Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Pictures
Tucked behind its adjoining stake center against the backdrop of a 103-acre wetlands nature reserve, the Baton Rouge Temple was the first temple built in Louisiana. Originally dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on July 16, 2000, it closed in 2018 for an extensive renovation that reshaped its steeple, re-clad its exterior in limestone, and added art glass windows featuring shell and magnolia motifs, then reopened with a rededication by Elder Quentin L. Cook — his first as an apostle — on November 17, 2019. Its French-inspired interior honors the region’s heritage, and a handsome magnolia tree serves as the centerpiece of its garden grounds. Our collection of Baton Rouge Temple pictures, art prints, and paintings captures this beloved Southern landmark.
From On High (Before Renovations)
by Alan Fullmer
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And The Louisiana Blues (Before Renovations)
by Alan Fullmer
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Summer Sunrise
by Rory Wallwork
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Radiance
by Rory Wallwork
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Sunset Painting (Before Renovations)
by Brent Borup
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Peaceful Morning
by Rory Wallwork
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For Eternity
by Rory Wallwork
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Summer Gardens
by Rory Wallwork
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Pastel Skies
by Rory Wallwork
About the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
The Church's presence in Louisiana dates back to January 1841, when the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from two Latter-day Saints in New Orleans informing him of a small branch there and requesting that an elder be sent to serve them. The state's first stake was organized in Baton Rouge in 1955, and decades later the Baton Rouge Temple broke ground on May 8, 1999, the same day as the groundbreaking for the Suva Fiji Temple. As construction progressed, temple missionaries Weldon and Doris Smith gave weekly tours and updates to curious neighbors, often sending guests home with small pieces of the same marble being used to build the temple. President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the completed temple in four sessions on July 16, 2000, as the Church's 94th operating temple, and roughly 18,556 visitors had toured it during the preceding open house.
Nearly two decades later, the temple closed on January 28, 2018, for an extensive 22-month renovation. The project enclosed the original portico, raised the steeple ten feet to better proportion the redesigned entry, re-clad the exterior in beige limestone, and replaced the windows with new art glass featuring shell and magnolia flower motifs. Inside, the temple was refinished with French-inspired accents and new murals in its first endowment room, while the landscaping was redesigned to include more gardens and better accommodate patron gatherings. About 12,000 visitors toured the renovated temple during its open house, including Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles rededicated the Baton Rouge Temple on November 17, 2019 — his first dedication or rededication as an apostle — telling those gathered that "the temple is a place of refuge when we face challenges."
Baton Rouge Temple Photos, Art & Prints
Bordered by a sprawling wetlands nature reserve and surrounded by Southern native flora — flowering crape myrtles and a signature magnolia tree among them — the Baton Rouge Temple offers photographers a lush, distinctly Louisiana setting rarely found among other Latter-day Saint temples. Its French-inspired architectural details and beige limestone exterior catch the warm, humid light of South Louisiana beautifully throughout the year. Our collection features photography and fine art capturing the Baton Rouge Temple amid its garden setting.
Baton Rouge Temple prints make a meaningful and inspirational gift for members throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South, and for anyone who loves the charm and heritage of this region. Perfect for weddings, mission homecomings, new homes, and other milestone occasions.