The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting an open house of the Washington, DC temple. The temple, an iconic landmark on the Capital Beltway, has undergone a multiyear renovation. It will now be open for public tours for the first time since 1974, prior to being rededicated.
The temple will close to the public after it is rededication on Aug. 14. The rededication was originally scheduled for June 19 until it was moved back to accommodate more public tours.
Public tours will begin April 28 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
daily, excluding Sundays. According to officials, within two weeks of inviting the public to “come and see” the renovated temple, “nearly 50 percent of the available parking reservations were filled, and many more people have expressed interest.”
In response to the public’s “historic demand to participate in the open house,” the First Presidency has decided to extend the open house, as needed, to accommodate all who have a desire to “come have a welcoming, safe and orderly experience in this sacred place. We are thankful for the friends and neighbors who are helping to make this open house possible,” the First Presidency said in a released statement.
Tours are free and tickets are not required. However, a free parking ticket or free shuttle ticket is required to access onsite parking or the free shuttle from the Forest Glen Metro Station. Free parking and/or free shuttle reservations can be made online at
www.DCTemple.org.
Officials said "The Lord has always instructed His people to build temples. The Church has 265 temples – operating, under construction or announced. A temple is a House of the Lord – a sacred place of worship where those who enter learn more about God’s plan of happiness and about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Isaiah invites, 'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in His paths' (Isaiah 2:3).
"In temples, individuals make promises to walk in the ways of the Lord, marry for eternity and unite their families forever. In temples, individuals also seek greater direction for their lives and perform baptisms and other ordinances for their loved ones who died without receiving these blessings.
"This is why temples are holy places. After the open house in which the public may enter and view the rooms, temples are set apart for members who are committed to living gospel standards. Members in the greater Chattanooga area are assigned to the Atlanta temple district, but anyone may participate in the Washington DC open house. We invite all to come and see.”