Adelaide Australia Temple Wiki

Description

The Adelaide Australia Temple is the 89th operating temple. The Church has seen rapid growth in Australia in recent years. In 1955 there were only 3,000 members in Australia, today there are more than 100,000 members. Census statistics show that the LDS Church is the fastest-growing Christian faith in Australia.

History

1982

The building of other temples in Australia was foreshadowed at the Sydney Australia Temple’s groundbreaking ceremony in August 1982. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie noted that as soon as Church membership numbers could support greater temple usage, there would be cause to build temples in Adelaide Australia, Melbourne Australia, Brisbane Australia and Perth Australia. In 1998, announcements were made for temples in Brisbane and Melbourne, followed by announcements in 1999 for temples in Adelaide and Perth. The multiplying of temples in Australia evidences vigorous Church growth in the nation.

Announcement

Plans to build a temple in Adelaide were announced on 17 March 1999 via a letter to local priesthood leaders.^[1]“Six More Temples Announced; Total Now 108.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 27 March 1999. Accessed 30 December 2014

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 29 May 1999. Vaughn J. Featherstone, a member of the Seventy, led the ceremony and gave the site dedication prayer. He requested that local saints serve willingly and joyfully in the temple. He labeled the temple a wonderful credit to the members in Adelaide who have “for years and years traveled between 15 and 20 hours each way to the Sydney temple.” By demonstrating a commitment to temple attendance, the Adelaide members “surely merit a temple in their midst.”

Despite heavy rains, more than 500 people gathered to witness the groundbreaking and site dedication. Many were involved in the groundbreaking including the Mayor of Adelaide, other government officials, and children.^[2]Howes, Phillip.“LDS Church News – Rain, Clouds in Adelaide Do Not Dampen Spirits during Groundbreaking.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 5 June 1999. Accessed 30 December 2014

Attendees entered a nearby meetinghouse for the dedicatory service. Following the meeting, Church members ventured outside to see the storm clouds clear in time for Church leaders and government dignitaries to turn the symbolic first shovelfuls of earth.

Open House

The Adelaide Australia Temple was open to the public from 3–10 June 2000. On the first day of the open house more than 5,000 people visited the temple and it continued to be busy; 49,303 people were able to take a tour through the temple. This is an average of 7,043 per day for each of the seven days of the open house.^[3]“‘Spiritual sanctuaries’ for faithful Adelaide, Melbourne members.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 24 June 2000. Accessed 15 March 2015

Dedication

In his dedicatory prayer for the Adelaide Australia Temple, he said, “We are grateful for this nation of Australia, where there is freedom of worship, freedom of assembly, and freedom to take upon ourselves the name of our Divine Redeemer, and to keep sacred the covenants which we make with Him.”^[6]“Adelaide Australia Temple dedicatory prayer,” Church News, June 24, 2000,

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

The Adelaide Australia Temple is the 89th temple built in the world, and the 2nd on the continent.

At the time of its dedication there were 20 temples under construction and an additional 11 awaiting groundbreaking.

Presidents

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Michael William McIlwaine	Caroline Isobel Spreckley McIlwaine	2023-
David Guy Crosley	Susan Jan Bennallack Crosley	2020–2023
Robin Frederick Hill	Lorelei Anne Knight Hill	2017–2020
Jouni Eric Soininen	Christina Smylie Souininen	2014–2017[7]“New temple presidents.” deseretnews.com, 5 May 2014. Accessed 15 March 2015
Barry Lee	Pauline Joy Ramsey Lee	2011–2014[8]“New temple presidents.”
Philip Francis Howes	Judith Leslie Brownjohn Howes	2008–2011[9]“New temple presidents.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 28 June 2008. Accessed 15 March 2015
Charles Parsons	Anne Lorraine Stevenson Parsons	2005–2008[10]“New temple presidents.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 16 July 2005. Accessed 15 March 2015
Thomas Frederick Hooper	Margaret Faunt Hooper	2003–2005[11]“New temple presidents.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com, 6 September 2003. Accessed 15 March 2015
Robert James Wilmott	Barbara Beatrice Foster Wilmott	2000–2003[12]“LDSChurchNews.com – Adelaide Australia Temple.” ldschurchnewsarchive.com. Accessed 15 March 2015

Details

Location

Exterior

Symbolism

Inscriptions

East Side

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Transom Panel

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Cornerstone

Spires and Finial

Spire

The structure’s focal point is a single spire capped by a gold-leafed statue of an ancient Book of Mormon prophet named Moroni; the statue’s raised trumpet symbolizes the spread of Jesus Christ’s gospel to all the earth. The spire is a typical small temple spire, inline with the main entrance, and consisting of 4 levels of progressively smaller and taller cubes.

Finial

Interior

Services Rooms

The temple has no food services and no clothing rental.

Entry/Waiting Area

The Entry and Waiting Area of the temple is directly under the spire of the temple, and sits between the Baptistry and First Instruction Room.

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

Celestial Room

The Celestial Room, a place for prayer and meditation representing Heaven, is at the east end of the temple on the center line, next to Instruction Room A.

Sealing Rooms

Contractors and Individuals

Project Manager

Architect

Architect

While the general design and layout of the temple was designed by the Church’s Special Projects Department, the localization of the plans (converting plans for local measurements and code systems) and design was done by Simon Drew. To date, this is the only Temple designed by this Architect.

General Contractor

Marlum Nigeria Ltd. of Lagos Nigeria was the general contractor. To date, this is the only Temple built by this contractor.

Individuals and Contractors

Architect	Simon Drew
Project Manager
Contractor	Balderstone-Hornibrook
Stone Supply	Campalonghi Italia

Sources and Links

Additional Links/Info

Additional Articles

• Mission.net – Adelaide Australia Temple