Public To Get Rare Look Inside New Mormon Temple In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new Mormon temple will soon open in Philadelphia and the public is invited to take a tour this summer.
The building in the 1700 block of Vine Street is the only Mormon temple in Pennsylvania and once dedicated only faithful Mormons will be allowed inside, according to spokeswoman Flora McConkie.
"Our temples are different from our meeting houses," McConkie said. "Our temples are considered houses of the Lord, where the most sacred ordinances of our faith take place, for instance marriage, and our meeting houses are where we gather every Sunday for worship services."
The temple will serve 45,000 church members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
McConkie says the public will be allowed to get rare peek inside with a free tour of the facility beginning August 10.
"They will go thru with a tour guide into many of the rooms and get a feel for the entire building," she said. "(They'll) see the beautiful craftsmanship and the workmanship of the temple itself and see the lovely murals."
The free open house will run through September 9 with the exception of Sundays.