Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As the number of temporary temple closures grows to over 100, we remember a passage from the dedicatory prayer of the Salt Lake Temple: "Or when the children of Thy people, in years to come, shall be separated, through any cause, from this place, and their hearts shall turn in remembrance of Thy promises to this holy Temple, and they shall cry unto Thee from the depths of their affliction and sorrow to extend relief and deliverance to them, we humbly entreat Thee to Turn Thine ear in mercy to them; hearken to their cries, and grant unto them the blessings for which they ask."

Government restrictions have been imposed in more jurisdictions, bringing the total of COVID-19-related temple closures to 58. In addition, further adjustments have been announced to missionary service and to the format of the April 2020 General Conference, which will originate from a small auditorium on Temple Square with pre-recorded music and attendance limited to the First Presidency and those who will be speaking or praying in that session.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake rolled across the Salt Lake Valley this morning, dislodging the trumpet from Moroni's grip and underscoring the need for the base isolation system and other seismic upgrades planned for the Salt Lake Temple. Excavation along the foundation is well underway on the south side of the temple where an underground tunnel has been removed. On the east side of the temple, the iconic wooden doors have been temporarily replaced with construction doors to be used during the renovation.

The grounds on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple are looking unusually barren with the absence of familiar structures that have stood on the site for decades. Excavation is deepening around the temple foundation while construction activities continue inside the edifice. Glass windows are being replaced with temporary construction windows made of heavy mil plastic. Access scaffolding has been removed from the south wall, and the majority of the South Visitors' Center basement has been hauled away.

Two construction entrances have been created on the south wall of the Salt Lake Temple, connected by a tower of scaffolding. On the south lawn, much of the rubble produced by demolition activities has been removed. The basement of the South Visitors' Center is being extracted while demolition continues on portions of the wall surrounding Temple Square. A temporary structure is being built along the east side of Temple Square on the Main Street Plaza.

By the end of last week, little was left standing of the South Visitors' Center on Temple Square. Much of the rubble was moved into the basement to be used as a ramp, and just a few pieces of wall remained. The chain-link barrier that sectioned off the construction area is being replaced with a wooden barrier. All of the landscaping on the south side of the temple is being cleared away, and preparations have begun for excavating along the deep foundation stones of the Salt Lake Temple.

Wrecking equipment is bringing down the South Visitors' Center and portions of the south wall along Temple Square today. Removal of the building and wall will provide access to excavation crews who will dig along the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple. Trees, statues, and monuments were moved from the south side of the temple last week, and most of landscaping is gone. The temple is being decommissioned by teams who are moving out furniture and abating hazardous materials.

Construction activity is already underway at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, just days after the closure of the Salt Lake Temple on Sunday. The gate and a portion of the ornamental fencing along the south side of the block have come down, and chain-link fencing is going up to mark the area of construction. The short wrought-iron fence between the temple and South Visitors' Center has been removed, and the concrete surrounding the visitors' center is being crushed and removed in preparation for demolishing the building.

The Salt Lake Temple officially closed for renovation today, and evidence of construction activity could appear as early as this Thursday—the day after New Year's Day. The temple has been packed with couples desiring to be sealed in the temple and patrons wanting to see the interior of the ordinance rooms one last time before the four-year closure. It is anticipated that the South Visitor's Center and portions of the Temple Square wall will be demolished by mid-January.

Members of the media were briefed today about preparations underway for the pending renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, which closes on December 29, 2019. Four interior renderings of the project were released in conjunction with the event. During the initial phase of construction, crews will secure the construction area with a fence, and by mid-January, the South Visitors' Center and portions of the wall surrounding Temple Square will be demolished. In the spring, the temple's north addition will come down. Renovation of the Church Office Building plaza is anticipated to begin in late 2020. Temple Square will remain open during the renovation with the Conference Center becoming the primary venue for the guest experience including views of the construction from the balcony and roof levels. The annual Christmas lights will continue but on a smaller scale.

The annual Christmas light display at Temple Square burst to life tonight at 5:30 p.m., marking the beginning of the celebration of the Christmas season. Celebratory activities include the First Presidency's Christmas devotional, Tabernacle Choir concerts and other musical performances, Nativity displays, and movie presentations in Legacy Theater. You can watch Temple Square live on YouTube.

President Russell M. Nelson announced at a news conference on April 19, 2019, that the Salt Lake Temple will close on December 29, 2019, for approximately four years for a major renovation and restoration project including improvements to the surrounding grounds and facilities. The temple is expected to reopen in 2024 when guests will be invited to tour the interior during an open house. The project will address seismic issues by creating a base isolation system for the temple foundation. Aging mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems will be replaced inside the building, and the interior will be refreshed while preserving its historic details. The existing annex and north-side addition (built in the 1960s) will be demolished and replaced. The South Visitors’ Center will also be replaced with two visitor pavilions. In the future, the temple will be accessible through a patron tunnel from the Conference Center parking facility or from patron pavilions located on the north side of the temple connecting to the recommend desk area and grand hall featuring large skylights with generous views of the temple.

Before his announcement of twelve new temples to be constructed across the globe, President Russell M. Nelson announced that plans were underway to renovate and update the temples of the pioneer generation including the historic Salt Lake Temple. The dates and details of those projects will be announced as they are developed.

LDS Youth of the South Jordan Utah River Stake proclaimed their testimony of Christ—after completing the Book of Mormon—with a flash mob set in front of the iconic Salt Lake Temple.

It's been over 100 years since the public was invited to tour the Salt Lake Temple, but a new permanent exhibit opened in the South Visitors' Center today featuring a near-identical 1:32 scaled replica of the temple, offering an open house experience of this magnificent edifice.

On Sunday, January 17, families and friends with connections to Haiti, including former missionaries, gathered at the Salt Lake Temple grounds near the reflection pool to pray and sing for their suffering brothers and sisters in the region of Port-au-Prince.

It's been 44 years since the first strands of Christmas lights were weaved through the landscaping of Temple Square. The long-time tradition was once accompanied by an opening ceremony, but the popularity of the event brought crowds that were too large.

"There are no plans to close the Salt Lake Temple for remodeling," said Elder William R. Walker, Executive Director of the Temple Department. Rumors of a closure accompanied the opening of two new temples in the Salt Lake Valley in Draper, Utah and South Jordan, Utah earlier this year.

Million dollar views of the Salt Lake Temple and Oquirrh Mountains are for sale in the Church's new mixed development in downtown Salt Lake City, called City Creek Center. The high-rise condominiums in Richards Court and The Regent are selling despite the economic downturn.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now hosting tours of its famously landscaped grounds in and around Temple Square. Tours and lectures by expert horticulturists will be offered regularly through the summer months. For more information, please read this news article.