Provo Utah Temple Wiki
Quick Facts
ANNOUNCED
24 August 1967
ANNOUNCED BY
First Presidency
GROUNDBREAKING
15 September 1969
GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
Elder Hugh B. Brown
DEDICATED
9 February 1972
DEDICATED BY
President Joseph Fielding Smith (read by Harold B. Lee)
Additional Facts
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Description
The Provo Utah Temple (formerly the Provo Temple) is the 17th constructed and 15th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Located in the city of Provo, Utah, it was built with a modern single-spire design, similar to the original design of the Ogden Utah Temple.
Since Provo’s early years, a hill just northeast of downtown Provo was known as “Temple Hill.” Instead of a temple, however, the Maeser Building was built on the hill in 1911 as a part of the Brigham Young University (BYU) campus. A 17-acre (69,000 m2) block of property at the base of Rock Canyon was chosen as the site for the Provo Temple.
History
Hopes for a temple for Provo go back to the city’s early years. Early on a hill outside of the edge of town came to be known as “Temple Hill, a name that stuck until the campus for the then new BYU built the Maeser building on the hill in 1911.
1966
A 1966 study found that 52 percent of temple work was being done in either the Salt Lake, Logan, or Manti temples, even though there were 13 operating temples throughout the world.[1]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
1967
In the 1967 the recently formed Church Building Committee was asked to take a look into the overcrowding issues at Manti and Logan and see what could be done to expand the two temples there. They found that, since the temples had been constructed before building codes were put into place, that there was not much that could be done without building codes requiring large portions of the original temple be brought up to code as well. Their suggestion, was that rather than try to make either temple larger, which would include the cost of essentially renovating much of either existing temple, two new temples could be built for less cost. One temple was proposed in Ogden on the tabernacle block, which the Church already owned. The second location the committee proposed was in Provo on a seventeen acre block of property at the base of Rock Canyon being offered to the Church in Provo.[2]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016.
Announcement
President McKay was highly in favor of the idea (being from Ogden himself,) and meetings were held with Stake Presidents in Ogden and Provo on 14 August 1967 to propose the building of the temples.[3]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
The intention of the new temples was to help ease the overcrowding of the Salt Lake, Manti and Logan temples already in the area. A Meeting was held to propose the plan to 25 stake presidents in Provo at 10 AM, and a second meeting with the 28 stake presidents in the Ogden Area at 4 PM. It was explained in both meetings that, while other areas of the Church were also in need of temples, it was felt these two new temples would serve the largest number of people. This was at a time when the local stakes were asked to raise a portion of the funds for the new temples and Churches, and there fore it was needed that the stake PResidents agree with the plan. The vote at both meetings was unanimous in the affirmative.[4]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
This marks the first time that two temples were announced on the same day.
UtahTemples at Time of Announcement
Announced
- –
Under Construction
- –
Dedicated
- St. George Utah [1877]
- Logan Utah [1884]
- Manti Utah [1888]
- Salt Lake [1893]
ANNOUNCED ORDER
14
| Date | 1967 08 14 |
| By | Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner |
| Role | 1st, 2nd Counselor |
| Via | Local Meeting |
⮜Preceded by Hamilton New Zealand
Followed by Ogden Utah⮞
Announced 1967 08 14
Design
The project was then turned over to church Architect Emil B. Fetzer and his staff. President McKay was concerned that the church as a whole would think him a spendthrift for approving not one, but two new temples. The Church had just gone through a major change in emphasis in regards to budgets, and he had already overseen construction of the Los Angeles, Bern, Hamilton, London and Oakland Temples (to that date, no other prophet had overseen more than 4.) He gave the architects very specific orders for austerity and economy in these two new temples.[5]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. The design guidelines included:
- Reasonable cost[6]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
- Full size Temples (Not smaller like the recent international temples)[7]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
- More compact and efficient, not large like the recent Los Angeles California and Oakland California Temples.
- No Assembly Room[8]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. *
- No Multiple spires, one only[9]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. *
- No Excess square footage[10]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. *
- No excess cubage (Vaulted or raised ceilings)[11]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. *
- One Architectural plan for both temples (absolutely no paying for two plans, though minor changes could be made to the exterior for different looks)[12]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016.
- No Angel Moroni (though the planning committee purportedly decided to strengthen the spires to hold the weight of a statue, just in case one could be added later.)[13]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. And indeed, the artists render actually included a Moroni Statue on the spire.
*It’s of interest to note that some of these principle would be used on every temple Emil Fetzer would design.
