Mormon temple in LA closed as white substance found

At about 3:30 p.m., a hazardous-materials team was sent to the temple at Santa Monica Boulevard and Overland Avenue, said LAPD Officer Karen Smith.

The temple has recently been the site of protests by opponents of Proposition 8, though it is not clear whether the envelope was related to protests over the gay marriage ban, officials said.

"It is unknown who it's from or who it's addressed to, or any of that," Smith said.

Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said agents were on the scene.

A similar letter was received at the Salt Lake City Mormon Temple at about 3:30 p.m. local time today, according to Juan Becerra, a spokesman for the FBI's Salt Lake City field office.

"Our hazmat team as well as Salt Lake City Fire Department responded, collected the evidence, and it is now at the lab," he said.