It’s a towering San Diego County icon, and for the first time in more than 30 years, the public will get a rare look behind its stained-glass windows and tall white spires.
Starting June 18, the San Diego California Temple near La Jolla is expected to host more than 350,000 people for a three-week public open house.
Visitors will tour the temple’s most sacred areas of worship and see the result of more than three years of interior renovations. Extensive updates were made to the building’s ventilation systems and new furnishings, fabrics, art glass and carpets were added throughout the building’s four floors.
For many, attending the open house is a chance to satisfy their curiosity and answer the question: What’s inside?
The Celestial Room inside the San Diego California Temple. (San Diego California Temple)
The Bride’s Room inside the San Diego California Temple. (San Diego California Temple)
The Baptistry located inside the San Diego California Temple. (San Diego California Temple)
Seating area located at the bottom of the Celestial Room. (San Diego California Temple)
Newly replaced art glass inside the Celestial Room at the San Diego California Temple. (San Diego California Temple)
The basin located in the temple’s Baptistry sits on the backs of 12 white fiberglass oxen. (San Diego California Temple)
View looking down the towering staircase that goes up four floors. (San Diego California Temple)
But for local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the once-in-a-generation public tours are a chance to share why the temple is so sacred to them.
Super Bowl champion and Rancho Bernardo High school football coach Eric Weddle told reporters that he, along with the rest of the local community, have been waiting for this temple to reopen.
“It’s been a long few years to not have our beautiful temple,” Weddle said. “We look to the temple for guidance and to remind us why we’re here and to be better.”
Following a media tour with church leaders, Elder Neil Andersen told the Union-Tribune that the reopening of the temple in August is also an important moment for the nearly 50,000 members across San Diego and Riverside counties, and as far east as Yuma.
“To have it back in their community will mean a lot,” Andersen said.
When the temple closed in 2023 for renovations, church members would travel north to Orange County and Los Angeles for temple worship. Following a rededication on Aug. 18, the temple will be closed to the public and reopen only to members.
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“For us, it’s a very sacred building. We want them to feel the power of the building,” Andersen said. ”We also don’t want to appear at all secretive or exclusive.”
So what will visitors experience during the tours? Access to the building’s most revered areas.
Through guided tours, visitors will walk through the towering building’s four floors. Here are five things you can expect to see.
Bapitstry
1 Located on the building’s lower floors is a white, elevated, water-filled basin sitting on the backs of 12 white fiberglass oxen. The sacred room is where members of the church are baptized on behalf of their deceased ancestors.
Bride’s Room
2 This is the last stop a bride and her family make before a wedding ceremony. The newly renovated room features four vanities with bright crystal light fixtures. There are purple chairs and a vibrant floral carpet. This space is a quiet sanctuary for a bride on a deeply sacred occasion.
Celestial Room
3 This is the heart of the 58,000-square-foot temple featuring soaring ceilings, gold details and newly replaced stained glass windows. There are chandeliers with Asfour crystal. This is the most revered space in the temple, meant to symbolize heaven, so you’ll be asked to be silent while touring this area.
Stand inside one of the spires
4 With its massive footprint and 10 signature spires, the temple is easily one of San Diego County’s most recognizable landmarks. During the tour, you can stand essentially at the very bottom of a spire and look straight up. You’ll see the tiny ornate details that repeat as far as the eye can see. The only way to experience the scale of this temple is to step inside and look up.
The grounds
5 Just like during the 1993 open house, photos and videos inside the temple are prohibited. But before you end the tour, you can photograph the picturesque and newly updated grounds. The landscaping outside the temple was refreshed with vibrant San Diego-friendly plants and flowers.
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June 18 to July 11, except on Sundays.
7474 Charmant Drive San Diego, 92122.
Free
RSVP is recommended; walk-ins still welcome.
This is your once-in-a-generation chance to step inside this San Diego landmark
