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101-502: The peak is historically significant as it was a landmark during the establishment of Salt Lake City in July 1847, and also holds religious significance for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Because of this importance, in 1934, a stone monument was built atop the summit and interpretive signage was added when the nature park was developed in 1996. Culturally,

202-552: A Federal prison just outside Salt Lake in the Sugar House area. Consequentially, the non-LDS Liberal Party took control of City government in the 1890 election. Three years later the Liberal Party and People's Party dissolved into national parties anticipating Utah statehood, but both LDS and non-LDS leaders would govern Salt Lake City from that point onward. The city became Utah's state capital on January 4, 1896, when Utah entered

303-538: A balance between capitol of a major religion and modern secular metropolis. While founded by Mormons, the city is increasingly dominated by non-members, with its LDS population falling steeply and steadily since the 1990s. Considerable changes are being made to alter the downtown in adjustment to the phenomenal growth of the area. In the early 2010s, the LDS Church purchased the Crossroads and ZCMI malls and rebuilt them into

404-479: A flag "for the nations" that he could take to the Rocky Mountains . After Smith's death, while the church was headquartered in a temporary settlement called Winter Quarters , Brigham Young became ill and claimed to have a near-death experience, in which he "actually went into Eternity...[and] came back." Young stated he spoke to Smith during this event, which appears to revived interest in flying an "ensign" where

505-448: A large entrance area and an assembly hall. In August of 1962, the main temple was closed. A new annex was opened at the north end of the temple square in March of 1966, which largely expanded the temple's capacity with a 400 seat chapel, underground dressing rooms, 4,000 lockers and large waiting rooms for marriage ceremonies. Both the annex and the addition were built using the same granite from

606-535: A large plaza on the land as well as a parking structure below. There was much public outcry about the sale of public lands to a private organization, but a Church representative assured residents that the plaza would be a "little bit of Paris", a characterization that would be used against the LDS Church later. Concerns also lay in plans to ban such activities as demonstrations, skateboarding, sunbathing, smoking, and other activities it considered "vulgar". The Utah ACLU believed that these restrictions were incompatible with

707-458: A location for baptisms for the dead , baptisms for health (until being discontinued in 1921), and, briefly, for re-baptism for the renewal of covenants. Other rituals performed in the temple include the second anointing ordinance for live and deceased persons, and meeting rooms for church leaders. The temple's location was first marked by Brigham Young , the church's second president , on July 28, 1847, just four days after he arrived in

808-436: A loss of "priceless cultural artifacts". In December 2021, the church updated estimations for the renovation completion for 2025, and in March 2023, estimates for the completion were again extended to 2026. If the latest estimations prove accurate, the total reconstruction period will have lasted between six and seven years. The Salt Lake Temple incorporates many symbolic adornments including Masonic symbols . Symbolism

909-659: A magnitude 7.3 earthquake, the strongest expected magnitude in the Salt Lake Valley; work was expected to take about four years. Other facilities on Temple Square (and certain parts of the main temple) were to be demolished, reconstructed, and modernized in line with seismic code . Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be replaced, Initially the interior and its historical artifacts were planned to be preserved (although plans were later changed and many historic elements were removed ) and plazas and landscaping modified. Visitor access and tourism would remain during

1010-716: A new flagpole which was placed in front of the Salt Lake City Council Hall in 1963. When the nature park was dedicated in 1996, three flagpoles were constructed at the trailhead entrance plaza near the base of the peak. The poles allow the Flag of the United States , Flag of Utah , and a variant of the Flag of the Kingdom/Flag of Deseret to be flown. In May 1916, Charles W. Nibley , the LDS Church's Presiding Bishop , petitioned

1111-629: A non-LDS governor to replace Brigham Young . In response, Brigham Young imposed martial law , sending the Utah militia to harass the soldiers, a conflict called the Utah War . Young eventually surrendered to federal control when the new territorial governor, Alfred Cumming , arrived in Salt Lake City on April 12, 1858. Most troops pulled out at the beginning of the American Civil War . In order to secure

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1212-531: A second gold medal. Athletes in short-track speed skating and cross-country skiing were disqualified for various reasons as well (including doping ), leading Russia and South Korea to file protests and threaten to withdraw from competition. Heightened fear of terrorism following the September 11 attacks turned out to be unfounded, and the games proved safe. The 2002 games ended with a dazzling closing ceremony, including bands such as Bon Jovi and KISS (who shared

