The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the closure of the Jordan River Utah Temple in the Salt Lake Valley. The temple will be closed from February 15, 2016 through the latter part of 2017 to undergo extensive renovation.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Following the renovation, the temple will be rededicated. Other temples in the Salt Lake Valley are preparing to accommodate Latter-day Saints from the Jordan River Temple district.
Currently, there are three other temples in the Salt Lake Valley: Salt Lake, Draper and Oquirrh Mountain.
The temple was first announced in 1979 and dedicated in November 1981.
The Church currently has 147 operating temples worldwide. Latter-day Saint temples differ from the meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. A temple is considered a “house of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man.