Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Encyclopedia
The Twin Falls Idaho Temple is a temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Twin Falls
, Idaho
, just south of the Snake River Canyon
. It became the fourth LDS temple in the state when it was dedicated in August 2008, and the second temple dedicated in Idaho that year. Standing at approximately 159 feet (48.5 m) tall, as of 2009 the temple is the tallest building in Twin Falls.
announced the construction of a temple for the Magic Valley
region of Idaho in his opening remarks of General Conference held October 2, 2004, to serve the thousands of members who live in southern Idaho between the Boise
and Idaho Falls
Temples.
Rumors of the temple started several weeks before Conference when the Church's negotiations to purchase the Candleridge Golf Course came to light. The financially unprofitable course had already announced its intention to close on December 31, 2004, yet over 300 residents near the golf course produced a petition protesting the loss of the golf course to the temple, upset that their investments into homes next to a golf course would become investments into homes bordering a busy church. In response, the Church distributed printed materials, stating its intentions to work with neighbors in regard to traffic and parking when the time came to present plans to the city. Many other residents, both members and nonmembers alike, heartily welcomed the news, excited at the prospect of a fourth temple for Idaho.
Plans for the temple, inspired by nearby Shoshone Falls
, were unveiled on Thursday, October 6, 2005, at a press conference held in the former Candleridge Golf Course clubhouse. The stunning model on display showcased the white two-story temple, which was capped with a gold-leafed angel Moroni atop a spire rising 159 feet (48.5 m) in the air on May 30, 2007 — making it the highest point in the area. Also sharing the 9.1 acres (36,826.4 m²) complex will be a new one-story stake center, over 300 parking spaces, and charming tree-lined boulevards and gardens. The Church, which went to great lengths to minimize the worries of neighbors, contracted with developer Ken Edmunds to subdivide the balance of the 36 acres (145,687 m²) plot to complement the existing neighborhood.
A cornerstone session and four dedicatory sessions took place on Sunday August 24, 2008. LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson
presided at the dedication and was assisted by other General Authorities of the Church, including President Henry B. Eyring
, and Elders Quentin L. Cook
and Claudio R. M. Costa
, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
and Presidency of the Seventy respectively. Due to overwhelming interest and limited seating in the temple, the final session was broadcast to various church buildings throughout Idaho.
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 Twin Falls
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, just south of the Snake River Canyon
Snake River Canyon (Idaho)
Snake River Canyon is a large canyon formed by the Snake River in the Magic Valley region of southern Idaho. It is well known as the site of an unsuccessful 1974 attempt by Evel Knievel to jump it in the Skycycle X-2....
. It became the fourth LDS temple in the state when it was dedicated in August 2008, and the second temple dedicated in Idaho that year. Standing at approximately 159 feet (48.5 m) tall, as of 2009 the temple is the tallest building in Twin Falls.
Announcement
LDS Church President Gordon B. HinckleyGordon 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...
announced the construction of a temple for the Magic Valley
Magic Valley
The Magic Valley is a region in south-central Idaho consisting of Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls Counties. It is particularly associated with the agricultural region in the Snake River Plain located in the area...
region of Idaho in his opening remarks of General Conference held October 2, 2004, to serve the thousands of members who live in southern Idaho between the Boise
Boise Idaho Temple
The Boise Idaho Temple is the 29th constructed and 27th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Boise, Idaho it was built with a sloping roof & six-spire design. The temple will close on 11 July 2011 for extensive renovations.Mormon leaders...
and Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is the tenth constructed and eighth operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho it was the first LDS temple built in Idaho, and the first temple built with a modern single-spire design.The LDS temple...
Temples.
Rumors of the temple started several weeks before Conference when the Church's negotiations to purchase the Candleridge Golf Course came to light. The financially unprofitable course had already announced its intention to close on December 31, 2004, yet over 300 residents near the golf course produced a petition protesting the loss of the golf course to the temple, upset that their investments into homes next to a golf course would become investments into homes bordering a busy church. In response, the Church distributed printed materials, stating its intentions to work with neighbors in regard to traffic and parking when the time came to present plans to the city. Many other residents, both members and nonmembers alike, heartily welcomed the news, excited at the prospect of a fourth temple for Idaho.
Plans
The Twin Falls Planning and Zoning Commission approved the necessary permits for the building of the temple on November 8, 2005. The commission approved a special-use permit for a temple and meetinghouse and also approved a variance for the temple to exceed the city's 35 feet (10.7 m) maximum height limit. The commission's approval allowed the Church to move to the next stages of planning and to address parking concerns expressed by Commission members, who worried that the 300-space parking lot may be insufficient.Plans for the temple, inspired by nearby Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls
Shoshone Falls is a waterfall on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet high—45 feet higher than Niagara Falls—and flows over a rim 1,000 feet wide.A park overlooking the waterfall is...
, were unveiled on Thursday, October 6, 2005, at a press conference held in the former Candleridge Golf Course clubhouse. The stunning model on display showcased the white two-story temple, which was capped with a gold-leafed angel Moroni atop a spire rising 159 feet (48.5 m) in the air on May 30, 2007 — making it the highest point in the area. Also sharing the 9.1 acres (36,826.4 m²) complex will be a new one-story stake center, over 300 parking spaces, and charming tree-lined boulevards and gardens. The Church, which went to great lengths to minimize the worries of neighbors, contracted with developer Ken Edmunds to subdivide the balance of the 36 acres (145,687 m²) plot to complement the existing neighborhood.
Groundbreaking
Ground was broken for the temple on Saturday, April 15, 2006 — the day before Easter Sunday. Presiding at the ceremony was Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Presidency of the Seventy. Stake presidents and their families comprised most of the audience at the invitation-only event. When completed, the temple will serve approximately 50,000 area Church members.Open House and Dedication
The Twin Falls Temple held an open house and conducted tours from July 11, 2008 until August 15, 2008, excluding Sundays. The church reported that visitors during the open house totaled nearly 160,000 approximately 60% of whom were members of the church. The temple was dedicated on August 24, 2008 in 4 sessions. A cultural Celebration took place at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds the evening preceding the dedication. Ordinance work began the Monday following the dedication. Retired Burley dairy farmer and former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, D. Rex Gerratt, is the first President.A cornerstone session and four dedicatory sessions took place on Sunday August 24, 2008. LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
presided at the dedication and was assisted by other General Authorities of the Church, including President Henry B. Eyring
Henry B. Eyring
Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October...
, and Elders Quentin L. Cook
Quentin L. Cook
Quentin LaMar Cook is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the thirteenth most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church....
and Claudio R. M. Costa
Claudio R. M. Costa
Claudio Roberto Mendes Costa has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1994 and was a member of the seven-man Presidency of the Seventy in the church from August 2007 until August 2011, when he became the president of the church's Brazil Area.Costa was...
, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
and Presidency of the Seventy respectively. Due to overwhelming interest and limited seating in the temple, the final session was broadcast to various church buildings throughout Idaho.
See also
- 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)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in IdahoThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in IdahoAs of year-end 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 399,427 members in 115 stakes, 1,047 Congregations , 2 missions, and 4 temples in Idaho, with a fifth announced. It also is home to Brigham Young University–Idaho.Idaho has the third most Mormons of any U.S...