Public to Tour New Temple in Palmyra, New York Open House Scheduled March 25, 27-31, April 1; Dedicatory Services April 6 Public tours of the Palmyra New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been announced. Tours begin Saturday, March 25, 2000 and run through Friday, March 31st. An additional half-day open house will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, April 1st. Latter-day Saint temples are considered "houses of the Lord" where the Savior's teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism, and other sacred ordinances focusing on the eternal potential of family relationships. Palmyra is where Church founder Joseph Smith Jr. had the first of many religious experiences dealing with the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a 14-year-old boy, Joseph Smith retired to a grove of trees to pray to God for guidance. It was there that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared, which would shape one of the world's greatest religious movements. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was later established April 6, 1830 with six people. Today, nearly 11 million people worldwide belong to the Church in 161 countries and territories. Following the public open house, the temple will be formally dedicated Thursday, April 6, 2000, making it the 77th Church temple worldwide. There will be four separate dedicatory sessions. The nearest current temple is located in Toronto, Ontario. A public cornerstone ceremony will be at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 6, 2000 prior to the first dedicatory session. President Gordon B. Hinckley, world leader of the Church, has frequently expressed his desire to make the blessings of the temple more accessible. President Hinckley says 100 temples will be operating this year.