Details

The Columbia South Carolina Temple is located in Hopkins, South Carolina because of its central location within the state. Prior to the dedication of the temple members in the area traveled to the temple in Atlanta, Georgia.

History

Emmanual Masters Murphy, baptized in Tennessee, is believed to be the first member of the Church in South Carolina. When the first missionary, Lysander M. Davis, arrived in November 1839, he was surprised to find people already prepared for baptism, having been fellowshipped by the Murphys. Reportedly, Murphy later visited Joseph Smith in Carthage Jail shortly before the martyrdom. The Prophet recounted his prophecy that war that would soon commence in South Carolina and urged Murphy to return to warn the citizens there.^[1]Gerry Avant, ed. “Worldwide Church: United States of America: South Carolina,” 2004 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2004) 228–229.

Because of the Civil War, the migration of the Saints to Utah, and persecution within the state itself, the Church in South Carolina saw little growth until 1917, when the first branch (small congregation) was organized with 40 members. The next 80 years saw enormous growth, and in 1999 there were 26,000 members in South Carolina.

One member, Gwen Slay Llewllyn, remembers when the Church was smaller, before permanent buildings were built. She said, “I was 13 when the stake was organized. My relatives and I would have to clean tobacco out of rented buildings before services could be held.” ^[2]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 1999, 75. Now the Church not only has over 45 meeting houses in South Carolina but a temple as well.

Announcement

The Church announced that the temple would be built on 11 September 1998.

Groundbreaking

At the groundbreaking of the Columbia South Carolina Temple held on December 5, 1998, Elder Gordon T. Watts of the Seventy said, “As the contractors and building people prepare and begin construction, let us also begin a program of personal construction that we will be as exemplary as this beautiful temple when it is completed. If changes are required in your life to gain entrance into the temple, let us begin now.” ^[3]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 1999, 75.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Columbia South Carolina Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hermosillo Sonora Mexico Temple.

Open House

Before the South Carolina temple was dedicated about 20,000 people walked through it during an open house held 30 September–9 October 1999.

At the temple open house, Deputy Chief of Staff Michael LeFever attended in place of Governor James Hodges, who was busy assessing damage caused by Hurricane Floyd. The deputy chief, whose daughter took piano lessons from a Church member, said he would look at a picture of the temple in the home while waiting for his daughter. He noted the family’s growing excitement and never dreamed he would eventually get a VIP tour of the building. The governor wrote a personal letter, which the deputy chief read, commending Church members for their hard work in making the temple a reality.^[4]Linda Franklin-Moore, “South Carolina temple opens for tours,” Church News 2 Oct. 1999: 7.

Dedication

The temple was dedicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in six sessions from October 16 to 17, 1999. In addition to President Hinckley, other Church leaders — apostles Dallin H. Oaks and M. Russell Ballard and Church leader Monte J. Brough — also took turns speaking. In the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley asked that “the very presence of this Thy house will have a sanctifying influence upon the people of this area, and particularly upon those who enter its portals.”^[5]Columbia South Carolina Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Oct. 23, 1999,

The morning of their scheduled dedication session, Mark and Judy Wilcox of the Hendersonville Ward, Asheville North Carolina Stake, learned that their son, Brad, had been killed the previous evening in a car accident. Sister Wilcox, who was to sing at the dedication that day, chose to sing as planned after she and her husband received priesthood blessings. The Wilcoxes found a great deal of comfort in the words directed to them by President Gordon B. Hinckley about the Plan of Salvation and the teachings of the temple. ^[6]R. Scott Loyd, “New temple in a ‘place of history,'” Church News 23 Oct. 1999: 3.

Dedication Order

The Columbia South Carolina Temple was the first temple built in South Carolina and the 62nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Phillip G. Stalvey	2017–2017
Stephen C. Lenker	2014–2017
Steven E. Baughman	2011–2014
Brent H. Koyle	2008–2011
Alvie R. Evans	2005–2008
William R. Simpson	2002–2005
David. V. Yarn	1999–2002

Details

Location

The temple is located in a beautifully wooded neighborhood in southeastern Columbia, South Carolina’s capital. The lovely residential area is scattered with well-kept homes and churches. Native loblolly pine and oak surround the temple, which is landscaped with crape myrtle, large holly, mums, and dogwood trees, reflecting the area’s natural flora.^[7]R. Scott Loyd, “New temple in a ‘place of history,'” Church News 23 Oct. 1999: 3. The temple stands on property the Church purchased more than 20 years before plans to build the temple were announced.

The 3.6-acre site is landscaped with trees and flowers native to the area, including dogwoods, crape myrtles and mums. The temple grounds are surrounded by a white fence with a circular design on the upper rails.

Exterior

Its design matches dozens of temples constructed in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a part of the Church’s effort to bring temples closer to as many Church members as possible.

The exterior of the temple is white marble from vermont and features art glass windows. The temple is graced by a single spire topped by a gold-leafed angel Moroni.

Interior

The Columbia South Carolina Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.

The temple’s lobby features paintings by Ted Gorka, a Latter-day Saint artist who resided in Columbia.

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