Nauvoo Illinois Temple
Encyclopedia
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the third such temple that has been built in Illinois
(the original Nauvoo Temple
and Chicago Illinois Temple
being the others).
Located in the town of Nauvoo
, the temple's construction was announced on April 4, 1999, by LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley
. Groundbreaking was conducted on October 24, 1999 and the cornerstones were laid November 5, 2000. The structure itself was built in the Greek Revival architectural style using limestone block quarried in Russellville, Alabama
. It is built in the same location as the original structure
that was dedicated in 1846.
The building measures 130 feet (39.6 m) long, 90 feet (27.4 m) wide, and 162 feet (49.4 m) tall to the top of the statue of Angel Moroni. It has an area of 54000 square feet (5,016.8 m²). It is the only temple owned by the LDS Church today that has a bell tower, although Kirtland Temple
also has a bell tower.
Church leaders and architects carefully worked to replicate the original exterior design of the 19th-century temple
, which was damaged by an arson fire in 1848 and by a tornado on May 27, 1850. It was consequently condemned and demolished by the Nauvoo City Council. Construction materials and furniture were derived from the original design as well. Its interior floor plan is noticeably different from that of the old Nauvoo Temple, as is also the style of the golden angel at the top of the spire. The completion and official dedication was celebrated on June 27, 2002, on the anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith
, the Church's founder.
Up to 1.5 million visitors a year have visited Nauvoo since the temple opened in 2002.
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple
constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon
s. The church's first temple
was completed in Kirtland, Ohio
, United States
in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois
in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848 . The building was damaged by fire and a tornado before being demolished.
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. It is the third such temple that has been built in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(the original Nauvoo Temple
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
and Chicago Illinois Temple
Chicago Illinois Temple
The Chicago Illinois Temple is the thirty-fifth temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the second of three church temples that have been built in Illinois...
being the others).
Located in the town of Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, the temple's construction was announced on April 4, 1999, by LDS 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...
. Groundbreaking was conducted on October 24, 1999 and the cornerstones were laid November 5, 2000. The structure itself was built in the Greek Revival architectural style using limestone block quarried in Russellville, Alabama
Russellville, Alabama
Russellville is a city in Franklin County in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census, the population of the city was 8,971. The city is the county seat of Franklin County.-History:...
. It is built in the same location as the original structure
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
that was dedicated in 1846.
The building measures 130 feet (39.6 m) long, 90 feet (27.4 m) wide, and 162 feet (49.4 m) tall to the top of the statue of Angel Moroni. It has an area of 54000 square feet (5,016.8 m²). It is the only temple owned by the LDS Church today that has a bell tower, although Kirtland Temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
also has a bell tower.
Church leaders and architects carefully worked to replicate the original exterior design of the 19th-century temple
Nauvoo Temple
The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...
, which was damaged by an arson fire in 1848 and by a tornado on May 27, 1850. It was consequently condemned and demolished by the Nauvoo City Council. Construction materials and furniture were derived from the original design as well. Its interior floor plan is noticeably different from that of the old Nauvoo Temple, as is also the style of the golden angel at the top of the spire. The completion and official dedication was celebrated on June 27, 2002, on the anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
, the Church's founder.
Up to 1.5 million visitors a year have visited Nauvoo since the temple opened in 2002.
Original Nauvoo Temple
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...
constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s. The church's first temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
was completed in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848 . The building was damaged by fire and a tornado before being demolished.