Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple

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Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple
Mount Timpanogos Temple 1a.png
Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple
Number49
DedicationOctober 13, 1996, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site16.7 acres (6.8 ha)
Floor area107,240 sq ft (9,963 m2)
Height190 ft (58 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Additional information
AnnouncedOctober 3, 1992, by Ezra Taft Benson
GroundbreakingOctober 9, 1993, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Open houseAugust 6 - September 21, 1996
Designed byAllen Erekson, Keith Stepan, and Church A&E Services
Location American Fork, Utah, United States
Geographic coordinates 40°23′34.02960″N111°46′14.12399″W / 40.3927860000°N 111.7705899972°W / 40.3927860000; -111.7705899972
Exterior finishSierra white granite clad temple with art glass windows and bronze doors
Temple designClassic modern, single-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms4 (stationary)
Sealing rooms8
Clothing rentalYes
( edit )
Mt. Timpanogos temple during winter. Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple 1.jpg
Mt. Timpanogos temple during winter.
Mt. Timpanogos temple during lightning storm. TempleLightningMedium.jpg
Mt. Timpanogos temple during lightning storm.

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. [1]

Contents

The temple has a traditional single-spire design, and was designed by Allen Erekson, Keith Stepan, and church architectural staff. [2] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on October 9, 1993, with Hinckley presiding. [1]

History

Announcement

The temple was announced by Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor in the church's First Presidency, in general conference on October 3, 1992. The location, on land in American Fork previously used as a church welfare farm, was announced at the following conference six months later. [3] The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple overlooks the cities of American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Cedar Hills, Highland and Alpine as well as nearby Utah Lake. Mount Timpanogos, the peak from which the temple gets its name, and the Wasatch Mountains serve as a backdrop.

Ground was broken for the temple a year after its announcement. Approximately 12,000 people gathered on the temple site for the ceremony. During the services, the location of the Madrid Spain Temple was announced. [3]

Twenty-thousand people attended a ceremony as the angel Moroni statue was lifted to its resting place on the 190-foot (58 m) spire of the temple in July 1995. Once the statue was in place, the throngs of visitors broke into applause and then spontaneously began to sing The Spirit of God. [3]

A total of 679,217 people toured the temple during the six weeks (August 10 – September 21, 1996) of its public open house. More than 800 children's choirs - made up from nearly every ward and branch in the temple district - performed near the front entrance to the temple at least once during the open house. [4]

Dedication

The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple was dedicated on October 13, 1996 by Hinckley, who was then the church's president. The dedication lasted an entire week with three sessions on Sunday and four on each of the following days for a total of 27.

Before the dedication, Hinckley and his counselors in the First Presidency, Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, applied mortar to the temple's cornerstone. They were followed by Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; W. Eugene Hansen of the Seventy and executive director of the church's Temple Department; Robert J. Matthews, temple president; Stephen M. Studdert, vice chairman of the temple committee; and Hinckley's wife, Marjorie. [5]

A total of 11,617 participated in the first dedicatory session, of which about 2,900 met in the temple. The others attended the session in the American Fork Tabernacle, 12 stake centers in Utah and Wasatch counties, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, locations to where proceedings of subsequent sessions were also transmitted. Like any temple dedication, admittance to the other locations was for worthy members of the church with a ticket from their bishops. Speakers for the first session were Hinckley, Monson, Faust, and Packer. They were each accompanied to the temple by their wives. [5]

About 38,000 attended the three sessions of dedication on the first day. During the week, Hinckley presided over and spoke in 11 dedicatory sessions, including the cornerstone ceremony. Monson and Faust each presided over eight dedicatory sessions, and each spoke in 11 sessions, which included the cornerstone ceremony. A total of 52 general authorities addressed the sessions, as well as the temple presidency and matron. [5]

Design and architecture

The building has a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Allen Erekson, Keith Stepan, and church architectural staff, the temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Mount Timpanogos region and the spiritual significance to the church. [2]

The temple has a total of 107,240 square feet (9,963 m2), four ordinance rooms, and eight sealing rooms. The temple's floor plan is an adaption of the one created for the Bountiful Utah Temple. The temples are nearly identical from the outside, though the spire on each is noticeably different. [1]

Site

The temple sits on a 16.7-acre plot located to the west of its namesake, Mount Timpanogos. [6] The landscaping around the temple features seating areas for visitors. [1] These elements are designed to provide a tranquil setting that enhances the sacred atmosphere of the site.

Exterior

The structure stands 190 feet tall, constructed with sierra white granite. The exterior is characterized by stained glass windows, bronze doors, and single spire, elements which were each chosen for their symbolic significance and alignment with temple traditions. [1]

Interior

The temple includes four ordinance rooms, eight sealing rooms, a celestial room, and a baptistry, each designed for ceremonial use. [2] Symbolic elements are integrated into the design, providing deeper meaning to the temple's function and aesthetics.

Symbols

The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is an important subject to church members. It shares symbolic elements with the Salt Lake and the Nauvoo temples, including sun, moon, and star stones, which represent the three degrees of glory, triple window towers to symbolize the priesthood, and window arch keystones which represent Christ. [7]

Cultural and community impact

The temple has played a role in creating a sense of community in the American Fork region since it was first announced in 1992. Local church members were eager to participate in the creation of the temple. Thousands of people gathered to clean up the temple grounds prior to the open house, [8] and local newspapers created a special edition to commemorate its dedication. This commemorative edition included art, prose, and poetry submissions from readers and church members. [9]

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. [10]

The first president of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple was Robert J. Matthews, with the matron being Shirley N. Matthews. They served from 1996 to 1999. [10] As of 2024, Blaine L. Butler is the president, with Lynn M. Butler serving as matron. [1]

Other notable temple presidents include L. Edward Brown (2008–11) and Noel B. Reynolds (2011–14).

Admittance

When construction was completed, the church announced the public open house that was held from August 6-September 21, 1996 (excluding Sundays). The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley during 27 sessions from October 13–19, 1996. [1] 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. [11]

See also

Temples in Utah ( edit )
Wasatch Front Temples
Temples along the Wasatch Front ( edit )
  • ButtonRed.svg = Operating
  • ButtonBlue.svg = Under construction
  • ButtonYellow.svg = Announced
  • ButtonBlack.svg = Temporarily Closed
( edit )

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple". Church News. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple". Church News. January 11, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mount Timpanogos Utah LDS Temple". LDSChurchTemples.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Mount Timpanogos Temple to Open Doors to Public". deseret.com. Deseret News. May 18, 1996. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 van Orden, Dell (October 19, 1996), "Mount Timpanogos Temple dedicated", Church News
  6. ↑ "Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Aug 14, 1996, page 25 - American Fork Citizen at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  8. ↑ Davis, Kent (August 21, 1996). "He Was Lost and Was Found". Lehi Free Press. p. 54. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ Bezzant, Brett (August 14, 1996). "About This Special Edition..." The Pleasant Grove Review. p. 23. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Presidents and Matrons of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
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