Pull to refresh
Logo
Church unveils resurrected Christ statue inside Conference Center

Church unveils resurrected Christ statue inside Conference Center

Built World Salt Lake City, UT local

Latest in a series of new Christ sculptures as Temple Square renovation nears completion

Today: Resurrected Christ statue unveiled in Conference Center

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled a new statue of the resurrected Jesus Christ inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on October 6, 2026. It is the latest in a series of new Christ sculptures installed as part of the multi-year Temple Square renovation.

The renovation, which included a seismic upgrade to the Salt Lake Temple and a new Visitors' Center, is essentially complete. The Church is now preparing for the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, a six-month open house from April 5 to October 1, 2027. It will let visitors tour the temple for the first time in years.

Why it matters

The renovation transforms Temple Square, the Church's most visited site, ahead of the 2027 Temple Celebration open house.

Monday: what changed in Salt Lake City, UT

One short email a week with the openings, closings, permits and council votes we covered. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

7
New Christ statues
New sculptures of Jesus Christ installed at Temple Square since March 2026.
35 acres
Temple Square size
Size of the complex surrounding the Salt Lake Temple.
6 months
Temple Celebration duration
Open house runs April 5 to October 1, 2027.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

December 2019 April 2027

10 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Salt Lake Temple Celebration begins

    Upcoming Event

    Six-month open house begins, allowing visitors to tour the temple.

  2. Resurrected Christ statue unveiled in Conference Center

    Today Art Installation

    New statue of resurrected Jesus Christ unveiled inside Conference Center.

  3. Mary and Martha statue installed

    Art Installation

    'Jesus Christ With Mary and Martha' installed at Temple Square.

  4. Two more Christ statues installed

    Art Installation

    'Jesus Christ Ordains Apostles' and 'Jesus Christ and Mary at the Tomb' installed.

  5. Woman at the Well statue installed

    Art Installation

    'Jesus Christ With the Woman at the Well' installed at Temple Square.

  6. Seismic upgrade completed

    Construction

    Salt Lake Temple now rests on base isolation system, can move 5 feet in any direction.

  7. New Visitors' Center opens

    Opening

    Temple Square Visitors' Center opens to the public with interactive exhibits.

  8. Media tour of new Visitors' Center

    Event

    Uchtdorf and Freeman lead media through temple replica rooms.

  9. Two new Christ statues unveiled

    Art Installation

    'Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross' and 'Jesus Christ in Gethsemane' debut at Temple Square.

  10. Salt Lake Temple closes for renovation

    Construction

    Temple closes for seismic upgrade and multi-year renovation.

Scenarios

1

Salt Lake Temple rededicated as scheduled

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Church officials and Deseret News

The Church completes the rededication of the Salt Lake Temple after the six-month Temple Celebration. The temple reopens for worship, and the new statues remain as permanent fixtures on Temple Square.

2

Temple Celebration draws over 1 million visitors

Possible Resolves by Oct 1, 2027

Discussed by: KSL.com and Deseret News

The six-month open house attracts visitors from around the world, with the new Christ statues becoming a key attraction. The Church reports attendance figures after the celebration concludes.

3

New statues become a signature Temple Square attraction

Likely Resolves by Oct 1, 2027

Discussed by: Temple Square officials and travel publications

The new Christ statues are featured prominently in official Temple Square materials and travel guides, becoming a recognized landmark alongside the Christus replica.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1821-1833

Thorvaldsen's Christus (1833)

Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen created the Christus statue, a larger-than-life marble depiction of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms. The statue was commissioned for the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen.

Then

The statue was installed in the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen in 1833.

Now

The Christus became one of the most famous depictions of Christ, with replicas worldwide. A replica was installed at Temple Square in 1966 and became a landmark.

Why this matters now

Shows how a single statue can become an iconic religious landmark, similar to the new Christ statues at Temple Square.

1966

Temple Square Visitors' Center opening (1966)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the Temple Square Visitors' Center, featuring a replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue. The center became a major tourist attraction.

Then

The Visitors' Center drew thousands of visitors to Temple Square.

Now

The Christus replica became one of the most recognizable images associated with Temple Square and the Church.

Why this matters now

The current renovation includes a new Visitors' Center and new Christ statues, continuing the tradition of using art to welcome visitors.

1999-2002

Nauvoo Temple reconstruction (2002)

The Church rebuilt the Nauvoo Illinois Temple, which was destroyed by fire in 1848. The reconstruction was completed in 2002, and the temple was rededicated.

Then

The temple was rededicated in June 2002, drawing thousands of visitors.

Now

The reconstruction helped revitalize Nauvoo and became a symbol of the Church's commitment to its history.

Why this matters now

Shows how the Church undertakes major temple projects and celebrates their completion with open houses and dedications.

Sources

(5)