Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

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Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple is the 94th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple site sits on 6.3 acres, which includes a meetinghouse. The temple is 10,700 square feet, has two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, a baptismal font, celestial room, and other facilities necessary to carry out its purpose. The temple exterior is made from Imperial Danby White marble quarried in Vermont, and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple serves members of the Church in New Orleans, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Monroe, and Slidell, Louisiana, as well as, members in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Jackson, Mississippi.

The first Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Louisiana in 1841 in response to a letter sent to Joseph Smith, asking him to send missionaries to New Orleans. A few joined the Church, and most left Louisiana to be with the rest of the body of the Church.

New Orleans was the port of entry to the United States for most of the early British converts of the Church. Between 1840 and 1855, around 18,500 members crossed the ocean to the U.S., and 17,600 of them first arrived in New Orleans. Because of this, most of the Church members in New Orleans were either emigrants, who could not yet afford to go further, or Church agents who helped the emigrants continue their journey. After 1855 when the last of the emigrants left New Orleans, the Church no longer had a presence in Louisiana.

In 1895, Latter-day Saint missionaries were sent again to the state. The missionary work was slow in the South, but those who did join the Church were strong members. The Church continued to grow and by 1955, with more than 3,500 members, a stake was organized in the area. Today there are more than 24,000 members in Louisiana.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on 14 October 1998 that a temple would be built in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 8 May 1999. Monte J. Brough, a member of the Seventy, presided at the ceremony and dedication.

The temple was open to the public for tours 1 July through 8 July 2000.

Gordon B. Hinckley, then president of the Church, dedicated the temple on 16 July 2000. Four dedicatory services were held to accommodate the members who wanted to attend. Just before the first dedication service, a cornerstone ceremony was held.

Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Closed for Renovations

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the closure of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple for renovations in February 2018.

Open House for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple would open for free public tours from 26 October through 2 November 2019, except for Sunday, 27 October 2019.

Randy Bluth, a former Area Seventy and the executive secretary of the temple’s rededication committee, said the public interest in the temple open house was remarkable. Around 12,000 visitors came to tour through the temple during the two weeks prior to the rededication and among them were the mayor of Baton Rouge, Sharon Weston Broome, and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. He also explained that the renovation and rededication process brought about increased respect and appreciation for the Church and its members from the surrounding communities.

A Look at the Newly Remodeled Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

The pictures used in the gallery were obtained from the Newsroom. ©2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

  • The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The recommend desk in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The baptistry in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • An Instruction room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • A sealing room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The bride's room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The celestial room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The celestial Room in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Paintings depicting Jesus Christ in various biblical settings

  • Detailed decor in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Statue of angel Moroni atop the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • Detailed decor on the exterior of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The recommend desk in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

  • The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Is Rededicated

After undergoing extensive renovations over 22 months, the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was rededicated on Sunday, 17 November 2019, by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Elder Cook was accompanied at the dedication by his wife, Sister Mary G. Cook; Elder James B. Martino, a General Authority Seventy of the Church and president of the North America Southeast Area; and his wife, Sister Jennie B. Martino; and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Church’s Temple Department; and his wife, Sister Nancy S. Duncan. The rededication was broadcast to the nine stakes that make up the temple district throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and part of Arkansas.

This was the first time that Elder Cook has presided over a temple rededication. He said, "I have been to a lot of dedications, and I have assisted in a lot of them but it has been very special to be able to give a dedicatory prayer for the house of the Lord."

Elder Duncan commented that there are many reasons people go to the temple. "Some go to serve, others to find peace." He continued, "But it’s a house of hope that is now again open for these wonderful members and workers who love this house of the Lord."

Elder Cook added, "It’s been an incredible blessing to be here and see the great diversity of people here. . . . You see people from different cultures and races, and they are all united by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is a marvelous thing. . . . It is the commitment to the Savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ that just unites us."

See also

External Links

Videos about the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple

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