Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Photo Church Newsroom
SALT LAKE CITY — The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that a limited number of temples will reopen to perform weddings on Monday.
The church says that 17 temples will reopen on Monday as part of a four-phased opening plan that will lead to the reopening of all 168 temples operated by the church.
Church temples were closed in March due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to members, church leaders said the plan to reopen temples will include cautious, careful measures, coordinated with local governments. The plan instructs temple workers to observe any relevant local health restrictions.
“With profound gratitude to our Heavenly Father that He has heard our prayers, we rejoice in announcing a carefully coordinated, cautious, and phased reopening of temples. With this letter, we are authorizing the reopening of 17 temples,” the First Presidency said in the letter Thursday.
Beginning on Monday, May 11, 2020, the church will begin the first part of their phased reopening which will allow only the live sealing of previously endowed members of the church.
The following temples will begin Phase 1 of reopening on Monday according to the church:
During the first phase of reopening, church leaders say they will staff temples with as few as two or three workers. Sealing ceremonies will be limited to one sealing ceremony at a time.
Additionally, temple workers will clean and sanitize the sealing room and other rooms in the temple following each ceremony. Patrons may wear their own masks and gloves, with hand sanitizer available in multiple locations around the temple.
The second phase of reopening will be opening the temples for living ordinances only. According to the letter, when temples move to this phase, patron housing, clothing and cafeteria operations will still remain closed.
Phase 3 of reopening will allow for all ordinances within the temple to be open with restrictions, followed by Phase 4 where regular operations will resume.
This story is breaking and will be updated.