Oakland California Temple
Encyclopedia
The Oakland California Temple (formerly the Oakland Temple) is the 15th constructed and 13th operating temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS temple in Oakland, California was announced on May 26, 1962, and dedicated on November 19, 1964 by David O. McKay
.
Located in the city of Oakland, California
at 4770 Lincoln Ave, it is the only temple built with a modern five-spire design and exhibits an Oriental motif. Its architect was Harold W. Burton. The exterior of the temple is reinforced concrete faced with sierra white granite from Raymond, California. On the north and south faces of the temple are two decorative friezes, and is the last temple to have such. The back (south side) is a depiction of Christ descending from heaven to the people of the American continent soon after his resurrection in the Holy Land. The front (north side) illustrates Christ preaching His gospel to the people. Within the front garden courtyard there is a statue of children in front of a bronze plaque bearing a scripture from 3 Nephi 17, from the Book of Mormon
, telling how Christ blessed the children during his visit to the people of ancient America.
The temple sits on a prominent site in the Oakland hills and has become a local landmark. Through the front courtyard are stairways which lead to the temple terrace situated above the ground floor of the temple. From the temple grounds and terrace are spectacular views of the Bay Area, including downtown Oakland, the Bay Bridge, Yerba Buena Island
, downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
. The Grounds are accented by flowers, palm trees, and a formal-style man-made river running from one fountain to the other.
The temple was built on an 18.3 acres (74,057.5 m²) plot, has 4 ordinance rooms, 7 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 95000 square feet (8,825.8 m²).
The Visitor Center has free tours around the grounds and atop the temple daily.
The building of the Oakland Temple, as well as other temples in California was planned as early as 1847. The Mormons who had traveled by ship around Cape Horn to California were told by Brigham Young that "...in the process of time, the shores of the Pacific may yet be overlooked from the Temple of the Lord."
The site where the Oakland Temple now stands was inspected by David O. McKay, then second counselor in the First Presidency
in 1942. The 14.5 acres (58,679.5 m²) were purchased by the Church on January 28, 1943. Ground was broken for the temple in 1962.
The first president of the Oakland Temple was Delbert F. Wright. The current president of the temple is Richard A. Hunter, one of the sons of Howard W. Hunter
.
in Mesa, Arizona and the Mormon Miracle Pageant
in Manti, Utah. Until its retirement it was the only such pageant performed indoors as well as the only one to be fully accompanied by a live orchestra. Initially, the pageant consisted of three acts performed over three consecutive nights, however, it was eventually shortened to an hour and a half. In November 2007 the pageant was officially retired in a letter to regional stake and mission presidents by Elder D. Todd Christofferson
, at the time one of the Presidents of the Seventy.
The auditorium seats 1,600 people and has a 60 feet (18.3 m) stage. Besides the three resident organizations and the Temple Pageant, many Brigham Young University
performing arts groups have appeared on this stage.
The site also has a visitors center that was opened in 1992. There is also a Family History Center, an LDS Employment Center, an LDS Distribution Center and the headquarters of the California Oakland-San Francisco Mission.
There is also a Temple Hill Public Affairs Council which seeks to use the resources on the location to raise awareness of the Church and its mission. As of 2007 it was directed by Lorenzo Hoopes
.
There is also a Temple Hill Choir.
Another organization based at Temple Hill is Behold Dance Collective - The Temple Hill Dance Company.
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. The LDS temple in Oakland, California was announced on May 26, 1962, and dedicated on November 19, 1964 by David O. McKay
David O. McKay
David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
.
Physical description
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
at 4770 Lincoln Ave, it is the only temple built with a modern five-spire design and exhibits an Oriental motif. Its architect was Harold W. Burton. The exterior of the temple is reinforced concrete faced with sierra white granite from Raymond, California. On the north and south faces of the temple are two decorative friezes, and is the last temple to have such. The back (south side) is a depiction of Christ descending from heaven to the people of the American continent soon after his resurrection in the Holy Land. The front (north side) illustrates Christ preaching His gospel to the people. Within the front garden courtyard there is a statue of children in front of a bronze plaque bearing a scripture from 3 Nephi 17, from the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, telling how Christ blessed the children during his visit to the people of ancient America.
