Description

The Draper Utah Temple is the 129th temple of The Church. Standing high on a ridgeline near the mouth of Draper’s Corner Canyon—featuring 1,021 acres of dedicated open space—the Draper Utah Temple offers a inspiring view of the entire Salt Lake Valley. The beautiful granite edifice shares a site with a meetinghouse and a joint parking lot, constructed at the same time as the temple. Visitors are welcome to roam the beautifully landscaped grounds and take in the spirit of this holy House of the Lord.

History

Announcement

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Two New Temples Announced at General Conference,” 2 Oct. 2004.

The intent to construct the temple was announced by church president Gordon B. Hinckley during the opening session of the October 2004 general conference.  President Hinckley said the new building was needed to relieve overcrowding in other temples in the valley. The temple is the fourth temple in the Salt Lake Valley in addition to the Salt Lake, Jordan River, and Oquirrh Mountain temples. No location was specified at the time of the announcement, spawning lively discussion and speculation along the Wasatch Front.^[1]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Two New Temples Announced at General Conference,” 2 Oct. 2004.

Speculation was put to rest several weeks later on Sunday, November 21, 2004, when a letter from the First Presidency was read to Church congregations in the southern Salt Lake Valley announcing Draper as the location of the temple. Rumors of a temple for Draper had already been circulating for quite some time, since—two years earlier—Church representatives told Corner Canyon’s developer that the reason for their purchase of additional acreage next to its stake center site was for construction of a temple.^[2]Laura Hancock, “Draper site is chosen for new LDS temple,” Deseret News 22 Nov. 2004, 22 Nov. 2004 .

Planning and Approval

On February 8, 2005, the Draper City Council unanimously approved a change to zoning ordinances, which removed the only obstacle to construction of the temple. The ordinance permits for “houses of worship” to reach 90 feet high in the residential area of the temple site. This limit, which applies to occupied areas of a building, does not restrict the height of steeples or spires.^[3] Jacob Santini, “Draper OKs a change in height limit for LDS Temple,” Salt Lake Tribune 9 Feb. 2005, 10 Feb. 2005 .

On May 18, 2006, Draper’s planning commission approved plans for the temple, which was presented as a 57,000-square-foot facility reaching 166 feet high and capped by a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni on a single central spire. The design is similar to the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, with white walls (Temple White Granite from China), a central spire and a stair step design. A large variety of trees were shown for the grounds in addition to a 492-space parking lot.^[4] Amelia Nielson-Stowell, “Draper officials approve plans for LDS temple,” Deseret News 20 May 2006, 20 May 2006 .

Groundbreaking

Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, broke ground and dedicated the site for the temple on August 5, 2006. “It is a great tribute to our people,” he said. “They are so faithful in temple attendance and it is for this reason that we construct this beautiful house of the Lord.”^[5]Jennifer Dobner, “Church leaders break ground for LDS temple in Draper,” Deseret News 5 Aug. 2006, 6 Aug. 2006 .

In 2004 the Church recorded more than 32 million temple ceremonies performed by Church members, and temple attendance has been increasing, especially since many members now have access to temples that are much closer. This is due to President Hinckley’s zeal to build temples throughout the world. In the years that President Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the Church, more than 70 temples were been built. At the groundbreaking ceremony President Hinckley stated, “We must build temples where people can get to them, the Church is now worldwide which means that temples must be built all over the world. Fortunately, because of the faithful, tithe-paying Saints, we have the means to do so.”

The groundbreaking for the temple occurred during an invitation only ceremony at the site which was broadcast on the church’s satellite system to nearby stake centers. The ceremony was conducted by Russell M. Nelson of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with all members of the First Presidency in attendance.^[6]Nielson-Stowell, Amelia (August 4, 2006). “Groundbreaking Saturday”. Deseret Morning News. Retrieved October 16, 2012.^[7]Ortiz, Marcos (August 6, 2006). “LDS leaders break ground on new temple”. ABC 4 News (KTVX). Retrieved August 8, 2006.

Construction

During construction, an average of 150 craftsmen worked on the temple each day.

