Frankfurt Germany Temple
The Frankfurt Germany Temple is the 41st operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was originally the fifth temple built in Europe and the second built in the current boundaries of Germany, following the Freiberg Germany Temple which was dedicated in June 1985. The temple has a total of 24,170 square feet, four ordinance rooms, and five sealing rooms. There are nearly 40,000 members of the Church in Germany in 149 congregations. The temple mainly serves members of the Church living in West Germany, Austria, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
In 1914 there were 200 Latter-day Saint missionaries in Germany. When World War I began, the missionaries had to leave. At the outbreak of World War II, the missionaries again had to be evacuated. But, amidst war and turmoil, the members remained valiant and continued to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beginning in 1968, Germany was visited by Church leaders. Each time the leaders would visit, they grieved over the fact the members could not enjoy the blessings of the temple. But they were promised once in 1968 and again in 1975, that "if they remained true and faithful to the commandments of God, that the blessings of the temple would be theirs."
After much prayer and fasting by members of the Church in Germany, the announcement of a temple was made in 1981. The proposal to build a temple in Friedrichsdorf, which is nine miles north of Frankfurt, brought intense opposition from local religious leaders. Latter-day Saint leaders tried to clear up the misconceptions by providing information about the Church. Church representative, Immo Luschin, asked councilmen to watch a film about the Latter-day Saints. They agreed, and all the misconceptions were clarified and public support for the temple increased.
The Frankfurt Germany Temple is in the old Huguenot city of Friedrichsdorf, a mountainous community that is far from the bustle of city life. It is, however, easily accessible to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who come from Germany and parts of France and Austria. The temple was dedicated on 28 August 1987, by then-Church president Ezra Taft Benson. In the dedicatory prayer, President Benson asked, "Open the windows of heaven and shower down upon the local members every needful gift. Prosper them in their labors and magnify them for good before their associates. May the example of their lives lead others to seek thine everlasting truth."
Contents
- 1 Frankfurt Germany Temple Closed in 2015 for Extensive Renovation
- 2 Frankfurt Germany Temple Open House and Youth Devotional
- 3 A Look Inside the Newly Remodeled Frankfurt Germany Temple
- 4 The Frankfurt Germany Temple Is Rededicated
- 5 See also
- 6 External Links
- 7 Videos of the Frankfurt Germany Temple
Frankfurt Germany Temple Closed in 2015 for Extensive Renovation
The Frankfurt Germany Temple closed on Monday, 7 September 2015, to accommodate a renovation and enlargement of the temple, including a new underground baptistry. It was expected to reopen in July 2017. The Freiberg Germany Temple was closed earlier in 2015 for an extensive renovation as well. The Freiberg Germany Temple temple remained closed through 30 May 2016. While the Frankfurt Germany Temple and the Freiberg Germany Temple were being renovated, members attended other European Latter-day Saint temples, including the Bern Switzerland Temple, Madrid Spain Temple, London England Temple, and Preston England Temple.
Frankfurt Germany Temple Open House and Youth Devotional
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the public was invited to tour the newly remodeled Frankfurt Germany Temple. The free open house was held from Friday, 13 September 2019, to Saturday, 28 September 2019, excluding Sundays. Among the guests at the two-week open house were reporters from reputable German news media, including Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Rundschau, Die Zeit and Deutschlandfunk. Catholic and Protestant news outlets also reported on the temple at great length. A Muslim blogger wrote about his experience praying inside the temple, invoking a blessing upon his hosts.
A youth devotional with senior Church leaders was held on Saturday, 19 October 2019.
A Look Inside the Newly Remodeled Frankfurt Germany Temple
All pictures in this gallery were taken from Newsroom are ©2019 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Frankfurt Germany Temple Is Rededicated
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a German native, was invited by Church president Russell M. Nelson to rededicate the Frankfurt Germany Temple. Accompanying Elder Uchtdorf in that assignment were Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy and the three members of the area presidency.
The rededication took place in the temple on Sunday, 20 October 2019. A youth devotional was held on Saturday, 19 October 2019, in a nearby meetinghouse. During the devotional, Elder Uchtdorf told the youth, "When you come to the temple, always think of Jesus Christ because he is the center of our doctrine. We are the Church of Jesus Christ and you are the Latter-day Saints. You are a blessing to this part of the world. God loves you, he trusts you. Please, have trust in him, too."
Elder Uchtdorf's wife, Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, said, "Follow Jesus Christ and I promise you a path of joy, confidence, and hope." Elder Erich W. Kopischke of the Seventy, second counselor in the Europe Area Presidency, explained: "The Lord has always – at all times – given his children symbols to which they could turn. . . . The temple is a symbol for eternity and a symbol for the love our Heavenly Father has for you."
See also
External Links
- Official Frankfurt Germany Temple page
- Frankfurt Germany Temple page
- Frankfurt Germany Temple dedicatory prayer
- Mormon Temple Worship - BBC Religion & Ethics
- Mormon Missionary Work - Lightplanet
- Joseph Smith: Prophet of God