BYU-Idaho Radio · Temples Opening up in Idaho
The Rexburg and Idaho Falls temples for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have recently reopened for baptisms and will soon move into a new phase of reopening.
In the temple, baptisms can be done for people who have passed on who did not have a chance to be baptized in life. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to do those baptisms on behalf of their ancestors. They can also make promises with God in the temple and be promised blessings in return.
The Church first closed its temples worldwide in March 2020, and then announced the phased reopenings in May of that same year.
On May 17, 2021, the Rexburg and Idaho Falls temples moved into phase 2-B, which means proxy baptisms as well as live ordinances can be performed.
Idaho temples, including the Rexburg temple, will next move into phase 3 sometime this month or in July. Phase 3 means the temples will be open for all proxy and live ordinances by appointment.
A lot of people are excited about the updates and eager to share their thoughts.
Abigail Wells had just finished a baptism session and she said she was able to forget about her worries for a bit.
“I feel like trials are kind of put on the back burner and I feel a lot better, like I can face things with a better outlook on life. So it’s just that peace that you go in and you come out with and it stays with you for quite some time. I love that,” Wells said.
Kate Wray said the last time she was in the temple was in 2019 when she was in the Missionary Training Center.
“I think it was interesting because I was a missionary and so it was kind of different. I think it was very evident to me that I had these blessings in my life and that I was going out into the world and that I would be helping people get to that point where they can have those blessings and that they can do that service for their relatives,” Wray said.
Tyson Crowther encourages people who are able to, to go to the temple.
“The temple’s open again. Come. Come to the house of the Lord. It's open for us to be able to enter into again after such a long time being closed,” Crowther said.
You can set up an appointment at your local temple here.