Salt Lake Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- May 12, 2022 – Temple Square Renovation Update: May 2022
- April 1, 2022 – Salt Lake Temple renovation making ‘progress’ but will require some ‘patience’
- March 26, 2022 – Iconic Salt Lake Temple renovation to bring new look to Temple Square
- March 25, 2022 – Temple Square Renovation Update: March 2022
- February 18, 2022 – A view of Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square renovations from those overseeing the project
- February 3, 2022 – Temple Square Renovation Update: February 2022
- December 13, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Update: December 2021
- November 30, 2021 – Christmas Lights Shine Bright on Temple Square during the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
- November 24, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Update: November 2021
- November 19, 2021 – With Christus statue removed, crews begin to demolish North Visitors’ Center at Temple Square
- November 19, 2021 – With Christus statue removed, crews begin to demolish North Visitors’ Center at Temple Square
- November 5, 2021 – Christmas on Temple Square 2021
- October 28, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Update: October 2021
- October 20, 2021 – Statement on the Fire at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square
- October 3, 2021 – Temple and spiritual foundations need to be strengthened, President Nelson says
- September 29, 2021 – You Can Visit The Stunning Salt Lake City Temple, And This Is What To Know Beforehand
- September 23, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Update: September 2021
- August 18, 2021 – From the Top of the Temple to 65 Feet Underground, the Renovation of Temple Square Continues
- August 11, 2021 – ‘Mormon Land’: Get the latest on the makeover of Salt Lake City’s Temple Square and what it will be like when the work is done
- August 8, 2021 – Salt Lake Temple sure looks different on the outside now, but it will also change inside
- July 16, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Project Update: July 2021
- June 21, 2021 – Temple Square Renovation Update: June 2021
- June 10, 2021 – The North Visitors’ Center on Temple Square Will Be Replaced With Gardens and Contemplative Space
- June 8, 2021 – Temple Square Is Reopening to the Public This Summer
News Stories
Salt Lake Temple Reflecting Pool Removed
A view of the Main Street Plaza on Temple Square, taken from the top of the Salt Lake Temple, shows the remnants the oval walls of the reflecting pool. Plans calls for a larger replacement pool. On the left side of the photograph is the Relief Society Building and water fountain feature. In the center rear is the Church Office Building plaza where crews are installing conduit for heated sidewalks and walls are being faced in stone. Excavation for the new visitors' center buildings continues on the south side of the temple while construction begins on the second floor of a three-story underground addition on the north side that will house two baptistries, additional sealing rooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices, and other spaces.
Main Street Plaza Demolition Progressing in Salt Lake City
The Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City closed to the public on Monday, April 11, as part of an ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and the buildings and grounds on Temple Square. A protective wall has been built around the Brigham Young Monument while heavy equipment removes the vegetation and hardscaping around it. The plaza is expected to be closed until late 2023. Improvements include updates to the waterproofing system, refurbishment of the north and south entry fountains, installation of a larger reflecting pool, and new landscaping that harmonizes the Church Office Building plaza with the Salt Lake Temple grounds.
President Nelson Reaches Temple Announcement Milestone
President Russell M. Nelson has announced a whopping 100 temples in the four years since he was called as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, 2018. He has taught: "The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ."
Main Street Plaza to Close Until Fall 2023
On April 11, 2022, the Main Street Plaza that lies east of the Salt Lake Temple will close for renovation and landscaping until late 2023. The renovation includes inspection and repair of the plaza deck, refurbishment of the entry water features, replacement of the reflection pool with a larger one, and new landscaping to better integrate the temple grounds and the Church Office Building plaza. The latest renderings of Temple Square have been released to the public. Concrete pours continue for the north addition to the temple, and the area where the North Visitors' Center stood is being built up to ground level.
Church News Podcast on the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
In a recent episode of the Church News Podcast, Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Church News, interviews Brent Roberts, managing director of the Special Projects Department, and Andy Kirby, director of historic temple renovations, on the current renovation of the Salt Lake Temple. The 45-minute discussion is both informative and inspiring. Brother Kirby says, "One of the main things I’ve learned in this project is that we can do difficult things, especially if we focus on the Lord and ask for His help."
