Pocatello Idaho Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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Description

There are approximately 450,000 members of the Church in Idaho—nearly a third of the state’s population of 1.7 million people—organized into 129 stakes. There are 11 stakes in the Pocatello-Chubbuck metro area with another 11 stakes located in the surrounding communities of American Falls, Arimo, Blackfoot, Grace, Malad, McCammon, and Soda Springs.
Temple Site Conjecture

History

In the 1930s, when Church leaders determined that the next Latter-day Saint temple would be constructed in Idaho, leaders from various stakes throughout the state urged that their respective communities be considered for the honor. Ezra Taft Benson, who was a counselor in the Boise Stake presidency, presented a particularly stirring argument for the state capital to be considered.^[1]Richard O. Cowan, Temples to Dot the Earth (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Incorporated, 1997) 141–142. In time, however, a hillside site was seriously investigated in the booming railroad town of Pocatello. The community’s surrounding mountains made a beautiful setting for a temple in a city with excellent interstate transportation and a growing population—the second highest in the state. However, a depression-era economy had left the local government so poor, it would not pay to extend water and utilities to the west-bench location.^[2]. Paul Menser, “Idaho Falls, Pocatello – Tale of the tape: Longtime rivals learning to cooperate,” Post Register 21 Jul. 2002. In the meantime, the Chamber of Commerce in Idaho Falls, located 50 miles north of Pocatello, donated a prime parcel of land on the banks of the Snake River, bordering an LDS hospital. And that became the site of Idaho’s first temple.

As the years passed, Pocatello experienced a series of economic setbacks, producing a local joke among members that the city was “cursed” for passing on the temple. Nevertheless, the hope never died for a House of the Lord to be constructed there. Decades after Idaho’s first temple was constructed, a second temple was announced in 1982 for the state capital and largest city, the Boise Idaho Temple. In 1997, land on Pocatello’s east bench was secured by the Church for the anticipated purpose of building a temple. However, it was the Rexburg Idaho Temple that was announced as Idaho’s third in 2003, two years after the announcement that Ricks College would become Brigham Young University–Idaho. And months later, the Twin Falls Idaho Temple was announced to serve members in the more isolated South Central region of the state. Pocatello Saints patiently waited through the perennial speculations and rumors, which were even picked up by the local newspaper. In 2011, the Meridian Idaho Temple was announced as the fifth for the state to serve the rapidly growing Boise metro area. Other communities near Pocatello also received temples including the Brigham City Utah Temple and the Star Valley Wyoming Temple. The Saints of Pocatello rejoiced in each new temple, grateful that faithful Saints would be spared difficult travel.

In 2017, Pocatello’s long-awaited dream took one step closer to reality. The city had been placed on a long list of potential temple locations produced by the Temple Department that was presented to the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. When Pocatello was mentioned, he stopped the presenters and said: “Pocatello will get a temple. The Saints there are well prepared, and it’s time for them to have a temple.”^[3]Chris Oswalt, “LDS church announced plans for Pocatello temple,” Local News 8 2 Apr. 2017, 8 May 2017 On April 2, 2017, President Monson himself made the announcement during the Sunday Morning Session of General Conference. Shouts of joy rang in living rooms throughout the valley, and tears of gratitude were shed. Pocatello would receive its temple.

Announcement

Construction Approval

On April 6, 2017, four days after the announcement of the temple, the property for the temple was annexed into the City of Pocatello as part of a larger land annexation.

On June 22, 2017, state approval was granted for construction of a new I-15 interchange to be built north of the city, which will provide better access to the temple. Construction of the Northgate interchange began November 5, 2018 and opened on December 6, 2019.^[5]Matt Davenport, “Northgate Planned Community Announced for Bannock County,” KPVI 6 Sept. 2017, 14 Sept. 2017 .

On November 15, 2017, application for the subdivision where the temple will rise, known as Crestview Estates Division 2, was considered at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Applicants included the Church, the developer, and the engineering firm. The nearly 29-acre subdivision was presented including the 11-acre temple site and 31 surrounding residential lots. A proposal to rename Ray Street to Monson Street was also included in the application. The change would mean that the streets bordering the temple site would be named Monson Street, Legacy Drive, Clearwater Street, and Andrew Street. The Commission unanimously recommended approval of the subdivision to the City Council.