President McKay said, “I would like these two Temples to be functional and economical with temple quality. In the coming years, many Temples will be built. Of necessity, these Temples must be functional in design and cost so that they may accomplish their sacred purposes.”[14]David O. McKay, quoted in Emil Baer Fetzer, Completed Writings of Emil Baer Fetzer, 2003, 3, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.
Brother Fetzer would remark that “I think this [Ogden/Provo] is the only building that I have designed in words before I started to put marks on paper.”[15]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972 The design was wholly from the inside out, with the interior layout and efficiency being the paramount concern, knowing the exterior would come later.[16]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
After a few months of work and preliminary design, Brother Fetzer and his team were informed that film had been approved for wider domestic use to present the endowment, and that management of the sessions and tracking of ordinances would be turned completely over to the Church’s new computer systems. This meant the number of people needed to run a session and a temple as a whole was reduced significantly. This also meant drastic changes could be made in the design and layout. Three Months of work was thrown completely out and on a late flight from New York to England Brother Fetzer and Brother Fred Baker of the Building Committee discussed the changes, and ways to layout the design of the temple without the restrictions that had just been removed. By the time they landed in England, the had a preliminary design that featured 6 endowment rooms arrayed around a central celestial room, and estimates that this new design could perform more endowment sessions than any other temple in the Church.[17]”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016.
Location Announced
President David O. McKay announced on Friday, 30 August 1967 the locations for both the Ogden and Provo Utah Temples. A plot of land between 2320 north and Rock Canyon road has been chosen as the spot for the future temple. [18]Smith, Henry A., “Church Chooses Sites For Temples,” Deseret News, 25 August 1967, p19.
The initial plan was that a “Bureau of Information, ” precursors to Visitors Centers, would be built directly west of the temple.[19]Jarrard, Jack E., “Two New Utah Temple Drawings Win Okay,” , 03 February 1968, Church News, Deseret News p29, 34-35
Render Released
On 1 February 1968 an official exterior rendering was released for the Ogden Utah Temple.[20]”Designs Released for Two Church Temples, 1 February 1968, Herald Journal.”
The modern design was immediately, and has continued to be, controversial. One early critic, Donald Bergsma, wrote, “The early pioneers would not have been so callous in their approach to housing the activities of their faith,”[21]Bergsma, Donald J. “The Temple as a Symbol.” Dialogue: A Journal Fo Mormon Thought, vol. 3, no. 1, 2, 1968, pp. 9–19. Mormon Land podcast collected a series of nicknames the temple had been given, which included, Lord’s Thumbtack, the Mothership, the Celestial Cupcake, Carrot Top, the Carousel and Marshmallow Matey.
Groundbreaking Announced.
The Deseret News reported on 30 August 1969 that a date had been chosen for the Provo Temple groundbreaking. President N. Eldon Tanner, 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency would break ground at a ceremony scheduled for 4:30 PM on September 15th. It was announced at that time he would be accompanied by Hugh B. Brown, 1st Counselor in the 1st Presidency.
Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 15, 1969. President N. Eldon Tanner, 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency conducted at the event, and President Hugh B. Brown, 1st Counselor, presided and dedicated the temple site and performing the groundbreaking ceremony.
During the groundbreaking ceremony of the Provo temple, Lot Robinson, an 89-year-old resident of American Fork, was called out by name. Robinson, as a young boy at 13, had attended the Salt Lake Temple dedication in 1893, almost 40 miles north of his home. Just over 76 years later, he was in attendance at the Provo Utah Temple site to see ground broken for a house of the Lord less than 20 miles south of his home.
GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
16
| Date | 1969 09 15 |
| By | Hugh B. Brown |
| Role | 1st Counselor |
| Attendees | 12,000 |
⮜Preceded by Ogden Utah
Followed by São Paulo Brazil⮞
Cornerstone Ceremony Announced
The First Presidency announced on 13 March 1971 that the Cornerstone ceremony for the PReovo Temple would be held on Friday, 21 May 1971 at 12:15 PM.[22]”Cornerstone Rites Set at Temple on May 21,” 13 March 1971, The Daily Herald, p1.
Cornerstone Ceremony
A cornerstone ceremony was held for the Provo City Center Temple on 21 May 1971.[23]For many of the temples built in the 1900s through the first decades after World War II, it was common for a cornerstone ceremony to be held after the shell of the building was roughly in place, rather than just prior to the dedication, as with modern temples, or just after groundbreaking, as with the early temples.
