12-2-2021 Salt Lake City, UT

Back in the early 90s, we traveled to SLC at Christmastime to visit Mom and Dad DLM.  We stayed at a hotel near Temple Square with Rick and Trina.  The Mormons just go nuts at Christmas.  Temple Square is an ocean of bazillions of lights and decorations, there are hay rides, parades, singing and caroling.  Well, I was sick as a dog so when Rob, Rick and Trina went to the square to experience the festivities, I went to bed at the hotel.  And I was right sad about it.

 

Ever since that time, I have wanted to come back to SLC at Christmastime.  So this year, we decided to make the trip, some 30 years later.  I got one of the last available rooms on Temple Square and this was in March. 

 

The majestic Mormon Temple 2021!

Well, as it happens, the Mormon Church Elders decided that the Temple, the initial build of which began in 1853, was beginning to show signs of aging and possible catastrophic failure.  So in 2019, they began a restoration project which included a lot of deep digging to reinforce the foundations as well as add three lower stories.  All the spires were removed for safe-keeping and the entire building was covered in scaffolding.  The entire city block was fenced off.  And here we are.  Two years later and it is still this way, a city block of dirt, machinery and scaffolds.  And no lights.  And no festivities.  The project is predicted to be completed by 2025.  I’m just a lucky son of a gun!  What are the odds?!

 

The "Assembly Hall" as viewed
from the hotel 13th floor

Lindy on Main St.

Main Street - Rob waiting for the train

Lucky us1  We got to visit
with Rachie (granddaughter)
and Cody who have just
moved to SLC!

Rob on the grounds of "Assembly Hall"
and the Tabernacle (We infidels
are allowed into these two buildings
but not the Temple.)

South Temple Street

Another view of "Assembly Hall"

Lights, lights, lights
everywhere!

There were plenty of lights in other places around the city, though, so the Christmas spirit is still alive and well in Mormonville and we have had no trouble finding fun things to do.  The Mormon Tabernacle and the “Assembly Hall” are across the street from our hotel.  This magnificent building was constructed with the scraps that were left over when the Temple itself was completed in 1893.  The grounds of these two buildings are decorated and lighted and open to the public.

 

As I say, we have had no trouble finding fun.  The city transit system has a stop just outside our hotel.  We hopped on and off the train to explore the city for two days.   “Whiskey Street,” nicknamed by Brigham Young, is now Main Street.  Whiskey Street (saloon and eatery) is less than a block from a train stop so where else to have dinner?!  This strip was donated to the “gentiles” by the Mormons, presumably to consolidate and isolate all the sins in one place.  However, let’s be clear.  There are numerous distilleries in town owned and operated predominantly by Mormons.  Brigham Young himself owned a distillery and records indicate that he made liquor purchases at least twice a month for 10 years!  In an address to the city council on August 11, 1865, he said, “This community needs vinegar and will require spirituous liquors for washing and for health, and it will be right and proper for the city to continue its sale as it has done and make a profit.”  Profit for the prophet!  So there you are!  Even good ol’ Brig was a boozer who thought liquor is good for your health, my friends, just to round out your education on Mormonism.  Brig is The Man!

 

Check out this back bar!

Whiskey Street has a fantastically stocked enormous bar!  We’ve never seen anything like this!  After a dinner of pub food, we hopped back on the train and headed to our hotel.  Saturday, we are homeward bound.  Merry Christmas to one and all!

Whiskey Street - the whole
shootin' match!

The other half of the back bar!
Holy buckets!