120-foot temple opens to public next week in Fort Worth area

The Fort Worth Texas Temple, a 120-foot limestone building topped with a golden dome, stands in Burleson. It opens to the public on November 5. This is the second temple in North Texas for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Construction finished three years after ground was broken.

Visitors can walk through the building for free until November 21. No reservations are needed, but Sundays are excluded from the open house schedule. Church leaders say the tours allow neighbors to see the interior and understand the purpose of the sacred space before it is dedicated on January 10.

Justin Piepgrass, president of the Burleson stake, noted that this is the first open house in the Fort Worth-Dallas area in 42 years. He hopes the community will use the time to learn about the faith. "It’s much more beautiful than the building. What happens in that building is what makes this building just amazing," Piepgrass said.

The architecture features Spanish Colonial styles with unique lace-inspired detailing and ornamental metalwork. Elder Jeremiah J. Morgan, a senior church leader based in Salt Lake City, said the design complements the surrounding area. Agave plants and powis castle shrubs fill the south entrance. Inside, the decor includes canyon clay reds and olive greens on rugs and upholstery.

The interior contains specific rooms for religious functions. A baptismal pool rests on statues of twelve oxen, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. Two instruction rooms feature audiovisual presentations. Rebecca McDavitt Morgan, Jeremiah’s wife, explained that members answer questions about their origins and destiny. "We learn the answers to three important questions: Where did we come from before we were born? Why are we here? And where are we going after we die?" she said.

Members wear white clothing inside to symbolize purity and equality. The sealing room features three arched stained-glass windows and an altar where couples kneel to be married eternally. The celestial room is designed for quiet reflection and represents the return to the presence of God. Light from a crystal chandelier reflects off golden-framed mirrors in that space.

For local residents, the new location reduces travel time. Bela McKinney, a junior at Burleson Centennial High School, lives within walking distance. Previously, she had to choose between visiting the Dallas temple and attending school activities. Lydia Holt, who moved to North Texas in the early 2000s, previously drove an hour to reach a temple. "I’m just so happy to have one so close," Holt said.

The temple will serve members in Tarrant, Parker, and Johnson counties. After the dedication ceremony on January 10, only church members may enter the building. The open house allows anyone to view the grounds and interior before that date.