{"id":362377,"date":"2026-06-16T04:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T04:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/362377\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T04:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T04:47:09","slug":"open-house-begins-for-the-san-diego-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/362377\/","title":{"rendered":"Open House Begins for the San Diego Temple\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The open house for the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began on Monday, June 15, 2026, with a media day for journalists and invited guests. Doors will open to the public<\/a> from June 18 through July 11, 2026 (excluding Sundays).<\/p>\n

The temple, which closed in 2023 for extensive renovation<\/a>, will be dedicated on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 11\u00a0a.m. (rebroadcast at 2 p.m.).<\/p>\n

Downloadable B-roll |\u00a0SOTs<\/a>\u00a0| Press Kit<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe temple is the most sacred place on earth to us as members of the Church,\u201d said Elder Neil L. Andersen<\/a> of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles<\/a>. \u201cIt is a place of holiness, of peace, of revelation, of receiving our answers to our prayers. It\u2019s very, very important to us. It is a testament to us of the immortality of the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each temple is considered a house of the Lord, where Jesus Christ\u2019s teachings are reaffirmed and His power is used to enable families to be united for eternity. In the temple, Church members can seek peace and guidance, learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow men and women.<\/p>\n

Media Day<\/p>\n

At a news conference on Monday, Elder Andersen told journalists that everything in the temple teaches about Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a time for us to declare very strongly our knowledge of Jesus Christ, of our belief in Him, our faith in Him, our hope in Him,\u201d Elder Andersen said. \u201cSome people don’t know exactly where we stand on this, but we are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and we\u2019re so happy to be able to declare His name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elder I. Raymond Egbo<\/a> of the Seventy said he hopes local journalists felt something special during their walk through the temple.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTemple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 2<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Photos<\/p>\n

\u201c[We hope] everyone who goes through the temple has this \u2018aha\u2019 moment where they come to the realization that they have felt the Spirit in here, even though [the temple is] not yet rededicated, that they have felt the Spirit of the Lord witnessing to their spirit that this truly is God’s house,\u201d Elder Egbo said.<\/p>\n

Deon Travers of the Del Mar California Stake spoke about how a temple open house is an opportunity to show friends and family what goes on inside this sacred space.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve seen it driving by. They\u2019re so curious,\u201d Deon said. \u201cNow we can offer them a little opportunity to come in and join us and see what it\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kari Travers emphasized that the house of the Lord is a place for young people as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe youth love coming here,\u201d Kari said. \u201cIt\u2019s a place where they can leave the worries of the world behind and just feel the peace and be close to the Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTemple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 2<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Photos<\/p>\n

A Landmark in San Diego<\/p>\n

The San Diego California Temple is a four-story building that sits just off Interstate 5 near the city\u2019s La Jolla community. The structure\u2019s unique design, featuring 10 spires, is unlike any other Latter-day Saint temple in the world. The spire on the east side features a statue of Moroni<\/a>, a prophet from the Book of Mormon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe temple itself is stunning when you drive on the freeway and you see it,\u201d said Church Historian Spencer McBride. \u201cIt\u2019s white, and the people who built the temple blew chips of marble into the plaster on the exterior to give it kind of a glisten, especially when the sun hits it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Giving the temple an extra shine connects it to the Church\u2019s first temple in Kirtland<\/a>. The early Saints put broken china and crockery into the stucco finish for the same effect.<\/p>\n

McBride also noted distinctive interior features, including a celestial room that spans two levels and an atrium at the temple\u2019s center\u2014 a rare design among Latter-day Saint temples.<\/p>\n

\"San-Diego-California-Temple-7\"San-Diego-California-Temple-7The celestial room of the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ceilings are high. You can go to a second level of the celestial room [and] look up and just be in awe of the space while taking in the serenity of that space,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The temple\u2019s striking design has made it a recognizable landmark in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a lot of friends that drive past here and think it\u2019s the most beautiful building \u2014 they always call it a castle,\u201d said Sheantala Abello, a local young adult.<\/p>\n

