,' Cheney said.
The Conference Center and the Tabernacle have events going on throughout the break.
For more information about Temple Square events and to order tickets, visit www.lds.org/events.