More than 6,000 people attend a ceremony 21 May 1971 to place the symbolic cornerstone of the Provo Temple, with about 4,000 seated in chairs, and the rest arrayed on the hill forming a bowl on the east side of the temple. President Smith presided, President Harold B. Lee laid mortar, while President Tanner looked on, all three briefly wearing bright yellow hard hats.[24]Perry, Leo, “Lay Cornerstone at Provo Temple,” 22 May 1971, Deseret News, p7. 22 General Authorities were present for the event.
The event was telecast by KBYU-TV, and rebroadcast at 6:30 PM.[25]”Cornerstone Ceremenoy Tomorrow,”, 20 May 1971, The Daily Herald.
The majority of the temple exterior was complete at that time, with just the spire remaining to be placed.
| Date | 1971 05 1971 |
| By | Joseph Fielding Smith |
| As | President |
| Attendees | 6,000 |
Open House and Dedication Announced
On 12 November 1971 the First Presidency announced open house and dedication dates for the Ogden and Provo Utah Temples. Ogden would be open from December 16 to the 30th, excluding Christmas and Sundays, and with 4 PM close times on Mondays. The dedication would then follow 18-20 January with 2 daily sessions at 10 AM and 2 PM. Provo was planned to have an open house 10-29 January, excluding Sundays and with 4 PM closures on Mondays, The dedication would be on one day, 9 February, with 2 sessions, at 2 and 7 PM.[26]”New Temples Set Tours, Rites,” 12 November 1971, Deseret News, p21.
Open House
An open house was held for the Provo Utah Temple from 10-29 January 1972. A total of 246,201 people attended the open house, an average of 13,678 per day[27]Young, Jerry M., “2461,201 See Provo Temple, 31 January 1972, The Daily Herald, . A peak of 25,438 in a single day was recorded on Saturday, 22 January 1972.[28]”Provo Temple to Greet 200,000th Visitor.” 26 January 1972, The daily Herald.
On 17 January a a special tour of the temple was held for 150 blind people.[29]”55 Attend UF Social for the Blind”, 30 January 1972, The DaAily Herald,
| Start Date | 1972 01 10 |
| End Date | 1972 01 29 |
| Days | 18 |
| Attendees | 246,201 |
| Per day | 13,678 |
Dedication
The temple was dedicated on 9 February 1972. The dedicatory prayer was written by Church president Joseph Fielding Smith and read by President Harold B. Lee. In the dedicatory prayer Church President Joseph Fielding Smith connected the quest for academic knowledge with the learning that takes place through temple worship: “May those who teach and study in all academic fields have their souls enlightened with spiritual knowledge so they will turn to thy house for blessings and knowledge and learning that surpass all that may be found elsewhere.”[30]Provo Utah Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Feb. 9, 1972, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/61718/Provo-Utah-Temple-We-plead-with-thee-to-pour-out-thy-Holy-Spirit-upon-us.html
President Smith presided over the ceremony. In his opening remarks, he shared that the dedication fell on the 172nd anniversary of the birth of his grandfather, Hyrum Smith. President Joseph Fielding Smith shared how grateful he was for the restored Church in these latter days: “I am pleased that we are celebrating [Hyrum Smith’s birthday] by presenting to the Lord another holy temple, wherein those keys and powers, held jointly by him and the Prophet Joseph Smith, may be used for the salvation and exaltation of many of our Father’s children.”
Around 74,000 members of the Church, 37,000 per session, participated in the dedication, many watching the proceedings from several large auditoriums on the BYU campus, in the Marriott Center, George Albert Smith Fieldhouse, Joseph Smith Building, Harris Fine Arts Center, and Knight-Mangum Hall (Language Training Mission) on the BYU campus. The number of attendees exceeded the then population of Provo City, which the 1970 census placed at 53,131 people.[31]”Temple Dedicated at Provo,” 12 February, Deseret News.
The temple accomadated 3,500 per session, 21,000 at the Marriott Center, And another 7,500 at the George Albert Field Center.ref]”Temple Dedicated at Provo,” 12 February, Deseret News.[/ref]
Years later, the Provo Missionary Training Center would be built across the street from the house of the Lord, allowing missionaries easy access to the blessings that come from worshipping within.
The dedication marked the second time two temples — the Provo Utah Temple and the Ogden Utah Temple — had been dedicated within the same year, and the first time two temples were dedicated less than four weeks apart. The groundbreaking of the temple on 15 September 1969, occurred just seven days after the groundbreaking of the Ogden Utah Temple on Sept. 8, 1969, the first time multiple temples had begun construction within the same month.
