The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on Saturday the open house and dedication dates for the new Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.
The public open house will run from Monday, 1 June 2009, through Saturday, 1 August 2009 (except for Sundays and Saturday, 4 July 2009, and Friday, 24 July 2009).
Following the open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Saturday and Sunday, 22–23 August 2009. A total of 6 dedicatory sessions will be held.
The First Presidency also announced that the groundbreaking for the Gila Valley Arizona Temple will take place on 14 February 2009 at 9 a.m.
Latter-day Saint temples differ from the Church’s 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. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and strengthen their commitment to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow men.
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 will serve approximately 83,000 Latter-day Saints living in the western Salt Lake Valley.