Raleigh North Carolina Temple

The Raleigh North Carolina Temple is the 68th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the first temple built in North Carolina. The construction of a second temple in Charlotte was announced in April 2023.

For over 150 years the Church has had a presence in North Carolina. It began with a lone missionary, Jedediah M. Grant, preaching the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon in 1838. Today, there are more than 95,000 members of the Church in North Carolina, comprising 19 stakes and 181 congregations.

Plans for the temple, located at 574 Bryan Drive in Apex, North Carolina, were announced on 3 September 1998. Groundbreaking services were held on 6 February 1999. After the temple was completed about 31,000 people toured the temple during the open house. Visitors were surprised to see the many pictures of Jesus Christ. Wake County Commissioner Yevonne Brannon commenting on the pictures of the Savior said, "The artwork was simply stunning. I felt drawn to each painting and found myself wanting to linger in front of every scene so I could contemplate the meaning of what was being portrayed. But how could I selfishly do that with so many people behind me?" [1]

Gordon B. Hinckley, Church president from 1995 to 2008, dedicated the temple on 18 December 1999. Before the first session Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, talked to a group of reporters. He described "how the Church shares goals with other religions, such as safeguarding 'values, family, fidelity, and the responsibility of parents for their children, teaching them correct principles, guiding, loving, and showing the way, not letting them get gobbled up by the ravages of the world.'" [1] It is because of this belief in families that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples.

This sacred structure was originally dedicated on December 18, 1999, as part of an effort initiated by President Gordon B. Hinckley to construct temples located closer to the worldwide Church membership.

During the dedicatory prayer of the temple, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "We pray for all who enter Thy house that they may be pure and clean in heart and hand. May they here 'feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.'" [2]

The temple features art glass windows and white marble exterior. The classic modern design features a lone spire topped with a gold statue of the Angel Moroni. The Raleigh North Carolina Temple has a total of 12,864 square feet, two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, a celestial room, and a baptistry.

1 History of the Church in North Carolina
2 Raleigh North Carolina Temple Closed for Renovations
3 Open House for the Newly Remodeled Raleigh North Carolina Temple
4 Raleigh North Carolina Temple Is Rededicated
5 A Look at the Newly Remodeled Raleigh North Carolina Temple
6 Notes
7 See also
8 External Links
9 Videos about the Raleigh North Carolina Temple

History of the Church in North Carolina

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina dates to the Church’s earliest days. In the mid-1830s, just a few years after the religion was organized, Jedediah M. Grant became its first missionary in the area. To this day, Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, retains a first edition (1830) Book of Mormon in their Rubenstein Library.

Raleigh North Carolina Temple Closed for Renovations

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the closure of the Raleigh North Carolina Temple for renovations beginning 7 January 2018.

During the remodel, crews upgraded the mechanical and electrical systems, made spaces ADA compliant, moved windows and doors to accommodate minor floor plan changes, enclosed the entrance canopy, and raised the height of the steeple by 10 feet. New blue, gold, and cream art glass featuring the dogwood tree blossom, the state flower, can be found in the baptistry and other rooms. During the closure, temple patrons were accommodated at temples located in neighboring states.

Open House for the Newly Remodeled Raleigh North Carolina Temple

A one-week open house for the newly renovated Raleigh North Carolina Temple took place from 21 September through 28 September 2019, except for Sunday, 22 September 2019 and provided the public with an opportunity to see inside the faith’s edifice and learn about why Latter-day Saints attend the temple. Approximately 40,000 people visited the temple.

Raleigh North Carolina Temple Is Rededicated

The renovated Raleigh North Carolina Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was rededicated on Sunday, 13 October 2019.

President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided at the single re-dedicatory session. Elder Kevin R. Duncan and Elder James B. Martino of the Seventy assisted in the rededication. Their respective wives, Nancy Duncan and Jennie Martino participated. The session was not broadcast. Then-Elder Ballard participated in the original dedication of the temple in December 1999.

A Look at the Newly Remodeled Raleigh North Carolina Temple

Interior photos of the newly remodeled Raleigh North Carolina Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were released to the public on 19 September 2019. The pictures in the gallery were obtained from the Church News section of the official Church website.