New photos released as restoration of Salt Lake Temple, Temple Square continues 

SALT LAKE CITY — In preparation for the Salt Lake Temple reopening in 2027, more photos were released Tuesday showing work inside the historic temple and showcasing flowers and statues on Temple Square.

“Teams of artisans are working meticulously to restore the beauty of the sacred structure,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement Tuesday.

Crews are working to restore hand-painted ceilings and gilded molding from the temple’s original design. Ornate wood paneling, beams and stenciling, which the temple is known for, are also being restored or replaced, including reapplying gold leaf.

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced a six-month open house for the temple in 2027, the first time the general public will be allowed to tour the temple since 1893 before its initial dedication. He announced plans to renovate the temple in April 2019, and it closed at the end of that year, meaning it will have remained closed for over seven years for the extensive renovations.

Since September, four new statues and three refurbished statues have been placed on Temple Square as different areas have become open to the public. One of these was the Five Wise Virgins statue placed outside the church’s Relief Society Building the week ahead of general conference.

Another new statute, Joseph Smith Receives the Plates, was placed in the southwest corner of Temple Square near the Salt Lake Tabernacle a few days earlier.

As spring comes to Utah, visitors at Temple Square can enjoy seeing thousands of flowers, in addition to the many exhibits and events on Temple Square, including the International Art Competition and daily organ recitals in the tabernacle.

Visitors to Temple Square can also see work progressing on the outside of the temple, on the temple’s new annex and on the new visitor centers located on the south side of the temple.