Open House Begins for Wichita Kansas Temple

The open house of the Wichita Kansas Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began on Monday, September 21, with a media day for journalists and invited guests.

Doors will open to the public on Thursday, September 24, through Saturday, October 10, excluding Sundays and Saturday, October 3 (general conference).

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The Wichita Kansas Temple will serve more than 14,500 members of the Church in the region.

The new temple is located at 2550 West Harborlight Street in Wichita.

The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, November 1, 2026, by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It will be broadcast to all congregations in the Wichita area.

Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the press event. He was joined by Elder Karl D. Hirst of the Seventy.

Elder Morgan spoke about the importance of the temple to the Wichita community. The temple will be first house of the Lord in the state.

“[The temple] will serve almost 15,000 members in and around this area and will be a place where people can come for respite, for peace, for learning, for the opportunity to worship Jesus Christ,” said Elder Morgan.

Elder Karl D. Hirst reflected on the temple’s anticipated impact on the local community.

“I pray that you will be able to taste why we come to temples. Members of local congregations will come to the temple and they'll travel the hours to drive here to find peace and inspiration and guidance,” said Elder Hirst.

About The Wichita Kansas Temple

“I love this time of year in Kansas when the sunflowers are in bloom. As you walk through the temple today, notice the sunflowers on the building and in the stained glass,” said Wichita resident Rebecca Rather.

Rather also reflected on the temple’s connection to the local landscape and its symbolism of a connection with God.

“I'm impressed with the symbolism of sunflowers. Just as young sunflowers move to face the sun as it crosses the sky each day, the temple is a reminder to me to keep my focus on Jesus Christ and his light. The temple is a place where I can feel God's love, feel His peace, and better understand his purpose for me,” said Rather.

The temple was announced in general conference in April 2022 by President Russell M. Nelson. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2024.

Once dedicated, the Wichita Kansas Temple will be the 229th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide and will serve as the first temple in the state.

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Kansas is home to nearly 40,000 Latter-day Saints, meeting in 75 congregations.

The temple’s design motifs draw from the local landscape and heritage of Kansas, including its rolling wheat fields and sunflowers. The interior features a color palette of sage green, golden wheat, soft paprika and buttercream that echoes the agricultural vistas of the Great Plains.  

Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ are different from meetinghouses or chapels where members gather for Sunday worship services. A temple is considered a house of the Lord, where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ceremonies that allow families to be united for eternity.

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