Temple Square: Main Street Plaza and Other Plaza Reopenings

Beginning Saturday, January 6, 2024, several plaza areas on Temple Square will begin reopening, including the plaza by the Church Office Building, the north part of the Main Street Plaza and the northwest plaza area of Temple Square. The south side of Main Street Plaza will reopen in mid-February. 

When the northwest area of Temple Square opens, the Assembly Hall and surrounding gardens and facilities will close as crews remove the restroom buildings and portions of the wall. Crews will also update the landscaping. The Assembly Hall will also undergo limited renovation.   

The Assembly Hall renovation will include limited structural repairs in the foundation and roof, mechanical improvements and interior plaster repair.

The Assembly Hall was finished in 1882 as a place of worship for Latter-day Saint congregations. More recently, it has been part of the Temple Square guest experience: hosting tours, organ recitals and other events. 

The renovation is expected to be completed in 2026.  

On the east side of Temple Square, the plaza areas will fully reopen for public access. On the plaza near the Church Office Building, there are 91 flag poles. The flags, which will be raised at a later date, will be one of several art installations symbolizing the global nature of the Church and its commitment to be a friend to all.

Ancient scripture states, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it” (Old Testament, Isaiah 2:2). Latter-day Saints believe that the Salt Lake Temple, or house of the Lord, is part of the fulfillment of this scripture.  

Throughout the year, the Church will fly all of the flags of officially-recognized United Nations countries. The flag oval begins at the plaza’s northwest corner with the flag of the United States. From there, 90 additional flags will rotate every three months. The flags will be placed in alphabetical order, according to the English name of the country, and will always be illuminated.  

While the Church recognizes national and international days of mourning, half-staff flags of the United States and the State of Utah will be displayed at the Church Administration Building, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and in front of the Conference Center. The flags in the plaza are intended to remain at full staff as an art installation.  

The renovation of the Beehive and Lion Houses has commenced. Workers will soon begin clearing all plants and trees and excavating around the foundation and footings. The footings and foundation will be inspected, stabilized and repaired. The foundation system will be protected to keep water from degrading the structures in the future. The new landscaping will feature drought-resistant plants and water-wise irrigation to improve water management and ensure foundation stability. Historically appropriate plant types will also be used.

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