Monticello Utah Temple | ||||
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Number | 53 | |||
Dedication | July 26, 1998, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
Site | 1.33 acres (0.54 ha) | |||
Floor area | 11,225 sq ft (1,042.8 m2) | |||
Height | 66 ft (20 m) | |||
Official website • News & images | ||||
Church chronology | ||||
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Additional information | ||||
Announced | October 4, 1997, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
Groundbreaking | November 17, 1997, by Ben B. Banks | |||
Open house | July 16-18, 1998 | |||
Rededicated | November 17, 2002, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
Designed by | Church A&E Services | |||
Location | Monticello, Utah, United States | |||
Geographic coordinates | 37°52′40.85399″N109°20′49.99560″W / 37.8780149972°N 109.3472210000°W | |||
Exterior finish | Turkish off-white marble | |||
Temple design | Classic modern, single-spire design | |||
Baptistries | 1 | |||
Ordinance rooms | 2 (Movie, two-stage progressive) | |||
Sealing rooms | 2 | |||
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The Monticello Utah Temple is the 53rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Monticello, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 4, 1997, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley during general conference. [1] The temple is the first in San Juan County, and the eleventh in Utah at the time of its dedication. [2]
The temple has a single spire that has a statue of the angel Moroni. It was the first of a new generation of smaller temples announced by Hinckley, with a more compact design to serve Latter-day Saints in remote areas. [3] A groundbreaking ceremony, signifying the beginning of construction, was held on November 17, 1997, conducted by Ben B. Banks. [2]
The Monticello Utah Temple was announced by church president Gordon B. Hinckley on October 4, 1997, during general conference. [2] In the same month, Hinckley announced the building of smaller temples throughout the world to increase access for those in remote areas. Monticello chosen as the site for the first of these. [4]
On November 17, 1997, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on a 1.33-acre property located at 365 North 200 West in Monticello, Utah. [5] The ceremony was presided over by Ben B. Banks, president of the church's Utah South Area, and attended by approximately 2,550 church members and community leaders. [2] The groundbreaking marked the beginning of a rapid construction process, with the temple completed in just eight months and nine days—making it the fastest-built temple in the church's history to that point. [2]
Located at the base of the Abajo Mountains, the temple's exterior is finished in a marble called Noah's Crème. Thirteen thousand tiles used on the temple were evaluated carefully to ensure a uniform effect. [6]
A public open house was held from July 16 to July 18, 1998, during which approximately 20,350 visitors toured the temple. [7] During the open house, an unusual event occurred when thousands of moths covered the temple grounds and walls one morning. As volunteers began cleaning, starlings (that were nesting in unusually large amounts in the area) began to eat the moths, aiding in the cleanup effort, with most moths gone in 20 minutes. [7] The temple was dedicated on July 26, 1998. [8]
Initially, the temple featured a white angel Moroni statue on its spire. However, on May 25, 1999, this was replaced with a taller, gold-leafed version to enhance its visibility against cloudy skies. [9] [10]
In April 2002, the temple began a significant renovation, resulting in an expansion from 7,000 to 11,225 square feet. [11] The expansion added a second ordinance room, a sealing room, and other facilities to better serve patrons. [11] Following a public open house from November 2 to November 9, 2002, the renovated temple was rededicated by Hinckley on November 17, 2002. [2]
At the time of its dedication, the temple served nearly 13,000 church members [12] in the surrounding Utah areas of Monticello, Blanding, Moab, along with areas in Colorado surrounding Durango and Grand Junction. [12] [13]
In 2020, like all the church's others, the Monticello Utah Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [14]
The temple is on a 1.33-acre plot at 365 North 200 West in Monticello, Utah, [2] with surrounding landscaping of gardens and lawns, designed to provide a tranquil setting to enhance the site's sacred atmosphere. The single-story structure was originally constructed with approximately 7,000 square feet of floor space. In 2002, the temple was expanded to 11,225 square feet to better accommodate patron needs. [2]
The exterior has off-white marble imported from Turkey, along with tall art-glass windows from Germany. A spire on a square base is above the center of the temple, originally with a white angel Moroni statue, which was later replaced by a taller, gold-leafed Moroni to improve its visibility against the sky.
