Copenhagen Denmark Temple

Last updated
Copenhagen Denmark Temple
Mormon Tempel Copenhagen.jpg
Copenhagen Denmark Temple
Number118
Dedication23 May 2004, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site0.6 acres (0.24 ha)
Floor area25,000 sq ft (2,300 m2)
Official website News & images
Church chronology

Accra Ghana Temple

Copenhagen Denmark Temple

Manhattan New York Temple
Additional information
Announced17 March 1999, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Groundbreaking24 April 1999, by Spencer J. Condie
Open house29 April 15 May 2004
Current presidentEric Ottesen [1]
Designed byArcito
Location Frederiksberg, Denmark
Geographic coordinates 55°41′33.63720″N12°32′2.112000″E / 55.6926770000°N 12.53392000000°E / 55.6926770000; 12.53392000000
Exterior finishOriginal brick and columns of meetinghouse dedicated in 1931
Temple designNeo-classical, detached single-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms2
( edit )

The Copenhagen Denmark Temple is the 118th [2] operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is located in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. Originally built in 1931 as the Priorvej Chapel, the building served as a meetinghouse, a World War II air-raid shelter, and the site that housed the church's first stake in Scandinavia before being converted into a temple. The intent to convert the building into a temple was announced on March 17, 1999, and the site was dedicated the following month. Following construction, a public open house was held from April 29 to May 15, 2004, with more than 25,000 visitors touring the building. It was dedicated on May 23, 2004, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley.

Contents

The temple uses neo-classical architecture, retaining its redbrick façade and original front entrance while adding other elements like as a copper-clad dome above the celestial room, a reflecting pool, and gardens. Inside, it has two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry, with handcrafted furnishings and art-glass windows. The building stands on a site of less than one acre and was redesigned under the direction of the firm Arcito. [3]

History

Latter-day Saint missionaries first arrived in Copenhagen in 1850, making Denmark the first Scandinavian country to have church missionaries. [4] [5] The first branch began in September of the same year. [5] Within a few years, hundreds of Danes had joined the church, and emigration to Utah became a defining feature of early Danish Latter-day Saint history. [4] [5]

The Priorvej Chapel in Frederiksberg was constructed and was dedicated by John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on June 14, 1931. [2] . During World War II, the chapel was used as an air-raid shelter. [6] [7] In 1974, it became the site of the first stake in Scandinavia.

The intent to convert the meeting house to a temple was announced by the church's First Presidency on March 17, 1999. [8] [2] Rather than holding a traditional groundbreaking ceremony (due to the site being converted from a meetinghouse to a temple), the site was dedicated by Spencer J. Condie, president of the church's Europe North Area, on April 24, 1999, with nearly 700 in attendance. [2] [3]

During renovation, unexpected structural challenges—including a high water table—forced redesign. Changes included the demolition of auxiliary buildings, relocation of the baptismal font underground beneath a skylight, and the addition of a copper-clad dome over the celestial room. The exterior redbrick façade was preserved, and granite steps, a reflecting pool, and gardens were added. [2] [9] The angel Moroni statue was installed on top of the detached steeple on August 15, 2003. [10]

After construction was completed, a public open house was held from April 29 to May 15, 2004, with approximately 25,510 visitors attending. Church missionaries received over 1,000 referrals, and an eight-foot replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue was placed in the entry hall. [2] [9] [11] [12] During a special tour given to the occupants of apartments around the temple, a local resident said that the building was more beautiful due to fitting into the buildings around them, making it belong. [2]

The temple was dedicated in four sessions on May 23, 2004, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley. Russell M. Nelson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, also spoke at the dedication. Around 3,400 members from Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland participated. [2] At the time, the temple districted included the Aarhus and Copenhagen stakes in Denmark, the Göteborg and Malmö stakes in Sweden, and the Iceland District. [3]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [13] It later reopened in phases, resuming normal operations in April 2022. [14]

Design and architecture

The temple combines neo-classical architecture with adaptive reuse of the 1931 Priorvej Chapel. [2] [11] Located on a plot smaller than an acre in Frederiksberg, the site includes granite steps, a reflecting pool, and private gardens, enclosed by a brick wall. [2] [11]

The exterior preserves the chapel’s original redbrick façade and entrance. [2] A porch with four pillars frames the entry, designed to appear like Solomon’s temple, while a detached spire is behind the main structure. [2] [9] On August 15, 2003, a gold-leafed angel Moroni statue was put on the steeple. [10]

The 25,000-square-foot interior includes two endowment rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry. [2] [11] Handcrafted furnishings, art-glass windows, murals depicting local landscapes, and a copper-clad dome above the celestial room are also included. [2] [9] [27] A skylight above the baptistry allows natural light to illuminate the baptismal font, which is supported by twelve fiberglass oxen. [9] [11]

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically 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. [15]

Serving from 2004 to 2007, Dee V. Jacobs was the first president, with Kay P. Jacobs serving as matron. [16] [17] As of 2024, the temple president and matron are Glen T. Helmstad and Ingegärd Ce. Helmstad. [18] [19]

Admittance

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. [20] [21]

See also

References

  1. "New Temple Leaders Called to Serve in 2022", Newsroom, LDS Church, 24 October 2022 [26 May 2022], retrieved 24 October 2022
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Copenhagen Denmark Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  3. 1 2 3 Archives, Church News (2010-03-02). "Copenhagen Denmark Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  4. 1 2 Williams, Spencer (2019-05-23). "A look at the Copenhagen Denmark Temple on its 15th anniversary". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  5. 1 2 3 "BYU Studies". byustudies.byu.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  6. "Denmark: Chronology". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  7. Bosworth, Bridget (2014-04-10). "5 Things to Know about the Church in Denmark". LDS Living. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  8. "Copenhagen Denmark Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Copenhagen Denmark Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  10. 1 2 Toronto, Judith (2003-08-23). "Denmark temple crowned wtih statue". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Archives, Church News (2004-05-29). "Copenhagen Denmark Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  12. "Facts about the Copenhagen Denmark Temple". Deseret News. 2004-05-29. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  13. 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.
  14. Taylor, Scott (2022-06-24). "Temple reopening status tracker — through June 24". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  15. "2024 Temple Leadership Assignments". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  16. Archives, Church News (2004-03-20). "New temple president". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  17. Archives, Church News (2007-08-04). "New temple presidents". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  18. Walton, Valerie (2024-03-15). "Learn about 16 couples called to serve as temple presidents and matrons — from Manitoba to Mexico". Church News. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  19. "2024 Temple Leadership Assignments". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  20. "Locations of Temples in Africa and Europe Released". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  21. "Copenhagen Denmark Temple". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2025-08-29.