SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Six weeks after temporarily closing all of the faith’s temples, the First Presidency announced Thursday that 17 temples will reopen Monday for weddings only, the first of four phases that eventually will lead to full operations at all 168 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The limited opening of temples in Utah, Idaho, Germany and Sweden is the first sign of a return to Latter-day Saint gatherings as the coronavirus pandemic continues to play out. The decision comes after church members fasted twice and prayed continuously for relief from the coronavirus pandemic.

“With profound gratitude to our Heavenly Father that he has heard our prayers, we rejoice in announcing a carefully coordinated, cautious and phased reopening of temples,” the First Presidency said in a letter issued Thursday morning. “With this letter, we are authorizing the reopening of 17 temples” for living husband-and-wife sealing ordinances for previously endowed members. That is Phase 1 for in reopening a temple.

Other temples will reopen as directed by the Temple Department based on local government and public health guidelines.

Read the full story at Deseret.com.