Provo, UT

It’s not every day that one has an opportunity to tour an LDS temple. In fact, there are only 129 of them in the world, and once they are dedicated they are closed to the general public. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples are sacred houses of the Lord and only the holiest members of the Church are admitted once the temple has been consecrated. While LDS temples can be found all over the globe, it is rare that we have an opportunity to see inside them–but here in Utah, the Draper Temple is offering public open house tours through March 14, 2009. The temple is scheduled to be dedicated March 20-22, 2009.

So what can one expect from the temple tour? As always, the LDS church has gone to great lengths to keep things orderly, which makes it easier on the visitors. To tour the temple, first you must make a reservation on www.lds.org. Tours are scheduled every 20 minutes, and are filling up quickly. I went on a Friday night and it was very crowded. You will probably feel less like you are being shepherded through, and really be able to absorb the peaceful surroundings, if you visit early on a weekday.

When you print your reservation, note the address of the “General Parking Lot” indicated on your form. You will NOT be able to park at the temple, and tours begin and end at local meeting houses. Our tour started at the Canyon Creek ward. We sat through a 12-minute, informative (and at times emotional) video about the religious history and significance of temples. Then we boarded a bus for the six-minute ride to the Draper Temple. On the bus, we were given a brief overview of the 58,300 square-foot temple, which has been 2-½ years in the making and constructed from materials from around the globe, including white granite from China, limestone from France, and cherry wood from Africa. Upon arriving at the temple, we walked through a covered, heated tent-tunnel to the entrance and received an informative brochure to guide us on our tour.

The tour is actually a silent one, meaning you follow along an organized path throughout the temple and read the posted signs telling you about each room. There are ushers to keep things moving smoothly, and to answer any questions you may have. The temple is serene and lovely and, as I learned, not meant to awe but to inspire peace and prayer. On your tour, you will see the baptismal font, which rests on the back of twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel; dressing rooms for changing from street clothing to temple garments; Ordinance Rooms; Sealing Rooms; and the Celestial Room, which symbolizes life as an eternal family with the Lord and Jesus Christ.

Allow about two hours from start to finish. This includes the video, transport time to the temple, about one hour touring the temple, refreshments, and transport back to the ward.

For more information: http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/draper/

Reservations can also be made by calling the Reservation Call Center at 1-800-537-6181 or 1-801-240-7932. Groups of more than 10 must make their reservation over the phone.

Photography is prohibited inside the temple.