Photo Gallery: Mormon Temple to Open for Tours

If you've wondered about the spectacular structure on Barfield Road, you now have a brief window of time to take a look inside. 

The Atlanta Georgia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens for free tours on Saturday for two weeks. The 34,000 square foot temple  sits on 13 acres and had been under multi-million dollar renovations since July 2009. 

"As is our practice in the church, if we build a new temple or if we refurbish an existing temple we then have a period of time where we open it to the public," said William R. Walker, considered a General Authority in the church. The former Dunwoody resident now lives in Utah.

"After the Temple is dedicated then it is restricted to members of the church who are devout and who have been recommended by their local eclesiastical leader. So this is a unique opportunity, really the first time in 20 years," he added. 

The Church has 77,000 members in Georgia, and 110 congregations in the Atlanta metro area. There are only 134 Temples in the world.

There is no large sanctuary, rather inside the Atlanta Temple are several small rooms intricately decorated in plush cream or soft colors with custom inlaid carpeting and furnishings. And the walls are decorated with Biblical paintings and gold-trimmed mirrors. 

The Temple will be re-dedicated on May 1. Tours are Satuday through April 23. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays, and 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays. The Temple is located at 6450 Barfield Road.