Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Thirty-Five

All Nations Shall Come to the Salt Lake Temple

Introduction. The Come Follow Me curriculum produced by the Church for Sunday School during five Sundays in September and October of 2026 cover the teachings of Isaiah. The first week covers Isaiah 1 -12. This Lesson is specifically about Isaiah 2:2-3.

The 7 yearlong renovation of the Salt Lake Temple will be completed early in the Spring of 2027. There has never been such a complete and complicated renovation of a structure as large as the Salt Lake Temple. The temple now rests on 98 base isolators, allowing it to move safely during earthquakes. Steel trusses and over 262 miles of cables reinforce the roof, towers, and walls, consolidating the structure into a single, earthquake-resistant unit. The foundation was strengthened with concrete cylinders, transfer beams, and tensioned steel rods to support the temple’s massive granite walls

The Salt Lake Temple fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy found in Isaiah 2:2-3, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..." This prophesy applies to all temples generally and to the Salt Lake Temple specifically.

Over 5,000,000 people from all nations will come to the six month open house, from April to October 2027, of the Salt Lake Temple fulfilling Isaiah’s prophesy

“The Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains.” It took 40 years but our pioneer forefathers were determined to build the Salt Lake Temple “in the top of the mountains.”

“And shall be exalted above the hills.” People worldwide identify the Salt Lake Temple with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and recognize it is an extraordinary building. Salt Lake City was built around the temple. From the southeast corner of the temple the addresses go north, south, east, and west.

“All nations shall flow unto it.” Millions of people from nations across the earth have visited Temple Square every year. It is a worldwide destination. The upcoming open house will dramatically increase the number of people who visit the temple, and many more millions of people world-wide will have heard of the Salt Lake Temple.

“[The Lord] will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths...” Tens of thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint worldwide will attend the temple. Millions of members listen to General Conference that is broadcast throughout the earth and originates at Temple Square.

The Salt Lake Temple is at Church Headquarters and is recognized worldwide - It is the largest temple in the Church . Prior to the current renovation it was 360,000 sq. ft (the pedometer I carried when in the presidency of the temple showed I walked about 5 miles on a shift), and it will be even bigger after the current renovation. Prior to the renovation it had about 3,500 workers, and it has been and likely will be the busiest temple in the Church. A very unique distinguishing feature is that it is where the senior Brethren hold their council meetings each week.

Testimony – The temple puts us on the path that leads to Jesus Christ – The Salt Lake Temple chapel prior to the renovation was wonderfully unique. (I am hopeful that in some way these murals will be preserved or replaced after the renovation.) There was a large mural on both ends of the chapel which were designed to teach that the temple puts us on the path that leads to the Lord. The mural on the front wall showed Jesus ascending from the Mount of Olives in the presence of His Apostles. (See Acts 1:1-12) The rear mural showed a path leading from Jerusalem, passing the Garden of Gethsemane, and continuing up the Mount of Olives. It stopped at the chapel pews.

The path started again on the front mural and continued to where the Lord was ascending. Symbolically this path continued from the back of the chapel, crossing the pews where temple patrons sat, to the front of the chapel where the Lord and his apostles are. So if you are in the temple you are on the path.

These murals reminded me that we come to Christ through His atonement and by receiving temple ordinances and keeping temple covenants. I testify this is true.

Released on September 28th. 2026.