Salt Lake Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- October 30, 2024 – Temple Square Renovation Update: October 2024
- October 22, 2024 – Descendants honor historic Salt Lake Temple mason as foundation shifts for the future
- October 3, 2024 – ‘We’re being led by the Spirit’: How divine guidance and prophetic direction have guided Salt Lake Temple renovations
- October 2, 2024 – ‘Epic’ Salt Lake Temple renovation ‘is the biggest preservation project’ in Latter-day Saint history
- September 21, 2024 – Questions and Answers About the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
- September 21, 2024 – Latter-day Saint leaders say renovated Salt Lake Temple will include significant changes, preservation
- September 21, 2024 – Harmonizing Sacred Past and Future: A Look at the Salt Lake Temple’s Interior Renovation
- September 2, 2024 – Salt Lake Temple's towers successfully transferred onto new foundation
- August 30, 2024 – ‘An oasis’ — the progress made on Temple Square renovations
- August 30, 2024 – Temple Square Renovation Update: August 2024
- July 8, 2024 – Builder of Complex LEGO Church Buildings Believes Each Creation Forges ‘Connection to the Divine’
- July 6, 2024 – Huge Lego replicas of Temple Square buildings draw big crowds to BYU
- June 14, 2024 – Temple Square Renovation Update: June 2024
- June 12, 2024 – I love to see the (Lego) temple...
- June 9, 2024 – Salt Lake Temple renovation update: An emphasis on the project’s mission and mandates
- April 4, 2024 – A sculptor declined to make an angel statue for the Salt Lake Temple. His mother’s love led to a treasure
- April 3, 2024 – Flags from Around the Globe Symbolize God’s Love for Everyone
- April 2, 2024 – A Treasured Symbol Returns Atop the Salt Lake Temple
- April 2, 2024 – Crews prepare to return Angel Moroni to top of the Salt Lake LDS Temple
- March 29, 2024 – Thousands of tons of concrete shut down North Temple as Temple Square renovations continue
- February 13, 2024 – Salt Lake Temple Renovation Reaches Its Apex
- January 15, 2024 – With its new gate installed, the LDS Church plans to block pedestrians from Main Street Plaza overnight
- January 3, 2024 – Temple Square: Main Street Plaza and Other Plaza Reopenings
- November 27, 2023 – See photos of the Christmas lights at Temple Square
- November 20, 2023 – Temple Square Offering Christmas Experiences for 2023 Season
- November 17, 2023 – Christmas under construction: 58 years of Temple Square’s Christmas lights, what to expect
News Stories
Photo: Brent R.
Refurbishment of the Salt Lake Temple Spires Is Completed
Refurbishment of the six spires atop the Salt Lake Temple has been completed. As scaffolding is removed, the beautifully restored towers are being revealed. In early 2020, over 6,000 stones were removed, cataloged, and stored. Steel plates were used to create internal caps for the spires, providing greater seismic resistance. Before each stone was returned to its original location, it was meticulously cleaned and secured to the underlying steel structure.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
James A. Staples Honored for His Work on the Salt Lake Temple
The descendants of James A. Staples, the lead mason for the team that laid the original foundation for the Salt Lake Temple, gathered at Church headquarters on Monday to honor the work of their ancestor. A new painting of Staples working on the foundation of the temple was also unveiled. A few months ago, the load of the temple was transferred to a newly constructed foundation that features nearly 100 base isolators. Elsewhere on Temple Square, the black stone bases for Avard Fairbanks’ priesthood restoration statues have been set in place.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
New Renderings of the Salt Lake Temple Released
Updated renderings of the interior of the Salt Lake Temple were released today, including an interior rendering of an entry pavilion. "The renovated temple will feel more consistent and more like the original Salt Lake Temple from beginning to end," said Bill Williams, the Church’s director of architecture. "As soon as you walk through the doors of the north entry pavilion, it will look like a Victorian-era temple, which was never the case after previous renovations. I think for most people it will feel like, 'Wow. Now it feels like the Salt Lake Temple from stem to stern.'"
