The church is encouraging the public to tour the new Fort Worth Texas Temple in November. After the temple is dedicated Jan. 10, only members of the church in good standing are allowed inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Regardless of your faith tradition, we hope you will come take a tour and share a few minutes with us,\u201d Elder Brandon Ellison, who oversees the greater Fort Worth region, said in a news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as\u00a0the Mormon church, said\u00a0that following the dedication, members of the public are still invited to tour the temple’s grounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A temple serves a difference purpose than a\u00a0meetinghouse, where congregations worship on Sundays and participate in activities throughout the week. Temples are believed to be the most sacred\u00a0places on earth, according to the church<\/a>.\u00a0Instruction, marriages and baptisms are held in temples.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Each temple is considered a house of the Lord, where Jesus Christ\u2019s teachings are reaffirmed through sacred ordinances that unite families eternally,” the church said in a news release.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the church, about a quarter of Texas’ 400,000 members live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There is currently only one operating temple in the region\u00a0located in North Dallas, although another is under construction in\u00a0Fairview<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n