The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bartlett is offering tours of their Temple this month, according to Lakeland resident Zachary Coleman.
The public tours are available starting Friday (4.13.19) and continue until April 20th. Location is 4199 Kirby Whitten Parkway.
Mr. Coleman said more than 125 members of the Church live in Lakeland. Along with others in the Memphis community, they attend services at a church building in Arlington.
Open House/Tours schedule
April 13th April 15th – 19th
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
April 19th, 20th
8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
“Over the past year and a half, the Memphis Tennessee Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Bartlett has been undergoing extensive renovations to help maintain functionality, efficiency and beauty, said Mr. Coleman.
Temples, like the one in Bartlett, are not regular places of Sunday worship for members of The Church. They are quite different from the thousands of regular chapels or meetinghouses all over the world that are used for Sunday services. Anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse (like the ones in Arlington and Bartlett) and attend services.
“However, because of the sacredness of temples as “houses of the Lord,” only members of the Church, who are in good standing are allowed to enter the temples. Faithful members of the Church participate in sacred ceremonies in the Temple, such as marriage and the uniting of families for eternity.”
Mr. Coleman said prior to being rededicated, the Church has invited the general public to attend an open house for the Temple, which includes a video and walk-through tour of the temple. After the temple is formally dedicated on May 5, entrance is reserved for faithful members of the Church.
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations will receive first priority. To make a reservation, interested individuals may go to https://ChurchofJesusChrist.org/temples/open-houses and select the time date and time they would like.
… Photo courtesy of Ted Archdeacon
