Moses Lake Washington Temple

On April 7, 2019, during general conference, church president Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Moses Lake Washington Temple.Allred, Jared D. [https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/8/20670323/president-nelson-announces-8-temples-with-a-new-one-in-tooele-valley#president-russell-m-nelson-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-speaks-during-the-sunday-morning-session-of-the-189th-annual-general-conference-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-in-the-conference-center-in-salt-lake-city-on-sunday-april-7-2019 "President Nelson announces 8 temples with a new one in Tooele Valley"], Deseret News, 7 April 2019. Retrieved on 17 April 2020. The temple's location, a 17-acre site located on Yonezawa Boulevard between Division Street and Road K NE, was announced on October 29, 2019.[https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/site-announced-for-moses-lake-washington-temple "Site Announced for Moses Lake Washington Temple"], Church News, 29 October 2019. Retrieved on 17 April 2020. It is visible from Interstate 90, which runs along the south side of the property.{{cite news |last=Hanlon |first=James |date=July 20, 2023 |title=LDS temple in Moses Lake opens its doors ahead of dedication |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/20/lds-temple-in-moses-lake-opens-its-doors-ahead-of-/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |accessdate=October 22, 2023}}

On April 7, 2020, a rendering of the temple was released.Featherstone, Charles H. [https://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/2020/apr/08/church-gives-first-look-at-temple-for-moses-2/ "Church gives first look at temple for Moses Lake"], Columbia Basin Herald, 8 April 2020. Retrieved on 17 April 2020. Plans showed a single-story temple of roughly 20,000 square feet with a center spire.Wells, David. [https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/latter-day-saint-church-releases-artist-renderings-of-three-new-temples "Latter-day Saint church releases artist renderings of three new temples"], KSTU Fox News, 7 April 2020. Retrieved on 17 April 2020. On September 11, 2020, the church announced that a groundbreaking, to signify the beginning of construction, would take place the following month.{{citation |url= https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreaking-set-for-moses-lake-washington-temple|title= Groundbreaking Set for Moses Lake Washington Temple |work= Newsroom |publisher= LDS Church |date= September 11, 2020 }} The groundbreaking was on October 10, 2020, with David L. Stapleton, an area seventy, presiding.{{citation |url= https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/groundbreaking-held-for-moses-lake-washington-temple|title= Groundbreaking Held for Moses Lake Washington Temple: Will be the fourth temple for Washington State |work= Newsroom |publisher= LDS Church |date= October 10, 2020 }}

On March 13, 2023, the church announced that a public open house would be held from Friday, August 4, through Saturday, August 19, except for Sundays. The temple was dedicated on September 17, 2023, by Quentin L. Cook, of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. {{citation |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/news-for-temples-in-western-united-states|title= Open house dates announced for Moses Lake Washington Temple, location of Cody Wyoming Temple released |work= Newsroom |publisher= LDS Church |date= March 13, 2023 }} The Bentonville Arkansas and Brasilia Brazil temples were dedicated on the same day.

The building has a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design, created by the Salt Lake City-based architectural firm CRSA. Its architecture reflects the cultural heritage of the Moses Lake region and its spiritual significance to the church.

The temple is on a 17.2-acre plot, and the landscaping around the temple features plants common to the region.{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Moses Lake Washing Temple Fact Sheet |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/multimedia/file/PD80013500_MosesLake_Fact-sheet-letter_2Line-new.pdf |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}} There is also a meetinghouse located on the site.

The temple has a rectangular cupola and spire.{{Cite web |title=Moses Lake Washington Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}} The single-story structure was constructed with Branco Cristal granite. The temple’s exterior also features art glass windows with an apple blossom motif and prairie-style border patterns.

The interior features decorative painting, centered around patterns inspired by the region’s prevalent crops, including “potato blossoms, alfalfa blossoms, apple blossoms and cherry blossoms.” The interior also includes art glass windows similar to those seen on the temple’s exterior, with apple blossom motifs and decorative borders. The temple includes two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry, each arranged for ceremonial use.

The design uses elements representing the heritage of the Moses Lake region, providing spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the interior and exterior decorative motifs, which feature prevalent crops in the region, as well as the prairie-style patterned borders on the art glass windows, which represents "the Native Americans who inhabited the Moses Lake area long before the first farm was settled."

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.{{Cite web |title=Presidents and Matrons of the Moses Lake Washington Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}} Since its 2023 dedication, Paul W. Bergeson and Debra A. Bergeson are the president and matron.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=Learn about the new leaders of 7 temples in the U.S. and 1 in England |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/callings/2023/2/23/23604571/new-temple-presidents-washington-north-dakota-england-arizona/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Church News |language=en}}

Following completion of the temple, a public open house was held from August 4–19, 2023 (excluding Sundays).{{Cite web |title=Moses Lake Washington Temple Public Open House |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/featured/moses-lake-washington-open-house?lang=eng |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Temple Open Houses}} Over 60,000 people toured the temple during the open house.{{Cite web |last=Benefield |first=Cassy |date=2023-08-25 |title=Over 60,000 Visitors Toured New Moses Lake Washington Temple During Its Open House |url=https://favs.news/over-60000-visitors-toured-new-moses-lake-washington-temple-during-its-open-house/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=FāVS News |language=en-US}} The temple was dedicated by Quentin L. Cook on September 23, 2017, in two sessions.

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for 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{{Cite web |title=Inside Temples |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/inside-temples?lang=eng&lang=eng |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/moses-lake-washington-temple/ Moses Lake Washington Temple page]

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Category:21st-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States

Category:Temples (LDS Church) in Washington (state)

Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 2023

Category:2023 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Moses Lake, Washington

Category:Buildings and structures in Grant County, Washington