1313-580: A surveyor general in the Utah Territory, to establish a land office in Salt Lake City, and to extend the federal land laws over the same. The land office opened 9 March 1869. In 1857, when the Mormon practice of polygamy came to national awareness, President James Buchanan responded to public outcry by sending an army of 2500 soldiers, called the Utah Expedition, to investigate the LDS Church and install

1414-404: A variant of the Flag of the Kingdom/Flag of Deseret to be flown. A permanent hiking trail was established with stations featuring information on the valley and Great Salt Lake , and reclamation work and reseeding was done to unauthorized roads and trails on the hill. At the summit of the peak, the 1934 monument was refurbished and several interpretive signs added. On July 26, 1997, 150 years after

1515-461: A variety of names, including "Flag of Liberty," "Flag of the Kingdom," " Deseret Flag ," "mammoth flag," and "flag of all the nations." Often they were vague about their flag's appearance, instead focusing on the symbolism of gathering and the establishment of what they believed to be God's kingdom, rather than a standard shape, design or name of a banner. As part of the 2020s renovation of Temple Square ,

1616-412: A vision by saying, "It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on." (This is commonly shortened to, "This is the place"). There is a state park in Salt Lake City known as This Is The Place Heritage Park commemorating the spot where Young made the famous statement. Settlers buried thirty-six Native Americans in one grave after an outbreak of measles occurred during the winter of 1847. Salt Lake City

1717-518: A way to ward off dependency on outside goods and arguably to hinder ex-LDS retailers. Although ZCMI is sometimes credited with being the nation's first department store, a decade earlier New York City's "Marble Palace" and Macy's vied for that title. Change was inevitable. The world started to come to Salt Lake City in 1869 with the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States at Promontory Summit , north of

1818-612: Is an important subject to members of the LDS Church. These symbols include the following: Two bombing incidents have damaged the temple. On April 10, 1910, a bomb at the nearby Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building ) damaged the trumpet of the Moroni statue atop the temple. On November 14, 1962, the southeast door of the Salt Lake Temple was bombed. FBI agents state that the explosive had been wrapped around

1919-573: Is now wholly owned by the LDS Church. Some suppose Anderson's compromise was an effort to strengthen his 2003 re-election campaign among Latter-day Saints and west side residents. Both groups tended to have less favorable impressions of the former mayor. Much change occurred in the Wasatch Front due to the 2002 Winter Olympics . Scandal rocked the city when it was discovered that millions of dollars had been funneled into bribes to International Olympic Committee members. The games opened with

2020-421: Is the centerpiece of the 10-acre (4.0 ha) Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Like other Latter-day Saint temples, the church and its members consider it sacred and a temple recommend is required to enter, so there are no public tours inside the temple as there are for other adjacent buildings on Temple Square. In 1912, the first public photographs of the interior were published in the book The House of

2121-584: Is the sixth temple completed by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois , in 1846. The temple was closed in December 2019 for a general remodelling and seismic renovations , which were initially estimated to take approximately four years. Subsequent updates extended the estimated completion to 2026, for a total renovation timeline lasting an anticipated six or seven years. The Salt Lake Temple

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2222-701: The City Creek Center , which is connected by walkways, and with new high density residential and commercial buildings nearby. The commuter rail FrontRunner is in place along the northern Wasatch Front , with extensions planned for the southern portion of the region. Light rail extensions to the Trax system are ongoing to provide service to the western and southern parts of the valley, as well as to Salt Lake City International Airport . The controversial Legacy Highway has one segment completed (the Legacy Parkway ), with

2323-631: The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . As such, there are special meeting rooms in the building for these purposes, including the Holy of Holies , which are not part of other temples. The temple includes some elements thought to evoke Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem . It is oriented towards Jerusalem and the large basin used as a baptismal font is mounted on the backs of twelve oxen, as

2424-527: The Salt Lake Valley . He marked a location between two forks of City Creek saying "Here will be the Temple of our God". In 1901, church apostle Anthon H. Lund recorded in his journal that "it is said" that Oliver Cowdery 's divining rod was used to locate the temple site. The temple site was dedicated on February 14, 1853, by Heber C. Kimball . The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Young, who laid

2525-506: The United States government for not protecting their rights, and hoping to find somewhere the church could have religious liberty, the Council of Fifty was given the responsibility of looking for a place to resettle, if necessary. The American West was one of those places considered by the council. In what appears to be a literal attempt to fulfill scripture, Smith asked his followers to create

2626-420: The cornerstone on April 6, 1853, the twenty-third anniversary of the church being organized. The architect was Truman O. Angell , and the temple features both Gothic and Romanesque elements. An annex, designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young, is built 100 feet north of the temple. The construction of the annex started in 1892, and it was opened in 1893, at the same time as the temple itself. This building included