The Relief Society sisters in a student ward in the Draper area hosted a special luncheon to thank the laborers for their hard work. Jennifer Francis, a participating Relief Society member, told a Church reporter that the sisters’ service was “a symbolic gesture mirroring the acts of the female Relief Society of Nauvoo. As their initial work was tied to the temple, our posture likewise would be oriented towards the temple.”^[8]Jennifer Francis, quoted in “‘Thank You’ Meal for Draper Temple Builders,” Church News, Dec. 15, 2007,

Open House

An Open House for the Temple was announced on November 29, 2008. Members of the public were invited to tour the temple during an open house from 15 January-14 March 2009.^[9]“Church notes plans for Draper open house”, Church News, November 29, 2008, retrieved October 16, 2012

684,721 visitors toured the Draper Utah Temple during the 51 day open house, an average of 13,426 per day.

Dedication

From March 20 to 22, 2009, the temple was dedicated in 12 sessions. Church President Thomas S. Monson gave the dedicatory prayer. He asked for a special blessing on the youth of the Church, imploring that they “may … carry on in the traditions of their parents and grandparents.” President Monson also spoke of spiritual rededication in Church members’ lives and the peace that comes from following Jesus Christ: “As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work. O, Holy Father, bless us with the peace promised by Thy Son — even the peace which passeth understanding.”^[10]Draper Utah Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Mar. 28, 2009,

The twelfth dedicatory session, presided over by President Monson, was broadcast via closed circuit television to stake centers all over Utah.^[11]Weaver, Sarah Jane; Lloyd, R. Scott (March 20, 2009), “Draper Utah Temple: ‘Memorable occasion'”, Church News, retrieved October 16, 2012

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

The Draper Utah Temple was the 129the Temple in the world, the 64th in the United States, the 12th temple built in Utah, and the 3rd built in the Salt Lake Valley, following the Salt Lake Temple and the Jordan River Utah Temple. The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple was also under construction and nearing completion at the time of the Draper Utah Temple dedication.

At the Time of its dedication there were 7 other temples under construction and an additional 10 awaiting groundbreaking. There was 1 temple under renovation.

Under Construction	Awaiting Groundbreaking	Under Renovation
Oquirrh Mountain Utah	Tegucigalpa Honduras	Laie Hawaii
Cebu City Philippines	Quetzaltenengo Guatemala
Vncouver British Columbia	Gilbert Arizona
Manaus Brazil	Phoenix Arizona
San Salvador El Salvador	Calgary Alberta
The Gila Valley Arizona	Cordoba Argentina
Kyiv Ukraine	Kansas City Missouri
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Rome Italy
Trujillo Peru

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
President K. Brent Somers	2015–
President Harold C. Brown	2012–2015
President Russell E. Tueller	2010–2012
President Donald L. Staheli	2009–2010

Details

At the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley, the Draper Utah Temple overlooks a gorgeous panorama from just below a ridge of the Wasatch Mountains. This majestic white edifice is the 129th temple belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is the 12th Mormon temple to be built in the state of Utah. Latter-day Saints living in the southeastern part of the Salt Lake Valley attend the temple to find peace and worship God.

The Draper Utah Temple sits on 12 acres (49,000 m2) at 2000 East and 14000 South in Draper, Utah. The 57,000-square-foot (5,300 m2) temple is 166 feet (51 m) high from the main level to the top of the structure’s spire, which includes the Angel Moroni statue that sits atop most LDS temples. The location near the mouth of Draper’s Corner Canyon includes an LDS meetinghouse. The temple towers over 1,000 acres (400 ha; 1.6 sq mi) of pristine open space in the canyon below that the city approved in fall of 2005. Many varieties of trees surround the temple and line the 492 parking spots.^[12] Nielson-Stowell, Amelia (May 20, 2006), “Draper officials approve plans for LDS temple”, Deseret Morning News

Exterior

The vertical lines of the tiered structure draw the eye heavenward.  From the ground to the top of the statue of the angel Moroni, the temple stands 166 feet tall. The 12-acre temple grounds are replete with trees and flowers. White stone walkways surround the building, encouraging visitors to enjoy the landscaping and admire the temple’s beauty. A meetinghouse and an adjacent parking lot are also present on the temple grounds.

Cladding

The white Chinese granite that covers the exterior vividly stands out against the nearby mountainous backdrop and the expansive Utah sky.

Windows

Long rectangular windows with geometric patterns decorate the building’s sides and central spire. The temple’s celestial room contains impressive sets of these windows, which flood the room with natural light.

