Menu

FAQ: What to expect from the upcoming Salt Lake Temple renovation

Rendering view inside the north gate of Temple Square showing the top of the skylight over the recommend desk entry.
Rendering of the entry into the temple, the recommend desk and skylight. Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s south side at street level. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s south side. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rendering of the north side entry into Temple Square.
Rendering of the north side entry into Temple Square.
A rendering of the temple’s base isolation phase.
A rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s base isolation system.
Salt Lake Temple section looking west at the center line.
Rendering view of the east block of Temple Square
Rendering of Temple Square after its renovation.
A crowd gathers at the capstone ceremony for the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 1892. The temple was dedicated exactly one year later. Credit: Charles Carter, Courtesy of Church History Library, Courtesy of Church History Library
Latter-day Saint leaders and others gathered by horse and buggy for the Salt Lake Temple groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 14, 1853, captured in this daguerreotype recovered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1990s about a decade a Credit: Courtesy of Church History Library, Courtesy of Church History Library
The foundation of the Salt Lake Temple is visible in the foreground with the Tabernacle in the background during construction around 1868. Credit: C.R. Savage, provided by Ron Fox
The granite quarry in 1872. Workman are working on stones for the LDS Temple in Salt Lake. (National Archives and Records Administration) Credit: National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration
Historical photo shows the Salt Lake Tabernacle with the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple to the left. Credit: Deseret News archives
Crews of cleaners remove the patina of age from the granite walls of the Salt Lake Temple on Nov. 3, 1962, to match the new granite of the sealing room annex that would soon be added on the north side of the temple. Water from cleaning equipment adds cont Credit: Ralph T. Clark, Deseret News, Deseret News
Linden W. Millgate, engineer, inspects the footings of the Salt Lake Temple while its massive foundation was exposed during work on Sept. 8, 1962. Credit: Deseret News archives
The depth and strength of the Salt Lake Temple foundation, 30 feet deep, is exposed by excavators in March 30, 1963. Credit: Ralph T. Clark, Deseret News archives
The sandstone sub-foundation to the granite foundations under the main entrance to the Salt Lake Temple are exposed during work on March 30, 1963. Credit: Ralph T. Clark, Deseret News archives
Excavation of the Salt Lake Temple foundation shown in September 1962. Credit: Ralph T. Clark, Deseret News archives
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks during a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019 about renovations to the Salt Lake Temple and grounds. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson, center, walks with his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks, left, and Henry B. Eyring, right, as they arrive for a news conference at the Temple Square South Visitors Center Friday, April 19, 2019, in Salt Lake City. An iconic temple central to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith will close for four years to complete a major renovation, and officials are keeping a careful eye on construction plans after a devastating fire at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Nelson said the closure will begin in December. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Credit: AP
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints look over renderings during a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019 about renovations to the Salt Lake Temple and grounds. Jeffrey D. Allred
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, left, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, right, sit prior to a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019. Jeffrey D. Allred
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, left, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, right, walk through the South visitors' center prior to a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019. Jeffrey D. Allred
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, left, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, right, walk through the South visitors' center prior to a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, left, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, right, at a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019. Jeffrey D. Allred
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrives before speaking at a press conference in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 19, 2019. Jeffrey D. Allred

As part of Friday’s Salt Lake Temple renovation announcement, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the church will make every reasonable effort to honor and maintain the temple’s historic beauty.

“We will strive to preserve its reverent setting and character as originally directed by President Brigham Young,” President Nelson said. “We promise that you will love the results.”

Here are some questions and answers that will hopefully help those following the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square to better understand how the project will unfold in the coming years.

When will the Salt Lake Temple close?

The Salt Lake Temple will close on Dec. 29, 2019.

Rendering of the north side entry into Temple Square.
Rendering of the north side entry into Temple Square.
How long will the Salt Lake Temple be closed?

The Salt Lake Temple will be closed for about four years. It is expected to reopen in 2024.

How will the renovation affect the plaza and other buildings on Temple Square?

The project will include the removal of the existing temple entry/annex, removal of the South Visitors’ Center, renovation of the historic Salt Lake Temple, construction of new temple entry buildings and visitors’ pavilions, and new hardscape and landscaping.

The plaza between State Street on the east to the Main Street Plaza will be repaired and refreshed with greater emphasis on the visitor experience and on the Savior.

West of the Main Street Plaza, the temple renovation and nearby site improvements will extend from North Temple to South Temple and between the Tabernacle and Main Street Plaza.

There will still be access to the North Visitors’ Center, the Assembly Hall, the Salt Lake Tabernacle and other buildings surrounding the Salt Lake Temple.

Salt Lake Temple section looking west at the center line.
Salt Lake Temple section looking west at the center line.
How much of Temple Square will be closed during the renovation and what can I still visit?

Guests can still visit the Family History Library, Church History Museum, Church History Library, the Conference Center, Salt Lake Tabernacle, the North Visitors’ Center, the Assembly Hall, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Church Office Building, Relief Society Building, the Administration Building and the Beehive House and Lion House.

