Spokane Washington Temple

{{ LDS Temple/Spokane Washington Temple | format=Infobox LDS Temple }}

The Spokane Washington Temple is the 59th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is located in Spokane County, Washington. Announced on August 13, 1998 by the church's First Presidency, it became the second temple in Washington state.{{Cite web |title=Spokane Washington Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/almanac/temples/spokane-washington/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}}{{cite web |date= |title=NEWS/COMMENTARY - Mormons from Spokane and the Inland Northwest reflect on Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and the Book of Mormon |url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/article-16777-mormons-in-the-mainstream.html |accessdate=September 21, 2011 |publisher=Inlander.com}} At the time of its construction, it served about 50,000 church members in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.{{cite web |author=Times |date= |title=Mormon church devotes month to community - Spokesman.com - Aug. 27, 2011 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/27/mormon-church-devotes-month-to-community/ |accessdate=September 21, 2011 |publisher=Spokesman.com}}

It has a single spire with a statue of the angel Moroni at its top and followed the standardized smaller temple design introduced by the church in the late 1990s. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 10, 1998, with F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy, presiding. Constructed on a 2-acre site, the building includes a granite exterior and landscaped grounds. The structure is 10,700 square feet and has two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry. During a public open house held from August 6 to August 14, 1999, approximately 52,000 visitors toured the temple. The temple was dedicated by church president Gordon B. Hinckley from August 21–23, 1999, in 11 sessions attended by more than 16,000 church members. In March 2009, a new angel Moroni statue was installed on the temple’s spire, replacing the original and aligning it to face west to match the temple’s orientation.

History

The Spokane Washington Temple was announced by the First Presidency on August 13, 1998. On October 10, 1998, the church announced that the temple would be constructed on a 4.2-acre property located at 13710 East 40th Avenue in Spokane, Washington.{{cite news |last1=Blocker |first1=Kevin |date=11 October 1998 |title=Prospect of Valley temple pleases Mormons |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/575336872/?terms=Spokane%20mormon%20temple&match=1 |access-date=18 November 2022 |work=The Spokesman-Review}} Preliminary plans called for a one-story structure of approximately 10,700 square feet. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 10, 1998, marking the commencement of construction. This ceremony was presided over by F. Melvin Hammond, a general authority, and was attended by local church members and community leaders. Its groundbreaking occurred on the same day as the one for the Detroit Michigan Temple, marking the first time that groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the same day for two temples.{{Cite web |title=Church Newsroom - Official Newsroom of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}

Following the completion of the temple, a public open house was take place from August 6 to August 14, 1999. During the open house, approximately 51,950 people visited the temple, including government, civic, and religious leaders who attended VIP tours on August 5.{{Cite web |date=1999-08-14 |title=11,000 attend first two days of temple open house |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/1999/8/14/23248187/11-000-attend-first-two-days-of-temple-open-house/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}} Spokane Mayor John Talbott remarked, “You could almost sense the spiritual component of the progression [through the temple]”.

The temple was dedicated on August 21, 1999, by Hinckley, with 11 dedicatory sessions across three days, and attended by more than 16,000 church members.{{Cite web |date=1999-08-28 |title=Cover Story: Amid rays of sunshine, 59th temple dedicated |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/1999/8/28/23248089/cover-story-amid-rays-of-sunshine-59th-temple-dedicated/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}} In March 2009, a new angel Moroni statue was placed on the spire. Unlike the original, which faced east, the new statue was positioned facing west—the same orientation as the temple itself.{{Cite web |last= |last2= |last3= |title=Latest News on the Spokane Washington Temple |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/spokane-washington-temple/news/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |language=en}}

In 2020, along with all the church's others, the Spokane Washington Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Stack, Peggy Fletcher. [https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/03/26/all-latter-day-saint/ "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus"], The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.

Design and architecture

The building uses a modern interpretation of traditional Latter-day Saint temple design, emphasizing simplicity and reverence in its architectural expression. The temple was designed by the church's architectural department.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-15 |title=Spokane Washington Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/2010/3/15/23228629/spokane-washington-temple/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}} It is on a 4.2-acre plot in the suburb of Opportunity, Spokane, Washington. The site was previously used as a softball field on church recreational property before being repurposed for the temple. The landscaping includes lawns and native trees.

The temple is one-story, measuring 144 feet by 77 feet, with a total floor area of 10,700 square feet.{{Cite web |date=1999-08-28 |title=Facts, figures: Spokane Washington Temple |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/1999/8/28/23248107/facts-figures-spokane-washington-temple/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}} The exterior of the building has a granite finish.

The temple interior includes a baptistry, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. Like most church temples, the baptismal font is placed upon twelve oxen, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel.{{Cite web |last=Magazines |first=Michael R. Morris Church |title=Symbolism and Temple Preparation |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2013/10/symbolism-and-temple-preparation?lang=eng |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically 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 Spokane Washington Temple {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/spokane-washington-temple/presidents/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |language=en}} Serving from 1999 to 2004, Frank E. Wagstaff the first president, with Jane D. Wagstaff serving as matron.{{Cite web |title=New Temple Presidents, Matrons Begin Service |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2005/02/news-of-the-church/new-temple-presidents-matrons-begin-service?lang=eng |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1999-06-26 |title=New temple presidents |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/1999/6/26/23248459/new-temple-presidents-166/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}} As of 2025, Orson N. Daines is the president, with Donna M. Daines serving as matron.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Read about the new presidents and matrons of 8 temples — from Alaska to Brazil |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/03/21/new-temple-presidents-and-matrons-alaska-to-brazil/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Church News |language=en}}

Admittance

On July 10, 1999, the church announced the public open house that was held from August 6 to August 14, 1999 (excluding Sunday). The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley from August 21 to August 23, 1999, in 11 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.

References

Additional reading

{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1998-10-24/weather-clears-as-1-000-watch-groundbreaking-in-spokane-13959 |title= Weather clears as 1,000 watch groundbreaking in Spokane |date= October 24, 1998 |newspaper= Church News }}
{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1999-08-14/11-000-attend-first-two-days-of-temple-open-house-16136 |title= 11,000 attend first two days of temple open house |date= August 14, 1999 |newspaper= Church News }}
{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1999-08-28/wonderful-way-to-make-temple-blessings-possible-16212 |title= 'Wonderful way' to make temple blessings possible |first= Julie |last= Dockstader |date= August 28, 1999 |newspaper= Church News }}
{{citation |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1999-08-28/cover-story-amid-rays-of-sunshine-59th-temple-dedicated-16213 |title= Cover Story: Amid rays of sunshine, 59th temple dedicated |first= Julie |last= Dockstader |date= August 28, 1999 |newspaper= Church News }}

External links

[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/list?lang=eng Official Spokane Washington Temple page]
[https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/spokane-washington-temple/ Spokane Washington Temple page]

Category:20th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States

Category:Buildings and structures in Spokane, Washington

Category:Culture of Spokane, Washington

Category:Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1999

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

Category:1999 establishments in Washington (state)