Fort Collins Colorado Temple Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a number of frequently asked questions about the new Fort Collins Colorado Temple which will serve Church members in the Wyoming, Nebraska, and Northern Colorado areas. Quickly browse the topics below and click on the questions to read the answers. Check back often for updates or follow the official social media accounts for more information about the temple and public open house.

Important Dates

  • Public Open House: August 19 – September 10 (except for Sundays 8/21 & 28, and 9/4)
  • Cultural Celebration: Saturday, 7:00 p.m., October 15th at Hughes Stadium, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. More information will be coming on how to obtain tickets for this event.
  • Dedication: Sunday, October 16, in three sessions, 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The dedication will be broadcast to members of the Church in Colorado and in the Fort Collins Temple district. The three-hour block of meetings will be cancelled for that Sunday. Dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to stake centers.
  • Reservations Link for Public Open House is https://templeopenhouse.lds.org/, which will open on Monday July 11th at 10:00 am.
  • Temple Opening: The temple will open for all temple ordinances for members starting Tuesday, October 18th.

Public Open House:

  • When is the open house?
    • August 19 – September 10 (except for Sundays 8/21 & 28, and 9/4).
  • What are the hours of the open house?
    • Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the last tour starting at 8:00 p.m.
    • Sunday: Closed
  • What is the address of the temple?
    • 2180 Majestic Drive
    • Fort Collins, CO 80528
  • How can I get an invitation (not a reservation ticket) for the people I want to invite?
    • Digital invitations are being distributed through ward email distribution lists. Printed invitations will arrive to each stake the first week of July. They will be distributed by bishops. Members are encouraged to personally invite their friends, neighbors, and colleagues to the open house and to accompany them if possible. Please use these invitations to help invite your guests. The digital version can be emailed or printed. There will be a Spanish version available the first part of July and will be distributed by bishops and ward email distribution lists.
  • How can a guest or I get a reservation ticket?
  • How many tickets can be reserved?
    • 15 reservations total can be made using one email address. Those 15 can be spread out over multiple days and times, but the system tracks the number reserved by email address and it will only allow 15 total per email address. If more are needed, the person reserving will need to use another email address.
    • Large Groups: If the group size is over 10, there will be a phone number to call to set up these large group tours. It should be very easy for members or guests to do.
  • Will everyone need to have a ticket to participate in the Temple open house?
    • We highly encourage everyone to reserve a ticket on-line before they come. This will help the tours to go more smoothly and be a better experience for our guests. However, no one will be turned away.
  • I have heard there are “special” tickets for the public open house. How do I get one?
  • What will the tours be like?
    • The tour will start in the Trilby building with a short video and then guests will be escorted across the street to the temple where they will be taken on a guided tour. Time will not permit asking questions while in the temple. At the end of the tour, guests will end in an air conditioned hospitality tent where there will be displays and additional information about temples. Visitors can ask questions, talk to sister missionaries and take photos in front of a backdrop of the temple. There will also be a display of materials used in the building of the temple. Members accompanying guests can have an impact by being able to talk to their guests about their experience.
  • Can I go on the tour with my guests?
    • Yes. We encourage members to accompany their guests on the tours and they should have a reservation for the same date and time as their guests.
  • What is my role as a member with my guests during the tour?
    • If you are accompanying your guests, you should be there to help your guests feel comfortable and welcome to this unique and wonderful experience.
    • Members should understand that we intend for the temple and the Spirit to guide the experience for our guests. It is not a time to pressure discussions about the gospel.
    • Our role should be to invite our guests, help answer any questions they have before or after the official tour, and to listen to them talk about their experience. Our prayer is that they will deeply feel the Spirit as they tour the temple.
  • How long will the tour take?
    • The entire experience will be approximately 1 hour.
  • Can pictures be taken?
    • Pictures can be taken outside of the temple and on the grounds.
    • No pictures are allowed inside the temple.
    • There will be photo booths set up in the hospitality tent after the tour for nice pictures to be taken for our guests.
  • Can a guest come more than once to the open house?
    • Yes.
  • Is there an age limit for tours?
    • No. Everyone is welcome.
  • Is there a dress code for the tours?
    • No. If asked, and there is a polite way to indicate modest dress, that would be fine; but we welcome anyone who wants to come into the temple.
  • Will there be wheelchairs for those in need?
    • Yes, we will have wheelchairs available for guests that need them but we are requesting those who have wheelchairs to bring them if possible.
  • Will there be Spanish speaking tours?
    • Yes. There will be 2 per day (11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.) Walk-ins will be able to be accommodated as well during any tour.
  • Will there be ASL Tours?
    • Yes.   There will be two per week (Weds at 2:00 p.m. and Sat at noon.) Walk-ins will be able to be accommodated as well during any tour.
  • Will there be tours for the blind?
    • Yes. These will be set up by special requests through local priesthood leaders who will contact the Temple Committee.
  • Will there be places for guests to sit and rest while on the Temple open house tour?
    • Yes.  If necessary, a guest can sit and rest briefly during the tour.
  • Will strollers be allowed on the Temple open house tour?
    • When guests reserve their tickets there will be a statement asking them to leave unnecessary strollers, packages, and similar items in their vehicles.
  • What if the date I want to go to the temple no longer has openings on the reservation system?
    • The open house reservation system is under the control of the Temple Department and functioning according to their guidelines. There are currently many open times during the day on weekdays. Attending the open house during those potentially quieter times may enhance the experience, especially for families. We encourage families and friends to counsel together and be creative in getting to the Open House during the quieter times and enjoying the experience together. We believe families and guests will enjoy working together to rearrange their schedules to make the most of this opportunity that will likely come only once for many.  There will be a standby line but the wait time is unpredictable.  When there is a no-show with reservations they will put guests in the standby line into the tour.  There is also a call-in number on the website, www.templeopenhouse.lds.org for group reservations.
  • I’ve heard that there are no reservations left for the open house.  Should I not invite more guests?
    • There are many reservations left for the open house.  Please check the reservation site, www.templeopenhouse.lds.org .  You will see that there are days and times left. Also, please check the website regularly for any reservations that may open up due to others canceling reservations. Please continue to invite your friends and guests and work with them to find a day and time that will work.  What a blessing for any visitors to have this unique opportunity to tour an LDS temple.
  • Will more days or hours be added for the open house?
    • The Temple Department determines if any additional hours will be added during the open house between August 19 – September 10.  Our understanding is that no additional days will be added.  Please keep checking the website for openings that occur.  If someone cancels a reservation or part of a reservation, those openings will show back up on the website.  If more hours are added, they will show up on the website immediately.
  • I have reservations that I know I will not be able to use all or part of. What should I do with those that I am not going to be able to use?
    • Go to www.templeopenhouse.lds.org  and on the right hand side of the page there is “Look up existing reservations.”  Click on that.  You will need your reservation number and the email address that it was made under.  You can edit or cancel your reservation.  Or you can call 855-537-2000 and they will help you cancel or modify your reservation.  We encourage everyone that has reservations they will not use to please cancel them so others can have the blessing of coming to the temple.

