7 more Latter-day Saint temples in Utah reopen for limited youth attendance

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SALT LAKE CITY — Youth members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can resume temple attendance in seven more of Utah's temples, starting Monday.

Fifteen of the temples in the Beehive State have reopened to phase 2-B of the church's reopening plan, meaning the baptistry has been opened up to small groups with a special focus on those with limited-use temple recommends, which are often given to youth.

Latter-day Saints perform ordinances inside the temple, like baptisms, on behalf of dead individuals, with the belief this practice is essential to their salvation.

With the font reopened under this new phase, baptisms for the dead can resume. The ordinance is typically done by youth members of the church starting at age 11.

Temples in phase 2-B are still open for all living ordinances under phase 2, with some restrictions. On Monday, the fonts opened in the Cedar City Utah Temple, Manti Utah Temple, Payson Utah Temple, Provo City Center Temple, Provo Utah Temple, Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple and the Vernal Utah Temple.

The baptismal font is now open in the following Utah temples: