The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced dates for a public open house prior to the dedication of the new Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.
The public will be invited to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple during an open house that will run from Monday, 1 June, through Saturday, 1 August 2009 (except for Sundays; Saturday, 4 July; and Friday, 24 July).
Following the open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 21–23 August 2009. A total of nine dedicatory sessions will be held.
The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple will serve approximately 83,000 members of the Church living in the southwestern Salt Lake Valley.
Latter-day Saint temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered "houses of the Lord" where Christ's teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and strengthen their commitment to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man.
The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley, former worldwide leader of the Church, at the Church’s October 2005 general conference. It will be the 130th operating temple in the world and the 13th in Utah.
Formal temple work will commence at the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple on Tuesday, 25 August 2009.