Saturday, December 5, 2009

FINDING CHRISTMAS....

This awesome singer came to Salt Lake City, Utah... to record a song for his new CD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
He said; "When I heard this song with your voices, I had the impression the music came from the sky!"

David Foster and Andrea Bocelli were in Salt Lake recently to make a recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
David said ; " This was the nearest thing to Heaven that I have experienced in my life time."


This beautiful temple took the settlers 40 years to build...to stand right next to it is breath taking! It is unbelievable to me that such a structure could be built by hand in the 1800's. The granite for the walls was cut by hand and hauled out of the mountains by pioneers.


Temple Square is totally lite up at Christmas time to symbolize...The " Light of Jesus Christ"


Family is everything...this is what makes Christmas for me~


This Nativity display sits on calm, still water


Temple Square is filled with the spirit of Christmas which is...Peace and Love~


Life size figures of The Nativity...so beautiful to behold as one stands there listening to the story of the birth of Jesus Christ


~Beautiful....Peaceful Temple Square~


Natalie Cole will be in Salt Lake City this month to be the guest artist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Guest artists like this are here several times a year to sing with the choir.


The Mormon Tabernacle Choir..."America's Choir"..filling the world with beautiful music! Every Sunday morning this choir is broadcast all over the world...it is called; The Morman Tabernacle Choir and The Spoken Word. If you haven't heard it, you have got to find it..go to (www.lds.org/broadcast) to find how you could listen to it in your area.

This is picture of one of the first Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances. One of the first things the Pioneers did after reaching the Salt Lake valley was to establish a choir, it has been going ever since the 1800's.


The beautiful Salt Lake Valley...settled by pioneers back in the 1800's. Surrounded by magnificent mountains..the best snow on earth for skiing. My gg. grandfather helped settle this place, today it is the most beautiful city. It has hosted the Olympics...it is the cleanest city I have ever been to. It is the home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir...if you ever come to Salt Lake City, don't miss out on visiting Temple Square, it it the most visited tourist site anywhere in the world.

I HOPE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS...IT'S THERE EVERYWHERE AROUND YOU..LET IT IN AND KEEP IT WITH YOU EVEN AFTER CHRISTMAS IS PASSED.

42 comments:

The Garden of Egan said...

So beautiful! We were there last Christmas season for our daughter's concert. I hadn't been to Temple Square at Christmas before. Wow!
Overpowering

Brenda @Cozy Little House said...

What a magnificent place it is!
Brenda

debi said...

Beautiful post!
Looking forward to making a trip to Temple Square to see the lights this year.
We're talking about taking the Young Women there for a Mutual outing.
Can't wait!

Deb said...

What an absolutely gorgeous post Julie. Your photos of Temple Square are amazing.It looks like such a magical spot all lit up especially at Christmas ♥

Mimi Sue said...

I so love Temple Square all year but especially at Christmas. Our oldest daughter served her mission there about 10 years ago. So we have a soft place in our hearts for TS. We try to go to the Christmas Program every year but couldn't get tickets this year. Have a wonderful sabbath. Mimi

Connie said...

I love to see Temple Square lights! It truly feels like Christmas when I can go to the Tabernacle Choir concert! The spirit is so strong and the music heavenly.
Beautiful pictures!

Jenny S said...

My Aunt and Uncle live in Orem, Utah and I have not had the chance to visit. One of these days and then maybe we can meet!!

The Askeroth Family said...

We watched that concert with Andrea Bocelli on PBS last night with Lindsey and Michael and I LOVED IT! I would give anything to have been there. The number with MoTab was my favorite of course!

Joycee said...

I want to visit there and Christmas Season would be so beautiful!

Cindy-Stitches-N-Stuff said...

Thank you for your beautiful and touching post. I've been near Temple Square all of my life, it has been a hugh part of building a testimony in my heart of who I am and how I get to the place I am going. I reverance it's grounds and respect the work that goes on there.

The Manti temple has been a greater effect on me. I often remember driving towards Manti and experiencing the brilliant lights comeing from the Temple. That temple speeks to me still. John and I like to visit that temple and then go to the Dairey Queen in Ephraim. My grandparents lived up the street.

