The Vernal Utah Temple is the 51st Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Temple is the only LDS temple built from a previously existing structure. Initially, this building served as the Uintah Stake Tabernacle in Eastern Utah for Latter-day Saints. The Tabernacle’s foundation was constructed of sandstone with walls built of four layers of fire brick from local clay. Nowadays, the building is the most prominent and popular in Vernal and is considered the finest building in Eastern Utah.

Initially, the Vernal Temple structure was created by Mormon Pioneers as a Latter-day Saint assembly hall during the frontier settlement in Utah’s early years. It was once the most significant building between Denver and Salt Lake City. The building was closed to the public in 1992 due to concerns about the structure’s safety and would likely have been torn down. It was when Vernal citizens and locals chose to preserve it as part of their history. So, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was said to refurbish the entire structure and create a Temple, which cost almost $7 million in the end. As stated before, The Vernal Utah Temple was the first Mormon temple built from an already-existing building. 

This Temple was constructed within the pioneer-built Uintah Stake Tabernacle shell and is considered a historic landmark of the Ashley Valley landscape. The Vernal Utah Temple is located just a couple blocks south of Main Street; travelers along Highway 191 can see the Temple’s domes and the adjacent Vernal Glines Stake Center. Beautiful massive trees and unique colorful flowers on the temple grounds enhance the perfectly captivating architecture of the building. The Vernal Utah Temple is open exclusively for Mormon visitors, but everyone (Mormon or not) is welcome to walk the well-maintained grounds.

420 W 200 S, Vernal, UT 84078 | +1 435-789-3220