Palmyra New York Temple
Encyclopedia
The Palmyra New York Temple is the 77th operating temple
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The site for the Palmyra New York Temple, atop a wooded hill in pastoral western New York
, is in an area prominent in the early history of the Latter Day Saint Movement
. Nearby is the grove of trees known as the Sacred Grove
in which the founder and first prophet of the Church, Joseph Smith, Jr., reported having a vision in which he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and event known as the First Vision
. The temple grounds, on the border between the towns of Manchester
and Palmyra
, are also on the grounds of the original Smith Family Farm
. The Church itself was organized only thirty miles away in Fayette, New York
in 1830.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, held May 25, 1999, the Church President at the time Gordon B. Hinckley
commented on the area's rich history, saying that it was in that locale that Mormonism truly began. President Hinckley also marveled at how much the Church had grown since its founding in 1830.
Local reaction to the new temple was positive and more than 30,700 visitors toured the new temple before its dedication. The temple serves about 18,000 members within seven stakes, or groups of Mormon congregations. The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on 6 April 2000, the 170th anniversary of the organization of the Church. While only about 1,200 members attended the dedicatory sessions within the temple itself nearly 1.5 million members took part through media broadcasts throughout the United States and Canada.
The Palmyra New York Temple has a total of 10700 square feet (994.1 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. The exterior is white marble
. Forty art glass windows inside the temple depict local events in LDS Church history. A gold statue of the angel Moroni tops the single spire. Beautiful carved cherry wood railings, wainscoting, and moldings line the halls, along with hand-sculpted carpeting.
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.
The site for the Palmyra New York Temple, atop a wooded hill in pastoral western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, is in an area prominent in the early history of the Latter Day Saint Movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. Nearby is the grove of trees known as the Sacred Grove
Sacred Grove
The foundational event of the Latter Day Saint movement took place in what is commonly referred to as The Sacred Grove. This Grove is a forested area near the border of western New York near the home of Joseph Smith, Jr....
in which the founder and first prophet of the Church, Joseph Smith, Jr., reported having a vision in which he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and event known as the First Vision
First Vision
The First Vision refers to a vision that Joseph Smith, Jr. said he received as a youth in a wooded area in Manchester, New York, which his followers call the Sacred Grove. Smith described it as a personal theophany in which he received a forgiveness of sins...
. The temple grounds, on the border between the towns of Manchester
Manchester (town), New York
Manchester is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,258 at the 2000 census. The town was named after one of its villages, which in turn was named after the original Manchester in Greater Manchester, England....
and Palmyra
Palmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
, are also on the grounds of the original Smith Family Farm
Smith Family Farm
The Smith Family Farm was the boyhood home of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.The farm—located in the townships of Palmyra, Wayne County and Manchester, Ontario County, New York—includes the Sacred Grove, the Smiths' restored frame home and a reconstructed log home...
. The Church itself was organized only thirty miles away in Fayette, New York
Fayette, New York
Fayette is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 3,643 at the 2000 census.The Town of Fayette is on the western border of the county and is southeast of Geneva, New York.- History :...
in 1830.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, held May 25, 1999, the Church President at the time 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...
commented on the area's rich history, saying that it was in that locale that Mormonism truly began. President Hinckley also marveled at how much the Church had grown since its founding in 1830.
Local reaction to the new temple was positive and more than 30,700 visitors toured the new temple before its dedication. The temple serves about 18,000 members within seven stakes, or groups of Mormon congregations. The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on 6 April 2000, the 170th anniversary of the organization of the Church. While only about 1,200 members attended the dedicatory sessions within the temple itself nearly 1.5 million members took part through media broadcasts throughout the United States and Canada.
The Palmyra New York Temple has a total of 10700 square feet (994.1 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. The exterior is white marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. Forty art glass windows inside the temple depict local events in LDS Church history. A gold statue of the angel Moroni tops the single spire. Beautiful carved cherry wood railings, wainscoting, and moldings line the halls, along with hand-sculpted carpeting.
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)