View source for Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple

{{Short description|Latter-day Saints temple in American Fork, Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{ LDS Temple/Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple |format= Infobox LDS Temple }}
[[Image:Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple 1.jpg|right|thumb|Mt. Timpanogos temple during winter.]]
[[Image:TempleLightningMedium.jpg|thumb|Mt. Timpanogos temple during lightning storm.]]

The '''Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple''' is the 49th operating [[Temple (LDS Church)|temple]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. The temple is located in [[American Fork, Utah]] and is the second temple built in [[Utah County]] and the ninth in [[Utah]]. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 3, 1992, by [[Gordon B. Hinckley]] during the church's [[General Conference (LDS Church)|general conference]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/almanac/temples/mount-timpanogos-utah/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref>

The temple has a traditional single-spire design, and was designed by Allen Erekson, Keith Stepan, and church architectural staff.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2010/3/9/23228686/mount-timpanogos-utah-temple/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Church News |language=en}}</ref> A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on October 9, 1993, with Hinckley presiding.<ref name=":0" />

==History ==

=== Announcement ===
The temple was announced by Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor in the church's [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]], in general conference on October 3, 1992. The location, on land in American Fork previously used as a church welfare farm, was announced at the following conference six months later.<ref name=ldschurchtemples.com>{{cite web |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mount-timpanogos-utah-temple/ |title= Mount Timpanogos Utah LDS Temple |publisher= LDSChurchTemples.com |accessdate= January 10, 2010 }}</ref> The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple overlooks the cities of American Fork, [[Pleasant Grove, Utah|Pleasant Grove]], [[Cedar Hills, Utah|Cedar Hills]], [[Highland, Utah|Highland]] and [[Alpine, Utah|Alpine]] as well as nearby [[Utah Lake]]. [[Mount Timpanogos]], the peak from which the temple gets its name, and the [[Wasatch Mountains]] serve as a backdrop.

Ground was broken for the temple a year after its announcement. Approximately 12,000 people gathered on the temple site for the ceremony. During the services, the location of the [[Madrid Spain Temple]] was announced.<ref name=ldschurchtemples.com/>

Twenty-thousand people attended a ceremony as the [[angel Moroni]] statue was lifted to its resting place on the {{convert|190|ft|m|adj=on}} spire of the temple in July 1995. Once the statue was in place, the throngs of visitors broke into applause and then spontaneously began to sing [[The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning|The Spirit of God]].<ref name=ldschurchtemples.com/>

A total of 679,217 people toured the temple during the six weeks (August 10 – September 21, 1996) of its public [[Doors Open Days|open house]]. More than 800 children's choirs - made up from nearly every [[Ward (LDS Church)|ward]] and branch in the temple district - performed near the front entrance to the temple at least once during the open house.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mount Timpanogos Temple to Open Doors to Public |url=https://www.deseret.com/1996/5/18/20770123/mount-timpanogos-temple-to-open-doors-to-public |website=deseret.com |date=May 18, 1996 |publisher=Deseret News |access-date=7 January 2023}}</ref>

=== Dedication ===
The Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple was dedicated on October 13, 1996 by Hinckley, who was then the church's president. The dedication lasted an entire week with three sessions on Sunday and four on each of the following days for a total of 27.

Before the dedication, Hinckley and his counselors in the First Presidency, [[Thomas S. Monson]] and [[James E. Faust]], applied mortar to the temple's cornerstone. They were followed by [[Boyd K. Packer]], [[Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]; [[W. Eugene Hansen]] of the [[Seventy (LDS Church)|Seventy]] and executive director of the church's Temple Department; [[Robert J. Matthews]], [[temple president]]; [[Stephen M. Studdert]], vice chairman of the temple committee; and Hinckley's wife, Marjorie.<ref name=dedicated>{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1996-10-19/mount-timpanogos-temple-dedicated-10884 |title= Mount Timpanogos Temple dedicated |newspaper= Church News |date= October 19, 1996 |first= Dell |last= van Orden }}</ref>