Photo: Frank Lewis
Salt Lake Temple Load Transferred to the East and West Girders
In recent weeks, the massive load of the Salt Lake Temple was transferred to the completed concrete girders that sit below the east and west towers with the help 263 miles (423 kilometers) of post-tensioned cables that run through the temple walls. Beneath the girders are the base isolators, which will move horizontally up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) in any direction in case of a severe earthquake. The isolators rest on the new lower foundation. Cladding of the north and south pavilions is progressing, and a new foundation is being built for the Seagull Monument, which was originally placed on Temple Square in 1913.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Story Behind the Transformed Plazas on Temple Square
A new Church-produced video shares the story behind the transformation of the plazas on Temple Square, which are now open to the public. The renovation became necessary to remediate the leaking membrane (installed in the 1970s) that covered the top decks of the underground parking structure. The concrete itself was discovered to be delaminated, necessitating further repairs. The final result is "an oasis from the storms of the noise and chaos…to feel the presence of the Savior," said Jay Warnick, ground services manager for Church Headquarters Facilities.
Photo: Michael Provard
Time-Lapse Video of the Church Office Building Plaza Renovation
Watch a time-lapse video of the renovation of the Church Office Building plaza, spanning three-and-a-half years from January 2021 to June 2024. The plaza is located directly east of the Salt Lake Temple, which has been under renovation for over four-and-a-half years. Other buildings on Temple Square, including the Assembly Hall, the Lion House, and the Beehive House, are also under renovation. Patron pavilions are being constructed on top of the multilevel underground north addition to the temple, and visitor pavilions are rising south of the temple.
Photo: Aaron Arnold
Days of '47 Parade Passes by the Salt Lake Temple
Thousands of people gathered along the streets of downtown Salt Lake City today for the Days of '47 parade that celebrates Pioneer Day. It is an official state holiday in Utah that commemorates the arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was the parade's grand marshal, riding in a Jeep Gladiator with his wife, Susan. The parade route passed by the Salt Lake Temple, which has five of its six spires restored.
Photo: Brent R.
New Hardscape Around the Assembly Hall on Temple Square
Beautiful new hardscape is being installed around the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, which stands southwest of the Salt Lake Temple. The ceiling of the Assembly Hall originally featured a number of murals that depicted the temples of the Church, Church leaders, ancient prophets, and Church history sites, but the ceiling was later painted white. A trumpeted pipe organ was installed in the 1980s, and the wooden turret finials, which originally functioned as chimneys, were replaced with fiberglass replicas.
Photo: Brent R.
Preparing for the Next Transfer Girders at the Salt Lake Temple
Transfer girders will be cast this month on the north and south sides of the Salt Lake Temple, joining those already in place on the east and west sides, to become the new upper foundation for the historic building. The 15x15-foot (4.5x4.5-meter) girders will transfer the weight of the temple to the massive concrete footings and base isolators below. Over 260 miles (420 km) of posttensioning cables will be inserted into the girders, running through the exterior walls from the top of the temple to the bottom.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
Concrete Frames in Place for the South Pavilions on Temple Square
The concrete frames for the two pavilions on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple have been erected. The rounded buildings will provide unobstructed views of the temple and house experiences for guests of Temple Square. The Christus statue (from the former North Visitors' Center) will be featured in the west pavilion. A cutaway model of the temple will also be located on the upper level. In the lower level, replicas of ordinance spaces will be on permanent display including a baptismal font and instruction, celestial, and sealing rooms. Displays will help guests understand their divine nature and the role of Jesus Christ and His holy temples in our Father's plan for His children.
Photo: Brent R.
Patron Pavilions Rising North of the Salt Lake Temple
On the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, the concrete frames for the patron pavilions have been erected, and steel framing for the roof of the west pavilion is underway. Between the pavilions, a tower crane rises through a rectangular opening, which will become a large skylight over the main foyer and recommend desk. Scaffolding has been removed from the east central spire where the brilliantly refurbished statue of the angel Moroni stands. Massive post-tension cables are being threaded through conduits in the transfer beams on the east and west sides of the temple foundation. Base isolators can also be seen on the west end.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Angel Moroni Returns to the East Central Spire of the Salt Lake Temple
A small gathering on Temple Square witnessed the return of the angel Moroni to the east central tower of the Salt Lake Temple this morning, just four days shy of the 132nd anniversary of the capstone ceremony held on April 6, 1892, when the statue was placed originally. Emily Utt, a historic sites curator for the Church, was present. She recalled the experience that the statue's sculptor, Cyrus Dallin, had. He said, the process "brought me nearer to God than anything I ever did. It seemed to me that I came to know what it means to commune with angels from heaven."
