Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City in Salt Lake County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Chosen Place

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2023

1. The Chosen Place Marker

Inscription. Brigham Young knew when he saw Ensign Peak that this marked the right place for the center of the new Zion. He said, "I want to go there," sensing that at the top he might gain some insight about the future city.

Ascending the hill with other Church leaders on 26 July 1847, President Young named the peak and led the group in prayer. Looking down from the summit, he perceived how the city should be laid out. Starting with the main street which would run north and south directly below the peak, the pattern would follow Joseph Smith's plan for the "City of Zion": a grid of ten-acre square blocks with wide streets and channels of water. Just at the edge of the valley floor he designated exactly where the temple should be built.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said "I marvel at the foresight of that little group. It was both audacious and bold….They spoke out of a prophetic view of the marvelous destiny of this cause. They came down from the peak that day and went to work to bring reality to their dream."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is July 26, 1847.

Location. 40° 47.488′ N,

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111° 53.297′ W. Marker is in Salt Lake City, Utah, in Salt Lake County. It is in Capitol Hill. It can be reached from Ensign Vista Drive west of East Greenstroke Drive. Marker is located at Ensign Peak Memorial Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 164 Ensign Vista Dr, Salt Lake City UT 84103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: This is the Place (here, next to this marker); A Prophetic Mandate (here, next to this marker); A Hallowed Place (here, next to this marker); An Ensign to the Nations (here, next to this marker); Gathering to Zion (a few steps from this marker); The View From Ensign Peak (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2023

2. The Chosen Place Marker

Marker is located at Ensign Peak Memorial Garden.

marker); Ensign Peak Nature Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Ensign Peak (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salt Lake City.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 207 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 14, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2. submitted on October 15, 2023, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.