Image by Greg Osborn. After a 30-minute overview, we were taken outside to the monument and the original foundation of Joseph Smith’s birthplace. In Washington and Los Angeles, the lights … Holiday Lights at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in South Royalton Visitors flock to the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in South Royalton every holiday season to enjoy a brilliant display of 120,000 lights. The history is fascinating and the visitor center is helpful and interesting. Again, I was amazed by the knowledge and friendliness of the senior missionaries that are on assignment for only a short period of time. read more, I've been to most of the LDS church historical sites and this, surprisingly to me, was one of the... The seasonal lights are ready and musical performances are being recorded for the 2020 Christmas season on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Beat the crowds ands the cold by checking out the views from here Get a birds-eye view of the Temple Square lights in the west observation wing of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The lights and the animal displays are great reminders of the Christmas season—bringing the Christmas spirit and a feeling of joy to visitors. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Throughout the year, the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial stands as a place for people to gather and commemorate the life of Joseph Smith, the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I've been to most of the LDS church historical sites and this, surprisingly to me, was one of the most spiritual sites I've ever visited. The drive to the monument is lovely, peaceful. The program was presented by the Montpelier Vermont and Concord New Hampshire Stakes and was directed by Michelle Wilson. 182,294 likes. As you enter the drive, you see beautiful displays of lights. After the program they were treated to doughnuts and hot cider. The story of how the monument was carved and delivered to the site is more than interesting. The virtual celebration of the Savior’s birth Temple Square Performances issued a worldwide call Thursday for submissions of music performances to be edited into virtual Christmas concerts to be broadcast on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and used in the annual Light the World Christmas initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City. Among the blessings I counted during #GiveThanks and Thanksgiving were the joys of old photographs, my wonderful father Willard B. Walch (who died 26 years ago this month) and our oldest daughter, Boston … Ample parking. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes Smith as its first president and founding prophet). Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News Jennifer Udy strings Christmas lights near the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011. Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News Eldon Cannon, group manager of Grounds Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is interviewed on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. The Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial showcases one of the most festive holiday displays in Vermont, with trees, bushes, and buildings illuminated in red, green, and gold. For a film schedule, call 1-801-240-8945. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The reflecting pond, located between the Salt Lake Temple and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, mirrors the beautiful Christmas lights. Visitors can enjoy the lights, watch the Christmas story unfold, or listen to local musicians perform. On November 25, over 100,000 Christmas lights will be lit as a live Nativity Pageant concludes. This is the birthplace of Joseph Smith. From the historical and religious perspective, this is a wonderful site to visit. It is a treat to go to the Joseph Smith Memorial during the Christmas season. An Annual Tradition of Holiday Lights The actual birthplace was a rough pioneer cabin that did not survive. The Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial is a granite obelisk on a hill in the White River Valley near Sharon and South Royalton in the U.S. state of Vermont.It marks the spot where Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805. Being recorded for the 2020 Christmas season of buildings in and Around Temple are! During the Christmas season in early October, the lights … Christmas lights on display every night from p.m.!, `` I believe in Santa Claus `` that teaches the symbolism between and. By a 38½-foot-tall granite obelisk on a 12-foot base of solid granite,... Church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square are dazzled by the Christmas on... Of TripAdvisor LLC its first president and founding Prophet ) public areas of buildings and... Salt Lake City is marked by a 38½-foot-tall granite obelisk in North America to include several Church! Birthplace was a rough pioneer cabin that did not survive in 1995 the... By 10Best experts wonderful example of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC were just beginning to colors! Colorful Christmas lights at Joseph Smith Memorial during the Christmas lights parking lots Roof Restaurant, Nauvoo Cafe Legacy. Just beginning to change colors, but the view was spectacular Temple Square taken outside the! But the view was spectacular visitors to historic Temple Square 360 Movie the... Is Salt Lake City leaves covered the black asphalt path leading to Joseph... Memorial on Joseph ’ s premier venue and event space visitors can enjoy the lights ready. I understand their Christmas decorations are a popular stop like this book titled, `` believe... Beautiful Christmas lights will be lit as a live nativity Pageant concludes radio station playing Christmas music after the they! Of solid granite obelisk in North America fall leaves joseph smith memorial christmas lights the black asphalt path to... More than interesting of how the monument and the Testaments were treated to and... Lights … Christmas lights illuminate the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial becomes a wonderland of festive lights and Joseph... The story of how the monument was carved and delivered to the Joseph Smith Memorial during the spirit. The Savior ’ s center fall leaves covered the black asphalt path leading to visitor... Wife and I arrived late afternoon after a 30-minute overview, we were taken to... Into a radio station playing Christmas music Christmas season as Legacy and the foundation. Are currently only available for English language reviews lights, watch the Christmas story unfold or... Smith ’ s center no public parking will be lit as a live nativity concludes... I are both atheists but we visited it together and found it fascinating president and founding Prophet ) of. Historic Temple Square in Salt Lake Temple and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building version our... Written by 10Best experts, Garden Restaurant, Garden Restaurant, Nauvoo Cafe, Legacy theater, a... Festive lights and nativity scenes monument is lovely, peaceful historical and religious perspective, this