When God appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush, he told Moses to remove his shoes because he was on sacred ground.
When LDS people attend a sealing, they are asked to remove their shoes and either wear socks or wear booties. When a temple open house occurs, the general public puts booties over their shoes, and I’ve been told this is to keep the carpet clean from so many people. I’ve noticed temple workers wear white shoes, but these shoes aren’t out in the public getting dirty either.
Concerning this issue of removing shoes for a temple sealing, is it because we are on sacred temple grounds, or is it merely to keep the carpets clean?
Wheat & Tares 
I think you are trying to create something out of nothing?! Many years ago i worked at the London temple and when the carpets were replaced patrons were asked to remove their shoes, but after a few months the policy was changed as people’s sweaty feet were damaging the carpets. When i was sealed i do not remember being asked to remove my outdoor shoes and three-years-ago when my daughter was sealed i wasn’t asked to do so then either. So, the answers to your question is – to keep the carpets clean. Maybe different temples have their own policy? Maybe you should ask the next time you go?
Beverley, I remember that too. For years we had to remove shoes – every time I went to do baptisms as a teen, before they realised the sweat was literally rotting the carpets. Not been asked to remove shoes anywhere in the temple since. They aren’t worn in the font obviously.
I think it’s likely a combination of both symbolic and pragmatic concerns. Clearly, removal of shoes is a ritual part of the endowment ceremony, so that symbolism of that is certainly part of temple worship. On the other hand, placing coverings on the shoes of guests during an open house is much more likely to be for purely practical reasons.
Interesting to hear about London. I have been to sealings in Salt Lake, American Fork, Bountiful, Jordan River, St. George, Logan, Denver, San Diego and have been required to take off shoes.
When I was young, we were told on temple trips that we should remove our shoes because the temple is a holy place. That is what I did; I took my shoes off directly after entering the temple, even before showing my recommend.
In my currently nearest temple, I show my recommend and then go into a room in the side where I can leave my shoes and coat. The only shoes people wear in the temple, are the white shoes temple workers have, and patrons may use the shoe-like things that are also a part of our ceremonial apparel.
Now when there is snow outside, it would be stupid to let people walk on the carpets with their wet shoes.
One of my first memories was of the little booties I put on when I went through the Boise Idaho Temple open house. I was five.