Taylorsville Utah Temple
On 5 October 2019, during the 189th semiannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple will be built in Taylorsville, Utah.
Mayor Overson said at the time, "This is such good news for our city. We look forward to the serenity, peace and beauty that a temple is sure to bring to our community, as well as the contribution it’s expected to make to Taylorsville’s rich mosaic." She further said, "We have long enjoyed a good partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” she said, “and we look forward to working even more closely on this project."
The Taylorsville Utah Temple will be located on a 7.5-acre site at 2603 West 700 South in Taylorsville, Utah. It will be a three-story temple with a center spire covering 70,460 square feet. It was designed to reflect the pioneer heritage of the area, giving it a historic look similar to the Provo City Center Temple. The temple will have four ordinance rooms (stationary) and four sealing rooms. Two-level parking is also planned for the site, providing both surface and underground parking spaces.
The Church owns the property where the temple will be built. A church meetinghouse sits on the site, which is bordered by 4700 South to the north and I-215 to the east. The meetinghouse currently serves as the stake center for the Taylorsville Utah Valley Park Stake. It will be demolished and it will not be replaced.
The temple will be easily accessible from I-215, and prominent in the city and the valley. The Taylors Landing and Westwood Shopping Centers are located across the street. The temple site also is located on the Midvalley Connector Bus Rapid Transit line that is under development along 4700 South.
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Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for the Taylorsville Utah Temple
Ground was broken on Saturday, 31 October 2020, for a new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be constructed in Taylorsville, Utah. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the event.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the groundbreaking ceremony was private. About 25 people attended the event by invitation, wearing masks and sitting in upholstered folding chairs spread far apart in an open field under a cloudless but hazy blue sky on a cool morning. Guests included local leaders representing the communities in the temple district along Utah’s Jordan River corridor, including Kearns, West Valley City, Taylorsville, Bennion, Murray, and Cottonwood. Neighbors from the homes on the temple’s southern border peered over a cinderblock wall to watch and listen to the ceremony.
In his site dedication prayer, Elder Gong mentioned the settlement of the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, when Joseph and Susanna Harker, of England, crossed the Jordan River in 1848 to establish a fort and a home right in the valley’s center. The Harkers’ great-great-great grandson, Max Harker, 17, spoke at the groundbreaking and related how they gave up their home, their country and lost two children traveling to Utah. He encouraged those in attendance and those who will watch video of the ceremony to engage in family history and temple work. He said, "I am thrilled for a temple to be built here in Taylorsville. I'm excited to continue the legacy of Joseph Harker."
During the dedicatory prayer, he said, "Gathered in these times, in person and via technology, we acknowledge and rejoice with faithful generations, including in historic 'over Jordan' communities, who have, here at heart, made this valley home. We celebrate the continuing legacy and promise of their righteous lives and examples." He continued, "Grateful roots and wings, we come as one from across our generations, communities, heritages and languages — one in heart and mind, one in the restored gospel of Thy Son Jesus Christ, one in the household of faith and fellowship of the saints."
In his site dedication, Elder Gong also prayed that the temple would radiate as a blessing to the community, which was named for John Taylor, the third president and prophet of the Church.
Elder Craig C. Christensen, Utah Area President, conducted the groundbreaking service. He commented, "This temple will be not just a blessing to the members of the church, but everyone in this community will take some sense of ownership and pride. We’re just watching the temples start to dot this land. It’s a reflection of the strength of the saints in Utah."
The Taylorsville Temple is the fifth in the Salt Lake Valley, sitting about halfway between the Salt Lake Temple and Jordan River Utah Temple. The Taylorsville temple marks the 10th of 21 groundbreakings in 2020. The previous nine were for the Alabang Philippines, Richmond Virginia, Layton Utah, Auckland New Zealand, Feather River California, Orem Utah, San Pedro Sula Honduras, Brasília Brazil, and Moses Lake Washington temples.
Open House and Dedication Dates
The house of the Lord in Taylorsville will open to the public on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The open house will go through Saturday, May 18, 2024 (excluding Sundays). Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in two sessions (10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. MDT). The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all units in the Taylorsville Utah Temple district.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 335 temples announced, under construction, under renovation, or in operation in the world.
External Links
- Official Taylorsville Utah Temple page
- Taylorsville Utah Temple page
- What is the Purpose of the Temple
- What Are Temples?
- Church News, “Inside Church Headquarters: The location, design and construction of Latter-day Saint temples
- FamilySearch RootsTech, Temple Invitation by Russell M. Nelson
Temples in Utah
- Bountiful Utah Temple
- Brigham City Utah Temple
- Cedar City Utah Temple
- Deseret Peak Utah Temple
- Draper Utah Temple
- Ephraim Utah Temple
- Heber Valley Utah Temple
- Jordan River Utah Temple
- Layton Utah Temple
- Lehi Utah Temple
- Lindon Utah Temple
- Logan Utah Temple
- Manti Utah Temple
- Monticello Utah Temple
- Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple
- Ogden Utah Temple
- Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple
- Orem Utah Temple
- Payson Utah Temple
- Price Utah Temple
- Provo City Center Temple
- Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple
- Red Cliffs Utah Temple
- Salt Lake Temple
- Saratoga Springs Utah Temple
- Smithfield Utah Temple
- St. George Utah Temple
- Syracuse Utah Temple
- Taylorsville Utah Temple
- Vernal Utah Temple
- West Jordan Utah Temple