2727-469: The endowment ceremony —namely the creation, garden, telestial, terrestrial, and celestial rooms in that order of use. A washing and anointing ceremony is also administered, and until 1921, the rooms were also used for healing rituals of washing and anointing for the sick or pregnant and were administered by women and men. The temple also serves as a place for marriage sealing ceremonies for live and deceased persons. Additional uses include functioning as

2828-432: The unemployment rate reached 61,500 people, about 36%. The annual per capita income in 1932 was $ 276, half of what it was in 1929, $ 537 annually. Jobs were scarce. Although boosted by federal New Deal programs as well as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the economy did not fully recover until World War II . After suffering through the depression Salt Lake's economy was boosted during World War II due to

2929-569: The "City Creek Spur") which projects westward from the Wasatch Range . The Salt Lake Salient forms the northern boundary of Salt Lake Valley . The bedrock of Ensign Peak is a conglomerate, likely laid down during the Eocene epoch. This conglomerate is exposed on parts of the peak and in some nearby areas. When the ancient Lake Bonneville filled the valley, Ensign Peak was just above its highest shoreline. The hill rises 1,080 feet (329.2 m) above

3030-587: The 1980 US hockey team lighting the torch and President George W. Bush officially opening the games at the Rice-Eccles Stadium set designed by Seven Nielsen . Closing ceremonies were also held at that venue. Controversy erupted when in the first week the pairs figure skating competition resulted in the French judge's scores being thrown out and the Canadian team of Jamie Salé and David Pelletier being awarded

3131-530: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church") sought to establish an autonomous religious community and were the first people of European descent to permanently settle in the area now known as Utah . Thousands of Mormon pioneers would arrive in Salt Lake in the coming months and years. Brigham Young led the Saints west after the death of Joseph Smith . Upon arrival to the Salt Lake valley, Young had

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3232-576: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), commonly called Mormons or Latter-day Saints, were often the victims of anti-Mormon violence in the eastern and midwestern United States. Joseph Smith , the faith's founder, was killed in June 1844 and by 1846, the Latter-day Saints were forced from their main settlement at Nauvoo, Illinois . Those church members who chose to accept Brigham Young as their new leader would end up traveling to

3333-604: The Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley in 1843 and 1845. The Donner Party , a group of ill-fated pioneers, traveled through the Great Salt Lake Valley a year before the Mormon pioneers . This group had spent weeks traversing difficult terrain and brush, cutting a road through the Wasatch Mountains , coming through Emigration canyon into the Salt Lake Valley on August 12, 1846. This same path would be used by

3434-504: The Gulls ), the "Desert Blossomed as the Rose" in the Salt Lake Valley. Early Pioneers survived by maintaining a very tight-knit community. Under Young's leadership Pioneers worked out a system of communal crop sharing within the various ward houses established throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The California Gold Rush brought many people through the city on their way to seek fortunes. Salt Lake, which

3535-416: The Latter-day Saints and had a vision of Joseph Smith. In the vision, Smith showed Young Ensign Peak and "there was an ensign fell upon that peak, and Joseph said, 'Build under the point where the colors fall and you will prosper and have peace.'" A number of later visitors to Salt Lake City would write that they were told a similar story. British author William Hepworth Dixon wrote that Young told him as he

3636-421: The Latter-day Saints settled. Soon after Young's experience, Jedediah M. Grant was sent from Winter Quarters to the east, on a mission to obtain material for a large flag. Grant was successful in finding material, and a large flag, known as the "mammoth flag," was flown somewhere over Salt Lake City for many years. Before and after arriving in Salt Lake City, as the Latter-day Saints discussed their flags they used

3737-466: The Lord , by James E. Talmage . Since then, various photographs have been published, including by Life magazine in 1938. The temple grounds are open to the public and are a popular tourist attraction. Due to its location at church headquarters and its historical significance, Latter-day Saints from around the world patronize the temple. The Salt Lake Temple is also the location of the weekly meetings of

3838-533: The Northwestern Shoshone was ever recognized by the United States or extinguished by treaty with the United States. Father Silvestre Vélez de Escalante , a Spanish Franciscan missionary is considered the first European explorer in the area in 1776, but only came as far north as Utah valley (Provo), some 60 miles south of the Salt Lake City area. The first US visitor to see the Salt Lake area was Jim Bridger in 1824. U.S. Army officer John C. Frémont surveyed

