A second ticket batch went out October 1, President Oaks invited the world to the six-month open house, and the fourth 'Dedicate' episode is now streaming.
A second ticket batch went out October 1, President Oaks invited the world to the six-month open house, and the fourth 'Dedicate' episode is now streaming.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a second batch of free timed tickets for the 2027 Salt Lake Temple open house on October 1, after the first million reservations were claimed within 24 hours. Non-members have been kept out of the temple since 1893.
The church's six-part 'Dedicate' series is four episodes in, with the latest posted October 25. New episodes go up Sundays at 8 a.m. MDT through November 1, and the finale is due in spring 2027; episodes run in 11 languages. The open house itself runs April 5 to October 1, 2027.
Why it matters
Non-members have been kept out of the Salt Lake Temple since 1893. This six-month open house is the only chance anyone will ever get inside.
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Key Indicators
4
Episodes of 'Dedicate' released
The fourth episode came out October 25. One more follows November 1, with a sixth in spring 2027.
16 events
Latest: 2 days ago
Showing 8 of 16
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October 2027
Open house ends, rededication expected
UpcomingScheduled Event
Open house ends; temple rededicated and closed to non-members again.
April 2027
Public open house begins
UpcomingScheduled Event
Six-month open house begins; public enters temple for first time since 1893.
October 2026
Fourth 'Dedicate' Episode Released
LatestAnnouncement
The church posted the fourth episode of the six-part series, which follows seven young adults from Brazil, France, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States through the Salt Lake Temple.
Fourth 'Dedicate' Episode Released
Announcement
The church released the fourth episode of its six-part 'Dedicate' series on October 25, part of the Salt Lake Temple Celebration. Episodes run Sundays through November 1, with the final one in spring 2027.
President Oaks Invites the World to Temple Celebration
Announcement
In general conference closing remarks, President Dallin H. Oaks invited the world to the Salt Lake Temple Celebration and premiered the 'Dedicate' video series.
Second Batch of Open House Tickets Released
Milestone
The church released another batch of free open house tickets at 6 p.m. MDT, following the first wave of 1 million that sold out in 24 hours.
September 2026
Church outlines open house transportation plans
Planning
Church officials detailed plans for the open house's expected 22,000 daily visitors, including shuttle service from a 1,700-stall parking lot at North Temple and Redwood Road.
Statue of Christ installed on Temple Square
Construction
A new statue of Christ was installed on Temple Square as construction barriers around the Salt Lake Temple came down.
First Wave of 1 Million Tickets Claimed
Milestone
All 1 million free reservations for the 2027 open house were claimed within 24 hours of the September 1 release.
Open house tickets released
Announcement
First wave of free timed open house tickets released; demand is high.
April 2026
Visitors' center opens
Construction
New visitors' center opens with exhibits, temple model, and replica rooms.
December 2019
Temple closes for renovation
Construction
Salt Lake Temple closes; work begins on foundation isolation system.
April 2019
Seismic renovation announced
Announcement
Church announces seismic renovation to protect the landmark from earthquakes.
April 1893
Salt Lake Temple dedicated
Historical
Temple dedicated; public open house precedes closure to non-members.
February 1853
Groundbreaking begins 40-year build
Historical
Groundbreaking launches a 40-year, largely hand-built construction project.
July 1847
Pioneers arrive, temple site chosen
Historical
Brigham Young leads pioneers into the valley and picks the temple site.
Scenarios
1
Several Million Visitors Tour Salt Lake Temple
Likely
Resolves by Oct 15, 2027
Discussed by: Visit Salt Lake, which expects 'several million' guests
Ticket waves sell out quickly through late 2026 and early 2027. Visitors from around the world fill the six-month window, making the open house among the largest religious tourism events in the U.S. The church reports attendance in the millions.
2
Construction Delays Push Open House Past April 2027
Unlikely
Resolves by Apr 5, 2027
Discussed by: Visit Salt Lake, whose planning page says the renovation wraps at the end of 2026
Finishing work on the seismic retrofit or interior spaces slips past the end of 2026. The church postpones the April 5, 2027 opening, disrupting travel plans and compressing the rededication timeline.
3
Salt Lake Temple Rededicated After Six-Month Open House
Likely
Resolves by End of 2027
Discussed by: Church leaders; the sequence used after the Washington D.C. Temple renovation
The open house runs its full six months, and the church holds a rededication ceremony in late 2027. The temple returns to members-only use, ending the longest period of public access in its history.
4
Virtual Tour Extends Open House to a Global Audience
Likely
Resolves by Apr 5, 2027
Discussed by: Church Newsroom, which announced a virtual tour is being developed
The church is building a guided virtual tour and a self-guided discovery tour, both launching April 5, 2027. If the in-person open house draws the expected 4 to 5 million visitors, the virtual experience could let millions more see the temple long after the doors close.
5
Dedicate Video Series Reaches Global Audience
Likely
Resolves by Oct 1, 2027
Discussed by: Church Newsroom, which announced the series at general conference
The 'Dedicate' video series premiered after general conference on October 4, 2026. More episodes are planned, including a virtual tour of the Salt Lake Temple. If the series reaches millions worldwide, it could extend the open house's reach beyond the 4-5 million expected in-person visitors.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
April 1893
Salt Lake Temple dedication (1893)
After 40 years of construction, the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated on April 6, 1893. In the weeks before, the church opened the building to the public so non-members could walk through it.
Then
The doors closed to non-members after dedication and have stayed closed.
Now
The 1893 open house remained the only time the public ever saw the interior.
Why this matters now
The 2027 open house repeats that event for the first time in 134 years.
2 of 3
2022
Washington D.C. Temple open house (2022)
The Washington D.C. Temple reopened in 2022 after a multi-year renovation. The church held a public open house before rededicating it, drawing large crowds in the D.C. region.
Then
The open house introduced the church's modern template for temple reopenings.
Now
It established the template the church uses for major temple reopenings.
Why this matters now
The Salt Lake open house uses that template at a much larger scale.
3 of 3
December 2024
Notre-Dame de Paris reopening (2024)
On December 7, 2024, Notre-Dame reopened, five and a half years after a fire destroyed its roof and spire. World leaders attended, and visitor numbers surged afterward.
Then
The reopening was a global event covered worldwide.
Now
The cathedral resumed its role as one of the world's most visited religious sites.
Why this matters now
It shows how a landmark religious building's reopening can draw global attention, the same pull the Salt Lake open house expects.
