Los Angeles California Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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Description

In the process of time the shores of the Pacific may yet be overlooked from the temple of the Lord.
-Brigham Young and Willard Richards, Letter to the Saints in California, August 1847

The Los Angeles California Temple (formerly the Los Angeles Temple) is the tenth operating and the second-largest temple, It is on Santa Monica Boulevard in the Westwood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. When it was dedicated in 1956, it was the largest of the church’s temples, though it has since been surpassed by the Salt Lake Temple due to later expansions. The temple serves 41 stakes in Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.^[1]http://lds.org/temples/district/0,11217,1915-1-46-2,00.html Archived March 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.

The grounds include a visitors’ center, which was renovated in 2010, the Los Angeles Regional Family History Center, both of which are open to the public, and the headquarters of the church’s California Los Angeles Mission.

History

In August of 1847, Church President Brigham Young wrote a letter to the early Saints living in California, saying that “in the process of time, the shores of the Pacific may yet be overlooked from the temple of the Lord.”

Announcement

Groundbreaking

Open House

Dedication

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

The Los Angeles California Temple was the 10the operating temple completed by the church. At the time of it’s dedication there were 2 other temples under construction.

Temples under Construction

London England

Hamilton New Zealand

Renovation 1981

The temple has seen various changes since it was dedicated 50 years ago.

Closed for renovations

The Los Angeles California Temple closed for remodeling and refurbishment in January 1981, which was the year of its 25th anniversary. Renovations included installing new air conditioning systems, acoustical ceilings, audio-visual equipment, seating, carpet and furnishings.

Originally, patrons progressed through each ordinance room as part of one session. This was later changed to have patrons remain in one ordinance room for the entire session. As part of this, one ordinance room was split and it’s beautiful murals removed.

Temple reopened

The Los Angeles temple was reopened in March 1981, 10 weeks after the building was closed for remodeling. Although the building was not formally rededicated, patrons celebrated the temple’s 25th anniversary starting March 21, 1981, with 36 continuous hours of temple endowments. A total of 15,439 endowments were performed over 72 sessions in this time.

Renovation 2003

2003

In 2003, the temple reverted to a progressive-style presentation of the endowment (but still using a film) and completely renovated the Terrestrial room.

Renovation 2005

Closed for renovations

In late November 2005 the temple closed for major renovations. The temple required seismic retrofitting for current earthquake standards. As part of the renovation, the 50 year old ventilation systems were updated and the entrance foyer interior was completely remodeled. It was hoped that the temple would be open in March of 2006 for the 50th anniversary, but due to construction delays the temple was not reopened until July 2006.^[8]“News from the Church”, Church News & Events, LDS Church, July 10, 2006, archived from the original on October 29, 2009, retrieved 2012-10-08

The renovation also included reconstruction of the baptistry, which had long been plagued by mold due to poor ventilation.^[9]“Los Angeles California Temple”, MormonTemples.com, June 11, 2008, retrieved 2012-10-08

Temple reopened

Construction finished in July 2006, the year marking the 50th anniversary of this house of the Lord.

Renovation 2010

2010

In 2010 a two-year renovation and update for the Los Angeles Temple visitor’s center was completed. [1] The renovation includes the latest technology in interactive media. One new exhibit takes visitors to the Holy Land in a 2-D presentation. “The center was expanded by about 20 percent to 12,817 square feet. The renovation includes a 180-seat theater, complete with a multipurpose space for films, cultural performances and traveling exhibits.” The Savior is the focus of the exhibit. The center re-opened to the public on August 7, 2010, and has added some historical exhibits. There are a history of the Los Angeles Temple, including previously unseen video, interviews from President David O. McKay and a “testimonial from the first June bride,” as well as artifacts from the 1956 dedication.

