The Houston Texas Temple is a temple temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Klein, Texas, a suburb of Houston. The intent to build the temple was announced on September 30, 1997, by church presidentGordon B. Hinckley, during general conference. It was the second built in Texas, following Dallas, and is the church's 97th operating temple. The temple has a single spire with a gold statue of the angel Moroni on its top, and was designed by the Spencer Partnership, using a classic modern style combined with traditional Latter-day Saint design.
A groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of construction, was held on June 13, 1998, and was presided over by Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy. The temple was dedicated on August 26, 2000, by Hinckley in three sessions. The structure is 33,970 square feet and includes two ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry.
In 2017, significant flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey severely damaged parts of the temple, leading to a major renovation project. The temple was closed for repairs, and after extensive restoration work, it was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018. During the renovation, 54 new pieces of artwork were added to enhance the spiritual atmosphere of the temple.
After the September 1997 announcement that the LDS Church would build a temple in Houston, the search began for an appropriate site. The site chosen formerly belonged to a developer unwilling to sell. Years earlier, however, the developer had gone through difficult financial times and had made a promise to God that if God would help him avoid financial ruin, he would someday "pay God back". When the developer learned what was proposed to be built on his land, he decided to sell the land as his way of paying God back.[1]
The Houston Texas Temple was modeled after the old Washington Chapel, a historic building dedicated by church president Heber J. Grant at 2810 16th Street NW in downtown in downtown Washington D.C., on November 5, 1933.[2] As the most visible symbol of the Church's presence in the national capital until the dedication of the Washington D.C. Temple in 1974, the Washington Chapel featured the angel Moroni on top of its spire—a symbol typically reserved for temples. In 1977, the Washington Chapel was sold to Columbia Road Recording Studios, who then sold it to the Unification Church.[3][4] The angel Moroni statue was removed before the property transferred hands. The chapel was sold 20 years before the Houston Texas Temple was announced.[4]
Following completion of construction, a public open house, held from August 5 through August 22, 2000, drew approximately 27,800 visitors.[5] Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Houston Texas Temple on August 26, 2000.[6][7] In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused significant flood damage.[8] While the temple had not been in use since August, the church formally announced its closure for renovations in October 2017.[9] Following completion of the renovations, the temple was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018.[10]
In 2020, like all the church's others, the Houston Texas Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
Design and Architecture
The building uses both a classic modern and traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. The temple was designed by the Spencer Partnership in collaboration with the church's in-house architectural team.[12] The temple is on an 8-acre plot, and the landscaping around the temple has gardens and a central fountain.[10][12]
The structure has multiple stories and is constructed with Luna Pearl granite.[12] The exterior has a single spire with a gold angle Moroni statue.[13] The design uses elements that reflect both the local culture and broader church symbolism.[14]
The interior has elegant design elements, centered around a celestial room to create a spiritually uplifting environment. The temple includes two instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry, each arranged for ceremonial use.[10]
The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, to provide deeper spiritual meaning to its appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members, which includes the angel Moroni statue, representing the restoration of the gospel.[13]
Renovations
A significant renovation project started in 2017, following severe flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.[14] On August 26, 2017, floodwaters breached the temple, inundating the basement, main floor, and annex building with over a foot of water. The baptistry was completely submerged, and several inches of water damaged carpets and furniture on the main floor. The second floor remained unaffected. The Church later closed the temple for repairs and refurbishments.[15]
The renovations focused on structural repairs, interior redesign, and the addition of new artwork.[10] The renovation was expedited and was completed in approximately seven months, nearly half the expected duration, and was completed under budget. This swift turnaround was considered “nothing short of a miracle” by church leaders.[10]
The renovated temple was rededicated on April 22, 2018, by M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The rededication ceremony was a single, invitation-only session without the customary open house or cultural celebrations.[16]
This list is incomplete. This list includes items within or related to the U.S. Census Bureau-designed Spring census designated place (CDP) and places outside of the CDP with "Spring, Texas" postal addresses. Items within or related to areas outside of the CDP are italicized. This list does not include places without "Spring, Texas" postal addresses. The community college district has no locations with Spring, Texas addresses but is listed anyway since it broadly serves residents of the CDP and others with "Spring" addresses. The public library has a location outside of the CDP and with a "Spring, Texas" address, Barbara Bush Branch Library, while the nearest library to the CDP is Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library at Mercer Park, which has an "Humble, Texas" address.
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