(Feature photo can be found here: Fort Collins Temple – Sunset Glow by Rory Wallwork)

By the end of this year (2017), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have nearly 160 operating temples around the world. Temples are not the same as typical Mormon chapels, where weekly worship takes place every Sunday. The temples are closed on Sundays, and only church members living the highest standards of faith can enter a temple after its dedication.

Steelworker Lec Holmes is an expert in his industry; he’s been on the job for 25 years. But he said that building a temple is “not like a typical [construction] job.” It’s not typical because normal jobs usually have square buildings with flat roofs; not steep pitched roofs like temples. It’s not typical because with normal jobs the various construction parties don’t “get along”; with temples, there is an unusual unity between the various parties involved with the work. And most importantly – they’re not typical jobs because temples are built to the highest standards.

Indeed, anyone who lives near a temple, or has even driven by one, can’t deny that the completed temples are beautiful structures, meant to last hundreds of years thanks to their rigorous building standards and high-quality materials and craftsmanship.

But how do these important and beautiful buildings get built in the first place? Well, we’re about to tell you, from start to finish! The construction of a temple isn’t much different from that of any other building, but it is also unique in many ways because of the great importance the temples have in the LDS Church. In this article we will describe how funding, identifying a need, and selecting a temple site take place. This is the first of three articles that will describe the entire temple-building process.

Los Angeles Temple Sunset by Taylor Yardley

Funding, Identifying a Need and Selecting a Site

First, one must remember that temples are built using Church funds that have been set aside for that purpose. These funds largely come from members paying a 10% tithing based on their income. The Church then pays for the construction of temples without any type of loans or mortgage. Elder William R. Walker, executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, “We’ve had a long-standing practice in the Church for well over 100 years that we don’t take loans or put mortgages on properties to build temples. So we would not build a temple unless we could pay for the temple as the temple was built.”

Second, the Church looks for opportunities across the globe where better access to a temple could be provided. While there is no specific required number, temple sites are usually located in areas with enough members to warrant building a new temple, or where there is great distance between existing temples. Once a decision has been made, the announcement for building a new temple is usually made during General Conference by the president of the Church.

Third, a specific location must be found where the temple can be built. The First Presidency will prayerfully choose a precise spot on which to build. This has been the way it’s done since the Church’s beginnings. For examples, shortly after arriving at the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, Brigham Young identified the block of land where the Salt Lake Temple would be built. Today, at least one member of the First Presidency (or the President himself) typically spends several days visiting a variety of possible sites in the area where a temple is to be built. He will then return to Salt Lake City and recommend the spot where the temple should be built.

It is most common for the Church to look for sites that are very visually-prominent, are in an attractive neighborhood; a neighborhood that will withstand the passing of time.

Because the temples really are meant to be a “light on a hill” and a “beacon” to all those who seek Christ, their location is extremely important. They also need to provide access to many members of The Church who would otherwise not be able to attend or would have to travel great distances to get there.

Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of this four-part series about the construction of LDS temples!

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