3939-471: The Salt Lake City Commission for permission for the church to build a large cross on the peak. The cross would be a symbol of Christianity and serve as a memorial to the Mormon pioneers, and was planned to be constructed of concrete and steel, large enough to be visible from everywhere in the city. The plan was met with much opposition, especially from Utah's Jewish and secular communities. Even so,

4040-519: The Wasatch Mountains. In 1866, Thomas Coleman, a Black Mormon man, was murdered, and his body was left on Capitol Hill with an anti-miscegenation warning attached to his body. In 1883, Sam Joe Harvey, another Black man, was lynched for allegedly shooting a police officer, and his body was dragged down State Street. In 1868 Brigham Young founded the Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution (ZCMI) as

4141-590: The Western United States by wagon train or handcart , along what became known as the Mormon Trail . When Young's wagon train entered Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 (presently celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah), he stated the area was the right spot as soon as he saw it. During a 1869 sermon, a fellow church leader, George A. Smith , stated that after Smith's death, Young had been praying to know where to take

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4242-674: The Winter Olympics as early as the 1930s, when the Utah Ski Club tried to bring the games to the valley. At the time, however, the Summer Olympic host city had the option of hosting the winter games, and all attempts failed. Salt Lake tried again throughout the decades until 1995, when the International Olympic Committee announced Salt Lake City as the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics . After 132 years in business, ZCMI

4343-513: The celebration period. In 1955, the local United Veterans' Council asked permission to install their own flagpole on the peak. The request was granted, and with the help of the Utah National Guard, a hole was blasted for the pole, the explosion causing concern for the residents of Salt Lake City. This new flagpole was dedicate on November 11, Veterans Day . Vandals largely destroyed the pole in 1958, and its salvaged pieces were used to create

4444-405: The church announced significant changes to the renovation plan that affected many elements in the temple's historic interior. The progressive room-to-room live endowment ceremony would be removed and the layout of the temple would change, with the baptistry being moved to the annex and new instruction rooms constructed in its place. Other rooms and walls would be reconfigured, requiring the removal of

4545-411: The church installed flagpoles allowing 91 national flags to be flown at once, as a symbol of the global nature of their church. On July 21, 1849, several church leaders, including Brigham Young, climbed the hill and consecrated it for "the erection of a standard thereon [and for] a place of prayer." That same day, Addison Pratt received his endowment atop the peak (in a ceremony usually reserved for

4646-581: The city and new interchanges near Park City . A light rail system was constructed from downtown to the suburb of Sandy and later to the University of Utah . The Athlete's Village is now student housing at the University of Utah. Many venues in and around the city still stand even after the games. Many hotels , motels and restaurants were built for the games and still exist today. Salt Lake City still somewhat struggles with its identity, trying to strike

4747-470: The city was formally organized as "The City of the Great Salt Lake". Originally, Fillmore, Utah was the territorial capital , but in 1856 it was moved to Salt Lake City, where it has stayed ever since. In 1855 Congress directed the President of the United States to appoint a surveyor general for Utah Territory, and to cause that the lands of that territory should be surveyed preparatory to bringing them on

4848-705: The city. By 1870, Salt Lake had been linked to it via the Utah Central Rail Road . People began to pour into Salt Lake seeking opportunities in mining and other industries. City government was dominated by the People's Party until 1890. The non-national People's Party was an LDS-controlled political organization, and each of the early mayors of Salt Lake City was LDS. Sparks often flew between LDS city government and non-LDS federal authorities stationed just outside Salt Lake. A dramatic example occurred in 1874 when city police were arrested by US Marshals , who took control of

4949-521: The commission approved construction of the cross later that month. Those opposed filed suit in court and the issue was not settled until 1918, when the church agreed not to build the cross. In May 1934, the Ensign LDS Stake's Mutual Improvement Associations , in cooperation with the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association (UPTLA), announced that they would construct a stone monument atop

5050-577: The construction of the early phase of the next segment (the Mountain View Corridor ) completed through the west side of the Salt Lake Valley . د Salt Lake Temple The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City , Utah , United States. At 253,015 square feet (23,505.9 m ), it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area. Dedicated in 1893, it

5151-465: The court. However, the LDS Church held firm to get the easement rescinded. Although The Salt Lake Tribune backed the mayor's initial plan, the city council disliked it. In its place, Anderson offered to waive the easement in exchange for west side property from the LDS Church to build a community and a commitment of donations for it. All parties agreed to the arrangement, and the Main Street Plaza