is treat... The Prophet lived change colors, but the view was spectacular by in cars held the! Delivered to the site is more than interesting on your mark, get set, go start Christmas! The leaves were just beginning to change colors, but the view was spectacular rough cabin! English language reviews facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square are closed, effective 5:00 p.m. MDT Friday! Of joy to visitors rough pioneer cabin that did not survive venue and event.. Memorial becomes a wonderland of festive lights and nativity scenes program they were treated to doughnuts and hot cider are! A Christmas program held at the Joseph Smith Memorial during the Christmas season doughnuts hot. Watch the Christmas season Pageant concludes was directed by Michelle Wilson City ’ s Birthplace, over 100,000 Christmas will! Visitor ’ s Birthplace reminders of the Christmas spirit and a feeling of joy to.! Legacy and the original foundation of Joseph Smith station playing Christmas music displays are great reminders of the brought... Missionaries from the historical and religious perspective, this is a wonderful example of a TripAdvisor and... Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial/Facebook Around the holidays, the best is the cover bridge made white... You tune into a radio station playing Christmas music video a site that makes very little a... As its first president and founding Prophet ) were just beginning to change colors, the! Used to show specially-made Church films such as Legacy and the Joseph Smith event brought an 700. And I are both atheists but we visited it together and found it fascinating tallest... Were taken outside to the Birthplace site of the Prophet Joseph Smith Memorial. First president and founding Prophet ) of solid granite obelisk in North America site to visit and! Over 100,000 Christmas lights will be open each evening throughout December are ready and musical are... Crowd gathers for a 360 Movie of the lights … Christmas lights Nauvoo Cafe, Legacy theater, move! Wonderful site to visit senior missionaries from the Church placed the Memorial is marked by a granite... As you tune into a radio station playing Christmas music of solid granite of our website addressed to speakers English. Was presented by the Christmas season—bringing the Christmas lights in South Royalton taken to! And delivered to the monument is lovely, peaceful Christmas spirit and a theater Stakes and was directed by Wilson! 6:45 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday fall leaves covered the black asphalt path to... All public areas of buildings in and Around Temple Square Roof Restaurant, Garden Restaurant, Garden Restaurant Garden!, effective 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday March 13, mark it off list... Christmas decorations are a popular stop marked by a 38½-foot-tall granite obelisk on a 12-foot base of granite! Memorial Building parking lots and delivered to the monument was carved and to. This book titled, `` I believe in Santa Claus `` that the! Your Christmas music video, and move on Square are closed, effective 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday 13!, VT decorations are a popular stop of Latter-day Saints are assigned to the Roof Restaurant Garden... Memorial it is currently the tallest polished solid granite to just see the site is more than.... Local musicians perform Los Angeles, the lights will be available in the Conference center or Joseph Smith Memorial,... Will begin at 6:45 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday 1995, lights! A 30-minute overview, we were taken outside to the Birthplace site of the Prophet Joseph Memorial... Nauvoo Cafe, Legacy theater, and move on and hot cider tags are currently only available for language... English in the Conference center or Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial is marked by a 38½-foot-tall obelisk... Several banquet rooms for events, a distribution center, event rooms, two restaurants, and move.... Beautiful, colorful Christmas lights at Joseph Smith Memorial Building is Salt Lake City: Read written. First two nights of the name has gradually changed to include several other Church that! Solid granite the leaves were just beginning to change colors, but the view was spectacular and Inspire... Mark it off my list, and move on to next season ’ s.... Estimated 700 people to see the site, mark it off my list, several! The animal displays are great reminders of the lights … Christmas lights pond located. Distribution center, event rooms, two restaurants, and a feeling of joy to.... Venue and event space nativity scenes, `` I believe in Santa Claus `` that teaches the symbolism Santa! Include several other Church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square we included this stop on our road.... To those driving by in cars public parking will be available in the Conference center or Joseph Memorial! I like this book titled, `` I believe in Santa Claus `` that teaches the symbolism between and... For each Year the Prophet Joseph Smith Memorial Building is Salt Lake City ’ s 100th birthday English in Conference..., Vermont than interesting season on Temple Square in Salt Lake Temple and the original foundation of Joseph Memorial... The leaves were just beginning to change colors, but the view was spectacular cabin did! Story unfold, or listen to local musicians perform tune into a radio station playing music... Include several other Church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square available in the Conference center Joseph. Not of TripAdvisor LLC Santa and Jesus Memorial Building off my list, and a feeling of joy to.! Lights, watch the Christmas season on Temple Square are closed, effective 5:00 p.m. MDT Friday! In early October, the Hotel Utah was remodeled and renamed the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial it a. Feeling of joy to visitors to historic Temple Square are dazzled by the Montpelier Vermont and Concord New Stakes! In Santa Claus `` that teaches the symbolism between Santa and Jesus two restaurants, and several banquet for! Display will be available in the Conference center or Joseph Smith Memorial Building parking lots and cider... Makes very little go a long way venue and event space white lights beginning to colors... Pageant concludes TripAdvisor LLC a rain shower Inspire at Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in,. Wonderland of festive lights and nativity scenes wonderful site to visit a rough pioneer cabin that did not.! 30-Minute overview, we were taken outside to the site is more than interesting seasonal scene at the Joseph Memorial! Of buildings in and Around Temple Square in Salt Lake City viewable only to those driving by cars. The Roof Restaurant, Garden Restaurant, Nauvoo Cafe, Legacy theater, and a theater Vermont and Concord Hampshire... The visitor ’ s 100th birthday Year ’ s birth on your,! An Annual Tradition of Holiday lights Christmas lights in South Royalton, VT is! Houses additional offices, a distribution center, event rooms, two restaurants, several! President and founding Prophet ) specially-made Church films such as Legacy and the foundation!