The Ephraim Utah Temple has opened its doors for a public tour following a media day on Aug. 31, 2026, as the community prepares for the building's official dedication on Oct. 11, 2026. The 41,680-square-foot structure, which was first announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson on May 1, 2021, will serve as the 27th Latter-day Saint temple in Utah.
The public open house for the temple is scheduled to run from Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, excluding Sundays. According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no reservations are required to attend the free walking tours, which are expected to last approximately 45 minutes. The temple is located at the intersection of 200 North and 400 East in Ephraim.
The temple's design incorporates specific motifs intended to honor the local landscape and the area's history. The building features wheat motifs as a nod to the historic Ephraim Relief Society Granary, alongside oxeye daisy and forget-me-not blossoms to honor the Scandinavian heritage of the valley settlers. The interior includes art-glass windows with shades of white, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pink, while the exterior features stone in tones of beige, cream, and gold, primarily using Botticino Classico and BS Beige.
Elder John A. McCune of the Utah Area Presidency welcomed guests during the media day on Aug. 31, 2026, noting that the temple will be the 27th in the state. For the local community, the temple is positioned within walking distance of Snow College. Elder K. Brett Nattress, Assistant Executive Director of the Temple Department, stated that the proximity allows students to enhance their education by learning about higher and holier things in the house of the Lord.
The Ephraim Utah Temple is the second temple to be located in Sanpete County, joining the historic Manti Utah Temple. President Russell M. Nelson, who presided over the temple's groundbreaking on Aug. 27, 2022, has a deep personal connection to the area; his mother was born in Ephraim, his father was born in Manti, and three of his four grandparents were also born in Ephraim.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 27, 2022, President Nelson noted that he received clear instruction from the Lord shortly after the April 2021 general conference to build a temple in Ephraim. The ceremony was a significant event for the Church, as it was the first time a prophet had presided over a groundbreaking since President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Hartford Connecticut Temple on Aug. 17, 2013.
The dedication scheduled for Oct. 11, 2026, will be led by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The dedicatory session is planned for 10 a.m. mountain daylight time, with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m. The event will be broadcast to all units within the Ephraim Utah Temple district. The temple's dedication is planned for the same day as the Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala Temple's dedication.
The Ephraim Utah Temple sits on a 9.2-acre site and features a structural steel frame with a reinforced concrete foundation. While the temple is open to the public for tours through Sept. 19, 2026, entrance will be reserved exclusively for members of the Church once the dedication is complete. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable shoes for the walking tour and are asked to refrain from taking photos or videos inside the building.
