ST. GEORGE — After two years of gradually reopening in phases since its initial closure in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cedar City Utah Temple is resuming full operations.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent a notice to members Wednesday evening that the temple had reached the phase where full operations are returning.
“Based on First Presidency direction, this temple is gradually lifting pandemic-related restrictions to resume normal operations,” the notice stated. “While the St. George Temple is closed, you are invited to attend this temple.”
However, temple attendance remains by appointment only rather than general admittance.
The church announced in mid-March that its temples would be returning to full operation as local conditions allowed.
The church closed its temples in March 2020 soon after the pandemic began and since has been either reopening them in phases or by appointment only. Last fall, while some temples were operational, patrons and workers still were required to wear masks. Masks requirements and capacity restrictions have been on the way out with the mid-March announcement.
The church’s First Presidency stated the decision to move the temples to full operation came as a result of more people getting immunized against COVID-19. The church itself has been a supporter of vaccination efforts and has encouraged its members to be vaccinated.
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