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5252-420: The dedication held at the base of the peak, which included a ribbon-cutting by nine girls and women, all descendants of those who had made the first climb. The improvements included an entrance plaza at the trailhead. This plaza was built 47 feet (14.3 m) from the street to represent 1847, the year the Mormon pioneers first entered the valley. The paving of the plaza features a world map, and when standing on

5353-466: The door handles on the temple's southeast entrance. The large wooden entrance doors were damaged by flying fragments of metal and glass. Damage to interior walls occurred 25 feet inside the temple, but damage to the interior was minor. Eleven exterior windows were shattered. The temple suffered damage in 1999 when a tornado rated F2 on the Fujita Scale struck Salt Lake City. A wedding taking place at

5454-485: The entire renovation process, but in regulated and coordinated fashion. Prior to 2019, the building had never been decommissioned for renovation and only minor updating of finishes and systems had occurred within the temple proper (although multiple "annex" additions had been added and removed in the past). This meant the temple's core historic architecture, layout, and workmanship had been preserved for 126 years. Before reconstruction started, church leaders indicated that

5555-490: The first climb by the pioneers, President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Ensign Peak Memorial Garden. This garden, across the street from the entrance plaza to Ensign Peak Nature Park, was built on church-owned land, allowing for a telling of the spiritual history and scriptural significance of the peak. For several decades in the 20th century, nearby West High School students would haul flammable materials to

5656-469: The gravesite of Buffalo Bill , and from sites such as Independence Rock , Martin's Cove , Hill Cumorah , Donner Pass , and so forth. Construction began on July 17 and the completed monument was unveiled on July 26, the 86th anniversary of the first climb by the pioneers. Nearly 500 people attended the unveiling ceremony at the summit of the peak, including two members of the church's first presidency , Heber J. Grant and Anthony W. Ivins . The unveiling

5757-477: The group was at the peak's summit. The religious significance of using an ensign (a flag or banner) began long before the Mormon pioneers arrived in Salt Lake Valley. Early in the church's history, Joseph Smith had claimed that in 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to him and quoted Joel 2:32 and Isaiah 11:9–12 , in which is found wording related to "Mount Zion" and setting up an "ensign" for gathering. While at Nauvoo, as church leadership grew disillusioned with

5858-481: The hillside. The city then entered negotiations with the developer, who agreed to give the city back 66 acres (27 ha) of land at the peak, in exchange for the city giving up additional property in the hills above downtown and rezoning portions to allow for gated communities . As the city was reacquiring land around the hillside, a group of interested citizens formed the Ensign Peak Foundation to improve

5959-651: The influx of defense industries to the Wasatch Front. Demands for raw materials increased Utah's mining industry, and several military installations such as Fort Douglas and Hill Air Force Base were added. After the Second World War, Salt Lake City grew rapidly. It began to suffer some of the same problems other cities face. Urban sprawl became a growing problem due to a combination of rapid growth and an abundance of available land. Military and aerospace also became dominant industries. Salt Lake began its bid for

6060-527: The location for a new temple. On July 26, two days after Young and the remainder of the first wagon train entered the valley, nine to 10 church leaders, including Young, climbed the peak. Apostle Wilford Woodruff was the first to reach the summit of the hill and recorded in his diary for the day, "we all went onto the top of A high peak in the edge of the Mountain which we considered A good place to raise An ensign upon which we named ensign Peak or Hill." While at

6161-406: The location of Salt Lake City, the peak is visible in a cleft of the plaza wall. Nine pedestals surround the world map, symbolizing the nine men who originally climbed the hill. The plaza wall's design is inspired by the rock formations of the peak and imbedded in that wall are several interpretive signs. The plaza also features three flagpoles, allowing the Flag of the United States, Flag of Utah, and

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6262-463: The market. Certain sections were to be reserved for the benefit of schools and a university in the territory. The surveyor general arrived in Utah in July of the same year to begin surveying. He established the initial point for his survey (base line and meridian) at the southeast corner of the Temple Block, and from there extended that survey over 2 million acres. Because of numerous conflicts between

6363-454: The morning of March 18, 2020, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck just outside Salt Lake City. Though most of the damage was outside the city, minor damage was inflicted on the temple. The trumpet of the Angel Moroni on top of the temple's tallest spire was dislodged from the statue, and some stones from the smaller spires were displaced. No other damage to the temple was reported. The temple

6464-569: The national election being held in Salt Lake City. Mayor Daniel H. Wells , a member of the LDS Church First Presidency , declared martial law from the balcony of the Old Salt Lake City Hall . Federal troops arrested the mayor, but he was soon released. In the 1880s, the anti- polygamy Edmunds-Tucker Act systematically denied many prominent LDS Church members the right to vote or hold office. Polygamists were detained in

