FILE: The Draper temple. (Photo: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
SALT LAKE CITY — Three more Latter-day Saint Temples in Utah will enter Phase 2 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ four-staged reopening plan.
The Draper, Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain Utah temples will all enter phase 2 on Monday joining with nine other Utah temples already in their second phase of reopening.
In a statement released on Monday, the church said that the reopening of each temple is based on local circumstances and current COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is important to note that temples in Utah are anticipated to be very busy. Priority will be given first to living persons who are to be sealed, next to missionaries currently serving in the field, and then to missionaries who are preparing to depart, based on their departure date,” church leaders said.
Currently, the only Utah temples that will not be in phase 2 are those in Manti and Monticello. All Latter-day Saint temples were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. They began a four-part phased reopening in early May.
As part of the second phase, the church says that a temple may “Perform all temple ordinances for living individuals, with priority given for those who will be sealed. The next priority will be endowments for in-field missionaries (who left home prior to receiving their endowment), then followed by those departing for missionary service in the near future. These priorities will be addressed according to the capacity and scheduling ability of each temple.”
Church officials say that the number of temple patrons will be very limited, masks will be worn at all times and temperatures will be taken at the entrance. The church also said that social distancing will be maintained and sanitation will take place after every ceremony.
There are currently 24 temples announced, under construction or in operation in Utah.
“Each temple is considered a ‘house of the Lord’ where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity,” the church states on their website. “In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man.”