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PROVO — After years of anticipation, the public is finally getting to walk inside the new Provo City Center Temple.
Over the next seven weeks, at least 600,000 people will tour the new temple — that is how many reservations have already been made for the open house. It's an opportunity to see inside the new temple and make a connection between the past and the future.
Throughout the day on Friday, visitors walked through the new temple. For many, the experience brought back many memories of the Provo Tabernacle. The old Provo Tabernacle will serve as the new temple once it is dedicated.
"I remember the day it was burning down and then we heard the announcement that it was going to be a temple," said Chelsey Carlson.
"It was completely different, but it was really cool because it still had that sweet spirit that was there before," Kelsey Carlson said.
While interest in a new temple is always high among Latter-day Saints, these public tours are expected to attract more people than any previous temple open house.
"It brought back a lot of memories of going to the tabernacle," said Jonathan Oldman.
Jonathan and Annie Oldham say they admired the woodwork, windows and craftsmanship in the new temple that reminds them of the Provo Tabernacle. Memories they are excited to share with their children.
"Going up the spiral staircases in the towers, I remember climbing those stairs," Annie Oldman said.
It's an experience their children can't stop talking about.
"And it was so cool how they transformed the burned up tabernacle into this brand new, really pretty temple," said Lilly Oldman.
Provo Police have been working on a traffic plan for months to help accommodate thousands of visitors a day.
"It does seem that we have enough parking for everybody," said Lt. Jeff Lougee of the Provo Police Department. "Friday night will be a big test when we have our bigger crowds show up, but we think it is going very well."
Each reservation includes a specific parking area, and police say if guests stick with their reservation time, they shouldn't encounter any traffic delays.
"Please follow the directions you have been given," said Lougee. "There is a well-organized plan in place with all of our traffic and the parking, and we really hope it works for you."
On Friday afternoon, the LDS Church released more reservation times. The public can look for available times on lds.org.
The open house is scheduled to continue from now until March 5th, except on Sundays.
