Temple Square lights up for Christmas, rekindling traditions old and new


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SALT LAKE CITY — To a wave of "oohs" and "aahs," millions of tiny Christmas lights went on at Temple Square on Friday with the flip of a switch.

Briggs and Wendy Horman were waiting just under a large star with their 18-year-old daughter, Julia, when Temple Square lit up.

"We weren't expecting it yet, and so it was so exciting," Wendy Horman said. "I don't know why it was, it was just …"

"Magical," her daughter chimed in.

"Magical, yeah. That's the right word," the mother answered.

Visiting from Idaho Falls for Thanksgiving, the Hormans huddled together for a selfie under the star and set out searching the temple grounds for a sister missionary they were hoping to meet, the daughter of a woman Briggs Horman had baptized as a missionary in South Africa for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The family had added a trip to see the lights to their plans as a way to remember the joy that can still be found in a turbulent world.

Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News
Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News

"There's a wonderful spirit here, and it feels safe," Wendy Horman said. "There's a lot going on in a lot of places around the world right now … and there's a sense of hope and excitement here that runs counter to a lot of what's in the news right now."

At the life-sized Nativity scene on the lawn in front of the North Visitors' Center, Zack and Amy West watched as spotlights shined on the figures and recounted the birth of Jesus Christ. Together with parents, siblings and children, the Lehi family was distinctive wearing their traditional cowboy Santa hats.

"It's a tradition. We do it every year, it's been 28 years," Zack West said. "We're here opening night, every year."

The couple hopes that through the years, their 3-year-old daughter, Ceilia, will learn from the tradition.

"We love to come see the lights. We love to see it all bare and then light up, and we have to come see the manger scene," Amy West said. "We always want her to know the story behind Christmas and behind everything, to actually know why we celebrate."

For Kasey and McKenzie Kennington, of Ogden, seeing the lights turn on for the Christmas season represents a new tradition. The couple was married Friday morning in the Ogden LDS Temple and came to Salt Lake City for the weekend. They held hands as they watched the crowds passing the reflection pool.

Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News
Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News

"Everyone's faces were fun (when the lights turned on), the surprise was fun," McKenzie Kennington said.

Friday was also the first time the couple had come to see the temple lights together. While McKenzie Kennington isn't opposed to decorating early for Christmas, her new husband describes himself as a "stickler" who prefers to wait until after Thanksgiving.

"Today is my kickoff," he said. "Everyone's happy. Nobody is in a real rush to do anything, they're just here to see the lights and enjoy it."

"And I can officially put the Christmas tree up now," his wife added brightly.

The lights will be on nightly at Temple Square from dusk until 10 p.m. through New Year's Eve, when they will shine until 12:30 a.m. This year, the display includes the large Cedar of Lebanon tree by the Main Street gates, which is only lit every other year.

Contributing: Andrew Adams

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