Accra Ghana Temple
Encyclopedia
The Accra Ghana Temple is the 117th operating temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The building of the Accra Ghana Temple was announced on February 16, 1998. Years before the temple was announced President of the LDS Church Gordon B. Hinckley
had promised members in the area that they would someday have a temple close by. When the temple was announced President Hinckley also told those in attendance that the Church had been trying to find a place to build a temple in Ghana
for five years. The temple in Accra
is the second of three temples built in Africa.
The first Mormon missionaries
came to Ghana
in 1978. Many of the people present at the announcement of the temple had been some of the first converts in Ghana.
A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on November 16, 2001. Russell M. Nelson
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led the ceremony. The vice president of Ghana as well as other officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and a radio station and Ghana Television covered the event. The Accra Ghana Temple sits on 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) on the main avenue that runs through the center of Accra. The exterior of the temple is made of Namibia Pearl Granite.
The temple was open to the public December 3-20th 2003. During the tour people were able to see the craftsmanship utilized on the interior of the temple. All of the materials used in the building of the temple were from the area. Moldings in the temple were made of the native makore wood, skilled men in the area handcrafted the furniture and the art-glass windows reflect the culture. The vice president of Ghana as well as many other officials took tours through the temple.
President of the LDS Church, Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Accra Ghana Temple on January 11, 2004. The temple serves members in Ghana, Liberia
, Sierra Leone
, Benin
, and the Ivory Coast. The Accra Ghana Temple has a total of 17500 square feet (1,625.8 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The building of the Accra Ghana Temple was announced on February 16, 1998. Years before the temple was announced President of the LDS Church Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
had promised members in the area that they would someday have a temple close by. When the temple was announced President Hinckley also told those in attendance that the Church had been trying to find a place to build a temple in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
for five years. The temple in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
is the second of three temples built in Africa.
The first Mormon missionaries
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
came to Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
in 1978. Many of the people present at the announcement of the temple had been some of the first converts in Ghana.
A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on November 16, 2001. Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson
Russell Marion Nelson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.-Medical career:...
, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led the ceremony. The vice president of Ghana as well as other officials participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and a radio station and Ghana Television covered the event. The Accra Ghana Temple sits on 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) on the main avenue that runs through the center of Accra. The exterior of the temple is made of Namibia Pearl Granite.
The temple was open to the public December 3-20th 2003. During the tour people were able to see the craftsmanship utilized on the interior of the temple. All of the materials used in the building of the temple were from the area. Moldings in the temple were made of the native makore wood, skilled men in the area handcrafted the furniture and the art-glass windows reflect the culture. The vice president of Ghana as well as many other officials took tours through the temple.
President of the LDS Church, Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Accra Ghana Temple on January 11, 2004. The temple serves members in Ghana, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
, and the Ivory Coast. The Accra Ghana Temple has a total of 17500 square feet (1,625.8 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
See also
- Billy Johnson (Mormon)Billy Johnson (Mormon)Joseph William Billy Johnson was one of the first converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen.Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in...
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in GhanaThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in GhanaAs of year-end 2009, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 40,872 members, 7 stakes, 45 wards, 48 branches, 2 missions, 5 districts and 1 temple in Ghana.-History:...