Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Saratoga Springs Temple
Oct 19, 2019, 3:52 PM | Updated: 7:21 pm
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah – The growth hasn’t stopped.
When families started moving to Saratoga Springs about 15 years ago, most of them wouldn’t imagined how big it would get.
Certainly not Jenny Raventos, who has lived here for almost 14 years.
“There are so many people moving in now,” she said. “When we came, there literally was nothing out there.”
Now, though, there are several homes being constructed, as well as new businesses and roads seemingly every month.
“People are moving in and there are tons of homes coming in and it’s just wonderful,” said Raventos.
What she’s most excited about, though, is a new Temple.
Raventos is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Many families in the area believe in the religion, and a lot of them wanted their own Temple.
“We talked about is constantly. We dreamed about it,” said one man during a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday morning.
Now, that Temple is closer to being built.
Even though the weather was a little cooler, lots of people came out to see for themselves the site where it’s being built just west of Redwood Road.
The Saratoga Springs Temple was first announced three years ago.
The main reason why it’s being built is because of the rapid population growth in Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain.
“It is necessary,” said Craig Christensen, the Utah-area president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Right now, these saints go across the valley or go elsewhere to other temples and now they have it right in their own community.”
Families were invited to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony as well.
Lots of children giggled as they placed gold-colored shovels into the ground and flipped over some dirt.
Construction begins next week, but there is no solid time frame yet as to when this Temple is expected to be completed.
Church leaders say, typically, it can take 18-24 months.
The views of Utah Lake and Mt. Timpanogos are breathtaking from the site on top of a small hill where the Temple will be built.
“It’s a great place to have a Temple. It’ll be a busy Temple,” said David Durfey, who lives in Eagle Mountain.
There is no doubt this growing community got a little closer today.