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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{ LDS Temple/Dallas Texas Temple |format= Infobox LDS Temple }}

The '''Dallas Texas Temple''' is the 30th operating [[Temple (LDS Church)|temple]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], located in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Dallas Texas Temple |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/dallas-texas-temple?lang=eng |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref> Announced on April 1, 1981, by [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|church president]] [[Spencer W. Kimball]] during a press conference on [[Temple Square]] in [[Salt Lake City]], it was one of nine temples announced that day—the largest number ever announced at once at the time. Dedicated on October 19, 1984, by [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], it became the first temple built in Texas and the [[West South Central states|South Central]] United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Dallas Texas Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/almanac/temples/dallas-texas/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref>

The temple is on a 6-acre (24,000 m²) site and has a total floor area of 46,956 square feet (4,362 m²). It has five [[ordinance room]]s and four [[sealing room]]s. When it was dedicated, it served nearly 120,000 [[Latter-day Saints]] in most of Texas, all of [[Oklahoma]], and parts of [[Arkansas]], [[Louisiana]], and [[Missouri]].<ref name=":1" /> In 2024, it is one of eight temples in Texas, along with those in [[Austin Texas Temple|Austin]], [[Fort Worth Texas Temple|Fort Worth]], [[Lubbock Texas Temple|Lubbock]], [[San Antonio Texas Temple|San Antonio]], [[Houston Texas Temple|Houston]], and [[McAllen Texas Temple|McAllen]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-04 |title=LDS Church announces new Texas temple site |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/national/lds-church-announces-new-texas-temple-site/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231212064514/https://www.abc4.com/news/national/lds-church-announces-new-texas-temple-site/ |archive-date=2023-12-12 |access-date=2025-02-09 |work=ABC4 Utah |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
The Dallas Texas Temple was announced on April 1, 1981, by church president Spencer W. Kimball during a press conference on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was part of a historic day, with nine new temples announced—the largest number at one time up to that point.<ref name=":1" />

A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify beginning of construction, took place on January 22, 1983, with Gordon B. Hinckley, then serving as second counselor in the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]], presiding.  The invitation-only event was attended by approximately 90 guests, including church leaders serving as [[Regional representative of the Twelve|regional representatives]] or [[stake president]]s, and their wives.<ref name=":0" /> From October 19 to October 24, 1984, Hinckley dedicated the temple in 23 sessions.<ref name=":1" />

Due to the rapid increase in attendance, remodeling began in 1987 to expand the temple’s capacity. This included relocating and enlarging the [[Baptism for the dead|baptistry]], adding both an ordinance and a sealing room, along with other facilities. This increased its size from 17,850 square feet to 44,207 square feet. Hinckley, then serving as first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated these new areas on March 5, 1989. In the rededication prayer, he expressed gratitude for the faith and dedication of the Latter-Day Saints that necessitated the expansion.<ref name=":1" />

A renovation of the grounds was completed in June 2006. A sign was relocated outside the adjusted fence-line. The entry plaza was enlarged, stairs were added to improve accessibility, and the water feature was replaced with a cascading fountain. Flower beds were expanded and replanted, and additional lighting and seating areas were installed along widened walkways.<ref name=":0" />

In 1986, ordinance work was performed for individuals involved in the [[Battle of the Alamo]] on March 6, 1836. Additionally, temple work was completed for 1,500 [[Choctaw Indians]] who perished during the [[Trail of Tears]].

In 2020, like all the church's other, the Dallas Texas Temple was closed for a time in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>Stack, Peggy Fletcher. [https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/03/26/all-latter-day-saint/ "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus"], ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'', 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.</ref>

== Design and architecture ==
The Dallas Texas Temple is on on a 6-acre (24,000 m²) site in a wooded residential area of northern Dallas. Originally built at 17,850 square feet (1,700 m²) at its dedication in 1984, the temple underwent significant expansions prior to being rededicated in 1989, increasing its total floor area to 44,207 square feet (4,107 m²). Surrounding landscaping includes trees, grass fields, and flower gardens, contributing to a peaceful and reverent atmosphere.<ref name=":0" />

The temple has a light-colored hand-polished marble facade and has a dark gray slate roof. The building has six detached spires, a design similar to earlier temples in [[Boise Idaho Temple|Boise]], [[Idaho]], and [[Manila Philippines Temple|Manila]], [[Philippines]].<ref name=":0" /> The tallest of these spires is 95 feet (29.0 meters) and has a statue of the [[angel Moroni]].<ref name=":1" /> 

The temple's interior has five ordinance rooms, four sealing rooms, and a baptistry,<ref name=":0" /> each used for religious ordinances and ceremonies performed by church members.

The temple’s architectural features, including its spires and sloping roof, are designed to draw the eye heavenward, reflecting its divine purpose. The carefully maintained grounds, with their trimmed hedges and colorful flowerbeds, further enhance the temple's sacred and tranquil environment.<ref name=":0" />

== Temple presidents ==
The church's temples are directed by a [[temple president]] and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff. 

Serving from 1984 to 1987, the first president of the Dallas Texas Temple was Ivan L. Hobson, with Ruth R. Hobson as matron.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidents and Matrons of the Dallas Texas Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/dallas-texas-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref> [[L. Lionel Kendrick]], an emeritus [[general authority]], was the president from 1993 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=Elder L. Lionel Kendrick, an emeritus General Authority Seventy, dies at age 90 |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022/8/24/23319058/elder-l-lionel-kendrick-obituary-emeritus-general-authority/#:~:text=In%201985,%20he%20and%20his,Temple%20from%201993%20to%201995 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, Robert R. Bluth is the president, with Becky J. Bluth serving as matron.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

== Admittance ==
After construction was completed, a public open house was held from September 7 to September 24, 1984. During the 20-day open house, approximately 88,430 visitors toured the temple, with about 56% of them being non-Latter-day Saints.<ref name=":0" /> The busiest day of the open house was Saturday, September 22, when 12,093 visitors attended, some waiting in line for up to two hours to enter.<ref name=":1" />

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for [[Lord's Day|Sunday worship]] services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current [[temple recommend]] can enter for worship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside Temples |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/inside-temples?lang=eng |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|LDS Church}}
{{LDS Temple Map Group Texas}}

* [[Comparison 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]]
* [[List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region]]
* [[Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)]]
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas]]
* "Dallas Texas Temple", by Hobson, p.&nbsp;191{{full citation needed|date=November 2012}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/dallas-texas-temple?lang=eng Dallas Texas Temple Official site]
* [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/dallas-texas-temple/ Dallas Texas Temple] at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org

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[[Category:20th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Dallas]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1984]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Texas]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Texas]]