Historic stops: Significant sites, artifacts are prevalent, but often go unnoticed

Just across the street from Temple Square and a few steps inside the Church History Museum, a unique and spiritually meaningful display awaits members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If they just stop to look.

An original manuscript page from the Book of Mormon translation — the paper, ink and scribe's handwriting — is there under protective glass at the forefront of the main exhibit. Unfortunately, the amount of attention this display receives is disproportionate to its historical significance.

"This is probably the most important item in the museum,

and 98 percent of the visitors walk right past it," said Jennifer L. Lund, manager of church historic sites for the Family and Church History Department.

Like the manuscript, there are several icons of LDS Church history sprinkled throughout Salt Lake City that Mormons often miss. The subjects are either overlooked, undervalued or just plain off the radar.

With general conference focusing the collective attention of the church on Salt Lake City, we asked four experts to identify some of the more historically rich sites and artifacts to see in the area. Many of their recommendations were of the unassuming sort.

"Some of the most important things are kind of like that," Lund said.

Mormon PioneerMemorial Monument

140 E. 1st Ave., open daily until 8 p.m. (gates are locked during inclement weather)

The burial site of President Brigham Young and Eliza R. Snow, two pillars of Mormon history, is a favorite stop for Jeff Johnson, a senior archivist for the Joseph Smith Papers project in the Church History Department. He often gives tours of the memorial, which he says offers a "connection with our history (and) with people — real people."

The area's trees and landscaping provide a reverent environment, he says.

"It's just a small spot in this busy city, but I always feel a real calm when I go there," Johnson said. "(It's) a place to think about our Mormon history, Brigham Young and his life, and as well as the others who are buried there."

Snow, a former president of the Relief Society, was "one of the most important people in our history," Johnson said.