Presidents and Matrons

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Gary Kezerian Wilde	Cheryl Anne Harp Wilde	2024–2024
Richard LeGrand Wirthlin	Joni Jane Stone Wirthlin	2023–2024
Maurice Man-Ho Lam	Elizabeth Wai-Yin Wong Lam	2020–2023
Larry James Larsen	Kristie Elmina Burton Larsen	2017–2020
William Frederick Reynolds	Lani Petersen Reynolds	2014–2017
Reece Randall Huff	Kay Whiteley Taylor Huff	2011–2014
Grant R Brimhall	Avis Marie Ardian Brimhall	2008–2011
Richard Morris Andrus	Darlene Ann Hill Andrus	2004–2008
Paul Rene Hatch	Dorothy Jo Lanier Hatch	2001–2004
Nile Alma Sorenson	Charlene Wight Sorenson	1998–2001
Glen Harris Walker	Christie Cannon Walker	1995–1998
Heber Avon (Von) Packard	Sheila Dunkerley Packard	1992–1995
Wayne Adelbert Reeves	Madge Kemp Reeves	1989–1992
Jack B. McEwan	Betty Clark McEwan	1986–1989
Allen Claire Rozsa	Dawna Ruth Phillips Rozsa	1982–1986
Robert Leatham Simpson	Jelaire Kathryn Chandler Simpson	1980–1982
Richard Clare Stratford	Vera Calder Stratford	1975–1980
Myrthus Wesley Evans	Mae Kohler Evans	1970–1975
Benjamin Leon Bowring	Leone Rampton Bowring	1956–1970

Details

Location

Exterior

Symbolism

Inscription

Location

Cornerstone

Spires and Finial

Spires

Moroni

Interior

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

Celestial Room

Sealing Rooms

Assembly Hall

Clothing Issue
Yes

Contractors

Architect

Exterior Manufacture

Mo-Sai Precast  Otto Buehner and Company  [backref name=”buehner”]

Mason Contractor

Mason Contractor  Thomas B. Child and Company [backref name=”buehner”]

Project Manager

Super intendant  Vern Loader  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 804 (photo).[/ref]

General Contractor

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Systems Edmund P. Evans Plumbing and Heating  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 785 (advert).[/ref]

Tiling

Floor Tile  Gladding McBean and Co.[ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 790 (advert).[/ref]

Sheet Metal

AC/Sheet Metal  Hodge Sheet Metal Products[ref name=”verts”]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 831 (advert).[/ref]

Sound Design

Sound System  Altec Lansing Corporation/Frazer & Hansen LTD.  [backref name=”verts”]

Interior Decoration

Interior Decoration  Frandsen’s Interiors  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 835 (advert).[/ref]

Scaffolding

Scaffolding  Patent Scaffold Co.   [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 836 (advert).[/ref]

Irrigation

Lawn Sprinkler  Wallace F. Hammer  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 842 (advert).[/ref]

Wall Coverings

Wall Cover  Joanna Western Mills Co.  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 845 (advert).[/ref]

Hardscape

Hardscape (Curb, Gutter, Retaining Walls, Street)  Burgess-Whitehead & Co.  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 846 (advert).[/ref]

Electrical

Electrical  J. S. Jacobs[ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 847 (advert).[/ref]

Fencing

Fencing  Burkett Fence Co.  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 854 (advert).[/ref]

Landscaping

Landscaping  Superior Landscaping and Tree Service  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 855 (advert).[/ref]

Equipment Manufacture

Equipment Manufacture  Worley & Co.  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 864 (advert).[/ref]

Woodwork

Woodwork  Fetzer’s Salt Lake Cabinet and Furniture  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 866 (advert).[/ref]

Painting

Painting and Wall Furnishing  Klass Brothers  [ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 867 (advert).[/ref]

Chillers

Chillers  Carrier Corporation[ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 868 (advert).[/ref]

Pipe Line Contractor

Pipe Line Contractor  Sam B. Pearce[ref ]Edward O. Anderson,“The Los Angeles Temple”, Improvement Era 58, (November 1956): p. 876 (advert).[/ref]

Sources and Citations