The main display will include a model train going past representations of international landmarks. The gingerbread landmarks will include items such as a castle, Aztec temple, French chateau, Dutch windmill, the Egyptian Sphinx, and the Taj Mahal of India. Jordan's U.S. ambassador prayed for Middle East peace at the LDS Church's Washington, D.C. Temple grounds Wednesday as part of the annual ceremony to turn on the Christmas lights. Elder Dallin H. Oaks quoted the Koran, and the International Children's Choir of Utah sang in Arabic. Performances will take place in the Provo Tabernacle, Friday, Dec. 8, and in the Joseph Smith Building Auditorium on BYU campus, Sunday, Dec. 10.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Putting up the lights at the temple took nearly 1,000 volunteers and months of work to get ready for the 20th Christmas display. During the month of December, concerts will take place and tours of the Mesa Temple Visitors Center will be offered each night. Since the age of 12, Anthian has devoted much of his time to disadvantaged people. The Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning appointed a church-service missionary to help create an environment of service at BYU and elsewhere. Harvey Black, husband of BYU religion professor Susan Easton Black, has been called to work in the Jacobsen Center for the next 18 months.