EPHRAIM—The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has set open house and dedication dates for the Ephraim Utah Temple, with public tours planned in September and the dedication scheduled for Oct. 11.

A media day is set for Monday, Aug. 31, followed by invited tours on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The public open house will run from Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Saturday, Sept. 19, excluding Sundays. During this period, visitors of all faiths will be able to walk through the temple and learn about its purpose, layout and religious symbolism before it is formally dedicated.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the dedication Sunday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m., with a rebroadcast scheduled for 2 p.m. The dedicatory session will be broadcast to congregations throughout the temple district, a practice that allows members in surrounding communities to participate in the service.

In Latter-day Saint belief, temples are considered houses of the Lord and differ from regular meetinghouses used for weekly worship. After dedication, entry is limited to members of the faith who hold a temple recommend, and the buildings are used for sacred ordinances such as eternal marriage sealings and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors.

The Ephraim temple was first announced by church president Russell M. Nelson during a recorded message played at a May 1, 2021, news conference in the Manti Tabernacle. Temple construction has accelerated worldwide in recent years under Nelson’s leadership, with dozens of new temples announced as part of an effort to bring worship opportunities closer to members.

The project carries particular significance in Sanpete County, where the temple was built near the historic Manti Utah Temple, one of the church’s oldest operating temples, originally dedicated in 1888. The proximity of the two sites reflects both the region’s deep Latter-day Saint heritage and continued growth in temple attendance.

Church officials have described the Ephraim temple as part of a broader expansion across Utah, alongside projects in Heber Valley, Provo’s Rock Canyon area and Smithfield. Once dedicated, the Ephraim temple will serve members throughout central Utah, reducing travel demands for those who previously attended temples in neighboring regions.