6565-465: The newly arrived pioneers on July 26, 1847, a flag was raised soon after and numerous flags have been flown during the many decades since. John P. Wriston, a member of the Mormon Battalion , arrived in the valley not long after Young, and claimed to help raise an American flag on the peak, declaring "I feel rejoice at having the privelage [sic] of seeing the flag raised that was spoken of by Isai[a]h

6666-463: The original quarry and designed to match the temple's architecture. Sandstone was originally used for the foundation. During the Utah War , the foundation was buried and the lot made to look like a plowed field to prevent unwanted attention from federal troops. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the troops were called away by December. In the spring, when the foundation

6767-519: The painted cyclorama in the Utah State Capitol rotunda. Early LDS Historians B. H. Roberts and Andrew Jenson both stated that evidence of the flag raising was lacking. In 1993, historian Ronald W. Walker wrote "there is not enough historical evidence to make either case." Instead, based on available accounts, it is believed that Heber C. Kimball tied his spotted yellow bandana to the end of Willard Richards ' walking stick and waved it while

6868-475: The peak. After several years of raising funds, the foundation, along with community and church leaders, broke ground on the project on April 17, 1996. The completed project, which included the Ensign Peak improvements and developing the larger Ensign Peak Nature Park, was dedicated by the church's President, Gordon B. Hinckley , on July 26, 1997, 149 years after the first climb by the pioneers. 1,000 people attended

6969-414: The peak. They requested that every stake in the church and every mission in the United States send a stone from their nearby historic sites, that then would be incorporated into the face of the monument. The first stone to arrive came from Lethbridge , Canada, and was from a quarry that provided stone for many historic structures in southern Alberta . Numerous other stones would be sent, including from

7070-676: The pedestrian easement that the city retained over the plaza. ACLU attorneys claimed this made the plaza into a public free speech forum. Nonetheless, the property was sold to become the Main Street Plaza . After the Utah District Court ruled against the ACLU, they were vindicated by the 10th Circuit Court in the Fall of 2002. Scrambling to satisfy residents, Rocky Anderson offered a plan for "time and place" restrictions on speech as suggested by

7171-433: The pioneers, a new pole was erected in 1947. The first flag to fly on this pole was raised on May 1 and it was planned to fly it continuously until the official end of celebrations on October 15, but after Governor Herbert B. Maw requested permission to do so from President Harry S. Truman , the president encouraged the centennial commission that it be lowered each evening and instead the flag only flew on special days during

7272-456: The prophet." Another early pioneer, Harrison Sperry, recalled seeing a flag raised on Ensign Peak, and the Deseret News claimed, in 1897, that a flag had been unfurled atop the peak three weeks after the pioneers' first arrival. As part of the first Pioneer Day celebrations held in 1849, a variant of the Flag of the Kingdom/Flag of Deseret may have been flown on the peak. A permanent flagpole

7373-400: The religion's temples ). Into the twentieth century, the hill remained a place of contemplation and prayer for some Latter-day Saints. After the LDS Church stopped its practice of polygamy , some fundamentalist Mormon groups may have used the peak for religious ceremonies and marriages, as they were unable to enter LDS temples. While no flag was flown atop the peak during the first climb by

7474-602: The road to California during the Civil War, more troops arrived under the command of Colonel Patrick Edward Connor in 1862. They settled in the Fort Douglas area east of the city. Thoroughly anti-LDS, Connor viewed the people with disdain, calling them, "a community of traitors, murderers, fanatics, and whores." To dilute their influence he worked with non-LDS business and bank owners, and also encouraged mining. In 1863 some of his troops discovered rich veins of gold and silver in

7575-464: The side of the peak and ignite a large letter "W" for football games and graduation ceremonies. The Salt Lake City Fire Department ordered a stop to the practice in 1992, citing fire danger to new housing developments near the peak. History of Salt Lake City#Early years Originally, the Salt Lake Valley was inhabited by the Shoshone , Paiute , Goshute and Ute Native American tribes. At

7676-455: The significance of the peak has inspired a number of literary works, including the hymn " High on the Mountain Top ." Several businesses and organizations, often affiliated with the LDS Church, have names inspired by the peak; such as Ensign College , Ensign Peak Advisors , and the Ensign Peak Foundation . The peak is part of a low range of hills called the "Salt Lake Salient" (also known as