The temple's interior includes a celestial room and a baptistry. [2] The 2002 expansion added a second ordinance room and sealing room, as well as a waiting room, administrative offices, and a laundry.
The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint beliefs, to provide spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. This includes the angel Moroni statue which symbolizes the restoration of the gospel and the role of the Book of Mormon in Latter-day Saint theology. The temple is both a place of worship and an architectural landmark in Monticello. [15]
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. Serving from 1998 to 2001, Lisle G. Adams was the first president, with Jewell R. Adams as matron. [16] As of 2024, Scott E. Boyle is the president, with Cassie S. Boyle serving as matron. [17]
On May 16, 1998, the church announced the public open house that was held from July 16 to July 18, 1998, excluding Sundays. The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley on July 26, 1998, in eight sessions. [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]
Temples in Utah ( ) Wasatch Front Temples
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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.
The Bern Switzerland Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was the church's first temple in Europe and the second outside of North America, after the Laie Hawaii Temple. The intent to build the temple was announced on July 1, 1952, by church president David O. McKay.
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 10 August 1953, by the church's First Presidency.
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.
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.
The Newport Beach California Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Newport Beach, California. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 21, 2001, by the church's First Presidency. The temple is the sixth in California.
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 19 October 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.
The Palmyra New York Temple is the 77th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on February 9, 1999. It was the first temple built in New York.
The Boston Massachusetts Temple is the 100th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Lubbock Texas Temple is the 109th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 2, 2000, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, during general conference. The temple is the third in Texas.
The San Antonio Texas Temple is the 120th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on June 24, 2001, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, during a devotional in San Antonio. The temple is the fourth in Texas, following the Dallas, Houston, and Lubbock temples.
The Toronto Ontario Temple is the 44th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced to local leaders on the morning of April 7, 1984, and then referenced by Gordon B. Hinckley, second counselor in the First Presidency, during the general conference session which followed. It was the second temple built in Canada, becoming the first country in the world, outside the United States, to have two temples in its borders.
The Sacramento California Temple is the 123rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced in a news release by the First Presidency on April 21, 2001. The temple was the seventh built by the church in California, more than any state except Utah. The Sacramento California Temple serves a membership which totals approximately 80,000 in the area.
The Redlands California Temple is the 116th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to construct the temple was announced April 21, 2001, by the church's First Presidency. The temple is the fifth in California. The temple has a single attached spire with a statue of the angel Moroni. The temple was designed by Lloyd Platt & Associates with associate firm Higginson & Cartozian, showcasing a Southern California traditional architectural style. A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on December 1, 2001, conducted by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
The Draper Utah Temple is the 129th temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was dedicated by church president Thomas S. Monson on March 20, 2009, with additional sessions also held through March 22. The intent to build the temple was announced by church president Gordon B. Hinckley on October 2, 2004, during the church's general conference. Prior to the dedication, the temple was open to the public from January 15, 2009 through March 14, 2009.
The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in South Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 1, 2005, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, during general conference. South Jordan was the world's first city with two church temples. The temple was the fourth in the Salt Lake Valley and the 13th in Utah.
The Twin Falls Idaho Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Twin Falls, Idaho, just south of the Snake River Canyon. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 2, 2004, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, during general conference. It became the fourth Latter-day Saint temple in the state when it was dedicated in August 2008 and the second dedicated in Idaho that year. As pf 2009, at an approximate height of 159 feet (48 m), it was the tallest building in Twin Falls.
The Gila Valley Arizona Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Arizona town of Central, between the communities of Pima and Thatcher. The intent to build the temple was announced in a press release on April 26, 2008, by the church's First Presidency. The temple is the third in Arizona.
The Brigham City Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brigham City, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 3, 2009, by church president Thomas S. Monson, during general conference. It is the fourteenth temple of the LDS Church completed in Utah.
The Payson Utah Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Payson, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced in a news release on January 25, 2010, by church president Thomas S. Monson. The temple is located on the southernmost edge of Utah's Wasatch Front, and is the state's 15th temple.