SALT LAKE CITY-Thursday morning, in a letter to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First Presidency of the Salt Lake City-based faith announced the reopening of temples in phases.
As of May 11, the First Presidency confirmed living husband-and-wife sealing ordinances will be performed in selected temples for members who have been previously endowed.
In the first phase of temple reopening, temple ordinances will be limited to husbands and wives doing living sealings for those who are endowed.
This is to begin at selected temples in Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls) and Utah (Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Logan, Manti, Monticello, Ogden, Oquirrh Mountain, Payson, Provo City Center, Provo) as well as temples in Germany (Frankfurt and Freiberg) and Sweden (Stockholm).
This means that Heber Valley members of the faith in good standing and with a current temple recommend, can return to their assigned temple, the Provo Temple, to serve.
The current status of all temples in the Church can be seen at temples.churchofjesuschrist.org.
These sealings will be conducted Monday-Saturday weekly and by appointment only.
Initially, these will be limited to one sealing ceremony or family at a time at the temple.
When this appointment is made, staff will verify that the couple lives within the approved geographical area for receiving ordinances in that temple.
All government and public health directives will be observed, including restrictions related to travel and crossing of state or other regional borders, and the use of safety equipment such as masks.
For these living sealing ordinances, temples will have a limited number of staff members in the temple, as few as two or three people.
Each bride, groom and their limited number of guests will be greeted at the door of the temple and escorted to the sealing room.
The bride and groom are invited to come to the temple dressed in the customary white temple apparel.
The number of participants in each sealing will be restricted to the bride, groom and a limited number of guests per instructions provided at the time of scheduling.
Only those who are in good health and have no symptoms of COVID-19 should come to the temple.
The sealing and other rooms in the temple will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized following each ceremony.
The reopening of temples will then continue in a cautious and carefully-planned and coordinated manner based on local government restrictions as authorized by the Temple Department.
The four phases of opening are designed to reduce risk, accommodate the demand and capacity of the temple and observe any relevant health restrictions in the temple district.
Phase 1: Open For Restricted Sealings Only
-Perform living sealings only for previously endowed members under strict guidelines and safety precautions
Phase 2: Open For All Living Sealings Only
-Perform all living temple ordinances for living individuals
-Maintain closure of patron housing, clothing and cafeteria options
Phase 3: Open For All Ordinances With Restrictions
-Continue providing ordinances for living individuals
-Provide proxy ordinances for ancestors in a restricted manner
-Open patron housing, clothing and cafeteria operations as needed
Phase 4: Open For Full Operations
-Resumption of regular temple operations
As directed by the Temple Department, other temples will be reopened based on local government and public health directives. They will follow this same phased approach in reopening, beginning with husband-and wife sealings by appointment.
For currently scheduled living ordinances, members will be contacted by temple staff to confirm their appointment or to reschedule.
Priority for scheduling ordinances will then be given to members who had appointments canceled because of temple closures.
Members in this circumstance should be the first to call the temple to schedule an ordinance. Final priority will then be given to new appointments.
Members can see the opening status of their specific temple and any restrictions by going to this link https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/multimedia/file/temple-reopening-list.pdf or to temples.churchofjesuschrist.org.
Temple presidents will also work with Area Seventies to share information on the reopening status of their assigned temple.
In addition to the above-listed priorities, each temple president will take extra precautions to help protect temple workers and patrons.
This will include allowing patrons to wear their own masks and gloves, providing hand sanitizer at several locations in the temple and encouraging frequent hand washing and appropriate social distancing.
All those who serve in the temple will do so on a voluntary basis.
Adjustments to temple operating schedules, seating arrangements and temple facilities will also be made to further increase safety.
The First Presidency concluded this statement, saying “We ask for your continued faith and prayers that this pandemic and its lingering effects may pass. We look forward to the day we can resume full operation of our temples, congregations and missionary service.”