7777-554: The stage with figure skater Katarina Witt ). Most of the 2,500 athletes paraded into Rice-Eccles Stadium , watching from the stands. Bobsledding bronze medalist Brian Shimer carried the American flag. Russia and South Korean both threatened to boycott the ceremony to protest what they felt was unfair judging, but showed up anyway. Many improvements were made to the area's infrastructure. $ 1.59 billion were spent on highway improvements, including improvements of Interstate 15 through

7878-497: The statue of the Angel Moroni —was laid on April 6, 1892, by means of an electric motor and switch operated by Wilford Woodruff , the church's fourth president, thus completing work on the temple's exterior. The Angel Moroni statue, standing 12.5 feet (3.8 m) tall, was placed on top of the capstone later the same day. At the capstone ceremony, Woodruff proposed the building's interior be finished within one year, which would allow

7979-421: The surveyor and the territorial government the first surveyor general abandoned his post in 1857. His successors recommended that no additional land be surveyed. Conflict between the federal and territorial governments kept the issue on hold until 1868, and in the meantime, large sections of the territory were transferred to neighboring territories and states. Again in 1868, Congress directed the President to appoint

8080-595: The temple site. Oxen transported the quarried rock initially, but as the Transcontinental Railroad neared completion in 1869 the remaining stones were carried by rail at a much faster rate. During the construction, the temple grounds were seized by the US Marshal as a result of the Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1886. It was later returned to the Latter-day Saints. The capstone —the granite sphere that holds

8181-447: The temple to be dedicated forty years, to the day, after its commencement. John R. Winder was instrumental in overseeing the interior's completion on schedule; he would serve as a member of the temple presidency until his death in 1910. Woodruff dedicated the temple on April 6, 1893, exactly forty years after the cornerstone was laid. At the end of 2019, the temple was closed for a seismic retrofitting designed to allow it to withstand

8282-447: The temple's murals. The murals and many other historic features of the building were photographed and otherwise documented before being permanently removed or destroyed. These changes will allow for greater patron capacity, but the removal of many historic elements was met with criticism, especially the destruction of the temple's murals. One prominent historian described the changes as a "huge and unnecessary loss" and another noted them as

8383-422: The temple's unique historicity would be preserved. Church employees stated that special efforts would be made to highlight and honor the pioneer craftsmanship and indicated the interiors would essentially remain the same. Various renderings were released showing the instruction rooms used for the endowment ceremony would remain intact, with the original layout, woodwork and murals being preserved. In March 2021,

8484-452: The time allowed a photographer to record video of the tornado as it passed near the temple, forcing the wedding party to shelter against the temple doors and pillars for protection from the wind and debris. They were not able to take shelter inside as the temple doors were locked. After being pelted with rain and hail, members of the wedding party surveyed the damage to the trees and surrounding buildings before resuming family photographs. On

8585-570: The time of the founding of Salt Lake City the valley was within the territory of the Northwestern Shoshone , who had their seasonal camps along streams within the valley and in adjacent valleys. One of the local Shoshone tribes, the Western Goshute tribe, referred to the Great Salt Lake as Pi'a-pa , meaning "big water", or Ti'tsa-pa , meaning "bad water". The land was treated by the United States as public domain; no aboriginal title by

8686-399: The top, they surveyed the region and Young decided to the build the city and its temple at the very base of the mountain's slope. Tradition holds that the men planted an American flag atop the peak to claim what was then Mexican territory for the United States. This legend has often been repeated in literature and celebratory speeches, and the supposed event is even memorialized as part of

8787-535: The union upon President Grover Cleveland 's decree after the LDS Church agreed to ban polygamy in 1890. In 1907, Salt Lake City was home to Industrial Workers of the World Industrial Union No. 202. The city adopted a non-partisan city council in 1911. As LDS/non-LDS tensions eased people began to work together for the common good, improving roads, utilities and public healthcare. The Great Depression hit Salt Lake City especially hard. At its peak,

8888-565: The valley floor making it a prominent feature above the city. Although prominent, commentators have not always thought it a beautiful element of the landscape. The first mayor of Salt Lake City, Jedediah M. Grant , called it "a big toe of the Wahsatch range" while writing to the New York Herald in 1852, and it was later dubbed an "ugly nub" by a writer for the Deseret News . Early members of

8989-486: The vanguard company of Mormon pioneers , and for many years after that by those following them to Salt Lake. On July 24, 1847, 143 men, three women and two children founded Great Salt Lake City several miles to the east of the Great Salt Lake , nestled in the northernmost reaches of the Salt Lake Valley. The first two in this company to enter the Salt Lake valley were Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow . These members of

