St. George Temple to reopen this year with rededication ceremony, open house

The St. George Utah Temple is set to reopen with a public open house and a special rededication ceremony before the end of 2023, officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on Monday.

A public open house is scheduled for Sept. 15 through Nov. 11, excluding Sundays and Sept. 30, followed by two dedicatory services slated for Dec. 10. The two sessions are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast to congregations within the temple district, according to an announcement from the church.

The temple, a landmark 175-foot structure visible from most parts of the St. George area, was closed in late 2019 to make way for a major renovation project, with significant improvements made since to both the building and to the surrounding complex.

The St. George Temple was the first completed temple in Utah, built using stone from a local quarry and dedicated in April 1877. It was remodeled and re-dedicated in November 1975.

In May of 2019, church officials announced plans for another St. George Temple renovation, including major improvements to the entire block around the main building.

Among the most significant changes was the demolition and reconstruction of the temple's annex at the north entrance, which was first added during the 1975 renovation. In addition, the improvements included a new kitchen, cafeteria, laundry and other support spaces.

Architects also developed a new plaza on the temple's east side, where many visitors view the temple for the first time, with seats, gathering areas and a water feature.

Construction crews removed furnishings and hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint, and new foundations and footings made of reinforced concrete and steel were added to the 70s-era annex. The outside of the structure was clad with reinforced concrete precast, meant to look more like the historic temple.

Outside, crews installed groundwater drains, storm drains lines and sewer lines, among other things.

Originally dedicated in 1877, the St. George Utah Temple was the first temple completed in Utah. It was rededicated in 1975 by President Spencer W. Kimball after an extensive renovation. The temple has been closed since November 2019 for another renovation announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson in October 2018.

The St. George Utah Temple is one of 28 temples in Utah, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its global headquarters. Two other temples are currently under renovation and several others are under construction or planned. Church membership in Utah is nearly 2.2 million members.

A second St. George-area temple, the Red Cliffs Temple, is also under construction on the east side of St. George. No date has been announced for its opening.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: St. George Temple to reopen this year with rededication ceremony