Ogden Utah Temple
Encyclopedia
The Ogden Utah Temple is the sixteenth constructed and fourteenth operating temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Ogden, Utah
, it was built with a modern, single-spire design very similar to the Provo Utah Temple
.
The temples in Ogden and Provo were planned due to overcrowding in the Salt Lake
, Manti
, and Logan
temples. The Ogden temple serves more than 135,000 members. The LDS temple in Ogden, Utah was announced on August 24, 1967. On September 7, 1970, a cornerstone
laying ceremony was held for the Ogden Temple. The site for the temple was a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lot called Tabernacle Square that the Church had owned since the area was settled. In 1921, President Heber J. Grant
inspected the site as a possible place for a temple but decided that the time was not right for a temple in the area.
The Ogden Temple is different from the previous temples built by the Church in many ways. First, the design is extremely contemporary. Second, the lot chosen for the Ogden Temple is in downtown Ogden, surrounded by businesses and offices. The Ogden Temple is also significant because it was the first temple built in Utah since the Salt Lake Temple
was dedicated in 1893.
The Ogden Temple is 115000 square feet (10,683.8 m²) and has four floors, one below ground. There are six ordinance rooms and eleven sealing rooms. The stone on the Ogden temple is fluted, and between the stone decorative metal grillwork has been added. Gold windows with directional glass also add to the beauty of the temple.
The Ogden Temple was dedicated on January 18, 1972, by Joseph Fielding Smith
, almost a month before the Provo Utah Temple was dedicated. Beginning in 2001 and lasting through much of 2002, both the exterior of the temple and the surrounding grounds underwent significant changes. Weather damage to the exterior of the temple was repaired and the spire, which was originally a yellowish-gold, was painted bright white. Also a fiberglass statue of the Angel Moroni covered in gold leaf was added to the temple's spire, almost 30 years after the temple was dedicated. The temple grounds also received walkways and paths allowing visitors to walk around the temple as well as access the structure from main boulevard.
On February 17, 2010, the LDS Church announced that the Ogden Temple would undergo major exterior renovations that will significantly modify the look of the building. The upgrades include replacing old electrical, heating, and plumbing systems with more modern, energy-saving equipment. Additional improvements include construction of a new underground parking structure, complete re-landscaping of the temple block, and renovation of the adjacent Ogden Tabernacle, which will lose its spire.
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. Located in the city of Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, it was built with a modern, single-spire design very similar to the Provo Utah Temple
Provo Utah Temple
The Provo Utah Temple is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
The temples in Ogden and Provo were planned due to overcrowding in the Salt Lake
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,...
, Manti
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 Logan
Logan Utah Temple
The Logan Utah Temple is the 4th constructed and 2nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Logan, Utah, it was the second LDS temple built in the Rocky Mountains .The LDS temple in Logan was announced on May 18, 1877, just after the dedication...
temples. The Ogden temple serves more than 135,000 members. The LDS temple in Ogden, Utah was announced on August 24, 1967. On September 7, 1970, a cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
laying ceremony was held for the Ogden Temple. The site for the temple was a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lot called Tabernacle Square that the Church had owned since the area was settled. In 1921, President Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
inspected the site as a possible place for a temple but decided that the time was not right for a temple in the area.
The Ogden Temple is different from the previous temples built by the Church in many ways. First, the design is extremely contemporary. Second, the lot chosen for the Ogden Temple is in downtown Ogden, surrounded by businesses and offices. The Ogden Temple is also significant because it was the first temple built in Utah since 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,...
was dedicated in 1893.
The Ogden Temple is 115000 square feet (10,683.8 m²) and has four floors, one below ground. There are six ordinance rooms and eleven sealing rooms. The stone on the Ogden temple is fluted, and between the stone decorative metal grillwork has been added. Gold windows with directional glass also add to the beauty of the temple.
The Ogden Temple was dedicated on January 18, 1972, by Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
, almost a month before the Provo Utah Temple was dedicated. Beginning in 2001 and lasting through much of 2002, both the exterior of the temple and the surrounding grounds underwent significant changes. Weather damage to the exterior of the temple was repaired and the spire, which was originally a yellowish-gold, was painted bright white. Also a fiberglass statue of the Angel Moroni covered in gold leaf was added to the temple's spire, almost 30 years after the temple was dedicated. The temple grounds also received walkways and paths allowing visitors to walk around the temple as well as access the structure from main boulevard.
On February 17, 2010, the LDS Church announced that the Ogden Temple would undergo major exterior renovations that will significantly modify the look of the building. The upgrades include replacing old electrical, heating, and plumbing systems with more modern, energy-saving equipment. Additional improvements include construction of a new underground parking structure, complete re-landscaping of the temple block, and renovation of the adjacent Ogden Tabernacle, which will lose its spire.
Temple Presidents
- A. Reed Halversen, 1972–1976
- Leslie T. Norton, 1976–1980
- Keith W. Wilcox, 1980–1985
- Milton C. Mecham, 1985–1987
- E. LaMar Buckner, 1987–1990
- Dorman H. Baird, 1990–1993
- Harvey M. Broadbent, 1993–1996
- Collins E. Jones, 1996–1999
- J. Kirk Moyes, 1999–2002
- Dale L. Gardner, 2002–2005
- Gordon T. Watts, 2005–2008
- Robert R. Steuer, 2008–present
See also
- 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...
- 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
- Temple (Latter Day Saints)
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in UtahThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in UtahAs of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 1,823,613 members in 523 stakes, 1 district, 4,666 Congregations , and 5 missions...