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Church of Jesus Christ members react ahead of Deseret Peak Utah Temple opening
Sep 24, 2024, 5:00 PM
The Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele, Utah. (Don Brinkerhoff/KSL NewsRadio)
(Don Brinkerhoff/KSL NewsRadio)
TOOELE, Utah — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin offering tours of the Deseret Peak Utah Temple on Thursday. This new temple is located on the northern end of Tooele and combines beautiful architecture with stunning art.
Members react to Deseret Peak Utah Temple
Reggie Jensen, 10, has already decided on his favorite part of the temple.
“The baptistry, where [we] can get baptized for our ancestors,” he said.
Reggie invited some friends to come to the open house which begins on Thursday.
After its dedication, it will be the 200th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Jensen family stands in front of the new Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele. (Don Brinkerhoff/KSL NewsRadio)
Reggie’s dad, Tyler, said he loves the colors in the stained glass and the carpeting.
“I like the windows. The colors — the purple, the white, the green — both in the windows and the carpet,” he said. “It’s really pretty.”
Related: Church of Jesus Christ releases interior renderings of Salt Lake Temple renovations
“It’s all so beautiful. I think the artwork and the Celestial Room is just amazing, like just all the details,” said Megan Jensen, Reggie’s mom. “All of the temple is amazing, but the Celestial Room is probably one of my favorite rooms.”
Church of Jesus Christ leadership reacts
Primary General President Susan H. Porter explained what the temples mean to her.
“We look to God when we see temples. When the Earth is in commotion, a temple, that physical temple, is a symbol of the enduring quality of God’s love for us and his beautiful creations.”
Utah Area President Elder Kevin W. Pearson said he believes temples improve people.
“Temple attendance makes men better husbands, better fathers… and makes women better wives and better mothers. It strengthens marriages [and] builds stronger families,” said Pearson.
“The temple represents the Lord Jesus Christ to us. Everything about the temple that you’ll see on the inside is a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for all of mankind. We hope that as you go through the temple, you’ll pay attention to that everything points toward the Savior.”
The open house for the Deseret Peak Utah Temple runs Monday through Saturday through Oct. 19. However, it will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 5 because of the General Conference.
Bonneville International Corporation, the company that owns KSL NewsRadio, is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
