As you study the Doctrine and Covenants in Come, Follow Me this year, you can deepen your understanding by exploring the stories and viewing photos of places where sacred events occurred. This is one in a series of articles about key Church history sites.
Several historic Church history sites in Utah have been preserved by the Church for visitors to enjoy either in person or virtually.
Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square
With its distinctive spires and statue of the angel Moroni, the Salt Lake Temple is an international symbol of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The building of the Salt Lake Temple was seen as a fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah 2:2).
The Salt Lake Temple was the fourth temple built in Utah Territory (though its construction was started first) and the first built in the Salt Lake Valley. The Salt Lake Temple took 40 years to build with its highly ornate interior being completed in just a year. The Salt Lake Temple is the largest temple (most square footage) of the Church. Learn about the history of the Salt Lake Temple.
Temple Square is the five-block area surrounding the Salt Lake Temple in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The square is a popular visitor destination and showcases a number of experiences centered around worship of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The centerpiece of the square is the Salt Lake Temple, which is a sacred place of worship for members of the Church.
See the page Temple Square for schedule, photos, and information about visiting. Also see the page “Visit Temple Square.”
Although the Salt Lake Temple is currently closed for renovation, much of Temple Square is open to the public. Patrons can view the construction progress on the Salt Lake Temple from the Main Street Plaza and Conference Center. Surrounding buildings on Temple Square remain open such as the Conference Center, Church History Museum, Tabernacle, Church History Library, Family Search Library, and the Church Office Building plaza.
The Beehive House and Lion House
The Beehive House was the official residence of three Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Smith. The three-story home is located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, at the intersection of State Street and South Temple. Brigham Young was also governor of the Utah Territory, and the Beehive House was also used to receive and entertain visitors to the territory. The home has been restored to its nineteenth-century appearance. The Lion House stands next to the Beehive House.
See the page The Beehive House for schedule, photos, and information about visiting. As of March 2025, it is closed for renovation.
Cove Fort
Cove Fort, located halfway between Beaver and Fillmore in south central Utah, was an integral way station that supported travel to settlements in southern Utah Territory as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expanded from its headquarters in Salt Lake City.
See the page Cove Fort for schedule, photos, and information about visiting.
St. George Temple and Visitors’ Center
In the 1850s and 1860s, many Latter-day Saints responded to calls from President Brigham Young to settle the area about 300 miles (480 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. In 1871, President Young announced that a temple would be built there, in St. George. Completed in 1877, the St. George Utah Temple became the first temple to be completed since the Saints moved west and the first to have endowments for the dead performed.
Today the temple grounds include two buildings that are hosted by missionaries. In one you will learn about the early Saints’ efforts to build the temple. In the other you will learn about faith in Jesus Christ, the Restoration of the gospel, and the importance of families in Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. If you visit both buildings, plan to spend between 30 minutes and 1½ hours.
See the page St. George Utah Temple Visitors’ Center for schedules, photos, and more information.
Brigham Young Winter Home and Office
President Brigham Young lived in this home in St. George, Utah, during the winter months from 1870 to 1877. The adjacent office was built to facilitate the work of preparing the sealing and endowment temple ordinances for the dead, conducted for the first time in the St. George Utah Temple.
From this home, Brigham Young directed the affairs of the Church. Today this historic site is open to the public year-round. The home and adjacent office have been restored and furnished to reflect their 1870s appearance. Tours tell about Brigham Young’s family life in St. George and about his role in directing the settlement of southern Utah, including the construction of the St. George Utah Temple.
See the page Brigham Young Winter Home and Office for schedules, photos, and more information.
St. George Tabernacle
The St. George Tabernacle has functioned as a place of worship and a place for community gatherings since 1869—before its completion in 1876.
Guided tours highlight features that illustrate the faith, unity, artistry, and industry of the Latter-day Saints in their efforts to create a holy building where they could worship God. Exhibits display artifacts used in the construction and ornamentation of the building.
See the page St. George Tabernacle for schedules, photos, and more information.
Hamblin Home
Jacob Hamblin moved to southern Utah in 1854, obeying a call to serve as a missionary to American Indians in the area. His home, with the help of his family, functioned as the headquarters for the Southern Utah Indian Mission during the 1860s.
The Hamblin Home in Santa Clara, Utah, is about 7 miles west of St. George. Missionaries will guide your tour of the home.
See the page Hamblin Home for schedules, photos, and more information.
For information about the Temple Quarry Trail, St. George Sandstone Quarry and Trail, Historic Pine Valley Chapel, and Mountain Meadows Massacre National Historic Landmark, see the page What to Expect When You Visit the Church’s Historic Sites in Southern Utah.
Learn more about the Church’s historic sites at history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Related articles:
- “What to Expect When You Visit the Church’s Historic Sites in Southern Utah“
- “A Guide to Historic Sites of the Latter-day Restoration” published by the Church News.
The post A Visitor’s Guide to Church History Sites in Utah first appeared on LDS365: Resources from the Church & Latter-day Saints worldwide.
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