Church Leaders Release Dedication, Open House Dates and Renderings for the Washington D.C. Temple
Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News editor
The Washington D.C. Temple at Christmastime with all the colored lights on.
Article Highlights
- A public open house will be held from September 24 through October 31.
- In 1974, this was the first Latter-day Saint edifice built in the eastern United States.
- The temple was closed in 2018 to renovate mechanical and electrical systems and refresh finishes and furnishing.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced public open house and dedication dates Thursday, February 27, for the renovated Washington D.C. Temple.
A public open house will be held from September 24 through October 31, excluding the dates of September 27, October 3–4, 11, 18, and 25—Sundays and the Church’s October general conference weekend.
The temple will be dedicated Sunday, December 13.
Marking the first time the public will be able to tour the temple since its 1974 dedication, the open house will highlight the iconic temple—the first Latter-day Saint edifice built in the eastern United States—the grounds, and the temple visitors’ center.
The temple, the Church’s 16th in operation, was announced in 1968 and was dedicated six years later by President Spencer W. Kimball.
The original public open house of the Washington D.C. Temple was attended by 758,328 guests, including Betty Ford, wife of then U.S. president Gerald Ford. These tours resulted in over 75,000 missionary referrals.
The temple was closed in 2018 to renovate mechanical and electrical systems and refresh finishes and furnishing.
The 160,000-square-foot temple sits on 52 acres and serves 123,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C.; Pennsylvania; Virginia; West Virginia; and Maryland. It is located 10 miles north of the United States Capitol.
The Washington D.C. Temple is photographed on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Photo by Sarah Jane Weaver, Deseret News.
A rendering of the celestial room of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A rendering of the baptistry of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A rendering of the priesthood room of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A rendering of a sealing room of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A rendering of an instruction room of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A model of the Washington D.C. Temple is featured in the visitors’ center. Photo by Sarah Jane Weaver, Deseret News.
A rendering of the bridge pathway of the Washington D.C. Temple.
A rendering of the entry and recommend desk of the Washington D.C. Temple.