Have a wonderful day
cindy@stitches

Jules said...

Oh my goodness that is gorgeous!! I would love to see that in person.

Beautiful pear tree lane said...

Hi Julie,
What an absolute wonderful post, such a beautiful Tabernacle, and I always enjoy the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and to have such talented people to sing with them is wonderful too.

Thank you so much for your concern and your prayers too, I am doing so well, and it is great to be out visiting my friends again.
Blessings,
Sue

Maryjane - The Beehive Cottage said...

Hello Julie!

What a beautiful post! I love all the pictures of Temple Square at Christmastime! Never seen it at Christmas but they do a great job here of lighting the Los Angels Temple which we have been to several times. My husband has ancestors help settle Salt Lake to! Beautiful city with wonderful history! History that changed my life forever!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Brandi said...

Thank you so much for posting these pictures! My great grandmother always wanted me to see the temple at Christmas and so far it has never been an option-ths brings me a little closer.
Christmas Blessings~Brandi

Brandi said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

koralee said...

What a beautiful post on the lovely and magical Temple and it's Choir...I get chills just looking at the images. To see it all in person must me breathtaking indeed. Heaven will be a magical place. Thank you so much for this inspiring post.

Marie said...

Julie, I visited Salt Lake City last February for the first time. I wish I could live there. I loved every inch of it and the valley. Temple Square was amazing. I wish I could see it at Christmas time. I am sure it is beautiful. One of the highlights of my trip was being able to attend Music and the Spoken Word in the Tabernacle and to hear the choir sing in person. It was fabulous. A dream come true! xxoo

Sandy said...

Hi Julie, My darling daughter had the privilege of serving a mission on Temple square in 2004-05. She also had the honor of serving her sisters as being Assistant to the President. She loved it very much. She loved her time on Temple Square and being able to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ. She was also able to do work in that great Temple, not just the work for our ancestors but doing service for the Temple. She had the most amazing time and is still close to many of the sisters from all over the world that she served with. I saw the show on TV. Isn't it amazing all the stars that sing with our Choir can feel Heaven! It's because it is the true Church and they feel that spirit, but I know you already know that! We are so blessed to have that in our lives!
I wish that everyone could have the opportunity to visit and feel of the amazing spirit that is there.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Julie,
That looks just fabulous! Your pics are so pretty and yes I would love to visit Salt Lake City and Utah as well. I have always thought the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St.Paul( about 2 hours from us) were some of the cleanest and pretties so I would really like to visit Salt Lake. Thanks for sharing, Cindy

Brenda @Just a Bed of Roses said...

Your beautiful post and pictures just pulled the tears right down my face.
when mentioned that the choir is the closest thing to heaven...it is so true. Nothing I have ever experienced in my life has felt so close to what heaven must feel like as to be with them on tour and hear them sing the way they do...

Truely music right from the heavens. Some of the choir member women have come into the shop...what a joy and a treat to see them and just be in their humble presence. So humble.

It's still hard to listen to any other music, as nothing fills me up or compares to theirs.

It's so cold here...the snow will add alot of beauty to the lights now...and peace is always there.

Brenda @Just a Bed of Roses said...

I want to add something that's really been bothering me lately.

There is a blogger that keeps posting that she believes people who have passed on are looking down on us at Christmas etc. and watching us protecting and loving their old decorations and possessions.
I cringe everytime I see this as I believe they could care less about them and so above that. They care more about US and our growing and overcoming daily struggles. What's more important is how we love one another as I have loved you.
Not always easy.
Our possessions are nice to have and enjoy while we are here. When being among the choir members I had no thoughts of my possessions for two weeks (and being a shop keeper I have more than enough!).

I thought what do I need to do so that I can keep these beautiful feelings alive everyday. Not... when I die who is going to worship my belongings so that I may look down on them adoringly.

Lorilee said...

Hi Julie,
Thank you for sharing. Temple Square is beautiful.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Tracy said...

