The facade of the temple
The Salt Lake Temple
Construction of the Salt Lake Temple took 4 decades. It took this long because construction was interrupted by the Utah War from 1857 to 1858, and the builders used a very specific stone. The stones were extracted from a location 30 kilometres away and moved to the construction site by ox cart. But builders certainly didn’t skimp on materials; in some areas the walls are almost 3-metres thick. Since its completion, the temple is the largest and holiest structure of the Mormon Church.
The interior of the Tabernacle
The Salt Lake Tabernacle
The Tabernacle on Temple Square is a large hall used for various religious celebrations. It owes its unique shape to Brigham Young who was the first governor of Utah and also president of the Mormon Church from 1847 until his death in 1877. He commissioned the building in the shape of a vertical cross-section of an eggshell. There are no pillars to obstruct the view. Inside, an enormous organ with 11,623 pipes steals the scene.
Assembly Hall with the Seagull Monument
Salt Lake Assembly Hall
Salt Lake Assembly Hall was built to allow several congregations to attend mass together. The building resembles a neo-gothic cathedral, a popular architectural style at the end of the 19th century. Inside it has much more modern look. The cross-shaped structure is complemented by Stars of David that hang over the entrances. These reflect the belief that the Mormons are a modern confluence of the 12 tribes of Israel.
