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A rendering of the renovated Manhattan New York Temple.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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An undated photo of the current Manhattan New York Temple and meetinghouse building at 125 Columbus Ave. in New York City.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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One of the most visited and highly talked about temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the Manhattan New York Temple — will close for extensive renovations.

The First Presidency of the church announced Monday that the Manhattan New York Temple will close in 2024. Renovations to the Manhattan New York Temple are expected to be completed sometime in 2027. The meetinghouse on the third floor of the temple will also be upgraded. Local congregations will be relocated to other meetinghouse spaces in the area during the renovation period, according to the First Presidency.

The Manhattan Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley in June 2004 and is the second temple built in the state of New York, following the Palmyra New York Temple in April 2000.

Much of the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred in New York. In 1820, Joseph Smith received his First Vision just outside Palmyra. The Church of Jesus Christ was organized in Fayette, New York, on April 6, 1830. In the mid-1800s, many converts to the church from Europe passed through New York Harbor on their way to join the Latter-day Saints out west. Today, the state of New York is home to nearly 85,000 Latter-day Saints.

The opening of the temple caused an international stir, with a variety of media outlets in the United States and throughout the world featuring not only the new temple, but also explaining some of the church’s history, beliefs and reasons for the temple. More than 53,000 people of various faiths attended the open house of the temple, located across from Lincoln Center and one block west of Central Park and next to the Julliard School, according to church communications.

A jubilee produced by church members and held at Radio City Music Hall also received attention. Hinckley attended and spoke at the event, which boasted the largest cast to ever perform on that stage — more than 2,400 young Latter-day Saints. The performance included song, dance and videotaped segments, and it showcased the talents of many Latter-day Saints who earned their living performing, directing or producing shows on Broadway.

In his dedicatory prayer, Hinckley said. “May this temple be a place of quiet refuge in the midst of this great and noisy metropolis. May all who enter its portals feel they have stepped from the world into a place of Thy divine presence.”

During the temple’s renovation, Latter-day Saints in the Manhattan New York Temple district are encouraged to attend the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple or the Hartford Connecticut Temple.

Dates for the public open house and dedication following the renovation will be announced closer to the completion date.

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