San Antonio Texas Temple
Encyclopedia
The San Antonio Texas Temple is the 120th operating temple
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
On June 24, 2001 the LDS Church announced it would build a temple in San Antonio, Texas
, making it the state's fourth. Within ten years, the number of Mormon members in the area grew from 9,000 to 12,000. Until the San Antonio Texas Temple was completed, Mormons in the area had to travel over 200 miles (321.9 km) to reach the nearest temple, near Houston
.
On March 29, 2003 a site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony initiated construction. As the LDS Temple neared completion in September 2004, a ceremony was held to place a thirteen-foot, gold leafed angel Moroni statue on the spire
of the temple.
After the building's completion, an open house
was held April 16 through May 7, 2005 to allow people to see the inside of a Mormon temple. During these three weeks, more than 50,000 people took a tour through the newly finished temple. The inside of the temple is aesthetically furnished with African Cherrywood, stained glass windows, paintings of Jesus
' life and a mural by San Antonio artist Keith Bonds. The use of color in the stained glass windows, in a slightly muted southwest
style, and the indigo and star motif inside the central spire sets this edifice apart from most all other LDS temples.
LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley
officially dedicated the San Antonio Temple on May 22, 2005. A celebration was held at the Alamodome
the night before the dedication. More than 20,000 people attended to watch a show featuring over 4,000 singers and dancers, horses, fireworks, and presentations of Texas
history, family values, and Mormon beliefs. President Hinckley spoke to those in attendance about the temple.
The San Antonio Texas Temple serves about 45,250 members living in an area spanning from Hillsboro
to Brownsville
. It has a total of 16800 square feet (1,560.8 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).
On June 24, 2001 the LDS Church announced it would build a temple in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, making it the state's fourth. Within ten years, the number of Mormon members in the area grew from 9,000 to 12,000. Until the San Antonio Texas Temple was completed, Mormons in the area had to travel over 200 miles (321.9 km) to reach the nearest temple, near Houston
Houston Texas Temple
The Houston Texas Temple is the 97th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.After the September 1997 announcement that the LDS Church would build a temple in Houston, the search began for an appropriate site. The site eventually chosen formerly belonged to a developer...
.
On March 29, 2003 a site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony initiated construction. As the LDS Temple neared completion in September 2004, a ceremony was held to place a thirteen-foot, gold leafed angel Moroni statue on the spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
of the temple.
After the building's completion, an open house
Open House
Open House may refer to:*Open house , a common school event held in the United States and Canada*Open House , a 1960 album by jazz organist Jimmy Smith*Open House , a 2004 independent film...
was held April 16 through May 7, 2005 to allow people to see the inside of a Mormon temple. During these three weeks, more than 50,000 people took a tour through the newly finished temple. The inside of the temple is aesthetically furnished with African Cherrywood, stained glass windows, paintings of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' life and a mural by San Antonio artist Keith Bonds. The use of color in the stained glass windows, in a slightly muted southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
style, and the indigo and star motif inside the central spire sets this edifice apart from most all other LDS temples.
LDS Church President 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...
officially dedicated the San Antonio Temple on May 22, 2005. A celebration was held at the Alamodome
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
the night before the dedication. More than 20,000 people attended to watch a show featuring over 4,000 singers and dancers, horses, fireworks, and presentations of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
history, family values, and Mormon beliefs. President Hinckley spoke to those in attendance about the temple.
The San Antonio Texas Temple serves about 45,250 members living in an area spanning from Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
to Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. It has a total of 16800 square feet (1,560.8 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms
Celestial marriage
Celestial marriage is a doctrine of Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and branches of Mormon fundamentalism.Within Mormonism, celestial marriage is an ordinance associated with a covenant that always...
.
See also
- Temple (Latter Day Saints)
- 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
- 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...
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in TexasThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in TexasAs of year-end 2010, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported 296,141 members, 49 stakes, 3 districts, 557 Congregations , 8 missions, and 4 temples in Texas....