Salt Lake City - Town Built by the Mormons

On Jan. 23, Friday, we arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah after a long tough drive through 160 miles of snow, sleet and fog along Highway 15. We were happy to locate the Marriott Hotel, drove into the carpark, unloaded our bags, handed our car keys to the valet and headed for the check-in counter only to find out that we were in the wrong Marriott - we were in the Marriott Downtown Hotel, our reservation was with the Marriott City Center (two blocks further away). we were too tired to relocate, so asked if we can have them call to cancel our reservation over the other hotel and check us in - we had to pay a higher rate, but managed to get a room. As with all Marriotts, it was very nice and comfortable, but everything costed us money (internet connection, mineral water in the room, etc....).

We got out for a look-see: our first stop - Temple Square, Utah's most popular tourist destination. Within Temple Square are 20 attractions related to the Mormon Pioneer history and their way of life. We were really impressed with the Salt Lake Temple, worldwide icon of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Later-Day Saints. It had taken 40 years for the Mormons to build this 6-spired cathedral. We also saw the inside of the Tabernacle, home of the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Tabernacle organ - a real architectural wonder. From anywhere inside the building, you can be heard clearly across the huge hall - without microphones.

Touring the complex with two Mormon guides to explain the various exhibits, we were amazed to learn about the faith and devotion of the Mormons that brought about the founding of Salt Lake City and that built all the buildings at Temple Square.

The Church of the Later-Day Saints (better known as Mormon religion) was founded in New York in 1820 by a Joseph Smith who claimed that Jesus Christ appeared to him with the express purpose of getting him to restore His Church and Gospel to its purity and fulness to the earth. Joseph Smith later bought forth the Book of Mormon and soon had a big following of more than 10,000. His new teachings, with different views and practices, were not in agreement with those of other denominations and the Mormons were persecuted and driven out of New York and his group migrated to Ohio, Missouri and then to Illinois. In Illinios, Smith was arrested, then shot and killed in a gunfight.

Brigham Young became the new leader of the group in 1844, and he is credited with the relocating the faithful to the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. Since that time, Salt Lake City has served as the international headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. It was amazing to read about how 10,000 over Mormon pioneers went on foot, pulling handcarts containing all they got over 4 months through the great plains and over the Rocky Mountains to reach their 'Promise Land' , Salt Lake City which , in those days, nobody wanted. At last, they were left alone to mind their own business and through their hard work, determination, successful conversions and colonization of new territories in Utah and Idaho, the Mormons had grown to be the fourth largest religious denomination in the USA today.

With little time left we next paid a visit to the Gateway Mall (big shopping complex) and had a quick dinner at its Food Court. We found a Panda Express stall and were happy to tuck into a Chinese meal at the stall.

In the meantime, a 'cool change' had developed and when we got out of Gateway Mall, the temperature had gone down to minus 5, there was fog all around and we just could not walk the two blocks back to the hotel. Fortunately, the tram service was in operation and we caught a ride on the tram back to the hotel.

That's about all we had of our visit to Salt Lake City and it was a pity we didn't have more time to see some other attractions. For those who watched 'American Idol' - the last show was shot in SLC and featured some of the well known Osmond family. For me, Salt Lake City had , til now, only meant the Osmonds and the Mormons. We are glad to be able to visit and see the real Salt Lake City and many of the other attractions up close.