The art glass in the temple was designed by Utah artist Tom Holdman of Highland. Holdman has now provided stained-glass art for 14 LDS temples, as well as the LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The stained-glass art for this temple is reminiscent of log cabins and quilt designs, with an arts and crafts influence. The Draper temple has 700 made of art-glass. The glasswork took over 2 1/2 years to put together.

All of the art-glass windows created by Utah artist Tom Holdman for the Draper Utah Temple miraculously survived a fire that left only a portion of one window damaged, even though the art studio itself was so badly burned, it was condemned. There are 221 exterior windows, 50 interior windows, and 432 door panels for a total of 35,420 hand-cut pieces of glass. The windows incorporate the Log Cabin quilt pattern used by the early pioneers.

Holdman Studios, owned by Utah-based glass artist Tom Holdman, created art glass for the windows. Holdman Studios has contributed thousands of windows for at least 16 Mormon temples, including the São Paulo Brazil Temple, the Manhattan New York Temple and the Rome Italy Temple.

Symbolism

Inscriptions

There are two inscriptions on the Draper Utah Temple. Both are on the east side of the temple. The first is on the awning above the entrance of the east door. The inscription is engraved in the stone, and painted black.

HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

The second is on the transom above the east doors. The transom is brass, and the letters of the inscription are raised.

HOLINESS
TO THE LORD

THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD

Cornerstone

The cornerstone of the Draper Utah Temple is on the south east corner of the temple, facing east. The text of teh inscription is engraved in the stone and un-adorned.

ERECTED
2009

Spires and Moroni

Spire

The spire on the Draper temple is a single stepped spire in the middle of the temple. The lower portion of the main spire is barrel shape, with 4 edges being cut in a concave shape. The upper portion of the spire is a thinner posle that has been gilded to match the Angel Moroni State on top of it.

Moroni

On July 8, 2008, a gold-leafed pedestal and statue of the angel Moroni were hoisted atop the spire of the temple. The Moroni raising marked an important milestone in construction and coincided with completion of the exterior granite facing. The statue was carved in 1985 by Karl Quilter and faces east.

Interior

Behind the recommend desk is an etched-glass panel, also created by Holdman Studios, that contains images of the sego lily. The sego lily, Utah’s state flower, serves as a reminder of pioneer efforts to settle the valley, and this motif also appears in the temple’s woodwork and carpets.

Makore wood from central Africa was used for trim, cabinets and paneling, while limestone quarried in Lyon, France, was used for some of the floor tiles.

Baptistry

The baptistry of the Draper Utah Temple is located on the downhill western side of the building, which allows for natural light to pass into the room through floor-to-ceiling window.

In the baptistry foyer, an oil painting from 1922 illustrates the angel Moroni giving the gold plates to Joseph Smith. The painting once hung in the Draper Tabernacle, which does not exist anymore

Instruction Rooms

The Draper Utah Temple has 4 endowment rooms, arranged in 2 pairs of 3 for a 2 stage progressive endowment. Gorgeous artist renditions of Utah mountain scenes decorate the instruction rooms, a depiction of Draper’s Corner Canyon, and its view of the Salt Lake Valley. Ordinance room murals were designed by Utah artist Linda Curley and Colorado artist Keith Bond.

Celestial Room

The Celestial Room sits at the center of the top floor directly under the spire. A glittering chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and patrons enjoy moments of quiet contemplation and scripture study here.

Sealing Room

The Draper Utah Temple has 5 sealing rooms.

Motif

The Draper temple employs the sego lily (Utah’s edible state flower) as a common motif in the decor.
The theme carried through the Draper Utah Temple is of the sego lily—Utah’s state flower.

Woodwork

Makore wood from central Africa was used in the doors, trim, paneling, and cabinets.

Stone work

The limestone used in the flooring and base was imported from Lyons, France.

Other stone work in the temple features granite from China,

Individuals and Contractors

Architect	FFKR Architects
Manager	Evan Nelson
Contractor	Okland Construction
Landscape Design	MGB+A

Sources and Links

External links

• LDS.org(official)
• MormonTemples.org (official)
• MormonNewsroom.org (official)
• LDSChurchTemples.com
• LDSChurchNewsArchive.com
• Wikipedia
• MormonWiki

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation