My mother and I spend about a week out of every year in Salt Lake City. We stay in a hotel close to the LDS Family History Library, and pass our days searching out our ancestors in the books and microfilm housed there. It's mind-boggling work, but very rewarding - kind of like detective work. Clues are everywhere, but you have to be smart enough to put them all together to make up the big story of someones' life. It's not for everyone, but we love it!

We used to stay at a lovely Victorian inn across the street from the Mormon temple square, but they have torn it down to make room for lovely condos in it's place.

It's a mess right now, but in a few years, it will be a showplace!

This is one side of Temple Square. We walk this way most mornings for breakfast at the Nauvoo Cafe. The cafe is named after the Mormon city in Illinois that the early Mormon pioneers created from swampland. It was from that city, that they were driven out by mobs and forced to travel across the country, eventually ending up in the Great Salt Lake valley.

The cafe is located in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It used to be called the Hotel Utah, until it was renovated to house offices and several restaurants. The lobby of the building is beautiful and ornate.

A larger-than-life statue of Joseph Smith graces the lobby, as well as a small bronze statue of Joseph and his brother, Hyrum. Hyrum was a great supporter of Joseph and was with him in Carthage Jail where they were both killed by an angry mob.

gMy favorite statue depicting mother and son. It's been a long time since my sons were that size!

And here is the Salt Lake Mormon Temple in all it's morning sunshine glory.

The Assemby Hall reflected in the Deseret Book Company office windows.

The Plaza Hotel isn't as fancy as our little Victorian inn, but it is convenient and comfy.

More to come later...