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14h ago

Temple Square Barriers Removed as New Christ Statue Is Installed

Church leaders say the move clears the way for public visits before the church's October general conference.

The Salt Lake Temple stands on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.
The statue Jesus Christ With Mary and Martha stands on Temple Square in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026.

Overview

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints removed construction barriers on the north side of Temple Square, reopening North Temple Street from State Street to West Temple for public access.
  • Gates and stone pathways around the Salt Lake Temple are open for visitors to walk the grounds during regular hours ahead of the Oct. 3–4 general conference.
  • A new devotional statue titled “Jesus Christ With Mary and Martha” was placed on the grounds this month, and a second statue, “Jesus Christ Blessing the Children,” will be added later to bring the total statues to 12.
  • Church officials are preparing for the Salt Lake Temple Celebration open house set for April 5–Oct. 1, 2027, and continue phased free ticket releases with the next batch to go live Oct. 1, 2026 at 6 p.m. MDT on TempleSquare.org.
  • The removal of barriers marks the close of nearly seven years of seismic preservation and renovation work and signals a shift from construction logistics to visitor operations, including volunteer recruitment and site programming for millions of expected guests.