As part of Historic Temple Square located in Salt Lake City, the LDS Conference Center is the current location of the semi-annual general conferences held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In addition, the center hosts a wide variety of additional church and civic events, such as performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Parking and Public Transportation at the LDS Conference Center
As the conference center is located on the north side of Temple Square, the most convenient place to park is at the City Creek Center mall garage located just south of the square. The mall does charge an hourly rate but this can be validated with a purchase at one of its many stores. There are nearly a half dozen public transportation bus stops around the Conference Center along with two nearby stops for Utah Transit Authority's light rail TRAX service.
Best and Worst Time to Go to the LDS Conference Center
The center is open most days for tours but you'll want to avoid the first weekend in April and October, as these weekends are traditionally the dates when the general conference sessions are held. Thousands of church members descend on the conference center and tours are cancelled for those weekends. If you want to see all that the tour has to offer without braving the cold and darkness of winter, I'd opt for sometime in May or early June.
Admission to the LDS Conference Center
The conference center is free to the public and tours are offered free of charge. However, if you will be visiting with a large group, it is recommended that you contact the center first to make sure that it will be open for tours. The center can sometimes close unexpectedly due to events taking place inside.
Must See/Do at the LDS Conference Center
Both the inside and outside of the center are well worth your time to visit. The inside auditorium seats roughly 21,000 with balconies held up without the use of columns. The outside of the center features gardens on the roof that are especially beautiful during the spring.
Other Places to Visit Near the LDS Conference Center
In addition to visiting the other structures located at Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol a few blocks to the north would be a great follow-on tour after visiting the conference center. If you're looking for something to eat, look no further than the City Creek Center, which offers everything from fast-food fare to more upscale dining options like the Blue Lemon.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the LDS Conference Center
When you visit the conference center, pay attention to the chandelier located in the main hall. It is a surprising three stories tall and makes for a great picture backdrop, although the photographer might have to bend down a bit to get the chandelier and the subject in the picture.
Author's bio: Clint T. has lived in Utah on and off for the past 20 years and will never grow tired of the great outdoors.