DEDICATION ORDER
15
| Date | 1972 02 09 |
| By | Harold B. Lee |
| Role | Apostle |
| Sessions | 2 |
| Attendees | 74,000 |
⮜Preceeded by Ogden Utah
Followed by Washington D.C.⮞
Construction Duration
| Span | Duration |
|---|---|
| Announced to Groundbreaking | 2 y, 1 m, 1 d |
| Groundbreaking to Dedication | 2 y, 4 m, 24 d |
| Announced to Dedication | 4 y, 5 m, 26 d |
Dedicatory Order
GLOBAL
15
REGION
N. AM
11
COUNTRY
US
11
STATE
UTAH
6
COUNTY
UTAH
1
CITY
PROVO
1
Summary
Provo was the 15th temple worldwide, the 11th in North America, 10th in the United States, 6th in Utah, and 1st in Utah county and Provo. One Temple was under construction at the time of dedication.
Detail
Renovation 2003
On 12 May 2003 hundreds gathered on the grounds of the Provo Utah Temple to watch workers place a 13-foot, 300-pound, gold-leaf statue of the Angel Moroni atop the temple. With the addition of this Statue, only around 13 temples did not have the statue worldwide. In 5 more years that numberr would come down to 8. As part of this change, the spire was painted white from the original bronze color.
Relandscape 2005
In 2005-2006, the Church overhauled the grounds of the temple. Part of this renovation saw the removal of the road that connected the north and south parking lots and d functioned as a drop of area right in front of the doors of the temple. The original fountain was removed, and 2 new plazas added, each with a new fountain, and cascading water features.
Renovation 2021
Announced
In his concluding remarks at the Sunday Afternoon Session of the October 2021 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced that the Provo Utah Temple would be closed for reconstruction following the dedication of the Orem Utah Temple.[32]“The Prophet Announces 13 New Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 3 Oct. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2021-general-conference-new-temples.
UtahTemples at Time of Announcement
Announced
Under Construction
- Layton Utah
- Syracuse Utah
- Taylorsville Utah
- Deseret Peak Utah
- Sratoga Springs Utah
- Orem Utah
- Red Cliffs Utah
Dedicated
- St. George Utah [1877]
- Logan Utah [1884]
- Manti Utah [1888]
- Salt Lake [1893]
- Ogden Utah [1972]
- Provo Utah [1972]
- Jordan River Utah [1981]
- Bountiful Utah [1995]
- Mount Timpanogos Utah [1996]
- Vernal Utah [1997]
- Monticello Utah [1999]
- Draper Utah [2009]
- Oquirrh Mountain Utah [2009]
- Brigham City Utah [2012]
- Payson Utah [2015]
- Provo City Center Utah [2016]
- Cedar City Utah [2017]
ANNOUNCED
| Date | 2021 10 03 |
| By | Russell M. Nelson |
| Role | President |
| Via | General Conference |
Announced 2021 10 03
- Kaohsiung Taiwan
- Tacloban City Philippines
- Monrovia Liberia
- Kananga Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Antananarivo Madagascar
- Culiacán México
- Vitória Brazil
- La Paz Bolivia
- Santiago West Chile
- Fort Worth Texas
- Teton River Idaho,
as Rexburg North Idaho - Heber Valley Utah
- “Reconstruction” for the Provo Utah Temple.
As controversial the original design was, replacing it was not universally popular either. Almost immediately I petition began to encourage the Church to reconsider and keep the existing temple. A similar petition had been succesful in getting the Church to reconsider a full gut and redo at the Manti Temple earlier that year. However, where the Manti petition had over 1,000 signatues in a matter of days, and finished with more than 8,000, The Provo petition did not gather 1,000 votes until around 6 months later.
Another signe of the continued mixed feelings on the design came in 2014 when Utah County newspaper The Daily Herald asked readers in an unscientific online poll the following question: “The Ogden LDS Temple, which used to look nearly identical to the Provo Temple, has gone through a complete redesign. Should the Provo Temple be redesigned as well?
Of those responding, 405 votes, or 51 percent, said yes, while 389, or 49 percent, said no.
Render Released
On 24 November 2021, an official exterior rendering was released for the Provo d Utah Temple.[33]“See Renderings for the Provo and Smithfield Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 24 Nov. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/provo-smithfield-utah-temple-exterior-rendering.
Commencement Announced
The First Presidencey announced the official closure date of the temple (20 February 2024) on 20 June 2023. The announcment was made in concjunction with the Open House and dedication dates for the Orem Utah Temple (the dedication of which the closure was dependant upon[34]“The Prophet Announces 13 New Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 3 Oct. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2021-general-conference-new-temples.) and the location of the Wichita Kansas Temple.[35]“Dedication Dates Announced for Temple in Utah.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 20 June 2023, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/news-for-three-temples-in-us.
