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SALT LAKE CITY — The Manti Utah Temple will transition into the second phase of reopening on Labor Day, along with 11 other Latter-day Saint temples worldwide, the church announced Monday.
By next week, 79 temples across the globe will be in the second phase, while 139 remain in the first phase.
Utah is home to 17 temples, with the Salt Lake and St. George temples currently under renovation. Of the 15 that were closed from the pandemic, 14 will be in the second phase and just the Monticello Utah Temple will remain in the first phase.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shut down all of its temples on March 25 in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Temples are now being reopened through four phases in a "cautious, careful way," church officials said.
Phases one and two are opened in a limited way with multiple health precautions being taken, namely mask-wearing, social distancing, sanitizing after each ceremony, and limiting the number of patrons allowed inside at a certain time.
As more temples reopen in Utah, church officials noted they are expected to be "very busy." In an effort to mitigate the anticipated high temple participation, certain members have been given priority. Members getting sealed for the first time will be given first priority, followed by missionaries currently serving, and then missionaries preparing to enter the field based on their departure date.
The 12 temples moving into the second phase on Sept. 7:
- Gilbert Arizona Temple
- Indianapolis Indiana Temple
- Kansas City Missouri Temple
- Manti Utah Temple
- Phoenix Arizona Temple
- Preston England Temple
- Snowflake Arizona Temple
- St. Paul Minnesota Temple
- Suva Fiji Temple
- Sydney Australia Temple
- The Gila Valley Arizona Temple
- Tucson Arizona Temple
The 14 temples in Utah currently in the second phase, with Manti officially joining the list on Sept. 7:
- Bountiful Utah Temple
- Brigham City Utah Temple
- Cedar City Utah Temple
- Draper Utah Temple
- Jordan River Utah Temple
- Logan Utah Temple
- Manti Utah Temple
- Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple
- Ogden Utah Temple
- Payson Utah Temple
- Provo City Center Utah Temple
- Provo Utah Temple
- Vernal Utah Temple
