Temple Open House Frequently Asked Questions

This sacred building was often called the “Mormon Temple.”  However, in 2018, the Prophet and President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson, offered correction to any inaccurate name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including improper reference to the “Mormon Church.”  Mormon was a great prophet, whom we honor, but the Church was named after our Savior Jesus Christ. The correct name of the Church is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thus, the proper name of the Temple is the “Washington D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 

The reference to “saints” in the name of the Church references the Apostle Paul’s use for people who try to follow Jesus Christ’s teachings.

We follow all local, county, state and federal guidelines concerning COVID-19. Visitors are encouraged to wear face coverings when indoors, especially if not fully vaccinated. However, masks are not required. 

For more information regarding Montgomery County, Maryland health recommendations, please visit: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/face-coverings.html

No worries.  This is a common occurrence and popular inquiry.  The easiest way to regain access to your reservations is through Eventbrite. If you make a new Eventbrite account using the same email address you used to make the reservation, your account will automatically populate with any reservations made using that address.  If you still can’t find your reservation, it might be that the first time you made your reservation, it didn’t work.  You will need to make another one.  For parking and shuttle reservations, please visit this link. Tickets are not required to enter the temple or for the self-guided tour.

We will welcome all guests regardless of how they are dressed. We encourage everyone to dress in a way that will help them feel the spirit and reverence with which we treat the temple. We anticipate that guests will wear everything from shorts and t-shirts to dresses and suits, and the median guest will probably wear nice jeans or khakis and a collared shirt. There are no special clothing requirements. 

The First Presidency moved the rededication of the temple and allowed the open house committee to adjust the open house as needed. It has been extended until June 11, and there are no plans to extend it further at this time.

No photography or video recording is permitted in the Temple. Guests are welcome to take pictures outside on the Temple grounds. We encourage guests to share their images and experience using the hashtag #DCTemple or via social media @DCTemple.

Reserve your parking pass and/or shuttle reservations for easy access to the grounds.  Be timely.  Watch the introductory video about the Temple before you come, and definitely wear comfortable shoes.  The 40-minute, self-guided walking tour of the interior of the Temple includes walking from room to room, floor to floor, with over 150 stairs in between.  Of course, elevators are available for your convenience.  In terms of clothing, you will be asked to wear foot coverings, but they do not have religious significance.  They are only to protect the floors. 

The safety and security of all guests is a priority. All guests will be required to pass through a metal detector prior to the Temple Open House tour. Bags are subject to inspection. Consider traveling light without bags, backpacks, strollers, valuables, etc. Weapons and potentially harmful items are not permitted.

We hope our guests will feel comfortable, will recognize this is a very holy place, and be respectful in word and behavior.  At the end of the tour, there will be people available to answer questions outside the temple in multiple languages.

The Open House tour is self-guided with no video or spoken dialogue that requires interpretation. Translations of the printed tour information will be available at the Open House in ASL, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese Brazilian, Spanish and Tagalog and can be found here.

The Visitors’ Center will reopen on June 20, 2022. 

No, you only need one parking ticket for each car, regardless of how many people will be in your car. If you are reserving metro shuttle tickets you will need one ticket per person riding the metro shuttle. There is no ticket required for entry to the open house. 

Because parking spaces and Metro shuttle seats are limited and many people would like to attend the Open House, please cancel any reservations you no longer need. Please follow the directions for “Cancel your free registration” on Eventbrite. To do so, you will need to create a free account on Eventbrite using the same email address used to reserve your ticket if you do not already have an account. You may also navigate through your confirmation email: click “View and manage your order online” under “Order Summary”. After logging on to Eventbrite, click the button “Cancel Order.” Thank you for being considerate of others and allowing them the chance to participate.

If you would like to cancel part of your ticket order, the team at [email protected] can help you.  Please email them the following:  your order number, the date(s) and time(s) of your desired cancellation.  Those tickets will be removed from your order without impacting your other ticket(s).  We greatly appreciate you canceling your undesired tickets so that others may use them.

Children of all ages are welcome! If at all possible, please consider leaving baby strollers, bulky bags, and backpacks in your car.

There are beautiful temple grounds that can be viewed after the tour.  Photos can be taken outside the temple in the grounds.  After the temple is rededicated, the grounds will be available to the neighbors and the general public.

Buses or large motor vehicles will be admitted with a scheduled entry pass only to drop off and pick up their passengers.  There is no on-site parking for large vehicles. For bus tours, groups of 20 or more, or special requests, you may email [email protected] for assistance. 

Parking Lot A is closer to the temple. Parking Lot B is also within close walking distance to the temple. Click here to see a map of the parking lots.

That 30 minute window is so that you can have some time to park. Please try to come at the beginning of that window, but we understand traffic and other challenges.  Please park within that 30 minutes. 

You do not need to leave within the 30 minute window – once you are parked, you may stay at the temple for the length of the tour and your visit.  We are eager to have as many guests access the temple as possible, so we will appreciate you leaving as soon as you can, but there is not a time limit for you to move your vehicle. 

Unfortunately, service animals are not permitted in the temple.  If additional assistance is needed, please ask any of the volunteers on-site.

The Open House tour is self-guided with no video or spoken dialogue that requires interpretation. American Sign Language translations of the tour information can be found here. We recommend that you watch this introductory video in preparation for your visit.

Yes, there are plans for bike racks.

Thank you for your willingness to serve. Please contact your neighborhood Bishop or Relief Society President from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about volunteering to help with the Open House.

The rededication will take place on Sunday, August 14, 2022 in three sessions: 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.. Tickets for the rededication will be dispersed through local wards and branches. A temple recommend will be required.

Yes! The Washington, D.C. Temple Choir will perform a special Temple Rededication Concert. The concert will be performed twice: at Annandale Stake Center (3900 Howard St Annandale VA), and on Sunday, June 12th at  the Washington D.C. Stake Center (10000 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington MD). The concert will be free of charge and all are welcome. No ticket is required to attend and seats are first come first serve so we recommend arriving early for the best seats.

Unfortunately, no food or beverages will be provided at the Temple Open House.

There are outdoor toilet and sink facilities available in the parking lot of the temple.

Absolutely! Everyone is welcome. Whatever your background, you are invited to join us!

All members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints within the temple district are provided access for their family and friends on designated “Stake Temple Days”. During those times, stake verification is required but parking tickets are not needed for you or for your friends and family. Please check with your Bishop or Relief Society President for more information regarding your designated day and time.

The Temple and Visitors’ Center grounds did not have Christmas lights in 2021 due to preparations for the Temple Open House, restrictions from Covid 19 and the closure of  Beach Drive for bridge replacement.  We expect to have the Festival of Lights in 2022.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been building temples since the 1830s. Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, a place of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world. They provide a place where Church members make formal promises and commitments to God. They are also the place where the highest sacraments of the faith occur — the marriage of couples and the “sealing” of families for eternity.

Learn more on the About page.

Yes! Click here for virtual tour of the Washington D.C. Temple led by Elder and Sister Stevenson and Elder and Sister Renlund.