Zion's History

If you're interested in our history, read on! Below are milestones from our long history since our founding in 1882.

Coming soon - a history of our earlier mission statements and logos!

A Timeline of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

July 18, 1882: Zion was founded by five Swedish immigrants who sought to establish in Utah a church based on their Lutheran heritage. The early members met initially at St. Mark’s Episcopal, and later in an adobe house, at 376 East Second South, the congregation’s first home.

1882-1935: Swedish was the language of worship at one weekly service and English twice a month, in 1918 the Swedish service was at 11am and the English the second and fourth Sundays at 8pm.

1885: The first organization at Zion was founded, the Unga Flikornas Syforening, the Young Girl’s Sewing Society, the predecessor of WELCA.

1886-1891: Zion’s first building completed at the Second South site, Zion’s home until 1956; the bell which still calls worshipers at Zion was purchased from a Swedish foundry in 1886.

1902 and 1906: Lutheran congregations, offshoots of Zion were founded in Bingham Canyon and Park City.

Spring, 1917: Sunday School children go door to door in the neighborhood to collect money to buy a piano (which is still used in Zion’s High School room!)

Summer, 1912: Zion’s first family campout held in Brighton, Big Cottonwood Canyon.

1925: Adult choir begun under the direction of Bertha Hagenbeck.

August 12, 1926: Members of the Swedish community in Salt Lake City welcomed the Crown Prince of Sweden at Zion. 

June 3, 1928: The pipe organ used at Zion until 1980 was dedicated.

July, 1932: Zion held a gala 50th anniversary celebration.


July 18, 1937: The first Greater Zion Day was held to commemorate the founding of the congregation. This picnic event is still held outdoors annually at Zion.

1943-1944: Zion honors its servicemen with an honor roll of those serving and a memorial service for Ensign Lyle A. Erickson, the only member to be killed in action.

January 1, 1950: The Altar Guild was established.

August 6, 1950: A congregational meeting approved the purchase of the property where the present building stands.

October, 31, 1954: Groundbreaking for the new church.

April 25, 1957: New church dedicated.

1963: Zion’s membership at an all time high, 991 members.

1968: First women elected to the Congregational Council, Ruth Wells and Marilyn Crockett.

1970: Zion begins its long association with Crossroads Urban Center.

1972: The Parent Co-op Preschool began; it closed in 2000, with the Let Me Shine Preschool debuting in 2002.

November 1975 March 1978: Zion sponsored several refugee families from Vietnam and Cambodia.

September 14, 1980: The present organ was dedicated.

August 6, 1981: The Centennial Committee was formed and held its first meeting, chaired by Robert Utzinger.

Throughout 1982: The congregation celebrated its Centennial, with concerts, former pastors returning, the Centennial banquet and Centennial Worship, and a float in the Day’s of ‘47 Parade.

1980’s: Zion takes part in numerous ecumenical activities including hosting Summer Bible School with All Saints Episcopal.

May, 1989: Utah hosted the Rocky Mountain Synod convention, in Salt Lake City, a first.

June, 1992: Zion conducted the first ever Sky Ranch summer camp for children.

1998-2000: In Christ a New Creation program, to promote faith, and action and to raise funds for the new addition to the church building.

Spring 1999: Dedication of the new addition to Zion, a multi-year effort in fund raising, construction, and commitment under the leadership of Robert Rice and many others.

2000: The Legacy program, to continue fund raising for the new addition and to promote vision and activity in social issues.

April, 2002: Utah once again hosts the Rocky Mountain Synod convention in Salt Lake City.

​January-December 2007: Celebration of Zion’s 125th Anniversary.

October 3, 2017: Zion hosted a Lutheran-Roman Catholic ecumenical Common Prayer Service in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of The Reformation.

March 15, 2020: Zion moved worship online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health concerns of members and guests.

June 28, 2020: A drive-by parade is held to honor Pastor Steve Klemz upon occasion of his retirement. 112 cars with over 200 people came by to celebrate Pastor Steve's ministry. 

June 30, 2020: Pastor Steve Klemz retires, ending his 28 year ministry at Zion. 

July 1, 2020: Vicar Lisa Mensinger is installed by Zion's council as a "supply" pastor as Zion searches for their next interim. 

October 2020- June 2021: Pastor Christopher Berry serves as interim Pastor

June 14, 2021: Transition Team convenes to search for new Pastor 

January 1, 2022: Pastor Anthony Auer joins in official capacity as Interim Pastor.

January 2022 - December 2022 - Transition teams continues to convene and search for a new pastor.

March 1, 2023 - Pastor Michael Tassler joins Zion as our full time pastor. 

Zion's Pastors

1882-1883:
S.M. Hill

1883-1885:
Lindblad, Abrahamson, and Edam

1885-1891:
J. A. Krantz

1891-1893:
F. A. Linder

1893-1894:
A.P. Martin

1895-1902:
P.A. Aslev

1902-1909:
E. Rydberg

1909-1915:
Erik Floreen

1915-1920:
O.B. Hanson

1921-1929:
Carl A. Glad

1929-1930:
Roy B. Carlson

1930-1936:
Philip A. Leaf

1939-1942:
Carl B. Anderson

1942-1946:
Thomas Wersell

1946-1949:
John E. Allen

1950-1957:
Eric N. Hawkins

1957-1970:
Neale Nelson

1971-1975:
Morgan Edwards

1975-1992:
Harold T. Nilsson

1992-2020:
Steve Klemz

1995-1998:
Greg Harbaugh

​​2001-2006:
​Joel Nau

2020
Lisa Mensinger (​Vicar)

2020-2020
Christopher Berry (Interim)

2020-2021
Pastoral Search Ongoing

2022-2023
Anthony Auer (Interim)

2023 - present
Michael Tassler