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| Private dining area inside The Roof Restaurant on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. |
SALT LAKE CITY, November 14, 2025 — The majestic transformation of Temple Square continues its steady march toward completion, with significant milestones reached both on the historic Salt Lake Temple structure and in the surrounding visitor spaces. This month's update highlights the blend of the past and the future—from the meticulous installation of new and restored features within the temple to the exciting reopening of a beloved, elevated dining experience downtown.
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| Various food selections at The Roof Restaurant on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. |
A Re-imagined Classic: The Roof Restaurant Reopens
A familiar fixture in downtown Salt Lake City dining has returned, offering an entirely new, sophisticated experience. The Roof Restaurant, perched on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, has reopened its doors following a substantial renovation.
The Roof has long been prized for its stunning panoramic views, particularly its unique vantage point overlooking the magnificent Salt Lake Temple. While the views remain, the dining format has evolved. Formerly known for its popular buffet, The Roof now features an elevated, Ã la carte dining experience.
The new menu celebrates local flavors and Utah heritage while offering refined contemporary cuisine. Guests can now enjoy curated selections, including:
1. Wood-Fired Flatbreads and Signature Steaks: A nod to high-quality, modern dining.
2. Utah Favorites with a Twist: Inventive takes on classics like Funeral Potato Bites and the Utah Scone, the latter famously made from the iconic Lion House roll recipe.
3. Desserts highlighting locally sourced ingredients, such as honey.
The reopening of The Roof is a welcome sign of life returning to the areas surrounding the construction zone, joining the accessible lobby, mezzanine, and The Garden Restaurant within the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner, welcoming guests Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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| Overview of construction on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. |
Salt Lake Temple: Interior Details and North Addition Progress
Work on the sacred structure of the Salt Lake Temple is moving forward with focused attention on the interior finishing and the new expansion areas. The goal of the multiyear project is not only to strengthen the building against seismic events but also to restore and preserve its historic beauty while enhancing its functionality for generations to come.
Inside the temple, two notable milestones have been achieved with the installation of lighting fixtures:
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| Restored original chandeliers of the Salt Lake Temple are installed in the new Assembly Room inside the sacred structure on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. |
1. New Chandeliers Installed
New Chandeliers have been placed in the temple’s sealing rooms located in the north addition. These new fixtures have been specifically designed to harmonize with the temple’s original 19th-century aesthetic, ensuring a seamless visual blend between the historic and new spaces.
The recently restored original chandeliers have been carefully installed in the main assembly room. These magnificent, historic fixtures now brighten the massive space, once again preparing it to host sacred gatherings.
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| Crews install stone on the exterior of the sealing-wing addition on the north side of the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. |
2. The Sealing Wing Nears Completion
The addition on the north side of the temple, known as the sealing wing, is rapidly nearing completion. Exterior work is highly visible, with detailed stonework and the installation of new windows now finished.
This crucial addition will significantly increase the temple's capacity for performing sacred sealing ordinances (marriage and family connections). The north addition will house five new sealing rooms—three large and two smaller rooms. Once complete, the temple will feature a total of 22 sealing rooms (10 in the historic Temple, including the sealing wing, and 12 in the temple’s north addition), greatly expanding its ability to serve Latter-day Saints.
Entrance Buildings and Exterior Engravings
The peripheral buildings designed to facilitate visitor access and traffic flow are also taking shape:
1. North Temple Entrance Buildings: Construction here continues to progress, with essential exterior elements like stone cladding, walkways, and landscaping being installed. Finish work on the interior, including detailed trim and millwork in the main lobby, is currently underway.
2. West Temple Entrance Building: On the east side of this building, two iconic phrases have been permanently installed in the stonework. The panels bearing "Holiness to the Lord" and "House of the Lord" were engraved off-site, and the distinguished gold gilding on the lettering was applied after their installation, giving the entrances a polished and sacred appearance.
These collective developments underscore the consistent and careful progress of this monumental undertaking. The work is steadily strengthening and preserving the Salt Lake Temple, preparing it for the much-anticipated public Open House Celebration, which is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
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