Photos: Replica of LDS Churchs Washington D.C. Temple built using 3D scans offers rare look inside

WASHINGTON D.C. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unveiled a new display at the visitors center of their temple in Washington D.C. Saturday, and the 1:48 scale replica of the Washington D.C. Temple is similar to a popular exhibit at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

The model was built using three-dimensional scans of the temples interior and exterior, and the finished model stands at just under 10-feet tall.

According to a press release, portions of the model are open to the exterior in order to depict, Ordinance and sealing rooms and the baptistery. LDS Temples are, Where the highest sacraments of the [LDS] faith occur, such as the marriage of couples and the sealing of families for eternity.

The model offers a look inside a LDS Church temple, which is a semi-unique opportunity. Once dedicated, LDS Church temples are only open to those who hold a temple recommend issued by the LDS Church.

Open houses have been held at LDS Church temples after their construction but prior to the ceremony that is held to dedicate the building for religious use. Temple grounds and visitors centers are generally open to the public.

According to a press release from the LDS Church, local community and religious members attended the special reception held at the temples visitors center Saturday. President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the LDS Churchs First Presidency, attended. Eyrings brother, Elder Harden Eyring, serves with his wifeLoi Anneas the director of the visitors center.

We have been hoping and planning for this temple display for most of the two years my wife and I have been serving here at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center, Elder Harden Eyring stated. Now that it has arrived and is ready for its introduction to the public, we are simply overwhelmed with how beautiful and inspiring it is.

President Henry Eyring spoke about the quality of the construction.

This model is remarkable in the sense that it catches the beauty and I think the feeling of reverence, he stated.

A similar model, a 1:32 scale depiction of the LDS Churchs Salt Lake City Temple, was unveiled at the South Visitors Center on Temple Square in May 2010.

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Photos: Replica of LDS Churchs Washington D.C. Temple built using 3D scans offers rare look inside