New visitors' center offers rare look inside Latter-day Saint temples
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A replica of a temple baptistry. Photo: Kim Bojórquez/Axios
The new Temple Square Visitors' Center, opening next month, will offer the public a glimpse inside a Latter-day Saint temple with replicas of key rooms.
Why it matters: The new center reflects the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' effort to provide more transparency around temples and the sacred ceremonies performed inside them, including baptisms for the dead and sealings.
- Temples, which have faced accusations of secrecy, are closed off to the public after dedication and allow only church members in good standing.
State of play: The two-story center, spanning nearly 40,000 square feet, will feature two wings on the main level when it opens on May 18. It's part of the Salt Lake Temple's multi-year transformation.
- The West Wing will house an 11-foot-tall marble duplicate of sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's 19th-century Christus. The East Wing will display a detailed model of the Salt Lake Temple.
- The lower level will offer a 30-minute "Inside a Temple" tour, available by reservation. It'll include reproductions of a baptistry and instruction, sealing and celestial rooms.
- It'll also have models of 11 other temples, including those in Rome, Washington and Nauvoo, Illinois.
By the numbers: 207 temples were open globally, as of last month.
What they're saying: "This will take people on a journey. This will allow them to really connect with the Church, not as a single institution, but as a global entity," Marc Epstein, vice president of marketing THG Creative, the design firm for the center, told Axios.
Catch up quick: The 133-year-old Salt Lake Temple closed in December 2019 for a massive renovation to expand capacity and receive seismic upgrades. The North Visitors' Center was demolished in 2021.
What's next: For the first time since 1893, the temple will open for public tours next year from April 5 to Oct. 1, with about 5 million visitors expected during that period.
- Open house reservations can be made starting Sept. 1.
Unlike the temple, the visitors' center will remain open to the public every day from 9am to 9pm.