Third Year of Temple Square Renovation Underway
White Styrofoam blocks are appearing in specific formations across the concrete deck of the Church Office Building plaza that will reduce the weight placed on the parking structure below. Damaged concrete is being removed and replaced with soil that is tamped down ahead of new concrete pours. The North Visitors’ Center has been demolished, and the final debris and remnants of the basement are being removed and sorted for recycling. Excavation is underway for a staging pad under the east towers of the Salt Lake Temple, and crews are preparing for the massive concrete pours for the foundation of the three-level underground addition on the north side of the temple. Watch a video about the expert crane operators working on the renovation.
First Presidency Statement on the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
The First Presidency has released a statement on the new estimated completion date for the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple: "The seismic strengthening of the Salt Lake Temple and the extensive remodel of the Temple and surrounding area are sacred and significant undertakings. As the project has progressed, we have learned a great deal about the condition of the temple and its surroundings. The work is truly remarkable and is being guided by the First Presidency. Inspired modifications and additions to the project and scope have been made so the temple and Temple Square can serve many generations yet to come. It is anticipated that the temple and its surroundings will be completed in 2025. We look forward to welcoming the world at that time to visit, tour and learn about this sacred temple and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
North Visitors' Center Demolition Continues on Temple Square
Only the substructure remains of the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square where a massive renovation and seismic upgrade is underway for the Salt Lake Temple. The removal of this guest facility has opened up views of the temple from North Temple and West Temple (streets), just as demolition of the South Visitors' Center did from South Temple (street). Portions of the Temple Square wall have also been removed for better views and access to this historic center of Salt Lake City.
Staging Slab Poured for the Underground Addition to the Salt Lake Temple
As excavation for the three-level underground addition to the Salt Lake Temple nears completion, crews have poured a staging slab that will provide a level working surface for pouring the foundation. The addition will house two baptistries, additional sealing rooms, dressing rooms, and administrative offices. Demolition of the North Visitors' Center continues, which began the second week of November. It will be replaced with contemplation gardens and restrooms. Seismic strengthening of the temple foundation continues by way of the jack-and-bore process that positions pipes under the footings and fills them with reinforcing steel and concrete. A precision drilling machine is being prepared on the roof of the temple to vertically drill into the tower and wall columns where post-tension cables will be thread and anchored into the foundation below. At the Church Office Building plaza, footings and flag pole inserts are being installed for a display of the nations of the world.
Demolition of North Visitors' Center Underway on Temple Square
Demolition is underway on the North Visitors' Center at the Salt Lake Temple. The center was constructed in 1963 to welcome visitors to Temple Square—the city's most visited attraction. The crowning feature of the facility was a glass rotunda that housed a replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue. The building will be replaced with open gardens and contemplation spaces. The Christus statue will be reinstalled on Temple Square toward the end of the renovation project.
Elliptical Structure Taking Shape in the Church Office Building Plaza
A new concrete elliptical structure is being formed in the Church Office Building plaza, which will support numerous flag poles for displaying country flags. Excavation for the three-level underground addition on the north side of the temple is nearly completed and will be followed by the pouring of a concrete floor slab. The jack-and-bore process is strengthening the foundation while walers (bracing beams) have been installed to shore up the secant walls that are holding the foundation in place. Roof truss installation continues as does finial and stone removal. These stones will be cleaned, stored, and brought back later in the project.
Seismic Strengthening of the Salt Lake Temple Foundation
The jack-and-bore process began in late August at the Salt Lake Temple where 92 steel pipes are being inserted beneath the foundations of the building as part of a major seismic strengthening project. The 40-foot-long pipes are 3.5 to 4 feet in diameter and will be filled with reinforcing steel bar, post-tensioning strands, and high-strength concrete. The gaps between the pipes and foundation will be filled with grout. While excavation for the underground addition on the north side continues, more trusses are being installed on the roof with three of eight bays now completed.
Excavation Continues on the North Side of the Salt Lake Temple
On the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, excavation has reached a depth of 45 feet below street level. Construction will begin on a three-level underground addition (housing baptismal fonts, sealing rooms, dressing rooms, office space, and more) once a target depth of 65 feet has been reached. The foundation is held in place by a secant wall, comprised of interlocking concrete and steel columns. The concrete slab for a second tower crane was poured in early August on the north side. At the Church Office Building plaza, crews are repairing water-damaged concrete and pouring new landscape structures on the east end. Watch a video update of the construction project—now in its 20th month.