Parking:

  • Where will we be allowed to park?
    • Parking will be at the Trilby building or otherwise as directed. There should be no parking on neighborhood streets or in the field south of the temple. We want to ensure we are good neighbors for those living around the temple. There will be overflow parking at Goddard Preschool and Bacon Elementary on Friday evening and Saturdays.
  • Will there be signs and people helping to direct traffic for parking?
    • Yes, there will be parking volunteers on all days at all times to help visitors park, as well as signage to direct parking.

Volunteers:

  • How can I become a volunteer?
    • Requests for volunteers for parking, ushers/tour guides, security, etc. have gone to stake and ward leaders. Stake and ward leaders are identifying individuals to assign as volunteers and you will be contacted if you are being asked to help in this way.
  • What special training will guides and other volunteers have?
    • All volunteers will be trained prior to the open house. Volunteers will be notified when their training will be.

Cultural Celebration:

  • Where will the cultural celebration be held?
    • The Cultural Celebration will be held at Colorado State University’s Hughes Stadium.
  • Who will be permitted to attend the Cultural Celebration?
    • This is still being determined. Tickets will be required and mostly likely will be available through stake leaders. We will provide more information as the ticket distribution process is determined.
  • How do I get tickets?
    • To be announced.
  • How is communication coming to the youth and their parents about the celebration?
    • This event is being coordinated through the Cultural Celebration Committee and communication is through stake leaders to the youth and their families.
  • Will the Cultural Celebration be broadcast to the stake centers for others to see the event?
    • Yes, the cultural celebration is an open broadcast and will be broadcast to stake centers.  We will also be provided with a URL that can be made available to members.  We will communicate that URL when we have it. There is a limited number of people that can use the URL so the stake center is the best option.  There is no age limit on watching the cultural celebration.
  • How old do the youth have to be to participate in the cultural celebration…and by when?
    • The Cultural Celebration performers will be youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Stake presidents and bishops can use their discretion for special circumstances.
  • Can members invite friends to watch the Cultural Celebration at the stake centers where it will be broadcast?
    • It would be a wonderful event to bring friends to as they will hear from a member of the First Presidency and see and hear from the youth something truly special (see Matthew 21:16). Stake presidents will decide if they will broadcast the Cultural Celebration at their stake centers.
    • It will be especially powerful if the friends are first introduced to the temple through a visit during the open house, August 19 – Sept 10. www.templeopenhouse.lds.org

