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There's a lot of confusion when locals try to answer this common question of visitors because most locals don't realize what visitors are often really trying to ask. There are several important terms that visitors aren't aware of, but locals wrongly assume they know the difference between them. Let's clarify... QUICK ANSWER: Yes, you have to be a church member to go inside any of the 300+ LDS temples worldwide, including the most well-known one, the Salt Lake Temple (the towering granite stone building with spires) which is located at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. NO, you don't have to be a church member to enter Temple Square, a the 35-acre property with several other buildings, such as the Tabernacle--a dome shaped auditorium where the Tabernacle Choir performs. **Temple vs Meetinghouse vs Tabernacle vs Temple Square: - MEETINGHOUSE: a local neighborhood church/chapel where Sunday worship takes place, anyone can enter. There are probably over 10,000 meetinghouses of the church worldwide - TEMPLE: a special purpose religious building used for more unique ceremonies as compared with regular Sunday worship. Temples do not offer Sunday worship, in fact they're closed on Sundays because regular worship services are held in those neighborhood Meetinghouses. YES, you must be a church member in good standing to enter, as verified at the entrance by a small wallet-sized card known as a temple recommend. There are over 300 temples worldwide, usually named after the city they're located in, i.e., the Salt Lake Temple is the one located in downtown Salt Lake City at Temple Square. From its large exterior design that it must be like a typical cathedral inside with a large open space; but it's actually made up of many smaller rooms. - TABERNACLE: In the earlier history of the religion these buildings were large gathering places for church meetings and other events. Most likely people are referring specifically to the one at Temple Square where the Tabernacle Choir sings, known as the Salt Lake Tabernacle. - TEMPLE SQUARE: a 35-acre property in the center of Salt Lake City that is comprised of nearly a dozen different buildings, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, Family History Library, Conference Center (a 21,000 seat venue where the Tabernacle Choir sings in busy summer visitor season), and more. The ONLY building on the property that the general public cannot enter is the Temple, which requires that you be a member in good standing. NOTE: Many have heard of the famous Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), but mistakenly think they perform in the Salt Lake Temple--as that is the most iconic, most photographed building on the property. The Choir does not perform in the Temple, it performs either in the Tabernacle or the Conference Center--both of which visitors are allowed to enter. So... - To hear the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square...go to the Tabernacle (or Conference Center), where anyone can enter. - To attend regular Sunday worship services...go to a local Meetinghouse, where anyone can enter - To go inside a temple...become a church member, or be fortunate enough to be in the area when a newly constructed temple has an open house for the public. Dozens of new temples are built each year and they have open house tours lasting a few weeks before they're then "dedicated" for church members attending special religious ceremonies. Right now NOBODY can go inside the Salt Lake Temple as it's closed for renovations (from 2020-2026). So in 2026 there will be an open house for the public. - To visit Temple Square...be prepared to encounter a huge construction site as massive renovations are being done on multiple buildings and garden areas for the next few years. Though some sections and buildings may reopen sooner, the whole project won't be complete until 2026. What's open now in 2023 that is of interest to visitors? The Tabernacle and Conference Center auditoriums where the Choir performs, the Family History Library (genealogy, free to the public), Church History Museum (free), Church History Library. What's closed in 2023? The Salt Lake Temple, which is unfortunately obscured by scaffolding on all sides; the visitors center; the historic homes of Utah's founder, Brigham Young, known as the Lion House and Beehive House; the Joseph Smith Memorial Building which housed a few restaurants; the main gardens and fountains area. **Just an FYI: Technically the Church Office Building is no longer open to the public, as shown on their website updated June 2022. For years it was recommended to visitors to check out the free observation deck on the 26th floor overlooking Temple Square. Now instead they tell people to visit the observation deck of the Conference Center.
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