Only the Salt Lake Temple, the South Visitors’ Center and east plaza area will receive renovation attention.

During the renovation, the church will closely coordinate pedestrian and vehicle traffic issues with Salt Lake City.

Tours by missionaries from the Temple Square Mission will continue to be available during construction.

How will the Temple Square renovation affect the annual tradition of Christmas lights?

Visitors will still be able to come and see Christmas lights although it may be somewhat limited and smaller during construction period.

How will this affect the Salt Lake Temple District?

Partons who normally attend the Salt Lake Temple are encouraged to attend other nearby temples including Ogden, Bountiful, Jordan River, Draper and the Oquirrh Mountain Utah temples, although they may experience increased waiting. There are no plans to formally re-assign any Latter-day Saint stakes to other temple districts during the closure.

A rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s base isolation system.
A rendering of the Salt Lake Temple’s base isolation system.
What will be different about the sacred work of the Salt Lake Temple when the renovation is complete?

Following the renovation, the Salt Lake Temple will include live and film sessions.

The Salt Lake Temple has no ability to accommodate patrons who do not speak English. When the renovation is completed, the temple will be able to serve members who speak more than 86 different languages.

Where will the weekly meeting of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles take place?

Administrative meetings held by Church leaders in the temple will be held in designated areas of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Will there be an open house and rededication of the Salt Lake Temple when the renovation is finished?

Yes. When complete in 2024, the Church will host a public open house and the Salt Lake Temple will be rededicated.

When was the last time the Salt Lake Temple underwent a major renovation?

The last major renovation of the Salt Lake Temple was in 1962. The temple closed on July 29 of that year for extensive renovation that included demolition of the old annex; cleaning of the exterior stone; replacement or upgrade of all mechanical systems, plumbing, wiring, carpeting, and light fixtures; reupholstering of furniture; and redecoration of the entire building. The temple reopened on May 21, 1963, according to churchofjesuschristtemples.org.

On March 7, 1963, the building that would later become the North Visitors’ Center was dedicated as a temporary annex.

A new annex built to house seven new sealing rooms, a children’s waiting room, mechanical systems, two new locker rooms, new initiatory areas and a new chapel seating 450 patrons opened on March 19, 1966. This new annex was dedicated on Oct. 23, 1967.

Rendering of the entry into the temple, the recommend desk and skylight.
Rendering of the entry into the temple, the recommend desk and skylight. | Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
What will change/remain the same about the Salt Lake Temple’s exterior/interior?

The Church plans to preserve the historic aspects of the Salt Lake Temple’s exterior wall and hopes visitors will feel more welcomed to Temple Square.

The work of the project is a mix of preservation, restoration, renovation and new construction.

All of the temple’s aging mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems will be replaced.

Extensive research has been undertaken regarding such things as soil composition, granite strength, concrete and plaster sampling and vibration movement modeling. Additional research in cooperation with the Church History Department on the historic aspects of the temple, including its original design and subsequent modifications. A detailed study of this research includes paint samples, murals, millwork and furniture.

The renovation will include a signficant seismic upgrade to help the temple withstand a large magnitude earthquake. A base isolation system will be installed.

The stone spires and walls will need to be strengthened.

As part of the project, a new access tunnel will be installed under North Temple Street. The tunnel will grant direct entry to the temple from the Conference Center parking area.

The renovation of the plaza east of the temple will make it more public and friendly, with seating areas and new corridors.

There will be times during the construction when scaffolding will cover the temple and nightly lighting will be reduced.

A rendering of the temple’s base isolation phase.
A rendering of the temple’s base isolation phase.
How will the renovation affect Temple Square activities, such as tours, weddings, parties, concerts, restaurants and state tourism?

Tours by missionaries from the Temple Square Mission will continue to be available during construction, as will access to all the buildings surrounding the temple and plaza. Couples can still make marriage reservations until the temple is closed on Dec. 29.

How much will the renovation cost?

The Church acknowledged the cost of the renovation will be significant but did not disclose a specific figure.

Who is doing the architecture and construction?

FFKR Architects and Jacobsen Construction.

Rendering view of the east block of Temple Square
Rendering view of the east block of Temple Square.
Will there be any street closures?

No. The Church will coordinate closely with Salt Lake City to address any pedestrian and vehicle traffic concerns.

How much noise and dust will the renovation generate?

The project will involve scaffolding on the temple, multiple tower cranes, dust and noise. The Church hopes to keep the dust to a minimum and comply with Salt Lake City noise ordinances.

How will the Church prevent what recently happened with Notre Dame from happening to the Salt Lake Temple?

The Church acknowledged the recent Notre Dame fire and understands how construction puts any project at greater risk for a fire. The Church plans to work closely with the contractor, Church risk management and local fire officials to finalize a fire prevention plan.

Will the Tabernacle Choir still rehearse at the Salt Lake Tabernacle during the renovation?

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square will continue to use the Salt Lake Tabernacle but at times might move over to the Conference Center in coordination with the construction schedule. The Church emphasized it still wants visitors to enjoy the Tabernacle.

Newsletters
Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox
The three things you need to know everyday
Highlights from the last week to keep you informed