A rare chance to see inside San Diego's Mormon temple
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For a limited time, anyone can see what's inside the temple. Photo: The Church of Jesus Christ
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opening its iconic San Diego temple to the public after recent renovations.
Why it matters: It's the first time the church has let visitors inside the sparkling white landmark in more than 30 years.
Driving the news: The towering four-story temple along the I-5 in University City near La Jolla is reopening after a three-year closure for renovations.
- Anyone can walk in or make a reservation for a free, 45-minute guided tour from Thursday to July 11, except on Sundays, ahead of a rededication ceremony in August. About 350,000 visitors are expected to come through, the Union-Tribune reported.
- The temple will be restricted to church members again following the ceremony, but the grounds will remain open to visitors.
Inside the temple: You'll walk through the baptistry, where a water basin sits on the backs of life-size oxen representing the 12 Tribes of Israel, along with an elegant bridal suite and a sealing room used for ceremonies that bind partners, parents and children together for eternity.
- The walls get lighter and the ceilings get higher as you walk through the temple to reflect the ascension to heaven.
- The celestial room, the most sacred space, is bright white with gold trimmings, from the carpets to the grand staircase and crystal chandeliers. New stained-glass windows line the walls up through the spire tower, creating an atrium.
Between the lines: Latter-day Saints regularly gather at chapels for Sunday services, and visit the temple for certain ceremonies, including weddings.
- Members wear plain white clothing inside the temple, and you'll see an area where they can borrow attire.
What they're saying: "With the San Diego Temple, it's right off the 5 freeway, everyone sees it going by, and not everyone has had opportunity to understand what happens there," Deon Travers, a leader of several North County congregations, told Axios.
- The open house gives friends and neighbors a chance to "come and see what we believe, why it's important, and the emphasis on families and a closeness to God," he said.
- "When you go in, you can feel kind of something different," Travers added. "It's like a step outside from the busy world."
The big picture: These tours are part of the church's broader effort to provide more transparency around temples and the sacred rituals performed inside them, including baptisms for the dead and sealings.
- The church typically hosts open houses at new temples before dedication, but then they're closed off to the public and allow only church members in good standing.
- The San Diego Temple is one of nine across the state and serves about 50,000 members around Southern California.