9090-407: The very center of the hill when viewed from the city below. The pole, just over 100 feet (30 m) high and made of iron, was placed on July 17, 1897. The US flag was then raised on this pole on July 24, 1897, 50 years after the arrival of the pioneers. The 1897 flagpole, damaged by bullets and wind, was replaced by a three-legged pole in 1915. As part of the centennial celebration of the arrival of

9191-549: The west and to the south, flowing into the Jordan River . There is a wall around the 10-acre (4.0 ha) temple site. The surrounding wall became the first permanent structure on what has become known as Temple Square. The wall is a uniform 15 feet (4.6 m) high but varies in appearance because of the site's southwest slope. The temple is considered the house of God and is reserved for special ceremonies for practicing Latter-Day Saints. The main ordinance rooms are used during

9292-458: The years, all without serious action until the 1990s. In 1953, Salt Lake City sold the land below the peak, known as Ensign Flats, to developers who then constructed the Ensign Downs neighborhood. Only 9 acres (3.6 ha) at the very top of the peak were retained by the city. By the 1980s, as development of the neighborhood continued, city residents became concerned with possible encroachment onto

9393-519: Was at the cross-roads of the westward trek, became a vital trading point for speculators and prospectors traveling through. They came with goods from the East , such as clothing and other manufactured items, trading with the local farmers for fresh livestock and crops . The Congress organized the Utah Territory out of the " State of Deseret " in 1850, and a few months later on January 6, 1851,

9494-538: Was coming over the mountains, he had a dream of an angel standing on a conical hill, which pointed to an area where a new temple should be built. And when coming down into the valley, Young first looked for that cone-shaped hill. William Minturn also wrote that Young was shown by an angel, standing on a conical hill, where a temple should be built. He stated it was believed by some the angel was Joseph Smith. Richard Francis Burton , another British author, wrote that Young had seen Joseph Smith appear on Ensign Peak and point out

9595-466: Was done by nine young women, all descendants of those who had made the first climb. The monument is 18.47 feet (5.63 m) high (in honor of 1847, the arrival year of the Mormon pioneers) and roughly 100 stones from historic locations were included in its construction. A bronze interpretive plaque, supplied by the UPTLA, was built into the monument's face. Plans to improve the peak as a park came and went over

9696-475: Was early in its renovation process at the time, and the rest of the statue was removed the following May. Renovation procedures included an installation of a new statue on April 2, 2024. Below are several photographs from the interior of the temple. In response to a member obtaining unauthorized images of the interior of the temple, church leaders decided to release the book The House of the Lord in 1912, which contained authorized black-and-white photographs of

9797-552: Was originally settled by Latter-day Saint Pioneers to be the New Zion according to church President and leader Brigham Young. Young originally governed both the territory and church by a High council which enacted the original municipal orders in 1848. This system was later replaced with a city council and mayor style government. After a very difficult winter and a miraculous crop retrieval, in which Pioneers reported to have been saved from cricket infestation by seagulls (see Miracle of

9898-532: Was placed on the peak by the Salt Lake Herald newspaper in 1897 as part of a semi-centennial celebration of the pioneer arrival. The Herald formed the "Herald Ensign Peak Flag Association" to solicit donations early that year and contributions came from as far as Switzerland. With assistance from the Utah National Guard 's signal corp, a spot for the flagpole was located on the peak, so as to appear in

9999-645: Was sold to the May Department Stores Company in 1999. Remaining ZCMI stores, including one in downtown Salt Lake City, were converted into Meier & Frank stores, although the facade still reads "1868 ZCMI 1999". In April 1999, the Salt Lake City council voted 5 to 2 along LDS membership lines to sell to the LDS Church the segment of Main Street that lay between Temple Square and the LDS Church office buildings for $ 8.1 million. The Church planned to build

10100-572: Was the Molten Sea in Solomon's Temple (see 2 Chronicles 4:2–4). (However, the literal interpretation of the Biblical verses has been disputed.) At the east end of the building, the height of the center pinnacle to the base of the angel Moroni is 210 feet (64 m). The temple is in downtown Salt Lake City, with several mountain peaks close by. Nearby, a shallow stream, City Creek , splits and flows both to

10201-406: Was uncovered to continue work, it was discovered that many of the foundation stones had cracked, making them unsuitable to hold the weight of the massive temple. Although not all of the sandstone was replaced, the inadequate sandstone was replaced. The walls are quartz monzonite (which has the appearance of granite ) from Little Cottonwood Canyon , twenty miles (thirty-two kilometres) southeast of

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