Hamilton New Zealand Temple

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located just outside the city of Hamilton, New Zealand it was built with a modern single-spire design very similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple.

The building of an LDS temple in New Zealand was announced by David O. McKay, the ninth president of the LDS Church, on February 17, 1955. With its completion in 1958, it was the first temple built by the LDS Church in the Southern Hemisphere.

A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on December 21, 1955. The site of the temple is on 86 acres, which includes an LDS owned college. This school is for students ages twelve to eighteen. The temple is 44,212 square feet, has one ordinance room, three sealing rooms, and a baptistery. The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was built entirely by Church labor missionaries who volunteered all of their time. Local members supported these workers with money, food, and water.

Hugh B. Brown, an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, placed the cornerstone in the temple at a special ceremony held on December 22, 1956. The temple was open for public tours for 23 days prior to the dedication. During this time about 112,500 people toured the temple. The Hamilton New Zealand Temple was dedicated by David O. McKay on April 20-22 1958. The Hamilton Temple serves members in New Zealand and nearby South Pacific islands.