SPIRES

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 (which in the past was the Hotel Utah) also topped with a beehive, but its many times larger than its neighbor.  Historic building? Yes.  Being renovated? 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 on something 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.