The La'ie Hawai'i Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will close for at least 18 months starting on Dec. 29 to undergo a big renovation.

Along with replacing the roof and exterior windows, temple president H. Ross Workman expects parts of the interior will be upgraded. The project is now out to bid, he said.

And once the work is done, the general public may get a chance to see parts of the interior that are usually open only to members of the church. When the previous major renovation of the temple was finished in 1978, more than 100,000 people toured the temple.

The upcoming temporary closure affects 16 full-time administrators and staff, plus church members who rely on the temple for special rituals, such as "sealing" a marriage for eternity.

The renovation is being handled by the temple department in Salt Lake City, so the estimated cost wasn't available. However, it was expected to cost in the millions.

"Temples are held to an extraordinarily high level of quality, even higher than commercial buildings," said Workman, who's been in the post for more than a year.

"Over time, in tropical areas, these buildings tend to deteriorate. The purpose of the church is to be sure this temple is always at the highest construction standard. That means renovation and upgrades and repairs are going to be necessary to maintain its high quality."

OPEN HOUSE POSSIBLE

Church spokesman Jack Hoag said a major renovation occurs "every several decades." The previous major renovation began in 1976 and added a front entrance, enlarged facilities and ordinance rooms equipped for multimedia presentations.

Such makeovers often create a chance for outsiders to get a rare inside glimpse of the temple.

"Traditionally, there's always been an open house prior to the rededication of the temple," Hoag said, though both he and Workman said they have received no confirmation of that.

In 1978, the last time the La'ie temple was publicly open, 105,505 people passed through its doors over three weeks.

Workman said he was not surprised by the huge number.

"Everybody can come and see the inside of the temple, and learn why people come to the temple, to understand why members of the LDS church think temples are so important," he said. "After a temple is rededicated, it's reserved for qualified purposes. Before it's rededicated, everybody can come."

Jim Hallstrom, a counselor in the Hawai'i Honolulu Mission, recalled the constant lines moving at a regular clip during the last open house.

"It was very well-attended," the La'ie resident said, "and pretty orderly."

Hallstrom remembered many positive comments and "a lot of interest," adding that when the temple opens to "people who don't have the privilege of going, it draws both curiosity seekers as well as members who'd love to have non-member family members take a look."

An ordinance room, the sealing room and a baptismal font for the dead — a room used in the Mormon practice by which ancestors are baptized by proxy — are usually open only to those who have shown themselves to be temple-worthy, Hoag explained.

TEMPLE WORTHINESS

What determines temple-worthiness?

It's reserved for members who not only fully tithe by giving 10 percent of their income to the church, but live the commandments and have shown they are able to "live the word of wisdom," Hoag said, adding that bishops determine temple-worthiness after several screenings and through interviews.

While chapels and stakes on O'ahu remain open as usual for Sunday services, members requiring use of a temple will either "wait 18 months or jump on a plane," Hoag said.

It's not uncommon, especially for those in remote areas, to wait several years to get to a temple.

"Many save up years to go," he said, "and make great sacrifice."

The scheduled closure "is necessary to return the temple to its original beauty, and to bring it up to current temple standards," according to a story released by LDS Church News. "The presidency of the Kona Hawai'i Temple is preparing to accommodate members from the La'ie Hawai'i Temple District during the closure, including those desiring to receive their own ordinances."

Also, a temple rededication is an opportunity for leaders to visit: the late Gordon B. Hinckley, who served as the Mormon church president for 13 years until his death this year, came for Kona's rededication in 2000.

As for what's happening to the paid staffers, Hoag said: "We're studying what to do to assist them."