You guys! Temple Square in Utah has been under construction for a very long time. But it’s re-opening again and I’m excited. The open house is coming up in 2027 and EVERYONE is welcome.
You can get tickets now, and I think you can also just come when you can and take your own tour. Anyway, the exciting thing is that the visitor center is open now (at least a pretty good portion of it) and we got to go a couple weeks ago.
This is where Dave and I were married over thirty years ago, so it’s extra special to us.
We were in town for all those kids’ moves, and got to meet up with my parents for their church which is downtown in Salt Lake.
Poor Ada got a gash in her forehead before we headed to meet them, gosh darn it. But Miss Murphy was pretty excited.
We ran from church over to the temple in all its glistening glory in the September morning sun.
We went downstairs for this pretty incredible exhibit about temples.
Inside the New Temple Square Visitor Center
They have eleven miniature, built-to-scale models of LDS temples from all over the world…some of our favorites:
And they have full-scale walkthrough replicas of sacred interior temple rooms for everyone to experience and learn about.
If you’re planning a visit for the replica part, you do need a ticket, but they are free and available now at templesquare.org. The open house of the actual temple (when we’ll be able to go into the actual temple before it is dedicated), runs April through October 2027 and will also open to everyone, but probably good to get on a waiting list for a ticket right away.
As for the visitor center, this is a replica of the reception room in an LDS temple:
There’s a replica baptistry room with oxen and an instruction room:
There’s also a sealing room, and a celestial room.
It felt a little strange to be in those exact replica rooms (they look just like they do in the temple) with Ada running around, but I loved it so very much. My heart was so full of gratitude and pride in my religion to share the heart of temples and what they’re all about. Something that has felt not only sacred, but also a bit “secret” for all my life.
I love that they are opening up the conversations and explaining more behind the beauty of the temple.
A Sculpture That I Fell in Love With
Perhaps my favorite part was this sculpture:
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we haven’t embraced the cross as much as the rest of the Christian world. We believe in a living Christ and have focused more on that. But OH how beautiful the symbol of the cross is, and it felt so special to have that beautiful sculpture right there on Temple Square.
We got to have an early dinner with my parents before we had to take off, our hearts full of gratitude for sacred spaces, whether in a temple or with those you love.
If you haven’t been to Temple Square in a while, or ever, this reopening is the perfect reason to go. I can’t wait to go back.
Well Shawni, It happened again!! So I have to share it with you. (Lucky you! )
Remember a few years back, I wrote a comment about how I wish I had the comfort of faith in my life, as so many other people do? And how I told you I was on a sort of “spiritual journey” trying to read, learn, and talk to people who seem to have that sense of peace that I want so badly? Do you recall my telling you how I was in the exam room of a new doctor and while I waited for him, I was looking at these incredible family pictures on his wall, and I got this unaccustomed feeling, (for me anyway.) A kind of weird, light feeling? A happy, calm, more peaceful feeling than I was used to? As I told you, he is a member of the Mormon church his entire life, like you, and we talked a little bit. I’ve told you from time to time how much I was learning and enjoying my “spiritual journey?” Well, in the last 3 years, so many sad and difficult things have happened in my life….I just sort of lost it all. The desire for faith and peace and all that I was searching for……gone. I gave up. Fast forward to today in Portland Oregon at 11:50 am. It’s BACK!! I checked into your blog like I always do, and here was your today’s post of the Temple re-opening. I read it, examined the pictures, and it all came back. The light, the desire for faith and peace, the exact same feelings I experienced at my doctors office! How does that happen? And what does it really mean? After going around for the last 3 years feeling NOTHING, how does that happen? Do you have an opinion? I ask, because I do a lot of my spiritual digging on this site and I’m curious if you might have an idea of what happened? These Temple pictures you posted are the direct result of what happened, and I could maybe use your honesty and guidance on this?
Ok, long enough! I hope you will see this and know how amazed I am by this whole incident, if I can call it that, since I don’t know what else to call it. Thank you, Laura M.
I want to thank you for sharing your special thoughts. I’m sure Shawni will have a wonderful response. I hope you continue to feel and find peace. Our Heavenly Father is aware of you as I daily learn over and over again, and I have experienced my own despairing days and years- 36 years ago today, my older brother took his life at the age of seventeen; I have been on my own journey of figuring out why bad, hard things happen. And I spent 5 hours early this morning serving in the temple and felt a little joy. Jesus Christ is my ultimate example. Who I want to become like; that is where and when I truly feel peace in this troubled world. When I (try to) see all those around me as He does. May God bless you on your journey!
Oh Sherri, thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words! That helps me a lot to not give up. I really appreciate it. I hope you continue to find lots of comfort and happiness on your journey also!
Laura M.