Description

The Columbia River Temple serves 32,000 members in eastern Washington and northern Oregon. Because of the tremendous growth members of Mormon Church now enjoy the blessings of having three temples within their state. Seattle Washington, dedicated in 1980, was the first; with Spokane Washington coming 19 years later in 1999. A fourth temple was announced for Washington in Moses Lake.

History

Richland was a small town until the World War II era, when the U.S. Army bought the surrounding area to house the Manhattan Project workers. The area became known as the Hanford Site. The population of Richland rose from a mere 300 to thousands. The Columbia River provided support for agricultural production, allowing the area to flourish.

From 1946 onward, Church membership also continued to grow rapidly in the area. “The Church started out here with about the same number you can count on both hands,” said Bud Clement, a member who moved to the Tri-City area in 1946. ^[1]Swenson, Jason, “Peace, beauty find home in new temple,” Church News, 23 November 2001

The area’s first stake was organized in Richland in the 1950’s. Many of these early members became faithful temple goers, regularly attending the temple in Seattle when it was dedicated in 1980 and, more recently, Spokane, when it was dedicated just the year before the Columbia River Temple was announced.^[2]Swenson, Jason, “Peace, beauty find home in new temple,” Church News, 23 November 2001

Church membership in Washington State has grown from 67,000 members in 1970 to nearly 230,000 in 2001.

Announcement

Groundbreaking

groundbreaking ceremonies followed that same year. Stephen A. West, a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, who himself served as a missionary in the area many years before, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony.^[4]Harriet Sutherland (November 4, 2000), “Columbia River Washington Temple construction begins”, Church News At that time he stated, “Our homes are where we become prepared to go to the temple. Carved over the temple door is the phrase, ‘The House of the Lord.’ Our houses should be homes where the Lord could be comfortable to visit. In the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple it was said?’establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.’ May that be said of our homes as well.”

Construction

During the 18 months of the construction of the temple, thousands of visitors came from all over the future temple district to check on the construction progress. One construction worker on the temple said, “I’ve worked in this profession for many years, but I have never worked on a site where so many people come and take pictures of a building before it’s completed.”^[5]Sutherland, Harriet “Temple inspires public,”Church News, 1 November 2001.

Open House

Prior to the Public open house, Elder Quentin L. Cook, then a member of the Seventy, along with Elder Lowell Barber, led privat tours for construction workrs, and temple contractors, along with their families; Nearby neighbors; local clergy; education, civic, and government leaders; and family history enthusiasts.^[6]Sutherland, Harriet “Temple inspires public,”Church News, 1 November 2001.

300 of the Construction workers were given a personal copy of the Book of Mormon signed by the Temples, General Contractor, and the Temple’s project manager.^[7]Sutherland, Harriet “Temple inspires public,”Church News, 1 November 2001.

After the VIP tours, and before the temple was dedicated it was opened to the public from 27 October through 10 November of 2001. Nearly 65,000 people visited the temple during the open house period.

Dedication

President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet and president of the Church, dedicated the Columbia River Washington Temple on 18 November 2001 over 4 dedicatory sessions. During the dedicatory prayer President Hinckley prayed, “Thy grateful people have erected this house. It has been visited by many thousands. They have come out of curiosity and have left with appreciation. May their hearts be inclined to Thy work and may there grow within them a desire to learn of Thy revealed truth.” ^[8]”Dedicatory prayer: ‘The offering of our hearts and our hands,'” Church News, 24 Nov. 2001, 25 Jun. 2005 He also asked “that Thou wilt smile upon Thy people and their families. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon the faithful who contribute of their time and resources according to Thy will and law. May the whole earth become as Zion as Thy work spreads among the nations.”

Dedication Order

The Columbia River Washington Temple was is the 107th operating temple in the world, and the third temple built in Washington, following the Seattle Washington Temple (1980) and the Spokane Washington Temple (1999).

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Brad K. Risenmay	2019–2019
Marvin T. Brinkerhoff	2016–2019
George E. Johnson	2013–2016
T. Dean Moody	2010–2013
Garth L. Tingey	2007–2010
Earl J. Wheelwright	2004–2007
Allan D. Alder	2001–2004

Details

Location

Situated near the Columbia River in Richland, Washington, the Columbia River Washington Temple temple sits on a 2.88-acre site.

The grounds have beautiful trees and flowers and a fountain that flows like a river over steps and culminates in a pool.

Exterior

The exterior of the temple is finished with Bethel White Granite from Vermont and Italy.^[9]”Columbia River Washington Temple,” The Church News Patrons enter through a beautiful stone portico entrance that juts out from the main building. Art-glass windows from Germany with intricate designs are embedded in the tiered spire and temple walls.

Interior

The Columbia River Washington Temple has a total of 16,880 square feet (1,568 m2), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. While walking through these rooms, patrons can marvel at the cherry woodwork, the chandeliers made of Czechoslovakian crystal and a rug from Thailand.

Individuals and Contractors

The project manager for the Columbia River Washington Temple was Bill Naylor. The General Contractor was Vitus Construction of Medford Oregon.^[10]”Columbia River Washington Temple,” The Church News

Sources and Citations

Additional Articles

External Links

Sources