Open house, dedication dates announced for Cody Temple

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across northern Wyoming and southern Montana now have dates to mark on their calendars.

The First Presidency of the Church announced recently that the public open house for the Cody Wyoming Temple will begin in late August, giving residents an opportunity to tour the building before it is formally dedicated.

The open house will begin with a media day on Monday, Aug. 24, followed by tours for invited guests on August 25 and 26. Public tours will run from Thursday, Aug. 27, through Saturday, Sept. 12, excluding Sundays.

The temple will then be dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 25, during a service beginning at 10 a.m. A rebroadcast will be held at 2 p.m. The dedication will be broadcast to congregations throughout the Big Horn Basin.

For many Latter-day Saints in the Big Horn Basin, the announcement marks the final major step before the temple begins operation. Temples are considered the most sacred places of worship in the faith and are distinct from the church’s regular meetinghouses where weekly worship services are held.

Lovell Stake President Tom Newman said the open house provides a unique opportunity for both church members and the public.

“The Church holds open houses so that anyone can tour the temple, learn about its purpose and significance and experience its beauty and sacred nature,” Newman said. “It is a rare opportunity for us to have an open house this close to home.”

The Cody temple was announced in October 2021 by then Church President Russell M. Nelson during the church’s semiannual general conference. At the time, President Nelson emphasized the importance of temple worship, saying, “Nothing will strengthen your spiritual foundation like temple service and temple worship.”

The Cody Wyoming Temple will be the third operating temple in Wyoming. The Star Valley Wyoming Temple was dedicated in 2016, followed by the Casper Wyoming Temple in 2024. Church leaders report that nearly 67,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live in Wyoming and worship in more than 170 congregations across the state.

Once dedicated, the Cody temple will serve members throughout northwestern Wyoming, providing a closer temple for many families who previously traveled long distances to attend temples in Idaho Falls and Billings. 

For church members, the open house represents a unique opportunity to invite friends, neighbors and community members inside a building that will later be reserved for sacred worship and religious ordinances. Historically, thousands of visitors attend temple open houses to learn more about the beliefs, architecture and purpose of Latter-day Saint temples before they are dedicated.

“We hope people will make the necessary adjustments to their schedules to join us for this special occasion,” Newman said.