A total of 11,617 participated in the first dedicatory session, of which about 2,900 met in the temple. The others attended the session in the [[Alpine Stake Tabernacle|American Fork Tabernacle]], 12 [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|stake centers]] in Utah and [[Wasatch County|Wasatch]] counties, and the [[Salt Lake Tabernacle]] on [[Temple Square]] in [[Salt Lake City]], locations to where proceedings of subsequent sessions were also transmitted. Like any temple dedication, admittance to the other locations was for worthy members of the church with a ticket from their bishops. Speakers for the first session were Hinckley, Monson, Faust, and Packer. They were each accompanied to the temple by their wives.<ref name=dedicated/>

About 38,000 attended the three sessions of dedication on the first day. During the week, Hinckley presided over and spoke in 11 dedicatory sessions, including the cornerstone ceremony. Monson and Faust each presided over eight dedicatory sessions, and each spoke in 11 sessions, which included the cornerstone ceremony. A total of 52 [[general authorities]] addressed the sessions, as well as the [[temple president|temple presidency]] and matron.<ref name=dedicated/>

== Design and architecture ==
The building has a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Allen Erekson, Keith Stepan, and church architectural staff, the temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of the Mount Timpanogos region and the spiritual significance to the church.<ref name=":1" />

The temple has a total of {{convert|107240|sqft|m2}}, four [[ordinance room]]s, and eight [[Sealing (Mormonism)|sealing rooms]]. The temple's floor plan is an adaption of the one created for the [[Bountiful Utah Temple]]. The temples are nearly identical from the outside, though the spire on each is noticeably different.<ref name=":0" />

=== Site ===
The temple sits on a 16.7-acre plot located to the west of its namesake, Mount Timpanogos.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mount-timpanogos-utah-temple/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref> The landscaping around the temple features seating areas for visitors.<ref name=":0" /> These elements are designed to provide a tranquil setting that enhances the sacred atmosphere of the site.

=== Exterior ===
The structure stands 190 feet tall, constructed with sierra white granite. The exterior is characterized by stained glass windows, bronze doors, and single spire, elements which were each chosen for their symbolic significance and alignment with temple traditions.<ref name=":0" />

=== Interior ===
The temple includes four ordinance rooms, eight sealing rooms, a [[celestial room]], and a baptistry, each designed for ceremonial use.<ref name=":1" /> Symbolic elements are integrated into the design, providing deeper meaning to the temple's function and aesthetics.

=== Symbols ===
The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is an important subject to church members. It shares symbolic elements with the [[Salt Lake Temple|Salt Lake]] and the [[Nauvoo Temple|Nauvoo]] temples, including sun, moon, and star stones, which represent the three degrees of glory, triple window towers to symbolize the priesthood, and window arch keystones which represent Christ.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aug 14, 1996, page 25 - American Fork Citizen at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/286084723/?match=1&terms=mount%20timpanogos%20temple |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Cultural and community impact ==
The temple has played a role in creating a sense of community in the American Fork region since it was first announced in 1992. Local church members were eager to participate in the creation of the temple. Thousands of people gathered to clean up the temple grounds prior to the open house,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Kent |date=21 August 1996 |title=He Was Lost and Was Found |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/431738964/ |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=Lehi Free Press |pages=54}}</ref> and local newspapers created a special edition to commemorate its dedication. This commemorative edition included art, prose, and poetry submissions from readers and church members.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bezzant |first=Brett |date=14 August 1996 |title=About This Special Edition... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/286660511/ |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The Pleasant Grove Review |pages=23}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Presidents and Matrons of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mount-timpanogos-utah-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

The first president of the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple was Robert J. Matthews, with the matron being Shirley N. Matthews. They served from 1996 to 1999.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2024, Blaine L. Butler is the president, with Lynn M. Butler serving as matron.<ref name=":0" />

Other notable temple presidents include [[L. Edward Brown]] (2008–11) and [[Noel B. Reynolds]] (2011–14).

== Admittance ==

When construction was completed, the church announced the public open house that was held from August 6-September 21, 1996 (excluding Sundays). The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley during 27 sessions from October 13–19, 1996.<ref name=":0" /> 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&lang=eng |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|LDS Church}}
{{LDS Temple Map Group Utah}}
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah#Temples|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah]]
* [[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)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple}}
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/list?lang=eng Official Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple page]
* [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/mount-timpanogos-utah-temple/ Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple page]

{{LDS-US-West}}
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[[Category:20th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Utah County, Utah]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1996]]
[[Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Utah]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in American Fork, Utah]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Utah]]