Photo: Jared Fugal
Renovations of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square Progressing
The foundation of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square has been exposed, allowing crews to fortify the structure with shotcrete (or sprayed concrete). The Gothic Revival building was originally constructed as a place of worship for local congregations. It was completed in 1882 using stone from the same quarry used for the Salt Lake Temple. Nowadays, the Assembly Hall is used for lectures, recitals, and free weekend concerts featuring international artists. Renovation of the historic building and its surrounding gardens is expected to be completed in 2026.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Final Steel Support Installed for the Salt Lake Temple Spires
A feeling of celebration spread across Temple Square on Tuesday, February 13, as the final steel support for the spires of the Salt Lake Temple was lifted into place—nearly four years after the iconic structures were removed as part of a massive renovation and seismic upgrade. "It’s a joyful feeling to know that anyone can now look at the temple and say to themselves, 'I can start to see and recognize something that is familiar to me,'" said Josh Fenn, Jacobsen Construction project executive and project director. "I hope people will take satisfaction in seeing more and more things that are familiar come back to them."
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
South Pavilions Taking Shape at the Salt Lake Temple
The pavilions rising on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple continue to take shape. The buildings have a stadium shape at one end to offer panoramic views of Temple Square. A number of exhibits will be housed in the pavilions and in the basement level that joins them including a Christus statue display, a cutaway model of the Salt Lake Temple, and reproductions of some of the temple's interior rooms to provide an ongoing open house experience for guests.
Photo: Edward S.
Portions of Temple Square to Reopen on Saturday
On Saturday, January 6, several landscaped areas on Temple Square will reopen for public use, including the plaza next to the Church Office Building, the north side of Main Street Plaza (the south side is expected to reopen in February), and the gardens north of the Tabernacle. The gardens south of the Tabernacle will close for removal of the restroom buildings and portions of the wall and for updating of the landscaping. Renovations to the 141-year-old Assembly Hall will also be carried out including structural repairs to the roof and foundation, mechanical upgrades, and repair of the interior plaster, which are expected to be completed in 2026.
Renovation of the Beehive House and Lion House have also begun. Trees are being cleared, and excavation around the foundations will begin soon. The foundations will be repaired, reinforced, and protected from moisture. New water-wise landscaping will also be installed.
Photo: Lincoln J.
Scaffolding Removed from the North Spires of the Salt Lake Temple
Scaffolding has been removed from the two spires on the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, revealing the beautifully restored granite stones that have returned to the spires and secured to the new internal structural caps. Forming for the transfer beam on the west end of the temple foundation is nearly finished, and the visitor and entrance pavilions continue to rise. Inside the temple, restoration work is underway on plaster moldings and medallions. At the northwest corner of Temple Square, the new facilities and landscaping are nearing completion.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Landscaping Between the CAB and JSMB on Temple Square
Grass sod is being laid in the plaza located between the Church Administration Building and Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square. It is an extension of the Church Office Building plaza to the north. Landscaping is also progressing on the northwest gardens where shade structures and lamp posts have been installed, and sections of the historic wall are being replaced with ornamental fencing. Structural framing for the new pavilions and recladding of the temple spires continues.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
Setting Pavers Around the Reflecting Pool at the Salt Lake Temple
Pavers are being placed around the new reflecting pool on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple. The pool was recently filled and drained to perform a test for water leaks. Snowmelt conduits were installed before the concrete slab was poured that surrounds the pool. The finials and granite stones that had been removed from the spires of the temple are now being replaced and secured to the structural caps at the top of each tower.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Spire Cap Installed on the East Central Tower of the Salt Lake Temple
A structural spire cap has been installed on the east central tower of the Salt Lake Temple where the angel Moroni will stand. It is the fourth of six caps to be installed on the towers, giving back a sense of familiarity to the iconic east spires. The flowerbeds in the plazas east of the temple have been filled with gorgeous trees and flowers. Some planting has also begun in the northwest gardens where the new restroom facility and contemplation spaces are located.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Forming the Entrance Pavilions at the Salt Lake Temple
On the north side of the Salt Lake Temple, forming is progressing for the walls of the west entrance pavilion on top of the three-story underground addition. The recommend desk will be located on the top level of the addition under an immense skylight. Patrons entering through the pavilions will descend one level to the main foyer before passing into the temple. On the south side, construction of the visitors' pavilions is moving above ground. Framing, duct work, and wiring is getting underway on the basement level where replica ordinance rooms will give guests an ongoing temple open house experience.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
