May 2025 Status on the Renovation of Temple Square
The south portion of the west side of Temple Square opened to the public at the end of February 2025. This southern portion incldues the Assebbly Hall (where some foudation work was done on the west side), and a brand new Seagull Monument. The sidewalks now match the Garden Area in the Northwest portion. The wall along West Temple was completed from the entry to the Tabernacle to the sourthwest corner of Temple Square and then eastward to near where the central entrance to Temple Square was located. The new wall has a lot of wrought iron fence that is similar to the one on the north side of Temple Square.
As reported in November the Priesthood Restoration Statues were in place near the west fence between the Assembly Hall and the Tabernacle.
While there were similar statues on the east side of Temple Square just outside the south Visitor Center, it is unknown if these are brand new startues or if the old statues refurbished.
Progress on the Salt Lake Temple
This may be the last report on the renovation as most of the outside work is soon to be completed.
The outside area around the temple has been working its way upward from where the new temple foundation walls were poured. There are a series of tunnels below ground around the east, south and west of the temple. These tunnels may a part of the fire escape plan for the temple. These layers are now approaching ground level. Mature trees are being planted south of the temple. I don't expect the remaining construction baracdes to be removed until all construction is complete except perhaps on the south side of the temple where the Temple Experience Center is complete (atleast the part that rises above ground.) The temple itself is nolonger wrapped by scoffolding. There is no scaffolding on the north side of the temple. In some areas, plastic sheeting covers the temple where work to refurbish the granite stonework on the temple is occuring. The granite stonework was originally quarried in Little Cottonwood Canyon, about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City.
As soon as work started on the renovation of the temple, the former sealing rooms added on the north side of the temple in the 1960s were removed. They disappeared quickly. In February 2025 the church announced that new sealing rooms would be built abutting the temple on the north side. There are 5 sealing rooms to be added to the new temple appendage and the work has progressed rapidly, just as rapidly as the old rooms were removed. There are thousands of living people who were sealed in for former rooms.
North Temple Street adjacent to the Conference Center. Road work on North Temple and the Northeast quadrant of temple square is affecting the flow of traffic. Note: Two of the four tower cranes have been removed and their is NO scaffolding on the north side of the temple.
New construction of five sealing rooms adjacent to the temple on the north side. In just two months great progress has been made.
The west side of the Temple as viewed from the Tabernacle. The area covered in plastic sheeting is probably to maintain temperature while they refurbish the granite stonework as needed. Below the temple is a photo of the days the original temple was being consturcted (1852-1893) enlarged and printed on the construction wall.
The East side of the Temple. The reflecting pond on Main Street Plaza does its job to reflect areas neary. The material elevator just left of center was busy delivering materails to various floors of the temple.
A new temple wall is being constructed around the temple. This photo shows the southwest corner of the temple. Entry to the temple will be restricted to the above ground towers north of the temple or the undergrond tunnel from the conference center parking structure. This photo was taken through a window in the construction barrier neaby the tabernacle.
As you follow the west wall northward you find a place where the new wall has a sloped section directly below the middle of the west wall. This may be the location for some historical markers and or explanatory dialogs about the temple.
A view of the east tower of the Temple Experience Center from Main Street Plaza. The tower is now complete and the scaffolding has been removed. Adjacent to the tower is the new temple fence that surrounds Temple Square.
A view of the temple from the south side of South Temple Street. Note how the towers of the Temple Experience Center frame the temple.
Completion of the Southwest Corner of Temple Square
The southwest corner of Temple Square is now complete. The area is open to the public. The new garden area matches that on the northwest side of Temple Square. This area was opened to the public at the end of February 2025.
This part of Temple Square features the Assembly Hall. It is a historic building that was built in 1882. It is a beautiful building with a unique architecture. The Assembly Hall is used for various events, including concerts and religious services. I remember attending a Priesthood Leadership meeting inside this building. The area around the Assembly Hall has been renovated and features beautiful gardens and walkways that match the northwest garden area.
A view of the Assembly Hall from the Tabernacle. There is now a direct walkway between the two buildings.
A view of the Tabernacle from the Assembly Hall.
A veiw of the south door to the Assembly Hall. This view is from a new gate to Temple Square along South Temple Street. Historiclly only the east door to the Assembly Hall has been used as an entry. That might change after this renovation.
A view of the wall along South Temple and the new fencing on Temple Square looking east from the new gate by the Assembly Hall. The walkway ends where the former South Temple entry to Temple Square existed. Just beyond the detour sign is where construction traffic enters temple square on the south.
The southwest corner of Assembly Hall. This location was formerly very difficult to reach, for a time during the renovation portable toilets were found here. They were removed when the large rest room in the Northwest Garden area was opened.
This is another new entry to Temple Square. It is located just north of the Assembly Hall on West Temple Street. In the future the sidewalk will run all the way accross Temple Square from east to west.
This is a view to the sourtheast from the west end of the Tabernacle.
