The Salt Lake Temple, with its soaring spires and its gilded statue of a trumpeting angel, has been an enduring landmark in Utah’s capital for more than 130 years.
But few people, other than select members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been allowed to set foot inside — until now.
For the first time in more than a century, the Salt Lake Temple, which serves as the church’s headquarters, will open to the public during a six-month celebration from April to October 2027, marking the end of a yearslong renovation project. Less than 24 hours after the church opened online ticketing on Sept. 1, more than a million people from around the world had reserved a slot to tour the temple, said Doug Andersen, a spokesman for the church.
The temple was built from a granite-like stone called quartz monzonite, much of which was carried 20 miles by wagon teams before the arrival of railroads. The structure is central to Salt Lake City’s history. The original founders of Utah’s capital labeled its streets based on their distance from the temple. And yet most city residents have never peeked inside the towering structure. The only time it’s been open to anyone outside the church was before its dedication in 1893.
For Latter-day Saints, temples are considered houses of the Lord, reserved for sacred worship by church members who meet established standards of faith and practice, Mr. Andersen explained. Visitors are typically only welcomed inside before a temple is dedicated or rededicated.
A seven-year renovation project to address the temple’s vulnerability to seismic activity is nearing completion. It marks one of the most significant preservation projects the church has ever undertaken, Mr. Andersen said. After the work is complete, the Salt Lake Temple will be rededicated, but a date has not been announced.
During a media event on Tuesday, Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah called the temple one of the top tourist attractions in the state and thanked the church for its efforts in preserving the building.
“We hope you will come and learn more about us,” Camille Johnson, president of the church’s Relief Society, said at the event. Mrs. Johnson said she is optimistic that the tours will help visitors understand what motivates the church and why it builds temples across the world.
While global membership has continued to grow in recent years, the church posted a slight loss of members in the United States in 2025, according to church figures.
It also faces headwinds with public perception: Only 15 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Latter-day Saints, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. That is lower than the numbers for every other group in the survey, including Muslims and atheists.
Mr. Andersen said next year’s celebration is not a direct strategy for recruiting people to the faith, but it does provide “an opportunity to build good will, clarify our beliefs and share God’s love.”
How to Get Tickets
Free reservations for the temple’s hourlong open house tours are required for entry and available at TempleSquare.org. Visitors may reserve up to six tickets. Additional tickets are scheduled to be released in batches.
Accessibility accommodations will be provided, including language support, adaptive listening options and services for people with mobility, vision, hearing and other needs.
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