Salt Lake Temple Renovation and New Temple Opening

The Deseret Peak Temple in Tooele, Utah, opens to the public this week for tours ahead of its dedication on November 10, marking it as the 200th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Initially planned for Erda and named the Tooele Valley Temple, it was relocated and renamed after local opposition. Meanwhile, the Salt Lake Temple's extensive renovation aims to restore its Victorian-era design and improve its capacity and earthquake resilience. The renovation includes adding a second baptistry, increasing sealing rooms from 13 to 22, and expanding overall space by 100,000 square feet. Historic elements are being meticulously preserved, ensuring the temple honors both its pioneer past and future needs.