This small building is located just south of the new West Temple entrance to Temple Square. I am "guessing" that it is a maintenance building of some sort. Key card acsess is required.
Northwest Garden Area
The Northwest Garden has been complete for two years now. However, the first thing I noticed was that a portion had been fenced off to make changes. Walking just inside the barrier I found that some stone work was being changed. The area being modified was just south of the restrooms.
The trees have matured and some were used for Christmas lights last December.
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Stone work modifications south of the restroom building.
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Mature trees are now commonplace in the Northwest Garden area.
From the garden area you can take a photograph of the Conference Center from west to east.
Just outside the Northwest gate to Temple Square is this card key protected entrace to the construction area. I found that construction workers who wanted something much better than a porta potty would walk to the beautful restroom area inside the Northwest Garden area.
The northward extension of the Temple
There are two components to the northward extension of the temple. The former buildings north of the temple were often referred to as the Temple Annex. If that term will continue to be used is unknown. It consists of three floors that run BELOW GROUND from just east of the center line of Temple Square to near the eastern fence along Main Street Plaza.
On the north end there are two identical buildings that rise out of the ground on top of the three floors below. Visually from the north these two buildins frame the temple just like the different buildings at the south end of temple square do. The exact uses of these buildings is unknown. One of the buildings will house a recommend desk. A tunnel from parking area in the Conference Center will lead to a recommend desk on the second floor below ground-level. What else will be in these two buildings is unknown. My guess is additional sealing rooms. I had expected the outside of these two buildings would be complete now, but the photos below show outside skin is not yet completed.
The West above ground building of the north extension of the temple.
The East above ground building of the north extension of the temple.
The north extension of the temple. The two buildings that rise aboove ground level are on the left and right sides in this photo. The temple is nicely frammed between the two buildings. Just in front of the temple itself is the new add-on containing sealing rooms.
Main Street Plazza
Main Street Plaa has a few minor changes. The new temple wall has been extended north from South Temple past the east tower of the "Temple Experience Center". Some outside work is now being done on the Joseph Smith building. A new statue had been erected near the Relief Society building (see Statues and Monuments below).
Near the Relief Society Building is this strange artifact. It consists of a central circilar structure, surrounded by various green plants. Outside that is a short circular stone wall, perhaps something one could sit on, but just outside it is dark soil, so skip the sitting idea. I could not find any way into the center of this structure.
The west entry into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Refurbishment is in progress here and several other locations inside this building. There is an external constrution elevator at the southeast corner of the building which has been in serivce for a long time to facilitate inside remodeling.
The Pioneer Era Homes
On the sourtheast corner of Temple Square are two pioneer homes that have been converted to historical museums as well as place to eat lunch. These homes known as the Beehive House and the Lion House have been closed for a several months now. I was able to get a photo from the rear of these buildings, indicating that exterion work is in process.
The rear of the Beehive House and the Lion House. A small construction crane can be seen in the background.
New Statues and Monuments on Temple Square
There are new statues all over Temple Square. Here's a complete rundown including where they are located.
"The First Vision Statue" is located in the Northwest Garden Area near the central walkway.
"The Come Follow Me Statue" is located in the Northwest Garden Area on the other side of the central walkway.
The "Five Virgins Statue" is located at the north end of Main Street Plaza west of the Relief Society Building.
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The "Joseph Smith Receives the Plates Statue" is located just south and east of the Tabernacle. Accross from the Priesthood Restoration Statues.
The "Restoration of the Aaronic Priestshood Statue" is located between the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall near the west fence of Temple Square.
The "Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood Statue" is located adjacent to the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Statue.
A brand new Seagull Monument was installed near the location of the prior monument, commemorating when seagulls saved the crops of the early pioneers by devouring the crickets. The new monument is located in the southwest corner of Temple Square, just south of the Tabernacle and east of the Assembly Hall.
Pioneer ERA Photos of the Building the Salt Late Temple
As construcction walls were erected around the temple, old photographs of early Saints (Early Day Saints) were transferred on to these walls. The tabernacle was competed in 1867. Work on the temple started on February 14, 1853, and Brigham Young presided over the grounbreaking. Fourty years later the temple was completed in April 1893. The building was dedicated by President Wilford Woodruff. Significant remodeling occured during the 1960s. A lot of those changes have been undone by the recent renovation. Some other changes were redone from scratch. The temple was closed for the renovation on December 29, 2019. The temple is expected to be rededicated in 2027, after six months of Open House from April to October 2027. The renovation process will have taken eight years to complete.
Photographs of the Construction of the Salt Lake Temple in the 1800s
The temple begins to rise above the ground. The original temple foundation was found to be inadquate. It was removed and replaced after which construction started over.
The temple is almost ready for the spires. This photo was taken looking south. On the far right side is Main Street.
Crowds exit the Tabernacle after a meeting. The temple is in the background.
The temple is complete. A view looking northward along main street. This photo is from the 1900s.
A group of early day saints. The photo was taken in the late 1800s.
