Meridian Idaho Temple

A new temple for Meridian, Idaho, was announced at the 181st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by President Thomas S. Monson on 2 April 2011. It will be the fifth temple to be built in the state of Idaho (the other four are in Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Rexburg). Meridian is the third largest city in the state and is located about eleven miles west of Boise. There are more than 400,000 Latter-day Saints in Idaho.

The new temple in Meridian will decrease the load on the Boise Temple, which is filled to overflowing at some times. The Meridian-Nampa area is experiencing fast growth and the creation of new wards and stakes.

Temple Groundbreaking Announced

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday, 18 July 2014, that the Meridian Idaho Temple groundbreaking will take place on 23 August 2014 at 10:00 a.m. MDT. The temple site is located at 7345 North Linder Road, a few blocks north of the intersection of North Linder Road and Chinden Boulevard.

The Church of Jesus Christ currently has 143 operating temples, with an additional 27 announced or under construction. Latter-day Saint temples which are revered as a ”house of the Lord” differ from meetinghouses or chapels where Sunday worship services are held for members, as well as anyone wishing to join the congregation. In temples, the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are reaffirmed through sacred ordinances that unite families for eternity, and only faithful members with valid temple recommends may attend.