Palmyra New York Temple Wiki

A temple for Palmyra, New York, was announced on 9 February 1999, in a letter from the First Presidency to local priesthood leaders. The First Presidency at the time consisted of Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust.

On 25 May 1999, almost four months after the house of the Lord was announced, President Hinckley presided over the temple’s groundbreaking ceremony. President Monson, his first counselor, was also in attendance. At the groundbreaking ceremony, past Church President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “This is where the First Vision occurred and I think it appropriate that we build a House of the Lord on this ground. I regard this temple as perhaps the most significant, in one respect, in the entire Church. It was right here in the Sacred Grove where it all began.”^[1]Church News, 29 May 1999 President Hinckley also commented on the incredible growth of the Church saying, “From the First Vision this work has spread over the earth to more than 160 nations with more than 10 million people who are members of this Church. Who could ever have imagined it when that boy [Joseph Smith] walked into the grove, that the consequences of that event would become what we see today.”^[2]Church News, 29 May 1999

Following a special guest open house held from 23 March to 24 March 2000, a public open house was held from March 25 to April 1, 2000. Approximately 32,000 attended the temple open house. The temple serves about 18,000 members within seven stakes. The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on 6 April 2000, the 170th anniversary of the organization of the Church. While only about 1,200 members attended the dedicatory sessions within the temple itself, nearly 1.5 million members took part through media broadcasts throughout the United States and Canada.

The day before the Palmyra New York Temple dedication, snow fell, and the morning of April 6th began with heavy rain and chill temperatures. But as President Hinckley and others went out to lay the cornerstone of the temple bright sunshine broke through the clouds. After the cornerstone ceremony the storm continued, “leaving representatives of the news media commenting on the timing of the temporary calm and sunshine.” ^[4]“News of the Church,” Ensign, May 2000, 107 Members of the Church of Jesus Christ were not surprised. During the dedication President Hinckley said: “This is the anniversary of the organization of Thy restored Church. One hundred and seventy years ago it was established in nearby Fayette. From that small beginning it has spread over the earth, and our hearts are filled with gratitude for its marvelous growth.” ^[5]”Dedicatory prayer: ‘We acknowledge that it all began here,'” Church News, 15 Apr. 2000

The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on 6 April 2000, exactly 170 years after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized in Fayette, New York, (about 30 miles from Palmyra) on April 6, 1830.

The dedicatory services of the Palmyra New York Temple were broadcast over the Church’s encrypted satellite system to stake centers and Church facilities throughout North America.