Can I go into a mormon temple?

Once a temple has been formally dedicated, entry is reserved for members of the Church who meet standard criteria of personal worthiness and hold a valid document called a "temple recommend."

To many outside the faith, this restriction can feel exclusive or even secretive. However, the Church explains that this policy is not intended to shut people out, but rather to preserve the sacredness and peace of the space inside.

Latter-day Saints view the temple as the literal House of the Lord — a sanctuary set apart from the noise, chaos, and distractions of the everyday world. Inside, they perform sacred ceremonies (called ordinances) that focus on eternal commitments, such as marriages that bind families together forever (sealings) and baptisms for ancestors who passed away without them.

Restricting access ensures that the temple remains a quiet, reverent environment where worshippers can pray, contemplate, and make sacred covenants with God in peace. This practice is not unique to Latter-day Saints; throughout history and across many world religions, sacred spaces have maintained boundaries to protect their sanctity. For example, ancient Israelite temples had strict boundaries of access, and many sacred shrines globally still limit entry to preserve their spiritual atmosphere.

If you are not a member of the Church but have a deep desire to see the inside of a temple, there is a wonderful opportunity: the public open house.

Before a newly constructed temple is dedicated — or before an older temple is rededicated after undergoing major renovations — the Church opens the doors to the general public. During these open house periods, which typically last from a few weeks to a month, anyone is welcome to tour the temple interior.

Attending a public open house is an outstanding way to experience the beauty and quiet dignity of a temple firsthand. Visitors are guided through the rooms, where they can admire the local craftsmanship, see the beautiful art, and learn about the purpose of each space. Walking through a temple during an open house allows you to feel the quiet atmosphere of the building and ask questions directly to volunteer guides.

For those who cannot attend an open house, the Church has created state-of-the-art Visitors' Centers to bridge the gap and educate the public. The premier showcase of this effort is the brand-new Temple Square Visitors' Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, which officially opened its doors in May 2026.

Designed to provide a welcoming and educational experience, this center features two remarkable exhibits that allow you to "see inside" temple worship:

* The Salt Lake Temple Scale Model: Located in the East Wing of the center, this is a large, motorized 1:32 scale model of the iconic Salt Lake Temple. During a 12-minute narrated presentation, the model's outer granite walls mechanically slide open, revealing a cross-section of the temple's rooms, including the baptistry, the endowment rooms, and the sealing rooms. It provides a detailed look at how the building is structured. * The 'Inside a Temple' Tour (Replica Rooms): On the lower level of the Visitors' Center, guests can take a guided, 30-minute tour through full-scale, exact replica rooms. These rooms are built to the precise decorative standards of actual operating temples. Worshippers and visitors can walk through a replica recommend desk, a baptistry, an instruction room, a sealing room, and a Celestial room.

It is important to note that these are not replicas of specific rooms inside the Salt Lake Temple itself, but are designed to represent the types of rooms found in Latter-day Saint temples worldwide. This "perpetual open house" allows the public to understand the beauty and purpose of temple rooms in a highly accessible format.

Salt Lake City is not the only place where you can find these educational scale models. The Church has installed detailed cutaway models and interactive exhibits at several Visitors' Centers adjacent to prominent temples worldwide.

If you visit the Visitors' Centers at the following locations, you can see similar models and learn about temple rooms:

* Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center: Features a beautiful cutaway model of the towering D.C. Temple. * Rome Italy Temple Visitors' Center: Offers exhibits highlighting the temple's architecture and purpose, situated next to the stunning Rome Temple. * Paris France Temple Visitors' Center: Includes interactive displays explaining the purpose of temple rooms. * Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors' Center: Showcases the history and structure of the Pacific's oldest operating temple. * Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors' Center: Features a welcoming space with temple models and history.

Visiting these centers is completely free, and they are staffed by friendly guides who are happy to answer any questions you have about temple worship, beliefs, and practices.