The Tokyo Japan Temple was announced to a very grateful crowd of Japanese members at an area conference in 1975. Despite the mission being closed for 24 years in the middle of the 20th century, missionary work was very successful after the war, and membership shot up from 8,000 to 50,000 very quickly by the time the temple was dedicated.

The recent renovation (2017-2022) beautified the interior and exterior of the building with culturally relevant patterns, and materials. Two stone lanterns sit on the grounds representing guides for spirits on their way.

Listen along to the episode to hear Janelle’s experience at this beautiful temple!

Announcement:  9 August 1975

Construction Commencement:  10 April 1978 (no groundbreaking ceremony)

Dedication:  27–29 October 1980 by Spencer W. Kimball

Rededication:  3 July 2022 by Henry B. Eyring

Site:  1.22 acres  |  0.5 hectares

Architectural Features:  Single attached end spire with an angel Moroni statue added in 2004

Ordinance Rooms:  Two instruction rooms, five sealing rooms, and one baptistry

Total Floor Area:  Originally 52,590 sq ft 53,997 square feet  |  5,016 square meters

Height:  178 feet 4 inches  |  54.4 meters

#churchofjesuschristtemples #templesofutah #temple #ldstemples #podcast #everytemplepodcast #lds #ldstemples #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #churchhistorymatters #church #podcast #gordonbhinckley #russellmnelson

The Sao Paulo Brazil Temple is the first temple built in South America, President Kimball announced that there would be a temple built there at the beginning of an area conference. Church members were so excited they donated and sacrificed a lot to contribute to the construction, some even volunteered to make over 50,000 cement blocks for the exterior. The motto for the city is "I am not led, I lead" which is just fantastic. listen along with us as we talk (with a special guest) about the history of the temple in Sao Paulo!

Announcement:  1 March 1975

Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:  20 March 1976 by James E. Faust

Public Open House:  September 1978

Dedication:  30 October–2 November 1978 by Spencer W. Kimball

Public Open House:  17 January–14 February 2004

Rededication:  22 February 2004 by Gordon B. Hinckley

Site:  1.85 acres  |  0.7 hectares

Ordinance Rooms:  Two instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, and one baptistry

Total Floor Area:Originally 51, 279 sqft  59,246?? 55K square feet  |  5,504 square meters

Height:  101 feet  |  30.8 meters

#churchofjesuschristtemples #templesofutah #temple #ldstemples #podcast #everytemplepodcast #lds #ldstemples #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #churchhistorymatters #church #podcast #gordonbhinckley #russellmnelson

The Washington D.C. Temple is a monument of enlightenment. That is the word revealed to the architect when he feverishly put pencil to paper and designed this beautiful building. It has remarkably beautiful white Alabama Marble all around the outside and some stunning stained glass panels that go from the ground all the way to the top of the building on the ends. The marble exterior is in some places shaved to almost half an inch, which actually allows light to filter through it and helps illuminate the interior. Betty Ford came to the open house as a special guest in 1974 and requested a photo with President Spencer W Kimball. 

Janelle shared this article about a special new painting that hangs in the temple since the 2022 rededication. 

Announcement:  15 November 1968

Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:  7 December 1968 by Hugh B. Brown

Dedication:  19–22 November 1974 by Spencer W. Kimball

Rededication:  14 August 2022 by Russell M. Nelson

Site:  52 acres  |  21.0 hectares

Exterior Finish:  Reinforced concrete sheathed in 173,000 square feet of Alabama white marble

Architectural Features:  Six attached spires with an angel Moroni statue

Ordinance Rooms:  Six instruction rooms, ten sealing rooms, and one baptistry and an assembly hall

Total Floor Area:  156,558 square feet  |  14,545 square meters

Height:  288 feet  |  87.8 meters

#churchofjesuschristtemples #templesofutah #temple #ldstemples #podcast #everytemplepodcast #lds #ldstemples #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #churchhistorymatters #church #podcast #gordonbhinckley #russellmnelson

The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple was one of the busiest temples in the church. Neighbor to Brigham Young University and the Missionary Training Center, it ran 50 session per day from 5:30am to 10:30pm. In 2021 President Nelson announced that the temple would be closed for demolition and rebuilt in a new, modern fashion. It is scheduled to be finished in 2027, we anxiously await it's reopening.

Announcement:  14 August 1967

Site Dedication:  15 September 1969 by Joseph Fielding Smith

Groundbreaking:  15 September 1969 by Hugh B. Brown

Public Open House:  10–29 January 1972

Dedication:  9 February 1972 by Joseph Fielding Smith (read by Harold B. Lee)

Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, six ordinance rooms, 12 sealing rooms.

Total floor area: 130,825 square feet.

