During the April 2021 General Conference, church president Russell M. Nelson announced plans for a temple in Eugene, Oregon. This was one of 20 new temples announced worldwide, the most ever announced by the church on a single day.[13][14] At the time, Oregon had approximately 154,000 church members in over 300 congregations.[7] Its name, the “Willamette Valley Oregon Temple,” was announced on September 2, 2021, the same day the site location and architectural rendering were released.[15][16]
Site and design
The temple site is a 10.5-acre property at the intersection of International Boulevard and Corporate Way in Springfield.[10][17] The exterior rendering released depicted a single-story white structure with a layered wall design, a central arch entrance, landscaped walkways, and a single spire above the main entrance.[15][17] The building will include two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry, with a total floor area of approximately 30,000 square feet.[18][19]
Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 29, 2022, with Valeri V. Cordón, a church genearl authority, presiding.[20][21] The invitation-only event included local church leaders, members, and city officials.[22][23] In the dedicatory prayer, Cordón expressed hope that the temple would serve as “a beacon of hope and peace that inspires this community to come unto Christ, even in its construction phase,” and honored both early and present church members in Oregon.[9] Construction began October 31, 2022, with an anticipated duration of two to three years.[23][24][25]
Open house and dedication
The Church announced a public open house from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, May 9, 2026, excluding Sundays.[12][26] A media day will precede the open house on April 20, 2026, followed by two days of tours for invited guests on April 21–22.[27] The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with a 2:00 p.m. rebroadcast for congregations throughout the temple district.[27]
Temple leadership and admittance
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.[28][28] The first president and matron will be Gregory L. Stevens and Christina L. Stevens.[29]
As construction is completed, a public open house will be held.[26][27] 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.[5]
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