The Church of Jesus Christ releases updates on Salt Lake Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released details about renovations to the interior of the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 21, highlighting efforts to honor the temple’s history while making updates for capacity and accessibility.

According to the church’s statement expressionWhen completed, the temple will have two baptisteries instead of one and 22 sealing chambers instead of 13. Training rooms will be updated with additional seating to accommodate more users at once.

At a 2019 news conference, President Russell M. Nelson said any improvements to the temple would “highlight and highlight the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ in his desire to bless every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”

Some changes to the temple’s interior include the removal of elements added during past renovations, particularly in the 1960s, when some historic elements were painted over or removed. Current efforts are being made to replace them with designs closer to the original temple, the statement said.

“The renovated temple will be more consistent throughout and more similar to the original Salt Lake Temple,” Bill Williams, the church’s architectural director, said in a statement. “I think for most people it will feel like, ‘Wow.’ “It now resembles the Salt Lake Temple from top to bottom.”

According to the decision, all areas of specific historical and spiritual significance, such as the celestial room, two sealing rooms, the large meeting room on the fifth floor, the four stone spiral staircases and the “large part of the earth”, will be preserved and restored. expression.

The statement stated that historical research will bring back designs and patterns specific to the temple by incorporating them into carpets, paint and decorations.

The church’s statement stated that some areas could not be repaired and had to be removed. These areas include a staircase connecting the first and second floors, many interior walls made of unreinforced masonry, and hand-painted murals in lecture rooms. However, portions of the murals and other works will be preserved in the Church History Library.

Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé said the Salt Lake Temple is a “living building.”

“We have done everything possible to preserve this sacred structure. I am happy that this important renovation will create spaces where future generations can have their own sacred experience,” he said.

In the statement, it was stated that new elevators, some with higher capacity, were added to the temple. Stairs and ramps between classrooms have been removed. A new central corridor system was added to increase the navigability of the temple.

Users will experience a more pleasant experience from new air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems.

While the temple remains closed for renovations, the Church issued a statement. video This Aug. 30 update invites visitors to enjoy the Church Office Building Plaza and adjacent Main Street Plaza, which were completed earlier this year.

“Feeling the presence of the Savior is an oasis away from the storms of noise and chaos,” Jay Warnick, director of ground services for Church Headquarters Facilities, said of the plazas.

In the video, it was stated that the construction reached an important milestone with the completion of the concrete transfer beams surrounding the east and west towers of the temple. In an earthquake, the beams would transfer the load of the temple to a stronger foundation.

Other updates to Temple Square include progress on a new foundation to move the Seagull Monument to the southwest quadrant of Temple Square, stone paving in the South Pavilions, and updates to the entrance pavilions along North Temple Street.

“The project will improve, renovate and beautify the temple and surrounding areas,” church President Russell M. Nelson said in 2019. “Old systems within the building will be replaced. Security and seismic concerns will be addressed.”

Temple Square, which closed in December 2019, is expected to fully reopen in 2026.