Rexburg Idaho Temple

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Rexburg Idaho Temple
Rexburg Idaho Temple at Sunset 2009.jpg
Rexburg Idaho Temple
Number125
DedicationFebruary 10, 2008, by Thomas S. Monson
Site10 acres (4.0 ha)
Floor area57,504 sq ft (5,342.3 m2)
Height169 ft (52 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Rexburg Idaho Temple		 →
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Additional information
AnnouncedDecember 20, 2003, by Gordon B. Hinckley
GroundbreakingJuly 30, 2005, by John H. Groberg
Open houseDecember 29, 2007 – January 26, 2008
Current presidentRyan Merle Kunz
Designed byArchitectural Nexus; Bob Petroff
Location Rexburg, Idaho, U.S.
Geographic coordinates 43°48′38.55240″N111°46′44.71680″W / 43.8107090000°N 111.7790880000°W / 43.8107090000; -111.7790880000
Exterior finishConcrete panels with white quartz rock
Temple designClassic modern, single-spire
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms4 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms5
Clothing rentalYes
NotesFirst temple dedicated by Thomas S. Monson as President of the Church
( edit )

The Rexburg Idaho Temple is the 125th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The intent to build the temple was announced by the First Presidency on December 12, 2003, in a letter to local church leaders. [1] The temple was the third in Idaho, and the first in the state in the 21st century. [2]

Contents

The temple has a single attached end spire with a statue of the angel Moroni. [3] This temple was designed by Bob Petroff and Architectural Nexus, using a classic modern style. [4] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on July 30, 2005, conducted by John H. Groberg. [5]

History

The temple was announced by the First Presidency on December 12, 2003, in a letter to local priesthood leaders. [1] The groundbreaking ceremony, signifying beginning of construction, was held on July 30, 2005, with John H. Groberg presiding, and local church members and community leaders attending. [5]

The temple was dedicated on February 10, 2008 [6] and was the first temple dedicated by Thomas S. Monson as the church's new president. The Rexburg Idaho Temple was the third in Idaho, with a fourth dedicated in Twin Falls later in the year. The temple sits south of the Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) campus on the south side of Rexburg. Prior to its completion, BYU–Idaho was the only university owned by the LDS Churchthat did not have a temple adjacent to its campus. [3]

The designing of this temple differs from others since it was designed by a private firm, not the church's architectural department. This was done because the church wished it to have a fresh new look. [7] The temple has two progressive endowment and five sealing rooms. [8]

On August 30, 2007, it was announced that the temple's open house would begin on December 29, 2007, and run through January 26, 2008. The dedication was scheduled for February 3, 2008; however, due to the death of church president Gordon B. Hinckley and his funeral planned for February 2, 2008, the dedication was postponed one week and was dedicated on February 10 by Monson. [9] Val R. Christensen was the temple's first president.[ citation needed ]

Like much of the city, the temple sits atop a hill, with a shield volcano nearby; making the temple a prominent landmark visible from many parts of the area. [10]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Rexburg Idaho Temple was closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11]

Design and architecture

The building has a classic modern architectural style, coupled with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. [4] Its architecture shows the cultural heritage of the Rexburg region and its spiritual significance to the church. [4] [12] It is on a 10-acre plot adjacent to BYU-Idaho. There is a garden area west of the temple that is open to the public. [3]

The structure stands five stories tall, [3] constructed with precast concrete with a quartz rock finish. [4] The exterior includes 700 art-glass window panes, an element chosen for its symbolic significance and alignment with temple traditions. [4]

The interior features murals by native Rexburg artist, Leon Parson, [2] which depict “the natural beauty of eastern Idaho.” [13] The temple includes a celestial room, a baptistry, four ordinance rooms, and five sealing rooms, each arranged for ceremonial use. [2]

The design uses symbolic elements to provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and includes a wheat stalk motif throughout the art-glass windows, which represents the Rexburg area’s agricultural industry. [3]

Nearby facilities were used for a cultural celebration on February 9, 2008, to commemorate the temple’s dedication. [14] Approximately 2,000 young church members performed in the event, which told the story of the Mormon pioneers who settled the Upper Snake River Valley in 1883. [15]

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. [16]

The first president of the Rexburg Idaho Temple was Val R. Christensen, with Ruth A. Christensen as matron. They served from 2008 to 2010. [16] As of 2024, Ryan M. Kunz is the president, with Ranae H. Kunz serving as matron. [2] [17]

Admittance

On December 22, 2007, the church announced that a public open house would be held from December 29, 2007-January 26, 2008 (excluding Sundays). [18] During the open house, over 200,000 people visited the temple. [2] The temple was initially scheduled to be dedicated on February 3, 2008, [13] but the dedication was delayed due to the death of Gordon B. Hinckley on January 27, 2008. [2] The temple was dedicated in three sessions by newly-named church president Thomas S. Monson on February 11, 2008. [19]

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]

See also

Temples in Eastern Idaho ( edit )

Boise Metro Temples
Temples in Boise Metro ( edit )
Idaho Map
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  • ButtonRed.svg = Operating
  • ButtonBlue.svg = Under construction
  • ButtonYellow.svg = Announced
  • ButtonBlack.svg = Temporarily Closed
( edit )

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References

  1. 1 2 "First Presidency letter to leaders: Rexburg Idaho Temple". Church News. December 27, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rexburg Idaho Temple". Church News. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rexburg Idaho Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rexburg Idaho Temple". Church News. March 12, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Ground broken: Rexburg temple under construction". Church News. August 6, 2005. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ Henderson, Kristi (February 10, 2008), Rexburg Temple Dedication, KPVI News 6, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved February 10, 2008
  7. ↑ "11 Pictures of the Rexburg Temple You Haven't Seen (probably)". LDS Temple Pictures. November 12, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Rexburg Idaho LDS Temple", Portfolio: Religious, Jacobsen Construction, archived from the original on July 13, 2012, retrieved October 16, 2012
  9. ↑ "Temple dedication postponed for funeral". Deseret Morning News . January 29, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Rexburg, ID - North Menan Butte / R-Mountain". www.rexburg.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "Church of Jesus Christ Rexburg Temple". ArchNexus. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Rexburg Idaho Temple Open to Public". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. December 26, 2007. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Shining contrast: Some 2,000 youth celebrate "Come to God's Own Temple, Come"". Church News. February 16, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Youth express their joy in cultural labor of love". Church News. February 16, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Presidents and Matrons of the Rexburg Idaho Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ↑ Tellman, Julia (April 27, 2022). "Local couple called to serve as Rexburg Temple leaders". Teton Valley News. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Rexburg temple to open doors to public visits". Church News. December 22, 2007. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ "LDS dedicate Rexburg Temple". Deseret News. February 11, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
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