A Reflection on the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
The new reflection pool on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple has been filled with water and clad in stone. With the hardscape nearly finished for the contemplation gardens at the northwest corner of Temple Square, planters are being filled with soil and planted with trees. Rebar decking is being installed around the foundation of the temple for transfer beams that will sit above the base isolators. Work continues on installing spire caps and resetting the stonework.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
Installing Spire Caps on the Salt Lake Temple
Internal structural caps have been installed on top of the Salt Lake Temple towers. The caps will significantly elevate the structural integrity of the famous granite spires, which were previously stacked with timber supports. The new design will secure the stone with 400 anchors. A pergola and seating structure was recently completed between the Relief Society Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Cladding of the restroom facility and other hardscape elements is progressing north of the tabernacle while work continues on placing base isolators under the temple foundation and building out the top level of the north underground addition.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
First Base Isolator Installed at the Salt Lake Temple
The first base isolator has been placed at the Salt Lake Temple as part of a massive seismic retrofit of the historic structure. Each isolator weighs 18,000 pounds (8,165 kilograms), measures 7 feet (2 meters) across, and accommodates up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) of horizontal movement in any direction. Placement of the 98 base isolators on top of the new lower foundation is anticipated to take about a year and a half.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
Building Base Isolator Templates for the Salt Lake Temple
Crews are building templates for the base isolators that will sit between the existing foundation of the Salt Lake Temple and the new lower foundation that is being installed. A total of 98 base isolators will be used, acting like shock absorbers that will help isolate the temple from any seismic activity. Construction recently reached the halfway point and is currently projected to be completed in 2026.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Salt Lake Temple Renovation Completion Projected for 2026
A new estimate of 2026 has been released for completion of the Salt Lake Temple renovation. On March 7, crews poured the concrete footing for the first base isolator, which is anticipated to be inserted under the temple next month. Concrete slabs surround the excavated foundation to provide a level working surface for crews who are assembling steel cages for the reinforced footings that will be installed there. Base isolators will sit on these new footings. The new facilities and landscaping underway at the northwest corner of Temple Square are expected to be completed this fall. Work will then move to the southwest corner where the Assembly Hall stands. The Lion House is scheduled to close for renovation the weekend after general conference on April 8, 2023.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
Next Phase of Salt Lake Temple Foundation Work Underway
With all of the pipe beams in place under the existing foundations of the Salt Lake Temple, crews are excavating even deeper in preparation for new foundations. Excavation will reach a depth of 35 feet (10.6 meters) below the base of the temple superstructure. Base isolators will sit between the new foundation and the reinforced historic foundation to protect the temple from earthquake damage. Elsewhere on Temple Square, construction continues on the three-story underground addition north of the temple, the guest experience pavilions south of the temple, and the restroom facility north of the tabernacle. The Main Street Plaza is taking shape while landscaping efforts continue on the Church Office Building plaza.
Photo: Jared Fugal
A Look Ahead at the Salt Lake Temple Renovation
An update from Church headquarters on the Salt Lake Temple renovation gives us an idea of what to expect in 2023. Renovations will commence on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Beehive House, and Lion House. Installation of the base isolator system, post-tension cables, and steel frames for the spires will also begin. Construction will continue on the guest experience pavilions south of the temple. Completion of the restroom facility and contemplation gardens is expected in early fall while completion of the Church Office Building plaza and Main Street Plaza is expected in late fall. Structural work will wrap up on the three-story underground addition, and finish work will begin.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Drilling Shafts into the Salt Lake Temple
One of the more inconspicuous projects at the Salt Lake Temple is the drilling of vertical shafts for cables that will tie into the horizontal base isolaters beneath the stone foundation. Because of the high degree of accuracy required for these shafts, a single shaft can take as long as two months to drill. Elsewhere on site, forming is underway for the top level of the north underground addition, hardscaping of the Main Street Plaza is moving forward, and lighting is being installed on the Church Office Building plaza.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Festive Tower Cranes on Temple Square
Even the tower cranes are joining the Christmas festivities on Temple Square this year. Due to the ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, the yearly Christmas lights have been downsized to about 30 percent of the area normally used, but it remains a popular activity in the valley. A team of 35 gardeners begin hanging the Christmas lights in August so that the dazzling display is ready to be lit after Thanksgiving. The purpose of the lights is to place focus on Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.