San Antonio Texas Temple
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The San Antonio Texas Temple is the 120th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On June 24, 2001 the Mormon Church announced it would be building a temple in San Antonio, Texas, making it the state's fourth. Within ten years, the number of Mormon members in the area grew from 9,000 to 12,000. Until the San Antonio Texas Temple was completed, Mormons in the area had to travel over 200 miles to reach the nearest temple, near Houston.
On March 29, 2003 a site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony was held and construction began. As the Mormon temple neared completion in September 2004, a ceremony was held to place a thirteen-foot, gold leafed angel Moroni statue on the spire of the temple.
After the building's completion an open house was held April 16 through May 7, 2005 to allow people to see the inside of a Mormon temple. During these three weeks, more than 50,000 people took a tour through the newly finished temple. The inside of the temple is beautifully furnished with African Cherrywood, stained glass windows, paintings of Jesus' life and a mural by San Antonio artist Keith Bonds. The use of colour in the stained glass windows, in a slightly muted southwest style, and the indigo and star motiff inside the central spire sets this edifice apart from most all other LDS temples.
Mormon Church President Gordon B. Hinckley officially dedicated the San Antonio Temple for use on May 22, 2005. The night before the dedication a celebration was held at the Alamodome. More than 20,000 people attended to watch a show featuring over 4,000 singers and dancers, horses, fireworks, and presentations of Texas history, family values, and Mormon beliefs. President Hinckley also spoke to those in attendance about the temple.
The San Antonio Texas Temple serves about 45,250 members living in an area spanning from Waco to Brownsville. It has a total of 16,800 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
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[edit] Latter-day Saint temples in the Western United States
This list excludes temples in Utah and California.
- Anchorage Alaska Temple
- Mesa Arizona Temple
- Snowflake Arizona Temple
- Denver Colorado Temple
- Kona Hawaii Temple
- Laie Hawaii Temple
- Boise Idaho Temple
- Idaho Falls Idaho Temple
- Rexburg Idaho Temple (under construction)
- Twin Falls Idaho Temple (under construction)
- Billings Montana Temple
- Reno Nevada Temple
- Las Vegas Nevada Temple
- Albuquerque New Mexico Temple
- Portland Oregon Temple
- Medford Oregon Temple
- Dallas Texas Temple
- Lubbock Texas Temple
- San Antonio Texas Temple
- Houston Texas Temple
- Seattle Washington Temple
- Columbia River Washington Temple
- Spokane Washington Temple
[edit] Images Showing Colour
[edit] See also
- Temple (Mormonism)
- 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 Saints
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
[edit] External links
- Official LDS San Antonio Temple page
- San Antonio Texas Temple page
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Visitors Site
- Mormon Temple Ordinances - ReligionFacts
- Mormon Temples and Secrecy