Visiting the Mormon Temple in Atlanta, GA: What to Know About the Atlanta Georgia Temple

If you’ve heard people in Atlanta talk about a “Mormon temple” and you’re curious what it is, where it is, or whether you can visit, they’re almost always referring to the Atlanta Georgia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often informally called the Mormon Church).

This guide explains how the temple in Sandy Springs (north of Atlanta) works, who can go inside, what visitors can see, and how it connects to everyday church life in the Atlanta area.

The Atlanta Georgia Temple at a Glance

Official name: Atlanta Georgia Temple
Religious organization: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Common local name: Mormon Temple in Atlanta
Location: 6450 Barfield Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
(Just east of GA-400, north of I-285, in the north Atlanta metro)

Quick overview

The Atlanta Georgia Temple is:

• A sacred worship space for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Separate from regular Sunday church buildings, which are called meetinghouses or chapels.
• Not generally open for public tours inside, except for special occasions (such as a public open house after a major renovation).
• Located in a quiet, landscaped area that many people in the Perimeter / Sandy Springs / Dunwoody area pass by without realizing what it is.

Temple vs. Church Building: What’s the Difference in Atlanta?

If you’re new to Latter-day Saint terminology, it helps to distinguish between:

1. Temples (like the Atlanta Georgia Temple)

Temples are considered the most sacred buildings in the faith. For the Atlanta area:

• The Atlanta Georgia Temple is used for:
  • Marriage ceremonies (called sealings)
  • Baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors
  • Other special religious ordinances
• Only members of the Church in good standing with a temple recommend (a form of religious clearance) may enter the interior once it’s dedicated.
• Dress inside is modest and formal, with specific white clothing used for ceremonies.

2. Meetinghouses / Chapels (common all around metro Atlanta)

These are the regular church buildings where anyone can attend:

• Weekly Sunday worship services
• Youth activities, social events, and community gatherings
• Bible and scripture study classes

You’ll find Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in and around Atlanta, Decatur, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Peachtree City, Douglasville, Lawrenceville, and other suburbs. These are typically labeled “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” on their signs.

➡️ If you’re simply looking to attend a Mormon church service in Atlanta, you do not go to the temple. You’d go to a local meetinghouse instead.

Where Exactly Is the Mormon Temple in Atlanta?

Address and surroundings

Atlanta Georgia Temple
6450 Barfield Road NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Locally, the temple is:

• Just east of GA-400 (near the Hammond Drive / Glenridge Connector area)
• North of I-285, in the Perimeter business district region
• Close to office parks, hotels, and major employers along GA-400

The temple grounds sit back from Barfield Road and are fairly quiet, with landscaped lawns, trees, and a prominent spire. Many Atlanta residents only see the temple from a distance while driving near the Perimeter.

Can the Public Visit the Atlanta Georgia Temple?

Outside: Grounds and general access

The grounds around the Atlanta Georgia Temple are typically:

• Open to the public to walk around respectfully
• Quiet and often used by members and visitors for personal reflection, photos of the exterior, or peaceful walks

Common expectations:

• Keep noise low (no loud music or disruptive behavior)
• Dress casually but respectfully
• Treat the property as you would any other religious site or place of worship

Many locals stop by just to see the architecture, enjoy a quiet moment, or walk the pathways.

Inside: Who can enter the temple?

Once a temple is formally dedicated, entrance is more restricted:

• Inside access is limited to:
  • Baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Who hold a current temple recommend (obtained through an interview with local church leaders)
• Non-members and members without a temple recommend:
  • Can’t enter the interior areas used for ordinances
  • Are welcome to visit chapels/meetinghouses elsewhere and learn more

Special open houses

On rare occasions—such as:

• A major renovation
• A new temple being completed

The Church may host a public open house, where anyone can tour the interior before it is re-dedicated. This happened in the past in Atlanta when the temple was renovated.

If you’re hoping for a full tour, you have to wait for one of these open house periods, which are not frequent. When they do happen, they are usually widely announced through:

• Local announcements at Latter-day Saint chapels
• Notices from the Church’s official channels
• Word-of-mouth in faith communities

What Happens Inside the Atlanta Georgia Temple?

From an Atlanta resident’s or visitor’s point of view, it may help to know in general terms what the building is used for, without getting into the sacred details that members consider private.