The temple sits on a prominent site in the Oakland hills and has become a local landmark. Through the front courtyard are stairways which lead to the temple terrace situated above the ground floor of the temple. From the temple grounds and terrace are spectacular views of the Bay Area, including downtown Oakland, the Bay Bridge, Yerba Buena Island
Yerba Buena Island
Yerba Buena Island sits in the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland, California. The Yerba Buena Tunnel runs through its center and connects the western and eastern spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It has had several other names over the decades: Sea Bird Island, Wood...
, downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
. The Grounds are accented by flowers, palm trees, and a formal-style man-made river running from one fountain to the other.
The temple was built on an 18.3 acres (74,057.5 m²) plot, has 4 ordinance rooms, 7 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 95000 square feet (8,825.8 m²).
The Visitor Center has free tours around the grounds and atop the temple daily.
History
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
in 1942. The 14.5 acres (58,679.5 m²) were purchased by the Church on January 28, 1943. Ground was broken for the temple in 1962.
The first president of the Oakland Temple was Delbert F. Wright. The current president of the temple is Richard A. Hunter, one of the sons of Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter
Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
.
And it Came to Pass Pageant
In the nearby Interstake Center, local members performed a Latter-day Saint Pageant (an annual theatrical production) for many years. The pageant, commonly known as the "Temple Pageant," was a musical stage production rehearsing the history and legacy of the LDS Church. It was one of only a few "temple pageants" around the country; others include the Easter PageantMesa Arizona Easter Pageant
The Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant Jesus the Christ is an annual production of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints staged on the grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple. One of the six LDS pageants, Jesus the Christ began in 1928 as a small sunrise Easter presentation...
in Mesa, Arizona and the Mormon Miracle Pageant
Mormon Miracle Pageant
The Mormon Miracle Pageant is a Latter-day Saint Pageant held in Manti, Utah. It is produced by an amateur cast of over five hundred members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . The nightly program takes place on the south lawn of temple hill at the Manti Temple...
in Manti, Utah. Until its retirement it was the only such pageant performed indoors as well as the only one to be fully accompanied by a live orchestra. Initially, the pageant consisted of three acts performed over three consecutive nights, however, it was eventually shortened to an hour and a half. In November 2007 the pageant was officially retired in a letter to regional stake and mission presidents by Elder D. Todd Christofferson
D. Todd Christofferson
David Todd Christofferson is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He has been a general authority of the church since 1993...
, at the time one of the Presidents of the Seventy.
Other buildings on site
The temple is not the oldest building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the site. The Inter-stake center dates to the 1950s. This building was originally referred to as the tri-stake center, serving the needs of the San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley stakes. This building includes two chapels for sacrament meetings, an auditorium, a gymnasium and several classrooms and offices.The auditorium seats 1,600 people and has a 60 feet (18.3 m) stage. Besides the three resident organizations and the Temple Pageant, many Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
performing arts groups have appeared on this stage.
The site also has a visitors center that was opened in 1992. There is also a Family History Center, an LDS Employment Center, an LDS Distribution Center and the headquarters of the California Oakland-San Francisco Mission.
Organizations
The Temple Hill Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1985. It has 52-members, about a third of whom are not Latter-day Saints. It has other sponsors besides the LDS Church. It is a non-profit organization that offers free concerts. It is currently directed by John Pew.There is also a Temple Hill Public Affairs Council which seeks to use the resources on the location to raise awareness of the Church and its mission. As of 2007 it was directed by Lorenzo Hoopes
Lorenzo Hoopes
Lorenzo Hoopes is as of January 2010 the head of the Paramount Theatre Board in Oakland, California. The Paramount Theatre is a public institution with a board that appoints new members, with the consent of the city council and mayor, but in the past the decisions of the board have always been...
.
There is also a Temple Hill Choir.
Another organization based at Temple Hill is Behold Dance Collective - The Temple Hill Dance Company.
See also
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsComparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsBelow is a chronological list of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with sortable columns. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth...
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- Temple (Latter Day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in CaliforniaThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in CaliforniaAs of year-end 2010, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 763,370 members in 1,361 wards and branches, 16 missions, and 7 temples and 193 Family History Centers in California.-History:-Brooklyn Saints:...
External links
- The Oakland California Temple page on the website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Oakland California Temple on ldschurchtemples.com