Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mormon Temple

On 4 October 2008, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that it would build a new temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The temple was originally scheduled to be located on the east side of the 400 block of North Broad Street, between Noble and Hamilton Streets in downtown Philadelphia. However, according to Robert B. Smith, a Church leader in Philadelphia, "the church encountered "contamination" problems with that site, prohibiting it from using the entire parcel to construct two buildings." He further stated that the Church was "in the process" of finalizing a sales agreement for 1739 Vine St., now a parking lot owned by Logan Place Associates." The new property is located between 17th and 18th Streets, on the north side of Vine Street, east of Family Court and near the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

It is assumed that The Church of Jesus Christ will build the temple according to the same pattern it has used in large metropolitan areas such as Hong Kong and New York City. Therefore, the new sacred edifice would be a multi-purpose high rise building with offices and a visitors' center on the lower floors, and ordinance rooms on the top floors.

Significant Events in Mormon Church History in Pennsylvania

Several significant events in LDS Church history took place in Pennsylvania including much of the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of priesthood authority. The Church was first established in Pennsylvania in 1839. growing to 450 members by October 1840. Membership fell following the migration of the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley, but grew again as Mormon European emigrants arrived. Eventually the first stake was organized in 1960 with 1,100 members located in congregations in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Today there are 51,406 members, 2 missions, 12 stakes, 84 wards, and 30 branches in Pennsylvania alone. The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple will be the first temple in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region.

Groundbreaking Ceremony

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple on Saturday, 17 September 2011 — the 224th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States at Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Attendance at the temple site was by invitation only. The event warranted a long story in the Philadelphia Enquirer.

Additional Resources

• After dispute, temple site is approved.
• See this website dedicated solely to the Philly Temple
• LDS Church closes on land purchase for the temple