Thanks for sharing this post. The pictures are beautiful, just like the message they portray!!

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

The Temple Square is just stunning! The life size Nativity is just beautiful! I love Andrea Bocelli! I have all his CD's. I saw him last week I think on Oprah - magnificent!

Manuela

Little Cottage said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog!
Wish you & your dear family A Merry Christmas time.
-Sylvi

GWENDOLYN said...

Julie,
I wish I did not live so far away so I could visit the temple in person. It is magnificent in your pictures. I love Andre's voice. I saw his Christmas special on tv last week. Blessings and hugs!
Gwen

Shelia said...

Hi Julie! Oh, I have always wanted to come to Salt Lake City and have heard how beautiful it is. The temple and surrounds are gorgeous! I can almost hear the beautiful sounds of the music.
Thank you, Dear One, I'll take that hug.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Valerie said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful, heartwarming thoughts of Christmas.

Muthering Heights said...

Heyyyyyyyy...I just saw him on TV, and he was talking about this!!! So cool!!!

food with style said...

beautiful post on slc, wonderful pics. i went to u of u, i picked my school for the skiing!

Beth at Aunties said...

My husband's office looks out over the plaza. I think I would be doing a ton of day dreaming!!! I love all your pictures and yes there is so much LIGHT on beautiful Temple Square.
I missed most of the broadcast tonight while taking care of my FIL. I enjoyed the last half though! I adore being a part of this great and beautiful Church and what a treasure the choir is!
It was a family tradition to attend the Christmas broadcast each year. We haven't been for several years now.
Julie, this post is just what I needed tonight. Thank You so much for sharing your light with us!
~♥

Darlene said...

If you go to lds.org and follow the link, you can watch a replay of any of the talks that are given. Also, BYU TV does replays of all talks and conferences.

The broadcast tonight was wonderful - as was Pres. Utchdorf's YSA broadcast last month.

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling when I saw the adorable photo of you and the baby I simply had to click to see your blog. What a precious baby, God Bless all your children, grandchildren and your family. I am now the proud follower number 101 of your blog.

Have a lovely week.

Love & Hugs
Duchess

"Blossom" said...

I seen Natalie Cole in Vegas and she was awesome. Lovely post today.

Farm Chick Paula said...

Wow, Miss Julie- that place is amazing!! It's hard to imagine it took them 40 years to build it... but what an incredible accomplishment. And the CD you sent with my prize package is WONDERFUL! I love it! I've been listening to my Christmas CD's this weekend while decorating, and this one is a definite keeper for many years to come!

Mercy Otis/The Stone House said...

Hi Julie, I love seeing these beautiful pictures. Wasn't the choir so beautiful last night? Well, the entire broadcast was beautiful. I just echo Beth's words about being a member of this Great church! Love this post.
Enjoy your day.
Mercy

Are you having snow? We have a bunch and it is still snowing pretty good.
Do you walk inside during the winter?

Eggs In My Pocket / Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Such beautiful splendor man made and natural! I think the mountains and canyons surrounding Utah are breath taking. I have always wanted to come visit Bryce Canyon. Enjoyed your pretty post! blessings,Kathleen

Vicki said...

Hello, Julie,
This looks like such a beautiful place to visit. I hope to one day get to Utah and see it in person. The Mormon Tabernacle choir sings like the angels of heaven! Thank you for sharing the beauty of Christmas with us! Much love to you and blessings! Vicki

Paula said...

wow, such beauty! I am in awe of it all...thankyou for sharing:)
paula

Lissa said...

Can you imagine? Andre Bocelli with the mormon tabernacle choir??? goosebumps...

Michele and Todd said...

I am so excited, I will get to see those beautiful lights at Temple square this weekend. You have some amazing pictures of the lights.

The Gough Inn said...

I love that photo of the temple in the back ground of the family handing hands - sweet - I have that CD Andrea Bocelli word are hard to put down -- and all I can say is "breath-takingly wonderful"
by the way that photo I sent to you of the Chocolate Kiss dressed in white was on the TV 2News that evening - how cool is that.