Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is the 8th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Located on the banks of the Snake River, the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is surrounded by three ponds which continuously flow from one to the other and which creates three beautiful waterfalls. In addition, more than sixteen hundred pine trees adorn the landscape, creating a scene of tranquility to those that pass by and those that enter the sacred doors of the temple. The temple serves as a centerpiece for the city of Idaho Falls with its exterior constructed of white quartz aggregate and white cement, which radiates in the light. The temple is built on a solid foundation of lava rock, discovered when excavation began.

The area surrounding the Idaho Falls Temple is rich in pioneer heritage. Many early members of the Mormon Church were asked to settle in this harsh and barren prairie. But in 1884 President Wilford Woodruff encouraged the members to 'not be discouraged; be not disheartened [in your endeavors], because Gods' blessing is upon this land ... the time will come when the Basin and the inhabitants will prosper and develop into a strong community."^[1] The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple was announced 3 March 1937.

As construction began, the Mormon Church approached a cement products company located in Salt Lake City, Utah and asked if they could provide the materials needed to build the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. The Buehner family eagerly accepted remembering that years earlier Brother Buehner had received direction in his patriarchal blessing that, he and his sons would assist in building temples. In the years that followed, the Buehner family assisted in the construction of five additional temples.

The exterior of the temple was completed in September of 1941 and the interior was expected to be completed the following year. However, with World War II shortages, it delayed the completion of the temple for four more years. In spite of delays, LDS Church President George Albert Smith dedicated the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple just one month after the war ended, on 23 September 1945.

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple has a total of 92,177 square feet, four ordinance rooms, and nine sealing rooms.

Closing and Renovations

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple which services members in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming will close for renovation on Monday, 16 March 2015 through October 2016. Members are encouraged to attend the Rexburg Idaho Temple during that time. Once the renovations are complete, the temple will be re-dedicated.

Open House and Rededication Dates Announced

The First Presidency has announced open house and rededication dates for the newly renovated Idaho Falls Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The general public, including children of all ages, is invited to attend an open house of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple from Saturday, 22 April through Saturday, 20 May 2017, except for 23 April, 30 April, 7 May and 14 May 2017. Admission is free, but reservations are requested. Free reservations for the open house can be made through Temple Open House.lds.org. Modest dress is requested. Parking will be provided at nearby stake centers. Ushers will guide you to an available parking space and direct you to a temple shuttle. Plan to arrive early to allow time for traffic and parking.

Cultural Celebration

On Saturday, 3 June 2017, at 7:00 p.m., a youth cultural celebration entitled Temple by the River – Reflections, will be held at Holt Arena on the campus of Idaho State University in Pocatello. The production will include a brief narrative of the history of the Snake River Valley, interwoven with drama, music, and dance—including a choir of 500 young people. A massive screen at the east end of the arena will magnify the action on the floor and be broadcast to each stake center in the temple district.

Idaho Falls Idaho Temple Redication

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple will be rededicated in three sessions at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, 4 June 2017. The sessions will be broadcast to all the stakes in Idaho. To enable the Saints to participate in the temple dedication and to place appropriate focus on this sacred event, the three-hour block meetings will be canceled that day for these members.

The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple was the 8th operating temple of the Church’s 155 temples worldwide. It is one of four temples in Idaho, with others in Twin Falls, Boise and Rexburg. A temple in Meridian is currently under construction.