View source for Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

[[Image:Baton-Rouge-Louisiana-Temple-2019-2.jpg|450px|thumb|<span style="color:#0D8ED3">
Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple|right]]

The '''Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple''' is the 94th operating temple of [http://comeuntochrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. The temple site sits on 6.3 acres, which includes a meetinghouse. The temple is 10,700 square feet, has two [[Ordinances|ordinance rooms]], two [[Celestial marriage|sealing rooms]], a [[Baptism for the Dead|baptismal font]], [[Celestial marriage|celestial room]], and other facilities necessary to carry out its purpose. The temple exterior is made from Imperial Danby White marble quarried in Vermont, and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple serves members of the Church in New Orleans, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Monroe, and Slidell, Louisiana, as well as, members in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Jackson, Mississippi.

The first [[Mormon Missionaries|Latter-day Saint missionaries]] arrived in Louisiana in 1841 in response to a letter sent to [[Joseph Smith]], asking him to send missionaries to New Orleans. A few joined the Church, and most left Louisiana to be with the rest of the body of the Church. 

New Orleans was the port of entry to the United States for most of the early British converts of the Church. Between 1840 and 1855, around 18,500 members crossed the ocean to the U.S., and 17,600 of them first arrived in New Orleans. Because of this, most of the Church members in New Orleans were either emigrants, who could not yet afford to go further, or Church agents who helped the emigrants continue their journey. After 1855 when the last of the emigrants left New Orleans, the Church no longer had a presence in Louisiana. 

In 1895, Latter-day Saint missionaries were sent again to the state. The [[Missionary Work|missionary work]] was slow in the South, but those who did join the Church were strong members. The Church continued to grow and by 1955, with more than 3,500 members, a [[Stake|stake]] was organized in the area. Today there are more than 24,000 members in Louisiana. 

The [[First Presidency]] of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] announced on 14 October 1998 that a temple would be built in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 8 May 1999. [[Monte J. Brough]], a member of the [[Seventy]], presided at the ceremony and dedication. 

The temple was open to the public for tours 1 July through 8 July 2000. 

[[Gordon B. Hinckley]], then president of the Church, dedicated the temple on 16 July 2000. Four dedicatory services were held to accommodate the members who wanted to attend. Just before the first dedication service, a cornerstone ceremony was held. 

==Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Closed for Renovations==

The [[First Presidency]] of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] announced the closure of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple for renovations in February 2018.

==Open House for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple==

The [[First Presidency]] of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] announced that the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple would open for free public tours from 26 October through 2 November 2019, except for Sunday, 27 October 2019.

Randy Bluth, a former Area [[Seventy]] and the executive secretary of the temple’s rededication committee, said the public interest in the temple open house was remarkable. Around 12,000 visitors came to tour through the temple during the two weeks prior to the rededication and among them were the mayor of Baton Rouge, Sharon Weston Broome, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. He also explained that the renovation and rededication process brought about increased respect and appreciation for the Church and its members from the surrounding communities. 

==A Look at the Newly Remodeled Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple==

The pictures used in the gallery were obtained from the [https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-opens-doors-to-the-public Newsroom]. ©2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

<gallery class="center" mode=packed-hover>
File:Baton-Rouge-Louisiana-Temple-BRL.jpg|The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Baton-Rouge-Louisian-Temple-2-BRL.jpg|The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple 
File:Recommend-Desk-BRL.jpg|The recommend desk in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Baptistry-BRL.jpg|The baptistry in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple 
File:Instruction-Room-BRL.jpg|An Instruction room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Sealing-Room-BRL.jpg|A sealing room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Decor-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Bride-Room-BRL.jpg|The bride's room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Celestial-Room-BRL.jpg|The celestial room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Decor-2-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Decor-3-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Decor-4-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Celestial-Room-2-BRL.jpg|The celestial Room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Paintings-of-Christ-BRL.jpg|Paintings depicting Jesus Christ in various biblical settings
File:Decor-5-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Angel-Moroni-BRL.jpg|Statue of angel Moroni atop the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Decor-6-BRL.jpg|Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Recommend-Desk-2-BRL.jpg|The recommend desk in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
File:Baton-Rouge-Louisian-Temple-3-BRL.jpg|The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
</gallery>

==The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Is Rededicated==

After undergoing extensive renovations over 22 months, the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] was rededicated on Sunday, 17 November 2019, by Elder [[Quentin L. Cook]] of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]. 

Elder Cook was accompanied at the dedication by his wife, Sister Mary G. Cook; Elder [[James B. Martino]], a [[General Authority]] [[Seventy]] of the Church and president of the North America Southeast Area; and his wife, Sister Jennie B. Martino; and Elder [[Kevin R. Duncan]], a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department; and his wife, Sister Nancy S. Duncan. The rededication was broadcast to the nine [[Stake|stakes]] that make up the [[Temple district|temple district]] throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and part of Arkansas. 

This was the first time that Elder Cook has presided over a temple rededication. [https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2019-11-18/why-rededicating-the-baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-was-a-special-experience-for-elder-cook-167417 He said], "I have been to a lot of dedications, and I have assisted in a lot of them but it has been very special to be able to give a dedicatory prayer for the house of the Lord."

Elder Duncan commented that there are many reasons people go to the temple. "Some go to serve, others to find peace." He continued, "But it’s a house of hope that is now again open for these wonderful members and workers who love this house of the Lord."

Elder Cook added, "It’s been an incredible blessing to be here and see the great diversity of people here. . . . You see people from different cultures and races, and they are all united by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is a marvelous thing. . . . It is the commitment to the Savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ that just unites us."

==See also==

* [[Inside Mormon temples|Inside Mormon Temples]]
* [[Mormon temple|Mormon Temples]]
* [[Temple endowment|The Temple Endowment]]
* [[Mormon undergarments|Mormon Undergarments]]
* [[LDS Weddings]]

==External Links==

* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple/prayer/2000-07-16?lang=eng Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple dedicatory prayer, 2000]
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple/prayer/2019-11-17?lang=eng Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple dedicatory prayer, 2019]
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/the-baton-rouge-temple-18-years-of-refuge-from-storms?lang=eng The Baton Rouge Temple: 18 Years of Refuge from Storms]
* [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple?lang=eng Official Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple page]
* [https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple/ Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple page]
* [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/temples/ Mormon Temples] - Lightplanet
* [https://www.josephsmith.net/?lang=eng Joseph Smith: Prophet of God]
* [https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2022/11/27/23466258/inside-church-headquarters-presiding-bishopric-location-design-construction-of-temples Church News, “Inside Church Headquarters: The location, design and construction of Latter-day Saint temples]

==Videos about the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple==

<embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OD4cPUgNPI&rel=0</embedvideo>

<embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1mzUjvq9U&rel=0</embedvideo>

<embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQucMRQS7o8&rel=0</embedvideo>

<embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKjkQ4Flc4&rel=0</embedvideo>

[[it:Tempio Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
[[pt:Templo de Baton Rouge Louisiana]]
[[ko:루이지애나주 배턴 루지성전]]

[[Category: Temples]]