LDS Church rededicates Jordan River Temple following two years of renovations
May 20, 2018, 9:38 PM | Updated: May 21, 2018, 10:54 am
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Thousands of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took part Sunday in the rededication of the Jordan River Temple.
The temple, located at 10200 S. 1300 West in South Jordan, was rededicated by President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the church’s First Presidency, during three sessions which were broadcast to LDS chapels throughout the south end of the Salt Lake Valley.
President Henry B. Eyring and Elder Quentin L. Cook outside the Jordan River Temple.
Outside on the grounds of the temple, prior to the dedication services, President Eyring and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with other church leaders took a moment for a photograph to preserve a memory of the rededication for the temple’s history.
Originally dedicated in 1981, the Jordan River Temple was just the second in the Salt Lake Valley.
“I was about twelve years old, standing in that door with one foot in and one foot out,” said Taylorsville resident, Bruce Wall, remembers being at the temple when it was originally dedicated.
“I am just so grateful that this temple is open again. Yes we went to other temples, it is really awesome, but there is nothing greater than being able to learn about the things of the Lord,” he added.
The temple was closed in 2016 for renovations, which included refreshing and modernizing the interior of the building, adding new artwork and a new entrance for weddings, to allow a bride and groom to greet family outside after their ceremony.
The 150,000 square foot temple is one of the largest in the Church and local Latter-day Saints said they were thrilled their temple is open again.
“It is such a blessing for us to have this temple open, we have to wait a long time at other temples, of course that is relative, but we are grateful to have this temple home,” said Patricia Kammerman.
“We love how close it is to our home and we can see it when we drive by with our grandkids and kids,” added Sue Crookston.
A public open house in recent weeks attracted nearly half a million visitors, who were able to walk inside the temple before today’s rededication.
The temple will officially reopen to LDS Church members on Tuesday.
Church leaders plan to dedicate two more temples later this year: one in Chile in October, and another in Colombia in early December.
