Stockholm Sweden Temple
The Stockholm Sweden Temple is the 34th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The first Latter-day Saint missionary in Sweden was John E. Forsgren from Gavle, who had immigrated to the United States and joined the Church of Jesus Christ. He returned to Gavle in 1850 and baptized his brother Peter, the first convert in all of Scandinavia, and his sister Ericka. Word reached the government authorities and John was deported back to the United States.
Still in 1910 the proposal to ban Latter-day Saint missionaries was brought before the 'riksdag' and King Gustaf V. The proposal was defeated and Latter-day Saint missionaries were permitted to preach the Gospel. One hindrance to Church growth in Sweden, however, was that in the early days many Latter-day Saint members immigrated to the United States, specifically to Utah, so that they could enjoy the blessings of the temple, be near the prophet of the Church, and live in a society that shared their faith. Mass emigration continued until the 1950s, when the Swiss Temple was built and members were encouraged by Church leaders to stay and build up the Church in their home countries.
By 1927 membership had increased to 1,674; and with various events taking place throughout the next sixty years, the Church increased considerably in membership.
The announcement of the Stockholm Sweden Temple in 1981 received virtually no government or public opposition. There were numerous sites explored for the building of the temple, but the one decided upon by Church leaders was in Vasterhaninge, just south of Stockholm. City officials and merchants welcomed the temple project, and later the city showed further support by changing the name of the street on which the temple is located to Temple Drive.
On July 2, 1985, the temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The temple serves members of the Church from the countries of Sweden, Norway, and Latvia.
The Stockholm Sweden Temple sits on a six-acre lot with its six spires rising above the pines in the nearby forest. A cobblestone path leads to its doors. It has four ordinance rooms and three sealing rooms.
Temple to be Renovated
The Stockholm Sweden Temple will close in 2023 for extensive renovations, with the planned three-year project to include an expansion to 31,000 square feet, nearly double its current 16,366 square feet.
The 2023 closure was announced Monday, Sept. 12, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The renovation and expansion will result in two endowment rooms with 40 seats each. A public open house and rededication of the temple will follow once the renovation is completed.[1]
Source
"The First 100 Temples", by Chad Hawkins, 2001, p. 95
