How to Schedule and Prepare for an LDS Temple Appointment

If you're a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, temple appointments are a central part of religious practice. Whether you're scheduling your first visit or returning regularly, understanding how appointments work—and what to expect—removes uncertainty and helps you prepare meaningfully.

This guide explains the appointment process, who can schedule, what determines availability, and how to get ready.

What Is an LDS Temple Appointment? 🏛️

An LDS temple appointment is a scheduled time slot to participate in temple ceremonies and ordinances. The Church operates temples worldwide, and each one requires advance scheduling to manage capacity and ensure a reverent experience for all attendees.

Unlike casual visits to church buildings, temple attendance is reserved for members who hold a current temple recommend—a membership credential issued by local Church leaders that certifies you've met specific spiritual and behavioral expectations.

The appointment system allows you to:

• Reserve a specific time to attend ordinances such as endowment ceremonies or sealing services
• Plan your day by knowing when you'll arrive and roughly how long you'll stay
• Ensure the temple has capacity for your group
• Receive any necessary guidance from temple staff before your session begins

Who Can Schedule a Temple Appointment?

Temple recommend holders can schedule appointments. This includes:

• Members preparing for their first temple endowment (often young adults before a mission or wedding)
• Returning members attending regular worship and ordinance services
• Members performing proxy ordinances on behalf of deceased ancestors
• Married couples scheduling sealing ceremonies
• Members attending for personal spiritual renewal

To obtain a temple recommend if you don't have one, you'll meet with your bishop (local congregation leader) and a stake president (regional leader). These conversations typically cover alignment with Church teachings, personal conduct, and readiness for temple worship.

Members without a current recommend cannot schedule appointments, and recommends expire after a set timeframe—typically a couple of years—requiring renewal.

How to Schedule an Appointment

The process varies slightly depending on your location and circumstances, but the general pathway is:

Online Scheduling (Most Common)

Many temples now use lds.org or the official Church app to allow members to:

• Log in with their Church account
• Select their preferred temple location
• View available dates and times for upcoming weeks or months
• Choose a session type (endowment, sealing, proxy ordinances, etc.)
• Confirm their appointment and receive a booking confirmation

Phone or In-Person Scheduling

Some temples still accept appointments by phone or in-person requests. You'd contact the temple directly with:

• Your name and recommend holder status
• Preferred dates and times
• Type of ordinance you're attending
• Number of people in your group (if applicable)

No-Appointment Walk-Ins

A small number of temples accept walk-in visitors during designated hours, though this is becoming less common as demand increases. Even in these cases, arriving early improves your chances of accommodating a same-day session.

Factors That Affect Appointment Availability

Several variables influence how easy it is to book and when slots open:

If your first-choice temple is booked, you have options:

• Switch to a nearby temple (often 30–60 minutes away) with more availability
• Plan further ahead (some systems allow scheduling months in advance)
• Attend on a weekday or less-peak season
• Contact the temple directly about cancellation waitlists or alternative times

What to Expect During Your Appointment ⏱️

Session length typically ranges from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours, depending on whether you're attending an endowment ceremony, sealing, or proxy ordinances. The exact duration varies by temple and how many people are in your session.

Before You Arrive

• Bring your temple recommend (a physical card or digital proof via the Church app)
• Arrive early—temples generally ask attendees to arrive 15–30 minutes before the scheduled start
• Dress appropriately—temple dress codes are specific (modest, formal attire; the temple provides additional garments for some ceremonies)
• Plan to stay the full duration—sessions can't be paused; leaving early is disruptive

During Your Appointment

Temple staff will:

• Verify your recommend and membership status
• Provide any necessary instructions (especially important if it's your first visit)
• Guide you through changing areas and ceremony spaces
• Conduct the ordinance service

Members are expected to be quiet and reverent throughout and to follow all temple protocols and instructions.

After Your Appointment

Sessions end naturally; you're then free to leave. Some people linger briefly, but there's no extended "appointment" after the ceremony concludes. If you have multiple ordinances to perform (for example, endowment and then a sealing), you may coordinate consecutive sessions.

Key Variables That Shape Your Experience

Your temple appointment experience depends significantly on:

Your preparation level: Members who've read temple-related materials and understand basic expectations tend to feel more grounded during their first visit.

Whether it's your first visit: First-time attendees often receive additional orientation and may proceed at a slightly slower pace through ceremonies.

Your group size: Attending alone, with a partner, or with a larger group affects the social dynamic but not the core ceremony.

The specific temple: Architectural layout, staff experience, and local customs vary by location. An appointment at a newly renovated temple may feel different from a historic one, though ordinances themselves are standardized.

Your cultural background and familiarity with LDS practices: Members raised in the Church may have a different sense of familiarity compared to adult converts, affecting comfort level.

When to Schedule Your Appointment

Advance planning is generally wise:

• Peak seasons (December, June–July, Thanksgiving week) can book solid 6–8 weeks ahead
• Off-peak times (January, late August, early September) often have availability within 1–2 weeks
• First-time attendees may want to schedule at a quieter time if possible, as some prefer fewer people around during their initial ceremony
• Regular attendees often find a rhythm—monthly, quarterly, or as life circumstances allow

If you're preparing for a significant event (a wedding sealing, a mission departure, a special family ordinance), planning 2–3 months ahead gives you flexibility in temple choice and date selection.

When Appointments May Be Cancelled or Unavailable

Temples occasionally close for maintenance or renovation, which can span months or years. If your preferred temple is closed, you'll need to schedule at an alternative location.

Extended closure periods are typically announced well in advance, giving members time to adjust their plans.

Individual appointments can be cancelled by:

• Cancelling through the online system or by contacting the temple directly
• Allowing the appointment to expire if you can't attend (policies on this vary)

If you need to cancel or reschedule, doing so as soon as you know allows another member to book that slot.

What You Need to Know Before Booking

Temple recommends expire, so verify your recommend is current before scheduling. If yours has lapsed, you'll need to meet with your bishop and stake president again.

Dress code requirements should be reviewed—the Church provides specific guidance, and temples can refuse entry if attire doesn't meet standards.

Physical accessibility varies by temple. If you have mobility concerns or other accessibility needs, contact your specific temple ahead of time to discuss accommodations.

Children's policies differ by ordinance type. Endowments and sealings have age or recommend requirements; proxy ordinances may have different rules. Check with your temple about what applies to your situation.

Photography and recording are not permitted inside temples.

The Bottom Line

Scheduling an LDS temple appointment is straightforward—most members use online systems or phone booking—but the right timing and location depend on your circumstances. Your first appointment may feel different from routine visits; your availability and flexibility shape which temples and times work for you.

Understanding the basic process, planning ahead for peak seasons, and arriving prepared removes friction and lets you focus on the spiritual purpose of your visit.