Name Changed
Just 4 days prior to the closure of the temple, the First Presidency announced on 20 February 2024 that, upon reopening, the temple would officially be renamed the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple,[36]“The Provo Temple Will Reopen as the Provo Rock Canyon Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 20 Feb. 2024, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-provo-temple-will-reopen-as-the-provo-utah-rock-canyon-temple. The temple had previously been renamed the Provo Utah Temple in 1999, inline with the Church’s Standardised temple names[37]Church News Archives. “Temples Renamed to Uniform Guidelines.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/10/16/23247736/temples-renamed-to-uniform-guidelines.. Originally the temple had just been named the Provo Temple.
Render Updated
Along with the name change, a new render was published which had removed teh water feature fromt he front of the new temple design.
Closure
The temple officially closed to patrons after the last session on Saturday, 24 February 2024. One Patron who attendded on the last day commented on how crowded the sessions were, stating there was upwards of 80 people in the Celestial Room.[38]Price, Emma Butler. “Provo Temple closes after 52 years.” Daily Universe, 19 Mar. 2024, universe.byu.edu/2024/03/19/provo-temple-closes-after-52-years.
Demolition
One of the earliest esxterior signs of the temple demilition was the removal of the Angel Moroni Statue on 15 April 2024. The statue was secured to a trailer, and taken to Salt Lake where it was to be refurbished and reused. Like the original temple, the new temple will not have the statue. The Provo Temple only had a statue for 20 years, 11 Months, and 3 Days. All but the lower most portion of the spire was removed by 19 April.
At that point, demolition of the temple structure began in earnest, Using a backhoe piled upon debris from the first floor to reach the upper stories, then eventually using backhoes with longer arms. The last bit of the spire remained until late May, when most of the temple was brought down. by 21 May, nothing above the basement remained.
The last of the temple basement remained through July, even while excavation for the new temple footings began farther to the west. By this point, all of the grounds had been cleared, the rest of the temple sorted into piles of like material for recycling, and hauled off.
Reconstruction
Construction began with footings and concrete towers for stairs and elevators. Wells for the fonts weer poured at this time as well. Walls for the basement began in September.
Structural steel started January of 2025, shorty after the first of the basement slab was poured. Basement walls were finished late January, early February.
The last of the Concrete towers was completed by February, at which point half of the second story was framed in, and about 2/3rds of the first floor. about 1/4th of the basement slab was still unpoured.
Framing for the 1st floor slab completed by 1 March, and the first floor cealing/second floor slab finished days later.
First floor slab was poured by 12 March, 2nd and third floor wall support framing begun.
Third floor slab framing completed by 28 March.
Parking lot Grading begun April.
Second floor slab pour completed, 3rd floor ceiling framing completed by May 3, exterior wall framing begun on first floor.
Mechanical Mezzanine and spire framing begun late may. Third floor slap concrete pouring begun May 23, completed by 7 June.
3rd floor ceiling, mechanical floor pour begun around 20 June finished by 26 June.
Structural framing topped out 23 July of 2025, by which time walls were going up in the temple, and the bottom story was being enclosed with sub cladding.
Myths and Stories
Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire
There has been a tradition that Emil Fetzer intended the Temple to represent a pillar of fire by night (in the gold spire) and the pillar of cloud by day (The third story above the windows,) as told in Exodus. 13:21, which states” “The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way and in a pillar of light by night …” Thus, the white facade of the Temples was the white cloud and the golden spire was lighted at night to represent a pillar of fire.
One source goes so far as to state that he was told this by Kieth Wilcox (Architect of the Washington D.C. Temple) who was told in turn by Emil Fetzer.
During the commencement of the Renovation of the Provo Utah Temple the Church News released an article looking at the coming details of the renovations for the Provo Utah and Manhattan New York Temples. When initially released on 4 April 2024, the Article included the following line:
The temple had a flat, round base with a spire in the center, made to represent Exodus 13:21 as the Lord went before the children of Israel “by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.”
The article was ammended sometime later to include the following in place of that line:
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article cited an erroneous claim about the Provo Utah Temple’s exterior design by Church architect Emil Fetzer.
