Quick map: meetinghouse vs temple
- Meetinghouse (chapel) — Sunday services, weekly classes, community events. Visitors welcome. This is where you'd attend a friend's baby blessing or Sunday meeting.
- Temple — endowments, sealings (marriages for eternity), baptisms for the dead. Reserved for members with a current temple recommend after dedication.
- Visitors' centers — at many temples worldwide. Open to anyone, year-round, with exhibits and Q&A.
The temple open house — your one chance to walk inside
Before a new or rededicated temple is set apart, the Church opens it to the public for several weeks. This is the only window during which anyone can tour the actual interior. Tickets are free.
- Register at temples.churchofjesuschrist.org a few months in advance.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. There's typically a short film in a nearby meetinghouse first.
- Put on shoe coverings. Phones away during the tour.
- Walk the route — baptistry, instruction rooms, sealing room, celestial room.
- Q&A at the end. Missionaries answer; no pressure to commit.
What to wear and bring
- Sunday best. A dress, skirt and blouse, or collared shirt and slacks.
- Comfortable shoes — the tour involves stairs and walking.
- No need to bring anything. No scriptures, no notebooks, no gifts.
If you want to keep exploring
- Attend a Sunday sacrament meeting at any nearby meetinghouse. They start with a hymn, sacrament, and short talks from members.
- Read the Book of Mormon on your own pace. Many people start with 3 Nephi 11 — the chapter where Christ visits the Americas.
- Follow the Come Follow Me weekly outline alongside the world's LDS community.
- Find a ward via the Faith Common directory.
Frequently asked questions
Who can visit an LDS temple?
Anyone can attend a temple open house — these happen before a new or rededicated temple is dedicated. After dedication, the temple is reserved for endowed members. Sunday meetinghouses (chapels) are open to anyone year-round.
What's the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse?
Meetinghouses (chapels) host weekly sacrament meetings, Sunday School, and community events — visitors welcome. Temples host higher ordinances (endowments, sealings, baptisms for the dead) and are reserved for members with a current temple recommend after dedication.
What should I wear to an open house?
Sunday best is standard: dress, skirt, or slacks with a collared shirt. Shoe coverings are provided so the new carpets stay pristine. You don't need any special LDS clothing.
How do I register for an open house?
Free tickets are released on temples.churchofjesuschrist.org a few months before the open house begins. Tours last about an hour and include a short film, a walkthrough, and a Q&A area at the end.
What if I want to learn more after the tour?
Talk to the missionaries on site — they're there to answer questions, not pressure you. You can also attend a Sunday sacrament meeting at any local meetinghouse, or pick up a Book of Mormon and read at your own pace.