Raleigh North Carolina Temple
The Raleigh North Carolina Temple is the 68th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the first temple built in North Carolina.
For over 150 years the Church has had a presence in North Carolina. It began with a lone missionary, Jedediah M. Grant, preaching the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon in 1838. Today there are more than 40,000 Latter-day Saints living in North Carolina, and the Raleigh North Carolina Temple will serve about 27,000 of these Saints.
Plans for the temple, located at 574 Bryan Drive in Apex, North Carolina, were announced on 3 September 1998. Groundbreaking services were held on 6 February 1999. After the temple was completed about 31,000 people toured the temple during the open house. Visitors were surprised to see the many pictures of Jesus Christ. Wake County Commissioner Yevonne Brannon commenting on the pictures of the Savior said, "The artwork was simply stunning. I felt drawn to each painting and found myself wanting to linger in front of every scene so I could contemplate the meaning of what was being portrayed. But how could I selfishly do that with so many people behind me?" [1]
Gordon B. Hinckley, Church president from 1995 to 2008, dedicated the temple on 18 December 1999. Before the first session Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, talked to a group of reporters. He described "how the Church shares goals with other religions, such as safeguarding 'values, family, fidelity, and the responsibility of parents for their children, teaching them correct principles, guiding, loving, and showing the way, not letting them get gobbled up by the ravages of the world.'" [1] It is because of this belief in families that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples.
During the dedicatory prayer of the temple on the 18th of December 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "We pray for all who enter Thy house that they may be pure and clean in heart and hand. May they here 'feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.'" [2]
The temple features art glass windows and white marble exterior. The classic modern design features a lone spire topped with a gold statue of the Angel Moroni. The Raleigh North Carolina Temple has a total of 12,864 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Contents
History of the Church in North Carolina
The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina dates to the Church’s earliest days. In the mid-1830s, just a few years after the religion was organized, Jedediah M. Grant became its first missionary in the area. To this day, Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, retains a first edition (1830) Book of Mormon in their Rubenstein Library.
Raleigh North Carolina Temple Closed for Renovations
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the closure of the Raleigh North Carolina Temple for renovations beginning 7 January 2018. The temple will be rededicated sometime in 2019.
During the remodel, crews upgraded the mechanical and electrical systems, made spaces ADA compliant, moved windows and doors to accommodate minor floor plan changes, enclosed the entrance canopy, and raised the height of the steeple by 10 feet. During the closure, temple patrons were accommodated at temples located in neighboring states.
Open House for the Newly Renovated Raleigh North Carolina Temple
An open house for the newly renovated Raleigh North Carolina Temple took place from 21 September through 28 September 2019, except for Sunday, 22 September 2019.
Raleigh North Carolina Temple is Rededicated
The renovated Raleigh North Carolina Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was rededicated on Sunday, 13 October 2019.
President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided at the single re-dedicatory session. The session was not broadcast.
The temple serves Latter-day Saints in North Carolina and will open for patrons on Tuesday, 27 October 2019.
Notes
- Church News, 25 December 1999.
- News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 74
See also
External links
- Raleigh North Carolina Temple Dedicatory Prayer
- Raleigh North Carolina Temple page
- Mormon Temple Ordinances - ReligionFacts
- Mormon Temples - Lightplanet
- Mormon Temples - Wikipedia
