The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

For the third time in as many weeks, nearly 20 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been selected to reopen for limited husband-and-wife sealing ordinances.

On Monday, May 18, 18 temples — including ones in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Utah in the United Steates as well as in Finland and three Canadian provinces — were announced for Phase 1 reopening on Monday, May 25.

With 17 temples identified for similar Phase 1 opening in each of the two previous weeks, it brings the number of reopening temples to 52 of the Church’s total 168 operating temples worldwide.

The recent additions to the reopening list include the first temples to do so in Canada and Finland, as well as the first temples reopening in the Church’s North America Northeast and North America West areas.

In all, Phase 1 reopenings have occurred or will be occurring in eight different nations and 19 states.

After a six-week period where all temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were closed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the First Presidency announced its four-phased temple-reopening plan via a letter sent to general and local leaders dated Thursday, May 7.

The phases are:

  • Phase 1: Open for restricted living sealings only. Temple workers will perform living sealings only for previously endowed members, with the ordinances done under strict guidelines and safety precautions.
  • Phase 2: Open for all living ordinances only. Temple workers will perform all temple ordinances for living individuals, but temples will maintain closure of patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations.
  • Phase 3: Open for all ordinances with restrictions. Temple workers will continue providing ordinances for living individuals and provide proxy ordinances for ancestors in a restricted manner. The Church will open patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations as needed.
  • Phase 4: Open for full operations. The Church will resume regular temple operations.

CLICK HERE for a listing of the temples and their current status in specific areas.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.