Dedication:

  • When is the dedication?
    • Sunday, October 16, in three sessions, 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The dedication will be broadcast to members of the Church in Colorado and in the Fort Collins Temple district at stake centers. The three-hour block of meetings will be cancelled for that Sunday.
  • How do you get invited to one of the dedication sessions?
    • Most members will attend the dedication in their stake centers. Temple dedication recommends will be required; standard temple recommends will not be honored. Temple dedication recommends will be distributed to Stake Presidents and Bishops from the Temple Department at the appropriate time in advance of the dedication.
    • Recommends to attend dedication session in the Temple will be by invitation from priesthood leaders in accordance with Temple Department policy.
  • How old does a child need to be to attend the dedication?
    • Anyone attending the dedication must be baptized and temple worthy.

Miscellaneous:

  • What are the stakes in the temple district?
    • The following stakes are in the Fort Collins Colorado Temple district:  Boulder, Brighton, Casper, Cheyenne, Cheyenne East, Denver North, Fort Collins, Greeley, Laramie, Longmont, Loveland, Westminster, and Windsor.

  • Who is the Fort Collins Colorado Temple Presidency?
    • President and Matron:  Steve and Sandra Garrett (Loveland Colorado Stake)
    • 1st counselor: Max Lehman, wife Jan (Longmont Colorado Stake)
    • 2nd counselor: Wallace (Wally) Stock, wife Jan ( Cheyenne Wyoming Stake)
  • Will the temple need or accept any donations such as covers for alters?
    • We cannot approve or accept any temple donations locally. Any donations need to go through the Temple Department and, in general, the Temple Department is not set up for donations.  There are altar cloths that can be made and there are specific instructions for those.  Please call the Temple Department at 801-240-3801 and ask for altar cloth guidelines.
  • What are the Temple open house participants to do if there are protesters?
    • We encourage members and guests to avoid interacting with protestors or antagonists and to treat everyone in a respectful, Christ-like manner. Additional information on what to do regarding protesters will come to each ward through their stake and ward leadership.  This will come closer to the open house dates.
  • Can I stay at the Temple with my guests after the tour?
    • We expect many visitors during the open house and adequate parking may become a significant issue during busy times. With that in mind, please DO NOT linger for a significant amount of time after you and/or your guest have left the reception tent. Additionally, do not plan on picnicking or remaining on the grass areas around the Temple or the Trilby chapel before or after your tour. Due to the volume of people visiting and safety issues, these activities will not be allowed during the open house. There are parks close by that would be convenient and suited for a picnic or longer visits after the tour.
  • What can we tell our friends about the ceremony when they ask questions?
    • There are wonderful resources on lds.org about temples that should give you information and comfort about what to say to your guests. There are several links in “A Members Guide: Preparing for the Temple Opening” that is listed below.
  • When and how can I schedule weddings and live ordinances?
    • Weddings and living ordinances can be scheduled starting July 25, 2016. They can be scheduled to take place after the temple dedication on October 16, 2016. The phone number to call to schedule a time is 970-797-4630. There should be someone to receive calls from 8am to 5pm.
  • Why am I not seeing anything in the media about the open house?
    • Our media plan employs a balanced approach between social-media publicity (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and traditional media (newspapers, radio, and television). The primary target audience for our media-publicity campaigns is non-members who will not be receiving a personal invitation from a member friend. Members receive ample publicity regarding the open house through their local wards and stakes, friends, and family.  The social media campaign was implemented before the reservation site went live on July 11thand will continue, with increased focus, as we approach the open house date of August 19th.  Most of our traditional-media publicity will be concentrated close to the commencement of the public open house on August 19th.  We believe this will get the best response from the public without having our media outlets tire of the open house topic for their coverage.
  • Are there other links that might be helpful for members?