Dr. Richard Cowan, BYU emeritus professor of Church History and Doctrine, wrote: “Over the years, various symbolic meanings have been read into the [Provo] temple’s design. . . . Many local Church members believed the [temple was] designed to symbolize the cloud and pillar of fire that led the ancient Israelites during their wanderings in the desert. However, Fred Baker, who worked closely with Emil Fetzer in designing the temple, recalled, ‘We didn’t have any symbolism in mind. . . . The truth is that we were so focused on what happened inside the temple, it never entered our mind’ that there should be any symbolism outside” (”Temples in the Tops of the Mountains — Sacred Houses of the Lord in Utah,” by Richard Cowan and Clinton Christensen [Deseret Book, 2023, page 118]).[39][Taylor, Scott. “A Look at Temple Renovations and the Provo and Manhattan Temples.” Church News, 20 Dec. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/04/04/temples-renovations-provo-utah-rock-canyon-manhattan-salt-lake.
Another individual, (This page, 13th comment), who says she interviewed Emil Fetzer for a paper on Architecture Symbolism for a class at BYU. She recounted part of the interview in which Fetzer said that “there was no intended symbolism; in fact, he sounded surprised that “everyone knows”… He may have had a vision, but he wouldn’t admit it to me;… had little patience for all the symbolism…”
There is no mention of symbolism or symbolic intent in articles covering the temple dedication, which went into great detail about the design process. A request for information from the Church History Library returned the answer that they could not find any source for the symbolism, and it was never mentioned by Emil Fetzer in the documents and histories they have for him. They believe the story rose some time after the dedication.
It should be noted that none of the other temples designed by Emil B. Fetzer have any claimed overt spiritual symbolism to their design. If he did intend the symbolism, it would have been quite a break from his usual style. In fact, looking back at all the temples from the 1877 through the 1980s, there was not much if any symbolism to be found (excepting of course, Salt Lake). It just wasn’t the done thing.
While the symbolism was not intended, once a a creator releases a work to the world, others will frequently apply their own meaning and interpretation. This is just fine. However we should be careful when presenting personal interpretation to others that we do not present it as factual.
Presidents
| Temple President | Temple Matron | Years Served |
|---|---|---|
| James Wesley Barry | Marilyn Thomas Barry | 2022– |
| J. Phillip Freestone | Elizabeth Ogden Freestone | 2019–2022 |
| Donald Hugh Livingstone | Marsha Lou Thompson Livingstone | 2016–2019 |
| Alan Conway Ashton | Karen Jackman Ashton | 2013–2016 |
| Robert Henry Daines III | Janet Marilyn Lundgren Daines | 2010–2013 |
| Merrill Joseph Bateman | Marilyn Scholes Bateman | 2007–2010 |
| Carl William Bacon | Betty Carolyn Schade Bacon | 2004–2007 |
| Jay Myrven Smith Jr. | Jena Vee Cordon Smith | 2001–2004 |
| Dean LeRoy Larsen | Geneal Johnson Larsen | 1998–2001 |
| Robert Junius Smith | Lola Nielson Smith | 1995–1998 |
| Arthur Selzner Anderson | Janice Viginia Jacobsen Anderson | 1992–1995 |
| J Elliot Cameron | Maxine Petty Cameron | 1989–1992 |
| Arthur Joy Sperry Jr. | Carol Jones Sperry | 1986–1989 |
| Leland Forbes Priday | Thelma Farnsworth Priday | 1982–1986 |
| Albert Theodore Tuttle | Marné Whitaker Tuttle | 1980–1982 |
| Orville Carl Gunther | Betha Orinda Allred Gunther | 1976–1980 |
| Harold Glen Clark | Mary Deane Peterson Gilbert Clark | 1972–1976 |
Details
Location
The temple is half a mile northeast of Brigham Young University, the Church Educational System’s main campus.
Also near the temple is the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC), an instructional campus for men and women who are preparing to serve Mormon missions throughout the world. The facilities can accommodate 4,000 mission trainees, and instructors teach approximately 50 different languages. Not even factoring in attendance by patrons from the university and the MTC, the Provo Utah Temple stays quite busy.
An early landscaping plan published in newspapers originally featured a Bureau of Information (precursor to a Visitors Center) directly west of the temple. This was not built in the original construction, but was proposed again in 1978 before being entirely abandoned.
As a part of the 2021 Renovation, the entire temple was shifted south west The new front door location movedapproximately 202 feet on a heading of 247 degrees. The new foundation overlapps the original foundation by only 37 or so feet.
Location
2200 Temple Hill Dr,
Provo, UT
84604
| Latitude | 40.2635 |
| Longitude | -111.6402 |
| Latitude | 40.2633 |
| Longitude | -111.6408 |
Phone
Elevation
| Feet | Meters |
|---|---|
| 4,884 | 1,488.64 |
| Feet | Meters |
|---|---|
| 4,874 | 1,485.89 |
Site
| Acres | Hectares |
|---|---|
| 13.3 | 5.4 |
Exterior
Representative of the architectural style known as New Formalism, the Provo Utah Temple exterior displays symmetry, delicate arched carvings and use of high quality materials and modern design elements. The Provo and Ogden Temples were almost identical, except for a few exterior design variations. A 2014 redesign of the Ogden Utah Temple completely changed its exterior appearance, but the original architecture of the Provo Utah continued until 2024.