Dimensions: 200 feet by 184 feet; 175 feet high with a 118-foot spire on top of the building. with a Moroni added in 2003

#churchofjesuschristtemples #templesofutah #temple #ldstemples #podcast #everytemplepodcast #lds #ldstemples #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #churchhistorymatters #church #podcast #gordonbhinckley #russellmnelson

The Ogden Utah Temple was the first Temple built in the STATE of Utah, almost 80 years after Salt Lake City was finished. Built to be as efficient as possible (6 instruction rooms) it out-performed all other Utah temples combined in the first month of operation! In 2010 a major renovation was announced to change the exterior of the temple, and it was rededicated in 2014. Please check out our instagram to see if you can spot the differences of the temple before and after!

Announcement:  24 August 1967

Site Dedication:  8 September 1969 by Joseph Fielding Smith and Alvin R. Dyer

Groundbreaking:  8 September 1969 by Hugh B. Brown

Dedication:  18–20 January 1972 by Joseph Fielding Smith

Rededication:  21 September 2014 by Thomas S. Monson

Site:  9.96 acres  |  4.0 hectares

Exterior Finish:  Granite, quarried and fabricated in China

Ordinance Rooms:  Six instruction rooms, nine sealing rooms, and one baptistry

Total Floor Area:Originally 130,000- now  112,232 square feet  |  10,427 square meters

Height:  188 feet 8 inches  |  57.5 meters

#churchofjesuschristtemples #templesofutah #temple #ldstemples #podcast #everytemplepodcast #lds #ldstemples #latterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist #mormon #churchhistorymatters #church #podcast #gordonbhinckley #russellmnelson

Another Bonus Episode with Olivia, we go through each of the newly announced temples and talk about where they are and how they will benefit the saints in those regions.

The Oakland California Temple is a gem in the bay area, it literally and figuratively lights up the neighborhood, and we have a lovely guest to talk about her love for this temple, and all temples. The Oakland Temple has a large inter-stake center next door that hosts over 1,000 events a year, and was once used by the Golden State Warriors as a practice facility -- we think. Anyway, please listen and if you learn something share the podcast with a friend.

Announcement:  23 January 1961

Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:  26 May 1962 by David O. McKay

Dedication:  17–19 November 1964 by David O. McKay

Rededication:  16 June 2019 by Dallin H. Oaks

Site:  18.1 acres  |  7.3 hectares

Architectural Features:  Central spire surrounded by four smaller spires

Ordinance Rooms:  Four instruction rooms, seven sealing rooms, and one baptistry

Total Floor Area:  80,157 square feet  |  7,447 square meters

Height:  170 feet  |  51.8 meters

The London England Temple is actually located in a rural area 25 miles south of London. The grounds include stunning gardens, an very ancient oak tree, a distribution center, and an old Manor House! Moroni was not installed until 2008. This was the first temple in the United Kingdom.

Announcement:  10 August 1953
Dedication:  7–9 September 1958 by David O. McKay
Rededication:  18–20 October 1992 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Ordinance Rooms:  Four instruction rooms, eight sealing rooms, and one baptistry
Total Floor Area: Originally 34,000 sqft. Now  42,652 square feet  |  3,962 square meters
Height:  156 feet  |  47.5 meters

The theme of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple and the neighboring Church College of New Zealand (1958-2009) is "Build for Eternity". The temple and the school were built by labor missionaries, these are young individuals and families who consecrated their lives for 2 years to building these projects. And their efforts have eternal effects and reach far beyond what we can comprehend. The people of New Zealand and the South Pacific were so incredibly grateful to have access to a temple.

Announcement:  17 February 1955
Dedication:  20–22 April 1958 by David O. McKay
Rededication:  16 October 2022 by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Site:  35 acres  |  14.2 hectares
Ordinance Rooms:  Two instruction rooms, five sealing rooms, and one baptistry
Total Floor Area:  45,251 square feet  |  4,204 square meters
Height:  156 feet  |  47.5 meters

This temple is a BIG deal. It is the second biggest temple the church has built. The first temple to plan for a parking lot! A Moroni that is totally unique to this temple!

And you gotta check out these oxen. (you know how I love the oxen)

Church members in California fundraised over 1.6 million dollars to help with the cost of the temple.

"Head Architect Edward O. Anderson next explained that the temple was seven years in the making—three and a half to design and three and a half to build. “Never have I enjoyed anything so much,” he affirmed."

Check out the ebook I used for research: Beacon on a Hill, the Los Angeles Temple

https://rsc.byu.edu/book/beacon-hill

Announcement:  6 March 1937
Public Open House:  19 December 1955–18 February 1956
Dedication:  11–14 March 1956 by David O. McKay
Architectural Features:  Single attached end spire with a unique angel Moroni statue
Ordinance Rooms:  Four instruction rooms (four-stage progressive), ten sealing rooms, and one baptistry
Total Floor Area:  190,614 square feet  |  17,709 square meters
Height:  257 feet  |  78.3 meters