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A public open house for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple will be held 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.
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, it became the 94th operating temple of the Church at its dedication in 2000. It is currently the only temple in Louisiana. The temple district takes in members of the Church in Louisiana and Mississippi.
As reported by the Church Newsroom:
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.
