Monticello Utah Temple
The Monticello Utah Temple is the 53rd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In October of 1997, Mormon Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, announced the building of smaller Mormon Temples throughout the world. One of these smaller temples was to be built in Monticello, Utah.
In less than one year after the announcement, the Monticello Utah Temple was dedicated on July 26, 1998. President Hinckley stated in the dedicatory prayer of the temple,
- Even in seasons of great poverty, they [the Mormon members] have struggled to erect these sacred houses [temples]. Now Thou hast made Thy will known and blessed us with the means to erect many more temples, smaller in size but complete in their necessary appointments. These will be convenient to Thy faithful Saints and will meet the needs of Thy growing church throughout the world." [1]
The Monticello Mormon Temple serves nearly 13,000 Mormon members in Blanding, Moab, and Monticello, Utah areas and members from Durango, Colorado. Although at the time of its completiong, the Monticello temple was the smallest in the Church, the temple was remodeled and an extra 4,000 square feet added including a second ordinance room and second sealing room. President Hinckley rededicated the temple on November 17, 2002.
Located at the base of the Abajo Mountains, "the exterior of the Temple is finished in a marble called Noah's Crème and which was chosen for its color, range of shades, and availability. The hue of the temple seems to change with the weather conditions and the time of day. Thirteen thousand tiles used on the Temple were evaluated carefully to make sure they blended with each other for a uniform effect." [2] The Monticello Utah Temple currently has a total floor area of 11,225 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Notes
- Ensign, October 1998, p. 74
- "The First 100 Temples", by Chad Hawkins, 2001, p. 146
External links
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
