Provo Utah Temple |
15th operating temple |
Phone Number: 801-375-5775.
Site: 17 acres.
Exterior Finish: White cast stone; gold anodized aluminum grills; bronze glass panels; single painted spire.
Temple Design: Modern and functional, single-spire design.
Number of Rooms: Six ordinance rooms and twelve sealing.
Total Floor Area: 128,325 square feet.
Site Dedication: 15 September 1969 by Joseph Fielding Smith
Groundbreaking: 15 September 1969 by Hugh B. Brown
Public Open House: 10–29 January 1972
Dedication: 9 February 1972 by Joseph Fielding Smith
Located on Provo's east bench near the mouth of magnificent Rock Canyon, the Provo Utah Temple claims a stunning backdrop of towering mountains. The extensive temple grounds are decorated with a cascading water feature and numerous flowers, shrubs, and trees. Across the street is the Missionary Training Center (MTC) where thousands of young missionaries reside year round preparing for missionary service around the world. The campus of Church-owned Brigham Young University (BYU) borders the temple to the southwest.
The Provo Utah Temple was the sixth temple built in Utah and the first built in Utah County.
Often dubbed the "busiest temple in the Church," the Provo Utah Temple operates six ordinance rooms, allowing sessions to begin every 20 minutes. (Only three other temples have six ordinance rooms: the Ogden Utah Temple, Jordan River Utah Temple, and Washington D.C. Temple.)
The Provo Utah Temple was originally named the Provo Temple.
The original design for the Provo Utah Temple included a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni atop a gold-colored spire. The statue was eventually eliminated from the design, though one was added over 31 years after its dedication.
The Provo Utah Temple is a sister building to the Ogden Utah Temple.
The Provo Utah Temple stands adjacent to Brigham Young University. BYU's other two campuses in Laie, Hawaii and Rexburg, Idaho also have adjacent temples.
President Joseph Fielding Smith presided at the dedication of the Provo Utah Temple, but at his request, the prayer he had written was offered by President Harold B. Lee, first counselor in the First Presidency.
The Provo Utah Temple was dedicated in just two sessions by seating attendees—in addition to the temple—in the Marriott Center, George Albert Smith Fieldhouse, Joseph Smith Building, and the Harris Fine Arts Center on the BYU campus. Over 70,000 attended in what was the largest temple dedication in history.
As part of an exterior renovation in 2003, an angel Moroni statue was added to the Provo Utah Temple, and the spire—originally gold colored—was painted white.
