The COVID-19 pandemic and construction on the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square grounds have limited the number of lights, displays, and events that will be available to Salt Lake City visitors this year. But so that everyone can still feel connected to the spirit of the season, the Church has created more virtual opportunities to help people experience Christmas on Temple Square
So for families who live outside of Utah or who are just looking for a cozy, uplifting night in during those dark December weeks, here are three stellar ways you can still experience the Christmas events happening on Temple Square from the comfort of your home!
“Peace on Earth” animated nativity show
In a fun, new undertaking, an animated nativity story projection will be shown on the ceiling of the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. The four-minute presentation uses shadows, graphics, narration, and music to tell the story of Christ’s birth in a very kid-friendly way that adults will love too.
If you can't attend the show in person, the images and audio tracks from the presentation are also available on TempleSquare.org so your family can recreate this fun Christmas story from your own home!
Click here to download the PDFs and audio from this unique animated show.
“Witnesses of Christ” musical presentation
Just after Thanksgiving, the “Witnesses of Christ” musical celebration was broadcast live from Temple Square. The program was hosted and included thoughtful, inspired messages by Don't Miss This co-host David Butler, along with musical performances of Christmas carols from the Truman Brothers, the Utah State University Chamber Singers, Daniel Beck, and many others.
The “Witnesses of Christ” program can now be watched on-demand from home throughout the Christmas season.
Watch it and learn more here.
Commemorative Christmas album, book, and DVD from the Tabernacle Choir
This year, three different commemorative Christmas products will be available from the Tabernacle Choir.
► You may also like: Tabernacle Choir's 2021 Christmas concert plans announced
Christmas Best is a commemorative Christmas album with songs from the Tabernacle Choir’s greatest Christmas performances from the last 15 years. The nearly hour-long album includes sacred and secular Christmas favorites like O Holy Night, Silent Night, In the Bleak Midwinter, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and more.
The CD can be purchased here.
The Keepsake Christmas Stories: Holiday Favorites as Performed With the Tabernacle Choir book celebrates twenty years of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square's beloved Christmas show—an annual tradition enjoyed by millions, both live on stage and through its holiday season broadcast on PBS stations. Each year the show is hosted by a distinguished special guest, which have included celebrities like Jane Seymour, Tom Brokaw, Kristin Chenoweth, and Hugh Bonneville. These holiday story adaptions have ranged from The Gift of the Magi to the story behind the writing of the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul” to the inspiring tale of "The Candy Bomber"—an unlikely American WWII hero who dropped candy from his airplane to the children of Germany.
This coffee table book is the perfect holiday keepsake for all ages and features photographs of the stage productions alongside the stories and a special interactive digital link to hear audio of the stories from every performance.
The book is available now at Deseret Book.
And finally, a two-hour commemorative special from the Tabernacle Choir will also be available this year on DVD and will include performances from 40+ world-renowned guest artists and more than 60 musical performances from the last 20 years of Choir Christmas concerts.
Former Choir guest artist and Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell hosts the special and provides narration for the in-depth and behind-the-scenes look into these special performances.
“Whatever we believe about the meaning of Christmas, its message is universal,” Stokes said on the Choir’s blog. “The music, the stories, the singing, the dancing, and the sharing are all a reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ is about peace and goodwill for everyone.”
The DVD is available now at Deseret Book.
