Chicago Illinois Temple

Last updated

Chicago Illinois Temple
Chicago Illinois Temple3.jpg
Chicago Illinois Temple
Number35
DedicationAugust 9, 1985, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site13 acres (5.3 ha)
Floor area37,062 sq ft (3,443.2 m2)
Height112 ft (34 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Stockholm Sweden Temple
Chicago Illinois Temple		 →
Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Additional information
AnnouncedApril 1, 1981, by Spencer W. Kimball
GroundbreakingAugust 13, 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Open houseJuly 15 – August 3, 1985
RededicatedOctober 8, 1989, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Current presidentJack D. Ward [1]
Designed byWight & Co and Church A&E Services
Location Glenview, Illinois, United States
Geographic coordinates 42°5′12.6″N87°51′34.2″W / 42.086833°N 87.859500°W / 42.086833; -87.859500
Exterior finishTemple granite
Temple designModern adaptation of six-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms5 (stationary)
Sealing rooms3
NotesRededication in 1989 was for the addition only
( edit )

The Chicago Illinois Temple is the thirty-fifth temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the second of three church temples that have been built in Illinois (The first and the third being the Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo Illinois Temple). The intent to build the temple was announced during a press conference on April 1, 1981, by church president Spencer W. Kimball. [2]

Contents

The temple has six detached spires and a statue of the angel Moroni. Designed by church architectural staff and local architecture firm Wight & Co, [3] the structure is a sister temple to those in Boise, Idaho and the Dallas, Texas. [4] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify beginning of construction, was held on August 13, 1983, conducted by Gordon B. Hinckley. [2]

History

The intent to construct the temple was announced by Spencer W. Kimball on April 1, 1981. [5] Located in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, ground was broken on the site on August 13, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley, a member of the church's First Presidency. [2] The structure itself was constructed in gray buff marble and its roof features gray slate. [6] Architects used a new design, adapting the traditional six-spire design and adding modern motifs. [3]

The construction of the temple faced some pushback from the community due to environmental concerns. [7] Construction was eventually able to proceed. [8] Construction of the temple also allowed local Latter-day Saints to contribute their means, talents, and time. This included children donating pennies, young women making dolls for the temple nursery, and women crocheting and tatting altar cloths. Many hours were donated in helping with the public open house, held July 15 – August 3, 1985, during which over one hundred thousand people toured the temple. [9] Hinckley dedicated the temple on August 9, 1985. [10]

Four years after the dedication, the temple was closed and expanded, which more than doubled its size. [11] The temple now has a total of 37,062 square feet (3,443.2 m2), five ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms.

On December 24, 2008, a frozen sprinkler pipe burst in the ceiling, with water-damaged furniture, carpet and wood trim that all had to be replaced. [11]

In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Chicago Illinois Temple was closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12]

Design and architecture

The building has a modern architectural style, coupled with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. [3] The temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Chicago region and its spiritual significance to the church.

Site

The temple sits on a 13-acre plot, and the landscaping around the temple includes two water features. [4] These elements are designed to provide a tranquil setting that enhances the sacred atmosphere of the site.

Exterior

The structure stands 112 feet tall, [4] constructed with gray buff marble with a gray slate roof. [3] The exterior is characterized by six detached spires and an angel Moroni statue, elements which were each chosen for their symbolic significance and alignment with temple traditions. [4] The design incorporates elements that are reflective of both the local culture and church symbolism.

Interior

The interior features glass-paneled ceilings, ornamental marble, and chandeliers, centered around the celestial room, which is designed to create a spiritually uplifting environment. [13] [14] The temple includes five instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, a baptistry, and a celestial room, each designed for ceremonial use. [2]

Symbols

The design uses elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members. One of the most visible symbolic elements of the temple is its six spires, used in the 1960s and 1980s to emulate the Salt Lake Temple, and the spires also symbolize the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. [15] [16]

Renovations

The temple has undergone several renovations to preserve its structural integrity, update facilities, and enhance its spiritual and aesthetic appeal. The most significant renovation project commenced in 1988.

