George And Audrey DeLange
October 15-18, 2001
Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the Saints were led from Nauvoo to the site of modern day Salt Lake City, Utah by Brigham Young. A tabernacle was used for years in Salt Lake City for the Conferences of the Church Of Jesus Christ And Latter Day Saints. Its' Choir and Organ became world famous. The church has grown and the need for a new building to house the large audiences became necessary.In one sweeping auditorium of unprecedented size, 21,000 faithful can sit comfortably and clearly hear the words and see the face of LDS president Gordon B. Hinkley. Sharing the huge rostrum is seating for the 158-member General Authorities and the 352-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir, all backed by a gleaming 125-rank pipe organ. In addition to the main auditorium, with its record-breaking capacity, the conference center also contains a 900-seat theater and an underground 1,400-car parking structure. According to Gray, the conference center was first discussed in 1861. Brigham Young wanted an assembly hall that would seat 20,000. But the engineers of his time could not deliver at that scale. Instead, in 1867, the church got the present tabernacle, which seats 6,000, and that has been the limit on seating until now. Twenty-one-thousand-seat, oval shaped arenas are not uncommon. But arranging this many seats in a fan-shaped configuration with a single focal point, centered on a speaker at the pulpit, is unique in the world. The structure is designed to last at least the next 150 years. The panels of granite that cover the exterior were cut from the earth near the source of the granite used during the 40-year construction of the temple. This page contains a sample of the best digital photos and pictures that we have taken of the new LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. These pictures and photos are for your enjoyment and may be freely used for clean, wholesome, noncommercial, purposes that are supportive of the LDS Church. |
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| Main Building | Grand Hall Main Lobby |
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| More Grand Hall Area | The 125 Rank Pipe Organ |
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| Choir & General Authorities Area | Lighting |
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| Rostrum Divides Into 92 Modules Can Be Taken Down For Productions | Rostrum Is One Giant Stage |
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| Broadcast Camera Control Suite | Language Translation Broadcast Area |
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| Seating For 21,000 | Not One Bad Seat 20'X30' Video Screens |