Iconic Christus Statue Removed from the North Visitors' Center
Dismantling of the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square is moving forward. It was announced last month that the center would be replaced with gardens. The iconic Christus statue that stood in the center's rotunda has been removed for storage until its return to Temple Square at the end of the renovation. On the north side of the temple, deeper excavations are underway for the three-level underground addition that will house maintenance facilities, two baptistries, dressing rooms, sealing rooms, and administrative offices. Secant walls are holding the existing temple foundation in place, which will be encased in a new foundation beginning next month in preparation for the base isolators that will be installed underneath. Stones continues to be removed from the top of the temple for restoration. At the Church Office Building plaza, concrete is being removed and repaired.
New Landscape Structures at the Church Office Building Plaza
With the demolition of the Church Office Building plaza complete, new landscape structures are being formed and poured at the east end while waterproofing continues on the roof of the employee parking garage that sits below the plaza. The renovated space will replace the former water fountain feature with an inviting east entrance, plentiful gardens, and a concentric oval plaza surrounded by flags of the nations of the world.
Fortifying the Roof of the Salt Lake Temple
The existing steel trusses that frame the roof of the Salt Lake Temple are being sistered with new trusses as part of the design to strengthen the building against seismic activity. The 88-foot trusses weigh about 35,000 pounds each and are secured to the existing trusses with cross bracing. The buttressed secant wall that was built around the foundation is gradually being exposed in preparation for the deeper excavations needed for the three floors of underground facilities including the baptismal fonts, additional sealing rooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices and so forth. The fountain on the Church Office Building plaza has now been entirely removed.
North Visitors' Center on Temple Square to Be Replaced with Gardens
The North Visitors’ Center on Temple Square will be demolished and replaced with an open garden and contemplation space by 2023 as part of the ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square. Constructed in 1963, the visitors' center features a stunning rotunda with an 11-foot replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus as the focal point. The statue will be carefully removed from the facility this summer for preservation and reinstalled on Temple Square at the conclusion of the renovation. Removal of the building will provide a peaceful, quiet space on Temple Square and clearer views of the temple, enhancing its prominence.
Reaching the End of the Tunnel at the Salt Lake Temple
Excavation has been completed for the new 180-foot (55-meter) tunnel underneath North Temple street that will connect the Conference Center parking structure to the yet-to-be-built underground entrance to the Salt Lake Temple. Removal of the concrete wall at the Conference Center end of the tunnel will be done later. The temporary removal of stones from the top of the temple exterior walls for cleaning and repair continues. Demolition of the Church Office Building plaza and fountain is making good progress. Watch a video update of the latest developments.
Tunnel Excavation at Salt Lake Temple Nearing Completion
Excavation for the tunnel underneath North Temple that will connect the Salt Lake Temple entrance to the Conference Center parking structure is about 80 percent complete. Steel arches and sprayed concrete provide temporary support while the earth is removed. A secant wall has been built around three sides of the temple, which will support the foundation during the deep excavations that will be required for installation of the base isolation system. The copper roof has been replaced with a temporary roof until additional steel trusses can be installed. Stones continue to be removed from the top of the temple. After cleaning and repair, they will be returned to the exact same locations.
Exacavation for the Salt Lake Temple Annex and Tunnel
On the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, the round opening can be seen for the tunnel that will connect the below-ground temple entrance to the Conference Center parking garage. In front of the opening is a square-shaped excavation for the base of another tower crane. On the east side, demolition continues at the Church Office Building plaza where conveyor belts have been lined up to carry debris to an awaiting excavator and dump truck. Replacement of the temple roof with a temporary roof is about halfway finished.
Modifications Announced to the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
The First Presidency has announced significant alterations to the original plans for the interior of the Salt Lake Temple. The capacity of the temple will be increased through the addition of two instruction rooms, more sealing rooms, and a second baptistry. The live-acting, progressive presentation of the endowment from room to room will be replaced by video presentation in single rooms. The cafeteria will also be removed from the temple to accommodate other facilities that will support the increased capacity. The historic murals of the temple have been carefully photographed and removed but will not return.
