Bern Switzerland Temple
Encyclopedia
The Bern Switzerland Temple (formerly the Swiss Temple) is a temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon or LDS Church). Though the building is located in Münchenbuchsee
, its postal address is assigned to the neighboring municipality of Zollikofen
. It was the first LDS temple to be built in Europe
and the first to be built outside of the United States
and Canada
.
The 7 acres (2.8 ha) lot was selected in July 1952 by President David O. McKay
and Samuel E. Bringhurst, then president of the Swiss-Austrian Mission
. The architects were Edward O. Anderson
and Wilhelm Zimmer. Groundbreaking and dedication of the lot were performed by President David O. McKay on 5 August, 1953. He dedicated the temple on 11 September, 1955. The temple was known as the "Swiss Temple" until the current naming convention for temples was adopted in the late 1990s.
The Bern Switzerland temple has 4 ordinance rooms, 7 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 35546 square feet (3,302.3 m²).
The presentation of the Endowment
was particularly challenging in this temple, because it was the first international one, requiring many different languages for its attendants. It was solved by using a film, dubbed in all required languages. Gordon B. Hinckley supervised the initial making of this film and was the person responsible for transporting the film to Switzerland. Since then all new temples have been equipped with recordings in lieu of live presentations by temple workers. Today, only the Manti Utah Temple
and the Salt Lake Temple
use live presentation instead of film.
After complete renewal of the interior, the temple was rededicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley
on 23 October, 1992.
In connection with the fiftieth anniversary of its dedication, a 4 metres (13.1 ft) tall statue of the angel Moroni was erected on top of the tower on 7 September, 2005.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon or LDS Church). Though the building is located in Münchenbuchsee
Münchenbuchsee
Münchenbuchsee is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is famous as the birthplace of painter Paul Klee.-History:...
, its postal address is assigned to the neighboring municipality of Zollikofen
Zollikofen
Zollikofen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is a suburb of the capital of Bern....
. It was the first LDS temple to be built in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the first to be built outside of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The 7 acres (2.8 ha) lot was selected in July 1952 by President David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
and Samuel E. Bringhurst, then president of the Swiss-Austrian Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. The architects were Edward O. Anderson
Edward O. Anderson
Edward Oliver Anderson was an architect for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the architect for the Los Angeles California Temple, Bern Switzerland Temple and London England Temple. He was connected also with the mid-20th century remodelings of the Salt Lake Temple, the...
and Wilhelm Zimmer. Groundbreaking and dedication of the lot were performed by President David O. McKay on 5 August, 1953. He dedicated the temple on 11 September, 1955. The temple was known as the "Swiss Temple" until the current naming convention for temples was adopted in the late 1990s.
The Bern Switzerland temple has 4 ordinance rooms, 7 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 35546 square feet (3,302.3 m²).
The presentation of the Endowment
Endowment (Latter Day Saints)
In the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, an endowment refers to a gift of "power from on high", typically associated with Latter Day Saint temples. The purpose and meaning of the endowment varied during the life of movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr...
was particularly challenging in this temple, because it was the first international one, requiring many different languages for its attendants. It was solved by using a film, dubbed in all required languages. Gordon B. Hinckley supervised the initial making of this film and was the person responsible for transporting the film to Switzerland. Since then all new temples have been equipped with recordings in lieu of live presentations by temple workers. Today, only the Manti Utah Temple
Manti Utah Temple
The Manti Utah Temple is the fifth constructed temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Located in the city of Manti, Utah, it was the third LDS temple built west of the Mississippi River after the Mormons' great trek westward. The Manti Utah Temple (formerly the Manti Temple)...
and the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
use live presentation instead of film.
After complete renewal of the interior, the temple was rededicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
on 23 October, 1992.
In connection with the fiftieth anniversary of its dedication, a 4 metres (13.1 ft) tall statue of the angel Moroni was erected on top of the tower on 7 September, 2005.
See also
- Temple (Latter Day Saints)
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth...
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)