AT TEMPLE SQUARE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – THE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS – A NEWLY REIMAGINED VISITORS’ CENTER IS RESHAPING HOW A COMPLEX AND OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD SET OF BELIEFS IS INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC.
Temple Square Visitors’ Center is located adjacent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ iconic Salt Lake Temple, currently in the midst of a once-in-a-generation renovation. Construction at the temple began in 2019, with the lengthy project focused on making the structure less susceptible to earthquake damage. Work is expected to be finished by the end of 2026, and a public open house is scheduled for six months in 2027. With the campus impacted by the extensive temple construction, Church leadership decided to use the time to also refresh and renew their visitors’ center, focusing on creating an experience that allows nonmembers to understand what happens inside the temple, which is typically not accessible to the general public.
At the heart of Temple Square, the refreshed visitors’ center sits within one of the most visited religious destinations in the United States. As the global headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the site carries both symbolic and practical weight, welcoming millions of visitors each year, many of whom arrive with limited context for what they are seeing. This new experience – which opened in May 2026 – is designed to address that gap.
“What we really wanted was to create an experience that would be relatable to all guests,” explains Senior Director in the Temple Department Richard Sutton. “Sometimes, when you tell your own story, you use language that’s familiar to you but not to others. This was the opportunity to share our story in an accessible way and provide insight into the temple for all our visitors,” Sutton adds…