Grand Rapids Michigan Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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Description

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan and the seat of Kent County.^[1]”The Church of Jesus Christ Will Build 18 New Houses of the Lord,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 2 Oct. 2022.

History

The Church’s first building in Detroit was completed in 1928. Michigan is home to more than 45,000 Latter-day Saints in 96 congregations.

Announced

Location Announced

On November 7, 2022, the location of the Grand Rapids Michigan Temple was announced as a 10.5-acre site located at 2400 Forest Hill Avenue in Grand Rapids.^[3]“Location Released for Grand Rapids Michigan Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 7 Nov. 2022, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/grand-rapids-michigan-temple-location.

Render Released

Planning and Zoning

2023 June 19

The temple was presented to the Zoning Adjustment Commission on 19 June. Two zoning adjustments were being sought. The first was for the proposed 112 foot spire. The second Adjustment being sought was for the exterior lighting.^[5]“Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes 2023 06 19.” www.kentwood.us, zba minutes 6-19-23.pdf, City of Kentwood Michigan, 23 June 2023, cms6.revize.com/revize/kentwoodmi/document_center/Committees_Boards/Zoning/Minutes%20and%20Agendas/2023/Minutes/zba%20minutes%206-19-23.pdf. The petition for height, in particular was not well received, and the Church withdrew their petition asking it to be tabled until 21 August 2023 so that they could present answers to the questions that had been raised and present potential solutions. The petition for lighting variance, the Church representative withdrew completely to discuss the issue with the planning department and discuss material options.^[6]

2023 December 18

On 18 December 2023 the Church took the proposal before the city again, having previously asked to have the issue tabled till 21 August 2023, then again to 18 September 2023, again to 16 October 2023, then till 20 November 2023. When the Church finally presented, they were well-prepared both with explination and documentation. They explained why they wanted the spire, with graphics and documentation showing how the design used the Golden Ratio to look ‘right’ to people’s eyes. Additionally, the presented multiple images showing how the temple would be visible from multiple locations throughout the neighborhood.^[6]“Zoning Board of Appeals Agenda 2023 December 18.” www.kentwood.us, City of KEntwood, Michigan, 18 Dec. 2023, cms6.revize.com/revize/kentwoodmi/document_center/Committees_Boards/Zoning/Minutes%20and%20Agendas/2023/Agendas/ZBA%20Agenda%2012-18-23.pdf.

2024 March 18

The Church brought the proposal before the Zoning Board of appeals for the final time, having worked with representatives from the City and their attorneys in the interim time to create a proposal that would satisfy more of the objections local residents had brought forward. The new design moved the spire from the building center to above the entrance, much as was done at Yorba Linda. The proposal was unanimously approved by the members present, with the height adjustment and lighting to be turned off between 11 pm and 5 am.^[7]“Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting minutes – 2024 03 18.” www.kenwood.us, 18 Mar. 2024, cms6.revize.com/revize/kentwoodmi/document_center/Committees_Boards/Zoning/Minutes%20and%20Agendas/2024/Minutes/zba%20minutes%203-18-24.pdf. This moved the plan on to the planning commission for approval of the site plan.

2024 05 14

The site plan went before the planning commission on 14 May and received preliminary approval, conditional upon addressing some point brought up in a previous memo.^[8]“Proposed Minutes of the Regular Meeting.” www.kentwood.us, May 2024, cms6.revize.com/revize/kentwoodmi/document_center/Committees_Boards/Planning%20Commission/Agenda%20and%20Minutes/2024/Minutes/Plan.Com.Minutes%205-14-24%20edits.pdf.

Updated Render Released

Groundbreaking Announced

The groundbreaking for the Grand Rapids Michigan Temple was announced 11 November 2024. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Elder Mathias Held, First Counselor in the North America Northeast Area Presidency, will preside.^[9]“Dedication News for Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple, Updates for Temples in U.S.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 11 Nov. 2024, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/dedication-news-for-abidjan-ivory-coast-temple-updates-for-temples-in-california-and-michigan.

Groundbreaking

Details

Location

Interior

Region

TEMPLES IN UNITED STATES (EXCEPT UTAH) _{by state}

Alabama	2	Birmingham · Huntsville
Alaska	1	Anchorage · Fairbanks
Arizona	7	Gilbert · Mesa · Phoenix · Queen Creek · Snowflake · The Gila Valley · Tucson · Yuma
Arkansas	1	Bentonville
California	12	Bakersfield · Feather River · Fresno · Los Angeles · Modesto · Newport · Oakland · Redlands · Sacramento · San Diego · San Jose · Yorba Linda
Colorado	4	Colorado Springs · Denver · Fort Collins · Grand Junction
Connecticut	1	Hartford
Florida	5	Fort Lauderdale · Jacksonville · Orlando · Tallahassee · Tampa
Georgia	1	Atlanta
Hawaii	4	Honolulu · Kahului · Kona · Laie
Idaho	10	Boise · Burley · Coeur d’Alene · Idaho Falls · Meridian · Montpelier · Pocatello · Rexburg · Teton River · Twin Falls
Illinois	2	Chicago · Nauvoo
Indiana	1	Indianapolis
Iowa	1	Des Moines
Kansas	1	Wichita
Kentucky	1	Louisville
Louisiana	1	Baton Rouge
Maryland	1	Washington D.C.
Massachusetts	1	Boston
Michigan	2	Detroit · Grand Rapids
Minnesota	1	St. Paul
Missouri	3	Kansas City · Springfield · St. Louis
Montana	3	Billings · Helena · Missoula
Nebraska	1	Winter Quarters
Nevada	4	Elko · Las Vegas · Lone Mountain · Reno
New Jersey	1	Summit
New Mexico	2	Albuquerque · Farmington
New York	2	Manhattan · Palmyra
North Carolina	2	Charlotte · Raleigh
North Dakota	1	Bismarck
Ohio	3	Cincinnati · Cleveland · Columbus
Oklahoma	2	Oklahoma City · Tulsa
Oregon	3	Medford · Portland · Willamette Valley ·
Pennsylvania	3	Harrisburg · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh
South Carolina	1	Columbia
Tennessee	3	Knoxville · Memphis · Nashville
Texas	10	Austin · Dallas · El Paso · Fort Worth · Houston South · Houston · Lubbock · McAllen · McKinney · San Antonio
Utah	30
Virginia	3	Richmond · Roanoke · Winchester
Washington	6	Columbia River · Moses Lake · Seattle · Spokane · Tacoma · Vancouver
Wisconsin	1	Milwaukee
Wyoming	3	Casper · Cody · Star Valley

Sources and Citations