Edmonton Alberta Temple
The Edmonton Alberta Temple is the 67th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Edmonton Temple is the second to be built in Alberta, the first having been built in 1923 in Cardston. Previous to the building of the Edmonton temple many Latter-day Saint couples would move to Cardston after retirement to be near a temple.
The Church had a slow start in Edmonton, with the first meeting not held until 1933, with only 15 members present. It was not until 1951 that the first official Latter-day Saint meetinghouse was built. Now the new temple will serve about 15,700 members in the area. Many members expect the temple to bring even greater growth to the Church; among them is Stake President LeRoy Rollins who said about the new temple, "I imagined it. I worked toward it. I knew we would have a temple in Edmonton, it had to be. It marks a status we have not had before. It will cause even greater growth in this city." 1
The exterior of the Edmonton Alberta Temple is white granite and has a single spire topped by a statue of the angel Moroni. The groundbreaking services were held on 27 February 1999. Before the dedication, a public open house was held.
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on 11-12 December 1999. During the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley prayed for the nation of Canada saying, “Let Thy providence be felt in this great nation of Canada, that it shall continue to be a land where Thy sons and daughters enjoy the precious boon of freedom of assembly and worship. . . . Bless those who govern that they shall look with favor upon Thy people, and may Thy work grow in numbers, in majesty, and in strength in this good land.” 2
The Edmonton Alberta Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Notes
- 18 December 1999, Church News.
- “News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 74
