Salt Lake Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- 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
- September 28, 2023 – What General Conference Visitors Will See With Temple Square Construction
- May 25, 2023 – Temple Square Renovation Update: May 2023
- May 10, 2023 – The Salt Lake Temple’s evolving design and unchanging symbolism
- May 7, 2023 – Salt Lake Temple gets new feature
- May 4, 2023 – Walking around Temple Square today
News Stories
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.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Temple Square Restroom Facility Under Construction
At the northwest corner of Temple Square, installation of the concrete planters along West Temple (Street) has been completed, and construction of a new restroom facility is advancing. It sits north of the tabernacle, abutting the underground choir changing rooms. This section of Temple Square will be dedicated to gardens and contemplation spaces. Crews are forming the third floor of the north addition to the Salt Lake Temple while foundation reinforcements continue. New hardscape is being installed for the Main Street Plaza, and landscapers are laying irrigation lines and planting foliage in the garden spaces of the Church Office Building plaza. Construction continues on the guest building south of the temple.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
New Guest Pavilions Under Construction on Temple Square
Crews have begun to build the new guest building on the south end of Temple Square where the South Visitors' Center once stood. The multi-level building will feature two above-ground pavilions with direct views of the Salt Lake Temple and an expansive underground exhibit hall. The pavilions will house an updated cut-away model of the temple and a statue of Jesus Christ. The exhibit hall will include an open house experience with replicas of the baptismal font and the instruction, sealing, and celestial rooms. The new guest experience will open to the public when the temple renovation is completed in 2025.
Photo: Jared Fugal
Forming the Baptismal Fonts for the Salt Lake Temple
Oval-shaped forms have been set for the baptismal fonts that will sit on the east and west ends of the underground addition on the north side of the Salt Lake Temple. Construction of the addition began nine months ago following a massive excavation. On the south side, excavation for the new visitors' center has been completed, and work on the substructure has begun. At the Church Office Building plaza, workers are installing planters and an elaborate snow-melt system for the concrete walkways.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
Monitoring the Movement of the Salt Lake Temple
With so much construction activity taking place both under and around the Salt Lake Temple, hundreds of monitoring devices have been installed on the interior and exterior of the structure to measure any ground and building movement. These highly sensitive devices can detect a shift of even two millimeters. More devices will be installed as needed over the coming months to help ensure the stability of the historic temple.
Photo: Amanda
North Side View of the Salt Lake Temple
Two heavily reinforced openings can been seen on the north side of the Salt Lake Temple foundation, which are playing key roles in the seismic strengthening of the historic building. Plans call for the placement of hundreds of base isolators under the granite footings to mitigate the effect of earthquake activity. The temple is estimated to weigh 187 million pounds (85 million kilograms). Construction also continues on the north underground addition that will house the two baptistries, additional sealing rooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices, and so forth. Overhead views of the addition show the structural interior walls.
Photo: Temple Square Facebook page
Strengthening the Foundation of the Historic Salt Lake Temple
A worker emerges from one of the long steel pipes that has been inserted beneath the original footings of the Salt Lake Temple as part of the ongoing jack-and-bore process that will seismically strengthen the building. After a pipe is inserted, the soil inside is removed by hand to ensure a proper installation. The pipe is then heavily reinforced with steel and concrete, turning it into a support beam.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
Church Office Building Plaza Landscaping Progresses
Looking west from North State Street in Salt Lake City provides a stunning view of the Church Office Building plaza and surrounding buildings including the Church Administration Building (left), Joseph Smith Memorial Building (center left), Salt Lake Temple (center), and Church Office Building (right). Young trees are being planted in garden spaces on the plaza and geofoam blocks are being used as spacers between the plaza floor and the underground parking ceiling deck. Renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and Temple Square is not expected to be completed until 2025 or later.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Salt Lake Temple Reflecting Pool Removed
A view of the Main Street Plaza on Temple Square, taken from the top of the Salt Lake Temple, shows the remnants the oval walls of the reflecting pool. Plans calls for a larger replacement pool. On the left side of the photograph is the Relief Society Building and water fountain feature. In the center rear is the Church Office Building plaza where crews are installing conduit for heated sidewalks and walls are being faced in stone. Excavation for the new visitors' center buildings continues on the south side of the temple while construction begins on the second floor of a three-story underground addition on the north side that will house two baptistries, additional sealing rooms, dressing rooms, administrative offices, and other spaces.
Photo: Jacob Oscarson
Main Street Plaza Demolition Progressing in Salt Lake City
The Main Street Plaza in Salt Lake City closed to the public on Monday, April 11, as part of an ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple and the buildings and grounds on Temple Square. A protective wall has been built around the Brigham Young Monument while heavy equipment removes the vegetation and hardscaping around it. The plaza is expected to be closed until late 2023. Improvements include updates to the waterproofing system, refurbishment of the north and south entry fountains, installation of a larger reflecting pool, and new landscaping that harmonizes the Church Office Building plaza with the Salt Lake Temple grounds.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
President Nelson Reaches Temple Announcement Milestone
President Russell M. Nelson has announced a whopping 100 temples in the four years since he was called as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, 2018. He has taught: "The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ."
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Main Street Plaza to Close Until Fall 2023
On April 11, 2022, the Main Street Plaza that lies east of the Salt Lake Temple will close for renovation and landscaping until late 2023. The renovation includes inspection and repair of the plaza deck, refurbishment of the entry water features, replacement of the reflection pool with a larger one, and new landscaping to better integrate the temple grounds and the Church Office Building plaza. The latest renderings of Temple Square have been released to the public. Concrete pours continue for the north addition to the temple, and the area where the North Visitors' Center stood is being built up to ground level.