SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints toured several completed rooms in the Salt Lake Temple on Friday as extensive renovations of the historic building near completion.
Church President Dallin H. Oaks, recovering from an April 15 hip replacement surgery, was joined by his wife, Kristen, and his counselors, Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson. Christofferson’s wife, Kathy, and members of the church’s Presiding Bishopric also attended the tour.
Oaks, who continues to perform office assignments during a projected three- to four-month recovery, expressed gratitude to his medical team and called the tour a welcome milestone.
“The opportunity to tour the temple today was a welcome chance to be with my brothers in the First Presidency in a place we cherish,” Oaks said. “I have been looking forward to this opportunity to see firsthand the progress of this important project.”
The visit comes ahead of the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, scheduled for April 5 through Oct. 1, 2027. The ongoing renovation project aims to preserve the pioneer-era structure, considered by Latter-day Saints to be a house of the Lord where sacred covenants are made.
“Above all, we look forward to teaching about the sacred purposes of temples throughout the world,” Oaks said, noting that the buildings are used for divine instruction and to bind families together for eternity.
Although the temple itself remains closed to the public, a new Temple Square Visitors’ Center will begin welcoming guests on May 18. The center features an “Inside a Temple” experience designed to explain the purpose and role of temples in the faith.
Additional reservations for the interactive tour will be released online and through the Temple Square app beginning June 1, with more availability added every other Monday.