Photographs of Church buildings in downtown Salt Lake City tell a story of change.

They capture moments from the 1853 groundbreaking of the Salt Lake Temple to the construction of the current Conference Center. They reveal the varied uses and purposes of Temple Square and the Church's headquarters block, located just east of Temple Square.

These photographs, historic and modern, are part of a new display at the Museum of Church History and Art: "At the Center Place: Photographs of Church Headquarters, 1853-1999." The exhibit opened Sept. 18 and will close next spring.

"Change is inevitable in a growing worldwide Church," said Glen Leonard, museum director. "Buildings at Church headquarters reflect those changing needs over the decades."

The 50 photographs on display in the exhibit were selected from the vast collection in the LDS Church Archives and the Utah State Historical Society. They reveal, said Brother Leonard, that the centerplace of the Church reflects important Church purposes: education, worship, and administration.

The display includes historic views of the old tithing office in 1853, Brigham Young's homes and offices later in that decade, the last of a series of boweries built on Temple Square and early information centers that preceded the 20th-century Temple Square visitors centers, said Brother Leonard.

Also included in the exhibit are construction photographs of the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the Salt Lake Temple, the Church Administration Building and the Church Office Building.

A section on education features a series of prints showing the old LDS University buildings in the northwest corner of the administration block. Each photograph is accompanied by a small map to help visitors locate the spotlighted building.

Other photographs on display include:

• 1885 photograph of the Endowment House, located on the northwest corner of Temple Square and dedicated in May 1855.

• 1936 picture of President Heber J. Grant standing next to a 1930 Ford Phaeton on Temple Square.

• Photograph of Temple Square during general conference in 1915. Church members in the photograph are dressed in their Sunday best.

• Photograph taken about 1863 of the fifth bowery constructed on Temple Square near the "Old Tabernacle."

• Picture of the Assembly Hall on the southwest corner of Temple Square, taken in about 1885.

• Current photograph of the Church's new Conference Center, which is under construction.

• 1909 photograph of the Bureau of Information, organized by the First Presidency in 1902.

• Photograph, taken about 1863, of the Council House, located on the southwest corner of Main Street and South Temple Street.

• 1960 picture of the Relief Society Building, located on Main Street between the Salt Lake Temple and the Church Office Building.

• Picture of the Deseret Store, located just east of Temple Square where the Joseph Smith Memorial Building now stands, taken about 1853.

• Photograph of Latter-day Saint University, located on the Church headquarters block, taken in 1915.

• 1880 picture of the Beehive House, including the Eagle Gate.

• Panoramic view of Church headquarters, taken in 1873, which includes view of Temple Square and the Church administration block.

The Museum of Church History and Art, located at 45 N. West Temple Street, is open daily.