Ground broken for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple
Nov 1, 2022, 1:31 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm
Invited guests, including Latter-day Saint youth from Oregon's Willamette Valley, turn the soil at the groundbreaking of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple in Springfield, Oregon, on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)
(Intellectual Reserve, Inc.)
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground for its third temple in Oregon on Saturday.
According to the Church announcement, Elder Valeri V. Cordón, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the North America West Area Presidency presided over the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple ceremony.
“We pray that the temple will be a beacon of hope and peace that inspires this community to come unto Christ even in its construction phase,” said Elder Cordón in the dedicatory prayer.
Cordón also paid tribute to Latter-day Saint members of Oregon, both past and present, according to the Church.
“We acknowledge the first saints who came to this valley to live peacefully in their humble circumstances,” said Cordón. “We are grateful for the faithful saints who live in this area for their sacrifice, devotion and obedience.”
Church member Carolyn Schultz expressed her appreciation for those who prepared the way for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple.
“Each [congregation] in this Willamette Valley area has its own beloved history and memories of special people who helped build the kingdom,” said Schultz.
Schultz has lived in the Willamette Valley area for her entire life, 83 years, according to the Church.
Other younger Church members also shared their excitement for the temple’s groundbreaking, like 11-year-old Thomas Fuller of Springfield, Oregon.
“I am looking forward to seeing the Willamette Valley temple be built and to go inside someday,” said Fuller.
“I feel like the act of visiting the Lord’s house in itself helps me to work on becoming a better person,” said Melanie Lambson of Coos Bay, Oregon. “Visiting the temple gives me a better focus and reminds me why I’m here on earth.”
The Willamette Valley Oregon Temple will be a single-story temple at about 30,000 square feet at International Boulevard and Corporate Way intersection in Springfield, Oregon.
The temple was announced during the April 2021 General Conference by Church President Russell M. Nelson.
