Ephraim Utah Temple Begins Open House for Public Tours

The Ephraim Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has begun its open house period, welcoming the public for tours from September 2 through September 19, excluding Sundays. The open house follows a media day on August 31 and invited-guest tours on September 1. Public tours provide an opportunity for individuals to view the temple before its dedication on October 11.

Leading the media-day tours were three General Authority Seventies: Elder John A. McCune of the Utah Area presidency, and Elders K. Brett Nattress and Taylor G. Godoy, both assistant executive directors of the Temple Department. Interior and exterior photographs of the temple were released on August 31 via ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is set to dedicate the temple on October 11 in a single 10 a.m. session. The dedication will be broadcast to all units in the temple district and rebroadcast at 2 p.m. The Ephraim temple will be the 26th temple dedicated in Utah and the second in Sanpete County. It will also be the second temple dedicated in Utah this year, following the May 3 dedication of the Lindon Utah Temple.

The Ephraim temple’s design incorporates motifs that honor the heritage of the valley, which was settled in the mid-1800s by Scandinavian pioneers. Flowers such as the forget-me-not and oxeye daisy, long cherished in Scandinavia, are integrated into the design. Wheat motifs are also prevalent, reflecting the historic Ephraim Relief Society Granary.

The temple, a 41,680-square-foot structure on a 9.2-acre site, was built with a structural steel frame on a reinforced concrete foundation. Art-glass windows feature a variety of colors, including white, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pink. Interior and exterior doors were crafted from sapele wood, featuring a stipple-textured finish and fluted handles. Millwork consists of quarter-cut sapele, used in both solid wood and veneer form. Decorative light fixtures combine elements of crystal, brass, cast metal, and faux alabaster. The temple’s stone, mainly Botticino Classico, contributes to its distinctive appearance.

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