Captured: My Journey In Photography: The Lights on Temple Square

Every year, during the holiday season, thousands visit Temple Square in Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights. "The lights have been a tradition for 48 years and have grown considerably since their introduction," according to the Deseret News. In 1965, then LDS Church president David O. McKay asked J. Leland Behunin to take on the project of stringing lights on Temple Square. "From 1965-1982," reports the Deseret News, "Behunin and his son, wrapped the Temple Square trees in Christmas lights, and in the beginning they did so without ladders or many tools."

15,000 people crowded Temple Square on the night in 1965 that the lights were first turned on. “Our minds tonight should be on the Babe of Bethlehem whose coming into the world Christmas morning reminds us all that we each should have in our hearts the love of Christ," said President McKay in his remarks before he pressed the button that turned on the 40,000 lights. The crowd responded with “a mighty ahh”.

When my wife and I were first married, we made it a tradition to visit Temple Square on Christmas Eve, to take in the lights and the nativity scene accompanied by a narration of the Christmas story and music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In trying to accomodate the family events of the holiday season, it has not always been easy to make it to Temple Square. Last year, on November 29, I made a special trip of my own, with my camera and a tripod.