The recently renovated San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially opened its doors for tours with a media day held Monday, June 15.
The San Diego temple, which closed for extensive renovations in July 2023, will be opening for free public tours starting this Thursday, June 18.
The landmark temple will then remain open for public tours every Monday through Saturday until July 11. Guests of all faiths and ages will be welcome to tour the temple during this time.
Following the temple’s public open house, the San Diego California Temple will be rededicated on Sunday, Aug. 23.
The Aug. 23 dedicatory session will be broadcast at 10 a.m. and rebroadcast at 2 p.m. to all church units in the San Diego temple district.
Here are photos of the temple’s interior and exterior, plus more information about the temple and its design. Details to tour the San Diego temple can be found here.
Inside the San Diego California Temple
First announced in April 1984, the San Diego temple was the third Latter-day Saint temple in California and was originally dedicated in 23 sessions held April 25 through April 30, 1993.
These dedicatory sessions were presided over by President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson, who were at the time serving as first and second counselors in the church’s First Presidency.
“People all over the world long for what you now have,” President Hinckley told attendees in 1993. “Brothers and sisters, be grateful.”
Now recently renovated, the San Diego California Temple still stands as a four-story structure of approximately 58,000 square feet.
It is situated on a 7.2-acre plot located near La Jolla, San Diego, and features 10 spires — the tallest reaching 169 feet.
Renovations to the San Diego temple included refreshing the temple’s exterior and landscaping, as well as improving its accessibility and patron experience.
The temple’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was also upgraded, and improvements were made to the roof, according to a church press release published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The art glass, carpet, lighting and furnishings were also replaced.
Now, the temple’s exterior windows feature gold, tan and textured glass in interlocking square patterns, according to the church’s release. Entry doors, carpets, ceilings and other areas use cut glass and other materials incorporating the same motif.
Several pieces of original artwork are also found inside the temple. These include “Evening Tide” and “Coastal Surf” by Grant Romney Clawson; “Summer Storm,” “Torrey Pines” and “Peaceful Stream” by Frank Magleby; “Pacific Evening” by David W. Meikle; and “San Diego Landscape” by Walter Rane.
Learn more about the San Diego California Temple and others worldwide on the Church News’ temple almanac.