The renovations of the temple focused on several key areas, including expanding its interior. [13] These changes were made to ensure the temple's compliance with contemporary building standards and to accommodate the evolving needs of church members. The renovations included the relocation of a central tower from the rear exterior to a foyer near the chapel. [13]

The renovated temple was rededicated on October 8, 1989, by Gordon B. Hinckley. [2]

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. [17]

The first president of the Chicago Illinois Temple was Lysle R. Cahoon, with the matron being Betty Jane P. Cahoon. They served from 1985 to 1988. [17] As of 2024, Jack D. Ward is the president, with Sharmon O. Ward serving as matron. [17]

Admittance

When construction was completed, the church held a public open house from July 15-August 3, 1985. The temple was then dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley in 19 dedicatory sessions from August 9-13, 1985. Following the temple’s renovation period, it was rededicated by Gordon B. Hinckley on October 8, 1989. [2] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship. [18]

See also

Midwest USA.png
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonBlue.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonYellow.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonYellow.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonBlue.svg
ButtonRed.svg
ButtonRed.svg
class=notpageimage|
Temples in the United States Midwest ( edit )
  • ButtonRed.svg = Operating
  • ButtonBlue.svg = Under construction
  • ButtonYellow.svg = Announced
  • ButtonBlack.svg = Closed for renovation

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nauvoo Illinois Temple</span> Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 4, 1999, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley during general conference. It is the third temple built in Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London England Temple</span> Church in Surrey, England

The London England Temple is the twelfth operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is located in Newchapel, Surrey, England. Despite its name, it is not located in London or Greater London. The intent to build the temple was announced on August 10, 1953, by the church's First Presidency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Vegas Nevada Temple</span> Latter-day Saint Temple in Nevada

The Las Vegas Nevada Temple is the 43rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple was announced in April 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardston Alberta Temple</span> Historic site in Alberta, Canada

The Cardston Alberta Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cardston, Alberta. It was the eighth temple constructed and is the sixth still in operation. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 12, 1912, by church president Joseph F. Smith, during the church's general conference. It was both the first temple built in Canada and outside the United States. There are four temples in the province of Alberta and ten operated by the church in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Falls Idaho Temple</span> Temple of the LDS Church

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The intent to build the temple was announced on March 3, 1937, by church president Heber J. Grant during the church's general conference. It is the church's tenth constructed and eighth operating temple, the first built in Idaho, and the first built with a modern single-spire design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington D.C. Temple</span> Temple of the LDS church

The Washington D.C. Temple is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Kensington, Maryland, United States, just north of Washington, D.C., near the Capital Beltway. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1968, by church president David O. McKay. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 7, 1968, with the dedication by Spencer W. Kimball on November 9, 1974. The temple was dedicated after an open house that attracted over 750,000 people. The temple was the first built by the church east of the Mississippi River since 1846, when the original Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ogden Utah Temple</span> Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple

The Ogden Utah Temple is the sixteenth constructed and fourteenth operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Ogden, Utah, it was originally built with a modern, single-spire design, similar to the Provo Utah Temple. The temples in Ogden and Provo were designed to be sister temples and are the only ones dedicated by church president Joseph Fielding Smith. The temple became the church’s fifth in Utah, and second along the Wasatch Front, dedicated almost 79 years after the Salt Lake Temple. It was the first to be dedicated in the state of Utah, as the previous ones were dedicated when Utah was still a territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">São Paulo Brazil Temple</span> LDS Temple in São Paulo, Brazil

The São Paulo Brazil Temple is the 19th constructed and 17th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, it was the first Latter-day Saint temple built in South America, and the first to use a single story, single spire design. The spire is 101 feet tall. The intent to build the temple was announced on March 1, 1975, by church president Spencer W. Kimball at an area conference. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on March 20, 1976, conducted by James E. Faust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Washington Temple</span> Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bellevue, Washington

The Seattle Washington Temple is the 21st constructed and 19th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Bellevue, east of Seattle, it was the first to be built in the state of Washington. The temple has a modern single-spire design. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan River Utah Temple</span> Latter-day Saint temple in South Jordan, Utah, United States

