(FOX 5/KUSI) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced open house dates later this year for its San Diego Temple, giving the public a rare opportunity to enter the iconic building.
The Church made the announcement this week, along with information about similar opportunities at a renovated temple in Cambodia.
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The San Diego Temple has been closed since July 2023 for extensive renovations.
Ahead of its re-dedication, it will be open to the public for several days, allowing the community that is not a member of the faith a glimpse inside one of the Church’s sacred buildings.
The San Diego California Temple, which rises above Interstate 5 in the La Jolla area, is an iconic sight that many San Diegans actually don’t know the story behind. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The San Diego California Temple at Night. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The gardens at the San Diego California Temple are open to the public during operating hours. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The tours will begin for invited guests and media June 15-17. These will be followed by open house tours for the public between June 18 and July 11, except on Sundays.
The temple’s dedication will be on Sunday, Aug. 23. After the dedication, standard practice means only members of the Church can go inside.
A Church representative told FOX 5/KUSI in 2022 that the public is always welcome to explore the grounds, admire the temple from the outside and take pictures.
The iconic temple along Interstate 5 near La Jolla stands out with its tall, stark-white spires and manicured gardens.
According to the Church, the temple is 72,000 square feet and 169 feet tall, with its exterior made of marble chips in plaster. The temple grounds are 7.2 acres.
Inside are spaces for baptistry, the celestial room, instruction rooms and sealing rooms.
The temple was the third operating temple in California. It was constructed in the late ’80s and early ’90s, receiving its consecration in 1993.
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The LDS Church now has nearly 730,000 members across the state and seven operating temples, with another five under construction or announced.
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