Welcome to the Temple.

Raleigh Temple.

The Raleigh, North Carolina Temple completed construction and was dedicated in 1999. It was closed again in 2017 for a complete reconstruction and finally re-opened in September 2019 for an open house.

Over the course of 7 days, 40,000 visitors followed guided tours through the Raleigh Temple - an opportunity completely open to the public to see inside the edifice and learn about why Latter-day Saints attend the temple.

President M. Russell Ballard, acting President of the Quorom of the Twelve Apostles, joined our local congregations for the re-dedication where he prayed and the temple was again closed for interviewed members of the Latter-day Saint Church only.

If you would like to see photos of the inside of the Raleigh temple, click the button below.

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We would love to answer any questions you may have about the temple.

On the very last day of the open house my friend called three times to say she would be late. I met up with her at her house and we rode over with her two boys ages 8 and 9 years old. She was pretty nervous about her boys being able to wait so long and she had a lot to do that day afterwards. We waited and finally it was our time to enter into the gym. President Holland was our guide for the first part and my friend left to go to the restroom. I stayed with the boys. Her youngest son leaned over to me and said “ I don’t believe in God”. I told him that is okay because I do!  - Laura Powers

I had the chance to guide some special tours. During one such tour, a family who are members of the Church serving at Fort Bragg, NC, invited another family from their base to visit the temple with them. This guest family had 4 young, very active boys. They came all dressed up in their Sunday best, and you could tell they had been well-prepared by their parents that this was a special place. They did their best to contain their excitement as they made their way through the various rooms, but sometimes their energy-filled bodies got the best of them. However, when we entered the Celestial Room, they immediately and intentionally quieted down. We had time for them to sit in silence and ponder not only the beauty of the room, but also their relationship with God. While sitting, one of the little boys inadvertently rubbed his feet together, causing the plastic footies to make a loud noise. When this happened, he stopped as quickly as he started, because he didn't want to interrupt the solemnity he felt there. It was amazing to witness his desire to show reverence to the Lord. - Mark Savoldi

Most of my time at the temple open house was spent trying to quietly shush my small children while they wore plastic coverings over their shoes that made it impossible to be silent. I was enjoying the rooms but focused intently on keeping the experience of everyone else as reverent as possible until I walked with my family of 5 into the Celestial Room. As we stood there together, my husband and I with the three little people, I was reminded to just be still. Church, the temple- they aren’t about being quiet. They are about being still, taking a moment to stop our minds and focus instead on our hearts. I looked at my family and realized that I had an opportunity here to be with all my children and my husband together in a room meant to remind our souls of a little piece of heaven. I don’t know what will happen in the future. I don’t know that we will have that opportunity again in this life. But I do know, that in that moment, I felt so much love for my family and for Jesus Christ and this plan that God made for us. I’m pretty sure THAT is what church and temples are for. Not for reverence, but for stillness and love. -Kristi Bennett

When I think back on the temple open house I think of how excited I was to walk through it. Knowing it was open to the public is such a great experience. I was really excited to have my kids be able to walk through it as well. However as the time drew nearer to go, I felt my kids were more and more out of control. I started to not want to take them and was seriously considering not bringing them with me. The littlest two would probably never remember and the older two can be so irreverent! I was having a difficult time deciding what to do. The morning of I felt strongly that I should take them with me. I am so glad I did! It was such a special experience and we got to talk about their questions. It was perfect and I'm so glad I pushed through the hesitation. I will never forget the experience of being with my children in the house of the Lord.  -Paige

I am thankful for this invitation to share my thoughts as I experienced the temple open house. I was impressed with the beauty of the temple hands down, but what I will always remember was the spirit bringing to mind and heart those that are waiting to have their work done. I was moved as I pondered about that and motivated to attend the temple more often so others that are waiting can obtain those blessings. -Ken

We had the wonderful experience of taking 3 of our granddaughters, ages 5, 7 and 8, who are not members of the church. They were in awe by the beauty and peace they felt. They were excited that it was "actually" the house of the Lord. After touring the temple we went into the stake center to learn more and we were given a picture of the temple. My 5 year old granddaughter was so excited and with her eyes wide open she said "my very own picture of the temple, now I can hang it up and see the temple everyday". That may seem like a very small experience but to the heart of a grandmother it was pretty amazing. -Tammy Davidson Smith

Nancy and I were somewhat involved in the open house and saw, firsthand, a nearly universal change in the demeanor of all who entered the temple.  They came out different. 

 We met the Bill and Karen when we returned from our mission to Hawaii.  Over the past two years we have invited them to numerous ward and stake events.  They have politely declined all offers.  However, they did accept the opportunity to visit the temple open house.  I was making my rounds in the temple, trying to keep things moving and reverent when I entered the celestial room ran into Bill and Karen.  I asked if they had any questions.  There in the celestial room of the temple we had the conversation that took two years to have with these good people.  Karen kept saying, "it is so peaceful here."  Some weeks later we went out to eat with them and the subject of the temple came up.  Again, Karen wondered about the peace in the celestial room and asked if members of the church go often to the temple to experience that peace.  

The morning before the dedication, I woke at around two with the thought running through my mind, "what if President Ballard asks you to serve another mission?"  Now that was an odd thought.  Nancy and I had determined that the third mission would be our last.  As we worked at the dedication event, I managed to stay clear of President Ballard, just in case.  At the luncheon following, we were assigned to the table with Elder Duncan and his wife.  He is the 70 over temple open house and dedications.  During the meal he said to me and Nancy, "You two should serve an English speaking temple mission to Rome."  Later, as we introduced ourselves and our role on the usher committee, Elder Ballard said to us, "Now you need to be full time in the temple."  As we were leaving, Elder Duncan shook my hand, looked in my eyes and said, "I expect to see your paperwork come across my desk."  On the way home we talked about the possibility of serving again and, to my surprise, Nancy thought we should consider it.  Through more conversations over the phone, we found Rome would not work.  Still, the whole episode has brought us to the point that we are now waiting our next call to serve.  This is the Lord's work.  His careful guidance was very evident in the whole process of planning, the two weeks of the temple open house, and the dedication.  We gained greater testimonies of His work through the whole process. -Jim and Nancy Eldredge

I knew no person in our group however there was at least one non-member with 2 rather rambunctious young children.  When leaving the temple grounds to return to the stake center, she turned to me and said something like, I am sure you had wished the children were not with me.  Immediately I responded , feeling prompted of the Spirit, quite the contrary, we are glad that you brought the children.  We love all the children and we want them all to be here at the temple open house.

I don’t know if it made as much impact on her as it did on me, but in that brief missionary moment I knew once again that the words that came out of my mouth did not originate with me.   Our Savior wants all the children to be protected with the goodness of the gospel and the blessings of the temple. -Ron

A couple from Maine were traveling down to Florida and stopped to drive by the Raleigh Temple. They decided to come inside the church building when they saw cars parked there and were surprised when I told them they could take a tour of the temple.

When they completed the tour, the sister came over with tears in her eyes and hugged me for a long time. She explained that their only son had died four months prior. She said that she received a hug in the celestial room from him and felt his presence and overwhelming peace while in the temple. She was overcome with emotion explaining her experience and thanked us for allowing them to tour the temple. She said she hadn’t expected to tour the temple and received an answer to her prayers and it was such a wonderful and unexpected blessing. —Jenn