The cast stone panels on the upper story of the Provo Temple has a bas relief floral like design comprised of sharp Gothic arches of increasing length. Each panel gently slopes outward on the upper edge of the panel. All this serves to direct they eye heavenward.
Cladding
The exterior of the Provo Utah Temple is precast concrete panels.
Windows
The windows at the Provo Utah Temple are a unique mirrored Bronze glass that reflects the mountains or the lake, depending on where you stand.
Exterior Finish
Precast Concrete
Architectural Features
Single central spire
Specifications
| Feet | Meters | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 180 | 54.86 |
| To Shoulder | 60 | 18.29 |
| Width | 186.4 | 56.81 |
| Length | 203 | 61.93 |
| Footprint | 38,193 | 3,548.24 |
| Heading | 248.68 | WSW |
Cladding
TBD
Windows
TBD
Exterior Finish
Architectural Features
Specifications
| Feet | Meters | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 248 | 75.59 |
| To Shoulder | 70 | 21.34 |
| Width | 195 | 59.55 |
| Length | 234 | 71.57 |
| Footprint | 40,865 | 3,796.5 |
| Heading | 240.74 | WSW |
Symbolism
Inscription
There is one inscription on the original Provo Utah Temple. The inscription is on the east (back) side of the temple and was added as part of the construction. The letters are engraved into the precast concrete and gilded. The inscription also features the name of the Church and the name of the Temple.
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PROVO TEMPE
| Order | House>Holiness |
| Location | North East |
| Language | English |
| Type | Engraved |
| Color | Gilded |
| Setting | Flush |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | Yes |
| Temple Name | Yes |
| Dates | No |
There are two inscriptions on the Provo Utah Temple. The first inscription is on the east (back) side of the temple and was added as part of the construction. The letters are engraved into the precast concrete and gilded. The inscription also features the name of the Church and the name of the Temple.
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PROVO TEMPE
| Order | House>Holiness |
| Location | North East |
| Language | English |
| Type | Engraved |
| Color | Gilded |
| Setting | Flush |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | Yes |
| Temple Name | Yes |
| Dates | No |
The second inscription on the Provo City Center Temple is a newer addition. It was added around the time the grounds were re-landscaped 2005-2006. It is on the East Side side of the temple to the right (south) of the front doors. The letters are raised brass.
HOLINESS
TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD
| Order | Holiness > House |
| Location | West side, right of entry |
| Language | English |
| Type | Raised |
| Color | Gold |
| Setting | Proud |
| Font | Michelangelo |
| Glyph | – |
| Church Name | No |
| Temple Name | No |
| Dates | No |
text
TBD
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
text
TBD
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
Cornerstone
The cornerstone for the Provo Utah Temple is on Northern most corner, facing east. (This is a departure from most temples, where the cornerstone is on the south east most corner.) The text is inscribed in a concrete panel of a different color and consistency from the rest of the temple, and are gilded.
ERECTED
A.D. 1969-71
DEDICATED
A.D. 1972
| Location | North Corner |
| Faces | Northeast |
| Material | Concrete |
| Set | Outset |
| Edge | Chamfer |
| Type | Engraved |
| Finish | Unfinished |
| Language | Enlish |
Text
TBD
| Location | |
| Faces | |
| Material | |
| Set | |
| Edge | |
| Type | |
| Finish | |
| Language |
Spires and Moroni
Spires
A single spire rises from the center of the Provo Utah Temple. The spire is tiered, and the top of each tier folds out. The design has often been compared to flower petals folding out, or a fountain spray spreading out. The spire, 80 feet on its own, topped out at 118 feet.
The spire was placed the week of 24 July 1971.
| Material | Fiberglass |
| Placed | # |
| Finish | Anodized Aluminum |
| Height | 118 ft |
| Weight | # |
Finial
When the temple was originally built, the top two smallest sections of the spire were gilded, rather than bronze colored fiberglass like the remainder of the tiers.
Finial Details
| Material | Fiberglass |
| Placed | # |
| Finish | Gold leaf |
| Height | 17 ft |
| Weight | # |
Spires
Thirty-one years after the temple’s completion, the upper two gilded tiers were removed from the spire, which was then painted white.
| Material | Fiberglass |
| Placed | # |
| Finish | White paint |
| Height | 102 ft |
| Weight | # |
Finial
On 12 May an Angel Moroni Statue was placed at the top of the Spire. The statue was sculpted in 1985 by Karl Quilter and faces east on the spire.
