RELIGION
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rededicates Tokyo Japan Temple
TOKYO — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has rededicated its longest operating temple in Asia.
President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided over the rededication in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday.
“This is a great thing for this nation. It is a great thing in the world to have a temple of God. I feel grateful just to be here,” President Eyring said.
The temple was originally dedicated on Oct. 27, 1980, as the 18th temple of the Church.
However, it closed in September 2017 to undergo renovations to its interior and exterior.
A visitor center, chapel, area and missions offices, and a family history center were added to the historic temple, according to the release.
President Eyring was joined by several Church members like Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Both President Eyring and Elder Stevenson have ties to Japan.
“When I come here, I feel like I’m coming home,” President Eyring said.
Elder Stevenson served as a missionary in Japan from 2004 to 2007. He says the country is a part of his “spiritual DNA.”
“We had 19,000 people come to the temple open house,” Elder Stevenson said. “Including many influential people in Japan from government, commerce, education, and religion.”
The refurbished Tokyo Japan Temple is 53,779 square feet with Japanese landscaping and interior esthetics.
The release states that Japan is home to over 130,000 Latter-day Saints.