Church Office Building Plaza Demolition
Demolition of the Church Office Building plaza and fountain is making progress. Lamp posts have been unbolted and wrapped for storage while concrete walkways and pavers are being lifted and removed. Support structures have been added throughout the underground parking facility to shore up the structure while demolition of the fountain and garden areas progress above.
Removing Parapet Stones from the Salt Lake Temple
Stones are coming down from the parapet walls of the Salt Lake Temple with the help of a crane. The granite pieces are then labeled and placed in storage for cleaning and repair. The installation of shoring support continues for the subterranean tunnel that will connect the Conference Center parking facility to the underground entrance to the temple (not yet constructed). Shoring and excavation around the temple foundation has allowed for installation of a lift near the southwest corner that will carry workers and materials to the upper floors of the temple interior.
Preparing for Church Office Building Grounds Renovation
A construction fence has been installed around the plaza in front of the 28-story Church Office Building at Temple Square in preparation for a grounds renovation that will place greater emphasis on the international presence of the Church and improve the visitor experience. The Salt Lake Temple, located west of the Church Office Building, has been under renovation for just over a year. In that time, the South Visitors' Center, sealing room addition, and north annex buildings have all been demolished. The tower finials, capstone, and angel Moroni statue have been temporarily removed while shoring progresses on all sides of the temple to prepare for deep excavation. The stone foundation footings have been strengthened and consolidated.
Southeast Steps of Salt Lake Temple Shored Up
It's been over 11 months since renovation began on the Salt Lake Temple, and the exciting developments continue. Shoring beams were recently installed under the temple's historic southeast steps and in the Conference Center garage where a tunnel will be created between the parking garage and the temple entrance. Lagging and excavation continue on the north side where new facilities—both under and above ground—will be constructed. On the west side, a concrete overlay is being removed from the foundation so that consolidation and strengthening of the original foundation may proceed. Scaffolding is going up on the south side to provide floor access and for upcoming stone refurbishment and repair.
Tower Crane Installed at the Salt Lake Temple
On the south side of the Salt Lake Temple, a 250-foot tower crane has been installed that will initially assist in assembling scaffolding for carrying out stone repair and roof replacement. Deep excavation, shoring, and lagging continues on the north side, which is being prepared for a secant wall that will extend to the east side for the purpose of containing soil under the foundation during the deep-excavation phase. The 1960s foundation created for the sealing wing is being dismantled while the original foundation is being strengthened through tension rod coring—a process of drilling into the footings, inserting threaded rods into grout, and tensioning those rods to create pressure against the stones, thus consolidating them.
Video Update on the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
"In this phase of the construction process, it may look a little bit shocking to some," says Andy Kirby, director of historic temple renovations, in a new video update on the Salt Lake Temple renovation. "It’s a little bit messy and there's been significant changes around the temple, but trust that this is a phase and a step [in] the important process of strengthening the temple and preparing it for many generations in the future." Watch the Salt Lake Temple Renovation: September 2020 Update video.
Strengthening the Salt Lake Temple Foundation
The work of strengthening the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple will continue through the end of the year. The process involves drilling deep 3-inch holes into the exposed foundation and footings and filling them with a high-strength grout that fills both the drilled hole and any intersecting voids and joints. On the south side of the temple, work has begun on building the secant (retaining) wall that will surround the entire building and contain the soil under the foundation in preparation for the deep excavations that will be necessary to install the base isolation system. The majority of the debris has been cleared from the north side of the temple where the sealing room wing and annex were demolished.
Online System Announced for Temple Prayer Rolls
The First Presidency has announced the creation of an online system to allow Church members to submit requests for the names of family and friends to be placed on the temple prayer roll. The prayer roll is a collection of names of those in need prayer as they face challenges such as illness or other afflictions. Members who are participating in temple worship unite their faith in asking our Father in Heaven to bless them.
Contents of the Salt Lake Temple Time Capsule
Two days after the removal of the capstone from the Salt Lake Temple, the First Presidency witnessed the opening of the time capsule on May 20, 2020, from the loading dock of the Church History Library. Since then, conservation experts have carefully catalogued the capsule's severely water-damaged contents. "We did not expect to find much because we knew that the contents of the capstone had not been insulated from the weather during the 128 years that had elapsed," said President Russell M. Nelson. "But we wanted to be there anyway, just to be close and to pay tribute to the leaders and courageous pioneer craftsman who against all odds built this magnificent temple."