One year before the Salt Lake Temple’s public celebration, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled a bright new chapter for Temple Square: a fully renovated Visitors’ Center that invites guests to explore temple teachings, family commitment, and the life of Christ in fresh, accessible ways.
Beginning May 18, 2026, the nearly 40,000-square-foot Visitors’ Center will welcome the public daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Church leaders called the opening a milestone. “This is not the visitors’ center experience you may remember,” said President Emily Belle Freeman of the Young Women General Presidency. “It sits in the shadow of the Salt Lake Temple and opens a new window into what the temple means for everyday life.”
The center features a replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s beloved Christus in the west wing and a new marble sculpture, Come Unto Me, by Swiss artist Christian Bolt at the lower level’s connecting point. Bolt said he and the team wanted a seated Christ who reaches toward humankind — an invitation of peace and compassion. Bronze sculptures in the landscaped garden portray Christ carrying the cross and praying in Gethsemane outside the east and west wings.
Immersive, family-friendly experiences guide visitors from Brigham Young’s 1847 declaration, “Here we will build a temple to our God,” through clear, accessible presentations about temple purpose. Highlights include full-scale replicas of sacred temple rooms (not replicas of rooms inside the Salt Lake Temple), a scale model of the Salt Lake Temple, a display of 11 built-to-scale miniature temples with a temple globe, and a dramatic “Inside a Temple” sequence that opens from a video wall into a replica temple lobby and adjoining rooms such as the baptistry, instruction rooms, a celestial room, and sealing rooms.
“We wanted the story of the temple and the Savior to be understandable to anyone, whether they’re members or simply curious,” said Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It came together better than we hoped. It’s on time, on budget, and it looks beautiful.”
Visitors’ Center admission is free. While general entry requires no ticket, a timed reservation is required for the 30-minute “Inside a Temple” tour; reservations may be made through the Temple Square app or online. Free parking with validation is available at the Conference Center; City Creek parking (south of Temple Square) offers two free hours. The Temple Square TRAX station provides direct access.
Looking ahead, reservations for the Salt Lake Temple open house celebration will open September 1, 2026. The open house runs April 5, 2027, through October 1, 2027 — a season Temple Square leaders call one of the most memorable moments in the Church’s recent history. “We’re looking forward to a wonderful celebration, both online and in person,” Uchtdorf added. For details and reservations, visit the Temple Square website or download the Temple Square app.