Members use the temple for:

• Marriage and family ceremonies (sealings)
  • Couples are married (“sealed”) for time and eternity.
  • Families can be united in religious ceremonies believed to continue beyond this life.
• Baptisms for deceased ancestors
  • Members perform proxy baptisms on behalf of ancestors who died without receiving these ordinances, as part of their belief in giving everyone an opportunity to accept or reject gospel teachings in the afterlife.
• Instruction and covenants
  • Members participate in ceremonies where they make promises (covenants) to live certain principles, strengthen their relationship with God, and receive spiritual instruction.

Unlike many churches around Atlanta, the temple does not host regular Sunday worship services. Those happen in local Latter-day Saint chapels.

How Local Latter-day Saints Use the Atlanta Temple

Members from across Atlanta and much of Georgia travel to the Sandy Springs temple regularly.

From a local standpoint:

• Members in intown Atlanta (Midtown, Decatur, Grant Park, etc.) may drive 20–40 minutes, depending on traffic.
• Members in suburbs like Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville, or Peachtree City often plan scheduled trips, especially for family ceremonies.
• Many members treat temple attendance as a regular spiritual habit, visiting monthly or more often if distance allows.

Latter-day Saint congregations in Georgia are organized into:

• Wards and branches (local congregations)
• Stakes (regional groupings, similar to dioceses)

Multiple stakes from across north Georgia, central Georgia, and sometimes neighboring states are assigned to the Atlanta Georgia Temple.

If You’re Curious or Want to Learn More in Atlanta

If you see the Atlanta Georgia Temple from the highway or hear about “the Mormon temple” and want to understand the faith better, you have several local options:

1. Visit a nearby Latter-day Saint meetinghouse

These buildings are:

• Open to the public for Sunday services
• Spread throughout metro Atlanta: in the city, suburbs, and surrounding communities
• Labeled on exterior signs as “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”

What to expect:

• Sunday services generally last about 1–2 hours.
• You can usually just walk in at the posted time; visitors are common.
• Dress is typically business casual to semi-formal, but visitors are not turned away for dressing more casually if they are respectful.

If you mention to local members that you’re curious about the temple, they can explain:

• Basic beliefs about temples
• The difference between temples and chapels
• Whether there are any upcoming open-house-style events at the temple or nearby visitor-focused activities

2. Ask local missionaries or church members

In many areas of Atlanta, you may see missionaries (often young adults with name tags). They can:

• Answer general questions about the temple and beliefs
• Direct you to the closest meetinghouse or activity
• Help you understand how temple worship fits into daily life for local members

Practical Tips for Visiting the Temple Grounds

If you’re planning a simple, respectful visit to the temple exterior while you’re in the Atlanta area, here are some practical notes:

• ✅ Parking:
  There is usually on-site parking for members and visitors coming to the grounds. At busy times (such as large weddings), parking may be more limited but is generally manageable.

• ✅ Best times to visit:

  • Weekdays during daylight hours are often quietest.
  • Weekends may be busier due to weddings and scheduled temple sessions.

• ✅ Photography:

  • Taking photos of the exterior and grounds is generally acceptable.
  • Be considerate of wedding parties and families who may be taking their own photos.

• ✅ Behavior expectations:

  • Keep conversations polite and low-volume.
  • Avoid activities that would feel out of place at a house of worship (loud music, sports, littering, etc.).

• ✅ Children and families:

  • Families often bring children to walk around the grounds.
  • Just be mindful that it’s considered a reverent space, not a playground.

Simple Reference: Atlanta Georgia Temple Basics

How This Fits into Atlanta’s Religious Landscape

Atlanta is home to a wide variety of faith communities, and the Atlanta Georgia Temple is one of the more visually distinctive religious buildings in the region, especially in the north metro.

For Atlanta residents and visitors:

• It adds to the diverse religious architecture you’ll see alongside churches, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship.
• It can be a point of interest if you’re exploring north Atlanta or staying near the Perimeter Center / Sandy Springs business area.
• It serves as a spiritual hub for Latter-day Saints from across Georgia and nearby states, even though daily worship life for members happens mostly in local meetinghouses closer to where they live.

If your question is simply, “Is there a Mormon temple in Atlanta, GA, and can I visit?”, the short local answer is:

• Yes, the Atlanta Georgia Temple is located in Sandy Springs, just north of central Atlanta.
• You are welcome to visit the grounds and enjoy the peaceful outdoor setting.
• Inside access is reserved for Latter-day Saints with a temple recommend, except during rare public open houses.
• If you’re interested in attending services or learning more, you’ll want to visit a nearby Latter-day Saint meetinghouse rather than the temple itself.