See Inside Newly Renovated Jordan River Utah Temple
Contributed By MormonNewsroom.org
The bride’s room of the recently renovated Jordan River Utah Temple, which will be dedicated May 20, 2018. A public open house runs through April 28, 2018.
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The public will have six weeks to tour the newly renovated Jordan River Utah Temple, beginning Saturday, March 17, 2018.
“Everything about the temple and the renovations of temples is to make certain that the experience the patron has is the best experience possible,” said Bishop Dean M. Davies, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. “They can come into the temple; it's clean and it’s organized and it’s sacred and spiritual.”
The spire, with its drape-motif-inspired windows and sweeping exterior design, make the Jordan River Temple a familiar landmark in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley.
Mahogany-fluted millwork fashioned by specialists in northern and southern Utah complement and further display the drape motif throughout the interior, while the floor features imported marble from Turkey.
Free tours will run through Saturday, April 28, 2018, except for March 18, 24, 25, and 31 and April 1, 8, 15, and 22. Complimentary tickets are available for the temple open house at https://templeopenhouse.churchofjesuschrist.org/.
Several paintings of Jesus Christ can be seen in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
“Over time,” Bishop Davies explained, “temples tire. It’s like owning a car. After a few years, you have to change the tires. And so in a temple, over a number of years, we have systems that show wear—heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical systems.”
“We're entering a unique period of time,” remarked Brent Roberts, managing director of the Church’s Special Projects Department. “We have a number of temples, of course, that are aging, especially those that are between 35 and 45 years old, including this temple, as well as other temples that just need to be refreshed—not so much refreshed on the interiors, but refreshed with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.”
Bishop Davies said when the Church considers an extensive renovation on a temple over 30 years old, an important goal is to reduce operation and maintenance costs. The temple also reflects the attitude of the Church of wanting to be a good steward in the community.
The Church’s Special Projects Department senior project manager, Chris Robbins, said there’s new technology called cogeneration that uses natural gas turbines. “You can create your own power in your building to offset and save money by making your own electricity. We’re saving anywhere from 50 to 60 percent of our energy costs in the building.”
Currently, 12 temples around the world are closed or will close this year for renovation.
Rededication
The Jordan River Utah Temple will be rededicated Sunday, May 20, 2018, in three sessions, 9:00 a.m., noon, and 3:00 p.m.; the sessions will be broadcast to Church meetinghouses in the temple districts of the Jordan River, Oquirrh Mountain, and Draper Utah Temples. The regular block of Sunday meetings on that day will be canceled to allow Latter-day Saints in those areas to participate in the rededication. The cultural celebration will be held Saturday, May 19.
The celestial room chandelier in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Architectural and artistic detail in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Beautiful decor in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Architectural and artistic detail in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Architectural and artistic detail in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Architectural and artistic detail in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Artisan windows are in many locations in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Architectural and artistic detail in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Entry into the Jordan River Utah Temple.
The baptistry in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
The baptistry in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
The baptistry in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Jordan River Utah Temple chapel.
The bride’s room in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
The bride’s room in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
A sealing room in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
An instruction room in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
An instruction room in the Jordan River Utah Temple.
Celestial room of the Jordan River Utah Temple.
The Jordan River Utah Temple at dusk.
The Jordan River Utah Temple.
Spencer W. Kimball, president of the Church is being escorted by his secretary D. Arthur Haycock for the dedication of the Jordan River Utah Temple in 1981. Photo courtesy of the Deseret News.
Church President Spencer W. Kimball, seals the cornerstone prior to dedicating the Jordan River Utah Temple in 1981. Photo courtesy of the Deseret News.
Latter-days Saints lined up to attend the dedication services at the Jordan River Utah Temple in 1981.
The Jordan River Utah Temple in 1981 at the time of the open house. Photo courtesy of the Deseret News.
