BURLEY —The nearly completed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Burley is entering its final stages of construction, with many sections just adding the finishing touches.

Heather Wilson, who serves as the LDS communication director with her husband for the coordinating council in the area, said the temple is still in construction phase. The landscaping on the outside is almost done.

“They’re adding Oakley Stone around the plaza,” she said. “The construction on the inside continues with finishing touches.”

The construction company working on the temple will likely give the keys back to the church in the near future. Wilson expects this to be sometime early next year.

“We’re not sure yet,” Wilson said. “We’re excited and look forward to when that day comes.”

Wilson said they aren’t sure when the temple will officially be completed or when it will open. She said that information will be announced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“There continues to be around 75 construction workers on site,” she said. “That fluctuates depending on what they’re completing at the time.”

The Burley temple will be around 35,000 square feet when it is finished, making it a decent-sized temple.

“It’s much smaller than Pocatello but larger than Twin Falls,” Wilson said.

The community has shown excitement for the temple. Members of the church in the area have come together to provide cookies and lunches for all the workers.

“We’ve had a lot of people taking pictures and posting on our social media,” she said. “That’s been fun for the community as well.”

Dave Wilson, Heather’s husband, said he looks forward to having a temple in Burley because it will make it easier for people in the community to do more temple work.

“People are excited to do temple work,” Dave Wilson said. “Most have been going to Twin Falls. To have a temple in our area, we will be able to do a lot more temple work.”

Heather Wilson said everyone is invited to come to the upcoming open house for the Burley Temple.