Denver Colorado Temple reopens after two-week closure

Following two weeks of routine maintenance from Sept. 14 to Sept. 28, the Denver Colorado Temple in Centennial reopened on Tuesday, Sept. 29, allowing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to return for worship. 

The temple, which has served the Denver-area Latter-day Saint community for 40 years at 2001 E. Phillips Cir., closes twice a year for cleaning and maintenance. During those periods, members cannot enter for ceremonies including baptisms, confirmations and sealings. 

For many members, even a two-week closure is noticeable.

“The temple is a place where we get to go and enjoy the spirit,” said Carman Ragatz, a church member who visited the temple grounds with his family shortly before it reopened. “And so, when it’s closed, you know, there’s that period where we don’t get to enjoy that direct closeness that we’re able to enjoy.” 

Ragatz said temple attendance has also become part of his family’s routine. He and his wife, Sarah, who were married at the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple, celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary in August with a visit to the Denver temple.

“And so, when we go as a couple, we’re able to kind of renew that commitment with each other as well,” Carman said. 

Other local church members said they had also been waiting for the temple to reopen. Sister Alexandra Malan and Sister Tiana Bell are two young missionaries with the church

“The temple is one of the places that we go to find peace and healing,” Malan said. “And so, the temple, we believe, is the house of God here on earth. And so, when we go there, it’s just a time for reflection and quiet. It’s kind of like a little piece of heaven on earth.” 

When asked if there was something unique or special about this temple compared to other ones, Malan and others said that each temple holds the same holy reverence. 

“They might look a little different internally or externally, but the things we do inside them are all the same,” Malan said. 

The Denver temple is one of the closest options for many Latter-day Saints in the metro area. Another operates in Fort Collins, while one is under construction in Colorado Springs.

“It’s not a very far drive from here,” Bell said. “Whereas in a lot of other places, it’s hours to drive to the temple. And so, it is a very big part of our community to be able to just drive to the temple in a day.” 

Bell said reopening means members can once again participate in temple ordinances, the church’s term for sacred ceremonies.

“We do ordinances and we make covenants, which are just promises with God that we make,” Bell said. “And so being able to get back to doing those and having the blessings that come from that and feeling that peace.” 

Unlike regular Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, temples are reserved for members who hold a current temple recommend, which is a small identification card that proves you live according to the faith’s teachings and commandments.

“To be able to enter God’s house, we have to be worthy,” Malan said. “And so, we receive a temple recommend, which just we are asked some questions by our leadership to make sure that we are worthy and striving to be like Jesus Christ.” 

Terry Smith, another local church member, had already made plans for her first visit after the reopening. When Smith was asked when she herself will first attend after the temple reopens, she said simply, “Thursday night with the missionaries.”

The two-week closure gives staff and volunteers time to complete detailed cleaning and maintain parts of the building that receive frequent use. Sarah Ragatz has volunteered during previous maintenance periods and said the work can include everything from cleaning chandeliers to maintaining plumbing around the baptismal font.

“So that being said, there’s a lot of plumbing with a baptismal font and stuff to make sure that that’s all kept in orderly care and such,” Sarah said. “A lot of times during the two-week maintenance, it’s just member volunteers that help out as the regular temple people direct us what to do.”

Brother Valentine, who works at the front desk of the temple, confirmed that the carpet was replaced in the office areas and there was a general deep clean during this maintenance period.

Carman says the reopening has prompted him to think about making temple visits more regularly. His family has set a goal for everyone old enough to attend once a month.

“I don’t go as often as I could,” Carman said. “But it does make me want to go more often now when it is open.”