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

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.