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Columbus Ohio Temple

The Columbus Ohio Temple is the 60th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ohio was the site of the first Latter-day Saint temple built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under the direction of the prophet Joseph Smith the Kirtland Temple was dedicated in 1836. Not long after the temple's dedication, the persecution of the early Saints grew too severe and the Latter-day Saints were forced to abandon their temple in Kirtland, which is no longer owned by the Church, and leave the state.

For years there were few members of the Church in the state of Ohio, but after World War II many Latter-day Saint soldiers and their families went to Ohio for school and then stayed on. Since then the Church has grown steadily, with about 46,000 members in the year 2000.

Now a new temple is located about 150 miles southwest of Kirtland in Columbus, Ohio. The Saints of Ohio are once again blessed to have a temple within their midst. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Our people are more accepted now. It is a new day of opportunity. The struggles of Kirtland are past." [1]

Teri McGlaughlin, a member since she was a child said, "I never thought that in my lifetime we would have a temple so close by. I grew up thinking temples were only in Utah and you went there to get married." [2] Now Ohio Saints can receive the blessings of a Latter-day Saint temple marriage in Ohio. Smaller temples, like the Columbus Ohio Temple, with its marble exterior and art glass windows, are being built all over the world. It is part of President Gordon B. Hinckley's plan to bring the temples to the people.

President Hinckley dedicated the Columbus Ohio Temple on 4 September 1999. About 11,000 members attended the six dedicatory sessions. About 30,000 people attended the open house prior to the dedications.

In his dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley quoted verses from Joseph Smith's dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, "that thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners; and be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens." [3]

President Hinckley also said, "We pray for Thy cause in all the earth. Bless the faithful tithe payers throughout the Church whose consecrated offerings have made this structure possible. Shower blessings upon them, and increase their faith as they give of their means to the building of Thy kingdom." [4]

The Columbus Ohio Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.

The Columbus Ohio Temple to Close for Renovations

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the closure of the Columbus Ohio Temple for extensive renovation.

While presently closed due to COVID-19, and it is unknown when the temple will reopen, the Columbus Ohio Temple will close for refurbishing beginning 15 August 2020, and is expected to reopen in late 2022.

Latter-day Saints in the Columbus Ohio temple district are encouraged to attend the Indianapolis Indiana Temple and Detroit Michigan Temple during the renovation.

Details for the public open house and re-dedication will be provided as the renovation nears completion.

Notes

1. “News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 109.
2. “News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 110.
3. D&C 109:73-74
4. “News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 109.

See also

• Inside Mormon Temples
• Mormon Temples
• The Temple Endowment
• Mormon Undergarments
• LDS Weddings

External links

• Columbus Ohio Temple page
• Unofficial LDS Temples Site
• Mormon Temple Worship - BBC Religion & Ethics
• Mormon Temple Ordinances - ReligionFacts
• Mormon Temples - Lightplanet
• Mormon Temples - Wikipedia
• Mormon Temples and Secrecy
• History of Mormon Temples - Lightplanet

Videos of the Columbus Ohio Temple