Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Opens Doors to the Public

A public open house will be held for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Saturday, October 26, through Saturday, November 2, 2019, except Sunday. Open house hours are Monday through Thursday 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reservations are not required.

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The temple was originally built as part of an effort led by then President Gordon B. Hinckley to build a series of small temples closer to the members of the Church. At its dedication in 2000, it became the 94th operating temple of the Church, and it is currently the only temple in Louisiana. Members of the Church in Louisiana and Mississippi attend this temple.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will rededicate the temple on Sunday, November 17, 2019. Latter-day Saints will be able to enter the temple once again for the sacred work that is done there on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

The temple closed in January 2018, and the renovation work began. The exterior was redesigned to improve the entry and tower of the temple. The existing portico was enclosed, and the tower’s steeple was raised 10 feet from the existing height to better correspond to the revised entry. The new design of the wood-and-steel-framed building features an exterior of beige-colored limestone and new art glass windows.

Green, blue, coral and cream-colored art glass panels are highlighted throughout the baptistry, waiting, celestial and sealing rooms. The art glass was created with shell and magnolia flower motifs.

Native flora was incorporated to complement the temple and includes flowering crepe myrtle and magnolia trees.

Latter-day Saints consider temples to be the “house of the Lord” and the most sacred places of worship on the earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples, however, is for faithful members of the Church to participate in sacred ceremonies such as marriages that unite families forever and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity while living. Find out more about temples.