Brigham Young chose this spot for a temple in July 1847, just four days after arriving in the valley. Though far from the nearest railhead or city, the settlers took their few tools and began construction of a temple and tabernacle. Enthusiastic guides offer several tours in Temple Square. Seeing all the Mormon exhibits on Temple Square and adjacent blocks could easily take more than a day. Flowers and beautiful landscaping on the square give a feeling of peace despite the hustle and bustle outside the walls.
Signs request visitors to refrain from smoking on the grounds.
Conference Priesthood Session in the tabernacle Pioneers labored from 1863 to 1867 to construct this unique dome-shaped building. Brigham Young desired a meeting hall capable of holding thousands of people in an interior free of supports that would block vision and sound. His design, drawn up by bridge-builder Henry Grow, took the form of massive latticed wooden beams resting on 44 supports of red sandstone. Wooden pegs and rawhide strips hold the structure together. Because Utah lacked many of the building supplies familiar to the workers, they often had to make substitutions.