One year before the Salt Lake Temple reopens, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is giving the public a fresh look—and a reason to plan ahead.
Media were invited to preview the newly renovated Temple Square Visitors’ Center and to hear the announcement of ticketing dates for the Salt Lake Temple open house. The visitors’ center opens to the public May 18, 2026, and will welcome guests daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Salt Lake Temple open house celebration runs April 5, 2027, through October 1, 2027, with reservations for the open house available beginning September 1, 2026.
“This visitors’ center sits in the shadow of the Salt Lake Temple,” said President Emily Belle Freeman of the Young Women General Presidency. “You may think you’ve been to a visitors’ center before. I’m going to tell you: this is not that.” Church leaders called the unveiling a milestone, describing the new center as unprecedented.
“Here, guests can discover how temple teachings connect to everyday life and uncover the greater context of Latter-day Saint beliefs and commitment to family and Christ,” said Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The 40,000-square-foot center blends art, history and immersive storytelling. A beloved replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s “Christus” stands in the west wing, while a new marble sculpture by Swiss artist Christian Bolt—titled “Come Unto Me”—anchors the lower level between the wings. “They didn’t want another standing Christ, but a seated one oriented toward humankind,” Bolt said of the design.
Inside, visitors can move from a short film explaining temples to a surprising reveal: a replica of a temple lobby leading to full-scale representations of sacred rooms. The experience includes a baptistry, instruction rooms, a celestial room and sealing rooms—designed to communicate temple meaning in a way anyone can understand (these are not replicas of rooms in the Salt Lake Temple).
Highlights also include:
- A full-scale model of the Salt Lake Temple and an 11-temple miniature display with an accompanying temple globe
- A narrative presentation accessible to audiences both inside and outside the Church
- Landscaped gardens with new bronze statues of Jesus carrying the cross and Christ in Gethsemane outside the east and west wings
“It really is one of the most exciting points in this period in the history of the Church,” said Elder Matthew S. Holland of the General Authority Seventy. “One of our leaders talked about days never to be forgotten—I think that’s what we’re in right now.”
Admission to the visitors’ center is free. While general entry requires no ticket, a reservation time is required for the 30-minute “Inside a Temple” tour; reservations can be made through the Temple Square app or online. Free parking is available at the Conference Center with validation; City Creek parking south of Temple Square offers two free hours. The Temple Square TRAX station provides direct access.
“We’re very proud that it’s on time, on budget, and that it looks good,” Uchtdorf said. “We’re looking forward to a wonderful celebration online and in person. Thank you to everyone who helped accomplish this vision.”
Plan to visit starting May 18, 2026—and mark your calendar for open house reservations beginning September 1, 2026, as the Church prepares for the Salt Lake Temple’s much-anticipated reopening celebration in 2027.