The Jordan River Utah Temple is the 20th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in South Jordan, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on February 3, 1978, by church president Spencer W. Kimball during a press conference in the Church Office Building. The temple is the first in the city of South Jordan, the second in Salt Lake County, and as of 2024 is one of thirty in the state of Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boise Idaho Temple</span> Latter-day Saints temple in Boise Idaho

The Boise Idaho Temple is the 29th constructed and 27th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple is located in the city of Boise, Idaho. The intent to build the temple was announced on March 31, 1982, by Gordon B. Hinckley under the direction of church president Spencer W. Kimball during a press conference. The temple was the second to be built in Idaho and is the only Idaho temple dedicated by Hinckley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Michigan Temple</span> LDS Church temple in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

The Detroit Michigan Temple is the 63rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankfurt Germany Temple</span>

The Frankfurt Germany Temple is the 43rd constructed and 41st operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Friedrichsdorf, Germany, it was built with the same general architecture as the six-spire design used in the Boise, Chicago, and Dallas temples, but it was only given a single-spire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Ohio Temple</span> Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio, US

The Columbus Ohio Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It was completed and dedicated in 1999 as the church's 60th operating temple and serves church members living in 16 stakes, covering most of Ohio, but also extending into western Pennsylvania and southwestern West Virginia. The temple is in the western edge of Columbus, adjacent to Interstate 270 just north of its western junction with I-70.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston England Temple</span>

The Preston England Temple is the 52nd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple is located in the town of Chorley, 10 miles (16 km) south of Preston, in Lancashire, England. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 19, 1992 by Gordon B. Hinckley, then serving as first counselor in the First Presidency, during the rededication of the London England Temple. It was the second temple built in Great Britain, and the sixth built in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Massachusetts Temple</span> Temple of the LDS Church

The Boston Massachusetts Temple is the 100th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple</span> Latter-day Saints temple in American Fork, Utah, United States

The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple is the 49th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple is located in American Fork, Utah and is the second temple built in Utah County and the ninth in Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 3, 1992, by Gordon B. Hinckley during the church's general conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple</span>

The Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple is the 104th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Florence, a neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, USA, and formerly an independent city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Oregon Temple</span>

The Portland Oregon Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land near the intersection of Highway 217 and I-5 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 1984 by church president Spencer W. Kimball, during the church's general conference. Dedicated in 1989, the Portland Oregon Temple was the church's first temple in Oregon and the 42nd in the church. Prior to its dedication by Gordon B. Hinckley, over 314,000 people attended the public open house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexico City Mexico Temple</span> Temple of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico City, Mexico

The Mexico City Mexico Temple is the 28th constructed and 26th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intend to build the temple was announced on April 3, 1967, by church president Spencer W. Kimball.

References

  1. ↑ "New Temple Leaders Called to Serve in 2022", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 24, 2022 [26 May 2022], retrieved October 24, 2022
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Chicago Illinois Temple". Church News. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Chicago Illinois Temple". Church News. January 11, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Chicago Illinois Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ "This week in Church history". Church News. January 11, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Illinois Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Ecologists worry Mormon Temple would ruin historic nature preserve". Daily Republican-Register. Associated Press. December 6, 1982. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Cohen, Rena Wish (July 3, 1983). "Naturalists lose battle to Mormons". The Daily Herald (Illinois). Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  9. ↑ Herald, Daily (August 10, 1985). "Mormons dedicate Glenview Temple". The Daily Herald (Illinois). Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ Herald, Daily (August 8, 1985). "New Mormon temple dedication Friday". The Daily Herald (Illinois). Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Taylor, Scott. "LDS Church not just temple-building, but temple-renovating", Deseret News , 27 March 2017. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune , 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 "Addition doubles size of the Chicago temple". Church News. January 30, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Aug 10, 1985, page 15 - The Belleville News-Democrat at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Temple Designs | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Washington D.C. Temple". Church News. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 "Presidents and Matrons of the Chicago Illinois Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.