Starting April 13, the Taylorsville Temple will throw open its glass-paned double doors to the general public, who will be able to tour its 70,460-square-foot interior before closing weeks later to all but faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The open house will last through May 18 and will be followed by a June 2 dedication by apostle Gerrit W. Gong, according to a news release. He and his wife, Susan, a Taylorsville native, oversaw the temple’s ceremonial groundbreaking on Halloween in 2020.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Susan, participate in the groundbreaking for the Taylorsville Temple on Oct. 31, 2020.
Originally announced by church President Russell M. Nelson at the October 2019 General Conference, the three-story, single-spired Taylorsville Temple represents one of 28 existing or planned temples in Utah.
The following 16 are currently operating: Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Jordan River (South Jordan), Logan, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos (American Fork), Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain (South Jordan), Payson, Provo (set to close in February 2024 to undergo a massive makeover), Provo City Center (converted from the former Provo Tabernacle), St. George (renovated and rededicated in December, Saratoga Springs (dedicated in August) and Vernal.
More temple open houses and dedications are planned across Utah.
The Orem Temple is poised to be dedicated Sunday. A second St. George temple, the newly built Red Cliffs edifice, will welcome public tours from Feb. 1 through March 2 before a scheduled March 24 dedication. The Layton Temple is scheduled for a June 16 dedication after an April 19-June 1 open house.
The pioneer-era Salt Lake and Manti (the latter is set for dedication April 21 after a March 14-April 5 open house) temples are undergoing renovation.
Six more Utah temples are in the works: Deseret Peak (Tooele), Ephraim, Heber Valley, Lindon, Smithfield and Syracuse.
In Salt Lake City, meanwhile, work continues on the massive overhaul and seismic upgrade of the faith’s most iconic building, a six-spired structure that took 40 years to construct. At last word, completion was set for sometime in 2026. Large crowds are expected when it opens to the general public for the first time since just before its 1893 dedication.
Latter-day Saints view temples as houses of the Lord, places where faithful members participate in their religion’s highest rites necessary to return to live with God after this life.
