As a follow-up to the March 13 letter regarding temple worship, the Church has released frequently asked questions further explaining temporary temple adjustments due to continued COVID-19 concerns.
Also, as of Monday afternoon, March 16, the number of the Church’s operating temples temporarily closed stands at 35.
The information regarding temple adjustments answers questions regarding permitted group size for living ordinances, missionaries receiving their endowments, distribution center operations, and names on the prayer roll.
For temples that are open, living endowment and sealing ordinances will be scheduled for one family or one group at a time. A limit of eight guests may be invited (in addition to the patrons receiving the ordinance).
Missionaries who do not have the opportunity to receive their own endowment before entering the field (due to a temple closure in their area) will do so as soon as possible at a later date. They may still enter the field.
Distribution centers will continue to operate with reduced staff and limited hours where temples are open. Patrons attending the temple for living ordinances are encouraged to bring their own temple clothing, when possible.
Names for the prayer roll will continue to be collected as long as the specific temple is open for living ordinances. Church members are invited to email the names or leave them on the message machine, if possible.
As the Church continues to take precautionary measures against the spread of COVID-19, the list of temple closures on Newsroom is frequently being updated.
The Bern Switzerland Temple at sunset.
As of Monday afternoon, March 16, the following 35 temples are temporarily closed:
Accra Ghana Temple
Arequipa Peru Temple
Asunción Paraguay Temple
Bern Switzerland Temple
Caracas Venezuela Temple
Cebu City Philippines Temple
Copenhagen Denmark Temple
Durban South Africa Temple
Frankfurt Germany Temple
Freiberg Germany Temple
Fukuoka Japan Temple
The Manhattan New York Temple at sunset.
Guayaquil Ecuador Temple
Hartford Connecticut Temple
Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Kyiv Ukraine Temple
Lima Peru Temple
Lisbon Portugal Temple
Madrid Spain Temple
Manhattan New York Temple
Manila Philippines Temple
Panama City Panama Temple
Paris France Temple
Port-au-Prince Haiti Temple
Portland Oregon Temple
Rome Italy Temple
San Salvador El Salvador Temple
Sapporo Japan Temple
Seattle Washington Temple
Taipei Taiwan Temple.
Seoul Korea Temple
Taipei Taiwan Temple
Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple
The Hague Netherlands Temple
Toronto Ontario Temple
Trujillo Peru Temple
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico Temple
The Hong Kong China Temple and Tokyo Japan Temple continue to remain closed for renovation.
According to the letter, the following is effective March 16:
Where government or other restrictions on public and/or religious gatherings would preclude temple activity, proxy and living ordinances will temporarily be suspended.
Where government or other restrictions do not preclude all temple activity, the following temple ordinances for living persons will be accommodated as capacity permits by appointment only: husband-and-wife and child-to-parents sealing ordinances and living initiatory and endowment ordinances. On a temporary basis, proxy temple ordinances will not be performed.
