The open house for the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began Monday, June 15, 2026 with a media day. Doors open to the public from June 18 through July 11, 2026 (excluding Sundays), ahead of a dedication on Sunday
On Monday morning, June 15, 2026, journalists and invited guests stepped into the San Diego California Temple as the Church ushered in a rare window of access.
The open house is set to begin in public just days later—June 18 through July 11, 2026—excluding Sundays. For many in the local Latter-day Saint community, it’s not just an event. It’s the end of a long pause: the temple closed in 2023 for extensive renovation.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles framed the moment in unmistakably personal terms. calling the temple “the most sacred place on earth to us as members of the Church.” He said it is “a place of holiness. of peace. of revelation. of receiving our answers to our prayers. ” adding. “It’s very. very important to us. It is a testament to us of the immortality of the soul.”.
And then came the direct invitation—based on what the Church believes happens inside. Each temple. Andersen said. teaches about Jesus Christ and functions as “a house of the Lord. ” where Church members reaffirm Jesus Christ’s teachings and seek God’s help in uniting families “for eternity.” In that sacred setting. members can “seek peace and guidance. learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow men and women.”.
At a news conference on Monday, Andersen told journalists that everything in the temple teaches about Jesus Christ. He said. “This is a time for us to declare very strongly our knowledge of Jesus Christ. of our belief in Him. our faith in Him. our hope in Him.” He added. “Some people don’t know exactly where we stand on this. but we are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. and we’re so happy to be able to declare His name.”.
Elder I. Raymond Egbo of the Seventy said he hoped local journalists felt something special during their walk through the temple. “We hope everyone who goes through the temple has this ‘aha’ moment where they come to the realization that they have felt the Spirit in here. even though [the temple is] not yet rededicated. that they have felt the Spirit of the Lord witnessing to their spirit that this truly is God’s house. ” Egbo said.
Even before the doors opened for the public. community members described the open house as a bridge for friends and family who have long been curious from outside. Deon Travers of the Del Mar California Stake said people “are so curious” after seeing the temple as they drive by. “Now we can offer them a little opportunity to come in and join us and see what it’s all about. ” he said.
His wife, Kari Travers, emphasized that the space matters to young people as well. “The youth love coming here,” Kari said. “It’s a place where they can leave the worries of the world behind and just feel the peace and be close to the Savior.”
The temple itself sits in a familiar place for drivers heading along Interstate 5. The San Diego California Temple is a four-story building just off the freeway near the city’s La Jolla community. Its distinctive design features 10 spires unlike any other Latter-day Saint temple in the world. The spire on the east side features a statue of Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon.
Church Historian Spencer McBride described how the building catches the eye from the road. “The temple itself is stunning when you drive on the freeway and you see it,” McBride said. He described the exterior as white. with builders “blew chips of marble into the plaster on the exterior to give it [a] glisten. especially when the sun hits it.” He connected that shine to the Church’s first temple in Kirtland. describing how early Saints used “broken china and crockery” in the stucco finish for a similar effect.
McBride pointed to interior features as well. including a celestial room that spans two levels and an atrium at the center of the temple—“a rare design among Latter-day Saint temples.” He said. “The ceilings are high. You can go to a second level of the celestial room [and] look up and just be in awe of the space while taking in the serenity of that space.”.
Local residents say the temple has become a recognizable landmark. Sheantala Abello, a local young adult, said she has friends who drive past it and call it “the most beautiful building” and “a castle.”
That visibility also raises expectations, which makes the renovation story part of what makes this opening moment resonate. The Church said the renovation was driven primarily by the need to replace aging art glass windows suffering from heat damage and cracking. The windows were redesigned with modern insulated glass units and repositioned “to allow the art glass to breathe. ” preventing future heat buildup.
The project required extensive scaffolding, and that construction time was used to address other aging systems at the same time. Exterior updates also included restoring the marble-crete facade to its original sparkle. addressing staining from Interstate 5 traffic and marine layer growth. and refreshing the landscaping.
Joshua Young, a Church Special Projects manager, said keeping the temple’s sparkle was the hardest part of the work. “That was for sure the biggest challenge but also the most satisfying,” he said. “I t was for sure the biggest challenge but also the most satisfying.” Young later described the satisfaction of seeing the effort take shape: “I t is very rewarding to see the work that we put in. the effort. the time. and to see what it’s turned into. ” he said. He added. “I’m excited for the open house. excited for the dedication so that it can return and be operational as it’s meant to be.”.
Significant interior work was also completed. The project included a new mechanical system with updated HVAC equipment. Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms. and refreshed interior spaces with new carpet and paint. The most notable interior changes included converting an outdated cafeteria and dining room into a workers’ break room and a large marriage waiting room accommodating 85 people. The renovation also combined two sealing rooms to create one larger sealing room. while most other areas received restoration and refurbishment rather than major remodeling—aimed at preserving the temple’s original character while bringing it up to modern standards.
The temple’s reopening lands with added meaning because it is not its first chapter in San Diego. The San Diego Temple was the 45th temple built by the Church. It was first dedicated in April 1993 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, and it was the third temple in California.
McBride said the announcement in 1984 sparked excitement. “There was a lot of excitement when the San Diego Temple was announced [in 1984],” he said. “The idea of having a temple in San Diego. accessible to so many local Latter-day Saints. was just thrilling.” He added. “That’s an idea most Latter-day Saints can relate to. You want a temple close. We love all our temples — but you love your local temple.”.
Once rededicated, the renovated temple will serve some 50,000 Church members in San Diego County, the southern part of Riverside County, and east to Yuma, Arizona.
Local members said the reopening brings convenience and renewed joy after nearly three years of traveling greater distances to worship. Jan Draper. a member from the area. said. “To know that San Diego Temple — our temple — is going to be reopening and we can be here as frequently as we want and not have it be an all-day affair … it just really makes us feel joyful.”.
A sense of timing also hangs over the announcement. Neal Walton, a local stake president, said the last time the San Diego Temple was open to the public was more than three decades ago. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said.
When the public open house concludes, the Church’s next milestone is already set. The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m.
And the invitation being offered isn’t limited to members. Elder Andersen extended welcome to everyone in the community during his remarks. “We welcome you,” the Apostle said. “Many have seen this beautiful building for years and wondered what it is like inside. Nothing here is secret — it is sacred to us. We are grateful you can come. see and feel the goodness and holiness of what happens in this house of the Lord.”.
For people curious enough to step inside, the schedule is straightforward: doors open to the public June 18 through July 11, 2026, excluding Sundays—right after the first media day on Monday, June 15, 2026.
San Diego Temple open house June 2026 Latter-day Saints Church of Jesus Christ renovation dedication August 23 2026 Elder Neil L. Andersen
So it’s open now??
Wait I thought temples were never open like that. Like can regular people just walk in? Also why exclude Sundays? seems kinda random.
Renovation took 2023 to now… so what, they were basically closed for repairs like plumbing or something? I’m not even LDS but this feels like a PR move. They say “most sacred place” but then it’s like a tourism window June 18-July 11. Not hating, just confused.
This is nice for the community I guess. I saw somewhere it was gonna be open for a week only but the article says June 18 through July 11, like over a month. Also the dedication on Sunday… does that mean they still let people in on Saturdays or nah? My cousin said it was canceled last minute once, so we’ll see.