USLCHMission 18
Guest blogger: Elder David Ames
Sitting comfortably in the living room of our third-floor apartment
I gaze out the balcony and see spires.
To the south, down State street, are a couple of skyscrapers. I can’t see the tops of them and I don’t
bother to get up and look – they are not historical.
Just north of those, across the street and a little west from
our apartment, is a building just a little higher than our balcony window. It
is being renovated. It is topped with an historic golden beehive that glows in the morning sun. It is the Beehive House.
Behind it, also being renovated, is the Lion House
(with the lion statue lounging above the door on the south - unseen
from our balcony view). We mostly can only see the northeast corner of the Lion House from our
balcony because it is west behind the Beehive house, but we often see machines and workmen coming and going between the buildings.
The next spire is straight out, on the JSMB - the Joseph Smith Memorial
Building (in the past the Hotel Utah) also topped with a beehive that is many times larger than its neighbor.
Historic building? Yes. It is where we spend our days and is just southeast of the Salt
Lake temple.
The temple is glorious - especially at sunset.
To the west I see only two of its six main spires peeking out from
behind other buildings. The central
spire is topped prominently with a golden statue of the angel Moroni blowing
his trumpet.
Poking up, a bit further north and west, is a crane - something is being built or renovated, and miles beyond that in the distance is the control tower for the airport.
The last spire I can see to north is the top
of the conference center. I cannot see
the conference center itself because it is covered by the lower 14 floors of
the Church Office Building.
The Church Office Building is the northern frame to the
picture in our balcony window. It is 28
stories high and, like the first building, the top is not within my view.
I return to my reflections.
The spires, some topped with flags, are there to be seen.
 |
| JSMB beehive topped with US flag |
We can orient ourselves not only to the
particular structure with a spire, but with the spire as a landmark, we are helped
get to any place in the general vicinity.
What assists you in orienting a location or direction?
Sister Ames and I wear name tags. They are like spires. People who want to be oriented in some way – either spiritually or physically – will stop us with inquiries.
I reflect further on the renovations. All these buildings built in the mid 1800’s
are putting on their Sunday best. The
streets themselves are being torn up and repaved. Everything is being made new for the Salt
Lake Temple celebration – a celebration of Jesus Christ. Its 7 year renovation project is nearing
completion.
The whole world is invited to come to The House of the Lord
- to better know Him. He orients us.
Check your
calendars and save a date. Beginning September 1, 2026 reserve a temple open house tour.
Salt Lake Temple
Celebration - Open House Tours | templesquare.org
And when you come, we will be here. We hope you find us. We
invite you to notice every spire and to consider the invitation being extended
by each one. We look forward to sharing
this experience.
