One year before the grand reopening of the Salt Lake Temple, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened a bright new chapter on Temple Square — unveiling its fully renovated Visitors’ Center and announcing ticketing dates for the Temple open house.
The refreshed Visitors’ Center opens to the public May 18, 2026, daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Salt Lake Temple open house celebration will follow April 5 through October 1, 2027, with reservations for the temple open house available beginning September 1, 2026.
“This visitors’ center sits in the shadow of the Salt Lake City Temple,” said President Emily Belle Freeman of the Young Women General Presidency. “Now you may think you have been to a visitors center experience with us before, and I am going to tell you this is not that.” Church leaders called the unveiling a milestone and described the new center as unprecedented.
Designed to connect temple teachings with everyday life, the 40,000‑square‑foot center invites guests into a series of immersive experiences. A dramatic video wall opens into a replica temple lobby and leads visitors through full‑scale, non–Salt Lake Temple sacred rooms — the baptistry, instruction rooms, a celestial room and sealing rooms — along with a scale model of the Salt Lake Temple and a display of 11 built‑to‑scale miniature temples and a nearby temple globe. The narrative and presentations are intended to be accessible to anyone, whether or not they are members of the Church.
Art plays a central role. A west‑wing replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s beloved “Christus” stands prominently, while a new marble sculpture by Swiss artist Christian Bolt, titled “Come Unto Me,” anchors the lower level — a seated Christ offering an invitation of peace and compassion. “They didn’t want to have another standing Christ, but a sitting one…..towards human mankind,” Bolt said of the work. Outside, landscaped gardens feature two new bronze statues depicting Jesus carrying the cross and Christ in Gethsemane.
“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. Elder Matthew S. Holland of the General Authority Seventy called the moment “one of the most exciting points in this period in the history of the church.”
Visitors’ Center entry is free; a timed reservation is required for the 30‑minute “Inside a Temple” tour and 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.
“It came about much better than we ever thought… We’re very proud that it’s on time, on budget, and that it looks good,” Uchtdorf said, adding thanks to all who helped bring the project to life. Temple Square leaders say the new Visitors’ Center marks the start of a big year ahead — a refreshed welcome beneath the Temple’s iconic spires.