Latter-day Saint leaders announce Red Cliffs Utah Temple open house, dedication dates
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The Red Cliffs Utah Temple will open up its doors to the public in early 2024 for an introductory open house period, leaders with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced this week.
President Henry B. Eyring, the second counselor in the First Presidency, will officiate the dedication of the Red Cliffs Temple on March 24, according to a news release issued by the church on Monday. Before that, an open house is scheduled to run from Feb. 1 through March 2.
The dedication and open house dates were first published Monday, Oct. 16, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
It would mark the second major temple open house and dedication in a matter of months in southwestern Utah, with the the St. George Utah Temple already in the midst of an open house period ahead of its reopening in December.
Red Cliffs Utah Temple
Originally referred to as the Washington County Utah Temple when President Russell M. Nelson announced its construction plans during the October 2018 general conference, the name remained in use as the site location, a 14-acre parcel northeast of 3000 East and 1580 South in southeastern St. George, was unveiled a year later in November 2019. The preliminary building size was projected to be three stories and approximately 88,000 square feet.
The First Presidency later approved the new name, the Red Cliffs Utah Temple, in June 2020.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a native of St. George, Utah and presided at the Nov. 7, 2020, groundbreaking. Joined there by his wife, the late Sister Patricia T. Holland, their three children and extended family members, Elder Holland said his thoughts of the future temple turned to “coming home” to the house of the Lord.
“As we talk about home, safety, peace and people who love you, that is a description of the temple — it is the safest, the most welcoming and reassuring place in the world,” he said.
A wave of Utah temples
The Red Cliffs temple joins the St. George Utah Temple as the second temple in the city. Following its recent extensive renovation effort, the St. George temple is currently in its public open-house phase prior to its Dec. 10 rededication.
Open tours are still available at the St. George temple, and are scheduled to last through Nov. 11. Anyone interested can schedule a tour of the building via the church website, via the church's official website, churchofjesuschrist.org. The tours run from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day excluding Sundays.
When the St. George temple reopens to normal operations in December, it will re-establish itself as the oldest operating temple in the church, having been first dedicated on April 6, 1877.
More: A look inside the renovated St. George Utah Temple
The Red Cliffs and St. George temples are two of a dozen temples in the state of Utah that will be dedicated or rededicated in the next several years. Utah’s currently operating temples are the Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Draper, Jordan River, Logan, Monticello, Mount Timpanogos, Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain, Payson, Provo, Provo City Center, Saratoga Springs and Vernal temples.
Like the St. George temple was, the Salt Lake and Manti temples are under renovation, with the reconstruction of the Provo Utah Temple to begin in late February 2024.
The new Orem Utah Temple is scheduled for its dedication on Jan. 21, 2024. Eight other Utah temples are under construction — Deseret Peak, Ephraim, Heber Valley, Layton, Lindon, Smithfield, Syracuse, and Taylorsville.
Latter-day Saint temples are considered sacred by members and are home to many of the religious ordinances and ceremonies at the heart of the faith.
According to church materials, some of the main activities that take place inside a temple are:
Baptisms for the Dead: One of the central ordinances performed in Latter-day Saint temples, baptisms are performed for deceased individuals who did not have the opportunity to be baptized during their lifetimes. Members serve as stand-ins and are baptized on behalf of their deceased ancestors, although church leaders point out that the deceased have a chance to either accept or reject this ordinance in the afterlife.
Endowment: The endowment ceremony is a sacred ritual that involves instruction, covenants, and symbolic clothing. It provides participants with knowledge and teachings about the plan of salvation, the purpose of life, and their relationship with God, according to church leaders. It also includes making covenants to live according to specific moral and ethical standards.
Sealings: Another significant temple ordinance is the sealing ceremony, which joins couples and families together "for time and eternity." This sealing is believed to endure beyond death, uniting families in the afterlife. Children can also be sealed to their parents.
Celestial Marriage: Temple marriages, often referred to as celestial marriages, are considered the highest form of marriage in Latter-day Saint theology. These ceremonies unite couples not only for this life but for all eternity, with the belief that their union will continue in the afterlife.
Personal Prayer and Meditation: Temples also provide a peaceful environment for personal prayer, meditation, and reflection. Many members visit the temple to seek spiritual guidance, comfort, and inspiration.
Genealogical Research: Temples often have family history centers where members can research their genealogy and prepare names for temple ordinances, such as baptisms for the dead. In St. George, a facility across from the temple offers these services to church members and visitors alike.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Red Cliffs Utah Temple slated for open house, dedication in early 2024