On February 1, 2018, the City Council approved both the subdivision and the street name change. Construction of the subdivision infrastructure began the following month and concluded in the fall of 2018.

Location Announced

The site location for the Pocatello Idaho Temple was officially announced in a news release from Church headquarters on September 7, 2018. The temple will stand in northeast Pocatello on an 11-acre parcel adjoining the stake center for the Pocatello Idaho Highland Stake. The east bench property offers a beautiful hillside location visible to travelers coming from I-15 or I-86.

Render Released

Construction Approval

On October 11, 2018, a Church representative presented two variance requests at a Hearing Examiner meeting to allow construction of the temple. The first request was a variance from the height restrictions, and the second variance was a variance from the lighting standards. The Hearing Examiner approved both the height variance and the lighting variance with the condition that the nighttime floodlighting be turned off by 10 p.m. each night.

On January 30, 2019, plans were submitted for review to the City of Pocatello Building Department, and application was made for a building permit. Final approval was granted on February 12, 2019.

Neighbor Open House

On March 1, 2019, renderings of the Pocatello Idaho Temple and site plan were on display at a neighbor open house held at the stake center west of the temple site. The previous evening, representatives from Church headquarters held a briefing with local Church leaders and conducted interviews with the media.

On Tuesday, March 5, 2019, over 2,500 eager Pocatello-area youth descended on the temple site with shovels in hand to clear the ground of vegetation in preparation for the groundbreaking ceremony. With so many helpers, all of the weeds and sagebrush were pulled from the 12-acre site in less than 30 minutes.

Groundbreaking Announced

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on 1 February 2019 the groundbreaking dates in 2019 for two temples. Pocatello Idaho will have a groundbreaking on March 16, and Yigo Guam will be on May 4.^[7]“Temple Groundbreakings Announced for Pocatello and Guam.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 1 Feb. 2019, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/temple-groundbreakings-announced–pocatello-guam.

Groundbreaking

Open House/Dedication Announced

The date for the dedication of the Pocatello Idaho Temple was announced by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pm 17 June 2021.

The temple in the city of Pocatello, known as the Gate City, will be dedicated on Sunday, November 7, 2021, in three sessions, by President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who will preside at the dedication. The dedicatory sessions will be held at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.

The public is invited to tour the new temple in Pocatello, beginning on Saturday, September 18, 2021. The open house runs through Saturday, October 23, except for Sundays, including September 19, 26, October 2–3 (general conference), 10 and 17.

A youth devotional will be held on Saturday, November 6, just prior to the dedication. The dedicatory sessions and youth devotional will be broadcast to all congregations in the Pocatello Idaho Temple District.^[9]“Dedication Date Announced for Pocatello Idaho Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 17 June 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/dedication-date-announced-pocatello-idaho-temple.

Open House

Youth Devotional

A youth devotional was be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021, just prior to the dedication. The youth devotional was broadcast to all congregations in the Pocatello Idaho Temple District.

Dedication

Dedicatory Order

Temple Opening

The Pocatello Idaho Temple will open to patrons for ordinances on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Presidents and Matrons

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Martin Dirk Driscoll	Dayna Ann Polatis Driscoll	2024-
Bruce H Winegar	Karen Finch Winegar	2021–2024

Details

The Pocatello Idaho Temple is expected to be a larger temple, according to an interview with Elder Larry Y. Wilson, Executive Director of the Temple Department. He pointed to the Meridian Idaho Temple as a recent example of a larger temple design.^[10]Nate Eaton, “EAST IDAHO NEWSMAKERS: Mormon Temple Dept. Executive Director Elder Larry Wilson,” East Idaho News 30 Apr. 2017, 16 Jun. 2017.

Location

Exterior

Symbolism

Inscription

Cornerstone

Spires and Finial

Spires

Finial

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Interior

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

Celestial Room

Sealing Room

Contractors

Architect

Project Manager

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General Contractor

Other Contractor

Region

TEMPLES IN IDAHO _{by county}

Ada	2	Boise · Meridian
Bannock	1	Pocatello
Bear Lake	1	Montpelier
Bonneville	1	Idaho Falls
Canyon	1	Caldwell
Cassia	1	Burley
Kootenai	1	Coeur d’Alene
Madison	2	Rexburg · Teton River
Twin Falls	1	Twin Falls

Sources and Citations

Last updated on: 3 September 2025