Many people from around the world who have visited the 133-year-old Salt Lake Temple have taken photos standing on the granite staircase and the beautiful wooden door behind it.
When the Salt Lake Temple closes en masse on December 29, 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin a multi-year renovation and restoration project that will culminate in a celebration and open house from April 5 to October 1, 2027.
Three months after the temple was closed, the iconic door was removed from the building for its own renovation.
On Tuesday, June 23, the renovated door was rehung on the east side of the Salt Lake Temple.
Jacob W. Olmstead, manager of the Church History Department’s Historic Sites Division, spoke about the temple doors and the overall meaning of the temple as workers carefully placed the newly completed doors into place.
“The Salt Lake Temple is a great symbol of the Latter-day Saint faith, not only here in Utah but around the world,” he said. “Essentially, I think it’s a symbol of worldwide faith.”
Olmsted said he believes the temple is a fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.
“We know from the prophet Isaiah that the house of the Lord will be built on the top of the mountain, and all the nations will flow into it. So this building has a thousand-year future,” he said.
Richard Sutton, senior director of temples, has been helping the church prepare for the influx of visitors from around the world.
“We expect millions of people to visit the Salt Lake Temple,” he said. “But we anticipate that millions more will come to Temple Square to enjoy all the services and experiences Temple Square has to offer.”
Sutton said millions of visitors are expected when the temple opens to the public, but church leaders know that not everyone who wants to visit will have the opportunity.
“The Church has invested significant resources into the virtual elements of our open houses and celebrations. The Temple Tour itself will be available virtually online. Other virtual offerings and videos will also be created so we can introduce Temple Square and the Salt Lake Temple to the world.”
For more information on how to participate in person or virtually, visit TempleSquare.org. Applications to volunteer in one of hundreds of ways at the Salt Lake Temple Celebration are also being accepted through July 15, 2026 on the same site.
Those who have worked on various aspects of the Salt Lake Temple renovation have had unique personal experiences, both professionally and spiritually.
Dusty Roe, senior director of renovations for Jacobsen Construction, said he is grateful for this “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that has brought many learning experiences into his life.
“Building a temple is a bit like life. Life is not easy. Building a temple is sometimes not easy. Sometimes it requires a lot of concentration and discipline,” said Lo.
He said that various obstacles arose during the temple restoration process, but all of them were resolved with the help of Heavenly Father.
“Solutions come by themselves. There is nothing that we couldn’t find a solution for, no matter how difficult it was. From a testimony standpoint, to reconcile that with life, hopefully we can all find a solution to get through in life.”
Josh Fajardo, Jacobsen Construction Superintendent, said working on the Salt Lake Temple was special to him and many others. for there they were married and sealed to their spouses.
“My wife and I both have pictures in front of this door, so being able to put this piece of history back in its place is something I’m sure people who walk through this Temple Square site will appreciate,” he said.
Olmsted said he enjoys thinking about the symbolism of the Salt Lake Temple’s doors and spire.
“I think they provide a nice juxtaposition,” he said. “(Visitors) look at those steeples and their eyes turn upward. When they look at those doors, they know they are standing at the entrance to the house of the Lord. You are standing at the dividing line between the sacred ordinances performed within that unite Latter-day Saints with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, and the outside world.”
Tom Lindhardt is a senior project manager in the church’s special projects department. He said he is impressed by the efforts the Church has made to make the Salt Lake Temple truly the Lord’s home.
“Seeing the resources, efforts and work of so many people who are trying to preserve this building and improve it for future use helps us focus on the purpose of the temple,” he said. “It’s the pearls in the box of pearls that really matter, and opening this temple back up for members to come inside and participate in the ordinances of the temple is something I’m really looking forward to.”
