Hong Kong China Temple
The Hong Kong China Temple is the 48th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Mormon Church in Hong Kong has changed drastically since the first Mormon missionaries arrived to preach the Gospel in 1853. In 1960 there were 91 full-time foreign and 12 full-time local Mormon missionaries preaching the Gospel in Hong Kong. [1]
In 1992 President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Mormon Church, announced that there would be a Mormon temple in Hong Kong. However, finding a place on which to build proved difficult. Church leaders considered numerous temple sites, but were unsatisfied with all. One obstacle was the high cost of real estate. Finally, the inspiration came to have the temple built on the site of the mission home and chapel.
Because of the situation of Hong Kong city, the temple had to be 'built up' instead of 'spreading out' to build. It was the scarcity of space in that crowded land that contributes to the unique design of the Hong Kong Temple. The six-story building is designed to house, not only the Mormon temple, but also a chapel, mission offices, and living quarters for the temple president and several missionaries. [2]
The dedication of the Hong Kong China Temple took place on May 26, 1996. Many that attended the temple open house were impressed that amid the traffic and confusion of such a busy city there is such peace and tranquility found so easily inside the Mormon temple. The Hong Kong Temple serves Mormon members from parts of India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Guam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, Micronesia, Majuro, and Indonesia. It has a total of 21,744 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Notes
- "A Dream Come True in Hong Kong", by Kellene Ricks Adams, Ensign, June 1996
- "The First 100 Temples", by Chad Hawkins, 2001, 132-133
See also
External links
- Official LDS Hong Kong China Temple page
- Hong Kong China Temple page
- Hong Kong China Temple page
- Mormon Temple Worship - BBC Religion & Ethics
- Mormon Temples - Wikipedia
- Resources about the History and Symbolism of Mormon Temples
- Mormon Temples and Secrecy
- Mormon Missionary Work - Lightplanet
- Joseph Smith - American Prophet
- A video about the Hong Kong China Temple