The Renovation<\/p>\n

The San Diego Temple renovation was primarily driven by the need to replace aging art glass windows that were suffering from heat damage and cracking. During the project, the windows were redesigned with modern insulated glass units and repositioned to allow the art glass to breathe, preventing future heat buildup. This required extensive scaffolding, which prompted the team to address all other aging systems simultaneously.<\/p>\n

Other exterior updates include restoring the marble-crete facade to its original sparkle, addressing staining from Interstate 5 traffic and marine layer growth, and refreshing the landscaping.<\/p>\n

Church Special Projects manager Joshua Young said maintaining the temple\u2019s sparkle was the most difficult part of the project, but also the most satisfying.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was for sure the biggest challenge but also the most rewarding when we figured out a process that would work and provide that same aesthetic appeal that it\u2019s always had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"San-Diego-California-Temple-9\"San-Diego-California-Temple-9Exterior of the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo<\/p>\n

Significant interior work was also completed. The team installed a new mechanical system with updated HVAC equipment, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms, and refreshed interior spaces with new carpet and paint. The most notable interior changes included converting the outdated cafeteria and dining room into a workers\u2019 break room and a large marriage waiting room (accommodating 85 people), and combining two sealing rooms to create one larger sealing room. Most other areas received restoration and refurbishment rather than major remodeling, preserving the temple\u2019s original character while bringing it up to modern standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very rewarding to see the work that we put in, the effort, the time, and to see what it\u2019s turned into,\u201d Young said. \u201cI\u2019m excited for the open house, excited for the dedication so that it can return and be operational as it\u2019s meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The History, Impact and Invitation<\/p>\n

The San Diego Temple<\/a> was the 45th temple built by the Church. This house of the Lord was first dedicated in April 1993 by President Gordon B. Hinckley<\/a> and was the third temple in California.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of excitement when the San Diego Temple was announced [in 1984],\u201d McBride said. \u201cThe idea of having a temple in San Diego, accessible to so many local Latter-day Saints, was just thrilling. That\u2019s an idea most Latter-day Saints can relate to. You want a temple close. We love all our temples \u2014 but you love your local temple.\u201d<\/p>\n

The renovated temple will serve some 50,000 Church members in San Diego County, the southern part of Riverside County and east to Yuma, Arizona.<\/p>\n

Local Latter-day Saints say the reopening brings both convenience and renewed joy after nearly three years of traveling greater distances to worship.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo know that San Diego Temple \u2014 our temple \u2014 is going to be reopening and we can be here as frequently as we want and not have it be an all-day affair \u2026 it just really makes us feel joyful,\u201d said Jan Draper, a member from the area.<\/p>\n

\"San-Diego-California-Temple-20\"San-Diego-California-Temple-20A spiral staircase inside the celestial room of the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Download Photo<\/p>\n

Today, 12 temples are announced, under construction or operating in the state. Dedicated temples in California are the Feather River<\/a>, Fresno<\/a>, Los Angeles<\/a>, Newport Beach<\/a>, Oakland<\/a>, Redlands<\/a>, Sacramento<\/a> and Yorba Linda<\/a> Temples. The Modesto Temple<\/a> is under construction, and the Bakersfield<\/a> and Sunnyvale<\/a> Temples have been announced.<\/p>\n

Nearly 730,000 Latter-day Saints reside in California, meeting in over 1,000 congregations.<\/p>\n

Neal Walton, a local stake president, said the last time the San Diego Temple was open to the public was more than three decades ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Elder Andersen extended that same welcome to everyone in the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome you,\u201d the Apostle said. \u201cMany have seen this beautiful building for years and wondered what it is like inside. Nothing here is secret \u2014 it is sacred to us. We are grateful you can come, see and feel the goodness and holiness of what happens in this house of the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The open house for the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":362378,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8],"class_list":["post-362377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=362377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/362377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/362378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=362377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=362377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=362377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}