A Small Cone was added to the top of the spire, transitioning the design to a point to rest the Moroni on. Despite this addition, the overall effect is that the spire is now slightly shorter than at dedication. As the 10 feet statue is approximately 13 feet with the sphere, and the cone, though unknown in height is about 1-2 feet, the total height of spire and statue should fall at about 2-3 feet shorter than original.
| Placed | 2003 05 12 |
| Removed | 2024 04 15 |
| Sculptor: | Karl Quilter |
| Commissioned: | 1978 |
| Completed: | 1985 |
| Material: | Fiberglass |
| Height: | 10 ft (3.2 m) |
| Weight: | ~400 lbs (136.1 kg) |
| Currently On: | 51 temples |
| Finish: | Gold Leaf |
| Placed: | 2003 05 12 |
| Faces: | East South East |
Spires
–
| Material | Fiberglass |
| Placed | # |
| Finish | Bronze paint |
| Height | 80 ft |
| Weight | # |
Finial
–
Finial Details
| Material | Fiberglass |
| Placed | # |
| Finish | Gold leaf |
| Height | 17 ft |
| Weight | # |
Interior
*Please note, this information is for the as Dedicated 1972 version of the temple. For updated information, click the tab with the most recent date.*
The Provo Utah Temple has a total floor area of 128,325 square feet (11,921.8 m2) and four floors, one below ground and three above.
On the below-ground floor are the baptismal font, mechanical equipment, boiler room, laundry, kitchen, dining area, lockers for workers, and storage space.
The main floor, which is 200 feet by 184 feet in size, contains the foyer and lobby, administrative and clerical offices, men’s locker rooms, women’s locker rooms, brides’ rooms, grooms’ instruction rooms, and waiting rooms.
On the second floor are a chapel and 12 sealing rooms.
Entry
| Area | 128,325 f2 (11,921.8 m2) |
| Floors above grade | 3 |
| Floors below Grade | 1 |
| Baptistries | 1 |
| Initiatories | 12 |
| Endowment Rooms | 6 |
| Sealing Rooms | 12 |
Baptistry
The baptistry at the Provo Temple was Emil Fetzer’s Standard design. A two story space, there was a gallery style walk across the back wall, with doors at the far left and right opposing ends for entrance to the font, then doors directly behind the font for wet patrons to head back into the changing rooms. The rest of the “upper” floor was completely open to below. On the opposite side of the room, full height windows allowed those in the Chapel to look out and over the baptistry, font and oxen. Usually the standard Baptistry design had steep stairs, closed to patrons, leading to the lower portion of the baptistry for cleaning.
| Baptistries: | 1 |
| Location: | North side Center |
| Exterior Windows: | No |
| Artwork: | No |
| Artwork Type: | – |
| Oxen: | 12 |
| Type: | 1/2 |
| Hoof: | Visible |
| Color: | White |
| Layout: | Even Spread |
| Font Exterior: | Off white |
| Interior: | Stainless |
| Shape: | Round |
| Bowl Shape: | Round |
| Pillar: | Reeds |
| Stairs: | Single, Center |
| Font Well: | Outer |
Initiatory Spaces
text
| Style | attached |
| Type | Progressive |
| Rooms | 12 |
Instruction Rooms
The top floor accommodates 6 ordinance rooms and the Celestial Room. Only three other temples have six ordinance rooms: the Ogden Utah , Jordan River Utah , and Washington D.C. Temples.
The design for the two upper floors is unique. Brother Fetzer said that the plan for these floors came from the idea of what he calls a Danish ellipse. During his travels he read about a new park being designed in Copenhagen that was completely surrounded by a roadway. It was not a circle, but an elongated ellipse. A modification of this idea turned out to be exactly what he needed to accommodate the rooms and corridors for these floors. The corridor runs completely around the outside wall. Entrances to the ordinance rooms are from the corridor. This unique design, never before used in the Church, allowed for three endowment rooms to either side of the Celestial Room, with one long shared veil space on either side. This in turn allowed sessions to start every 20 minutes.[40]Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972
| Rooms | 6 |
| Type | Stationary |
| Capacity | # |
| Murals | N |
| Total Muraled Rooms | 0 |
| Mural Type | – |
Celestial Room
The Celestial room of the temple is in the center of the upper floor, directly under the spire.
Sealing Room
| Sealing Rooms | 12 |
| Largest Capacity |
Cafeteria
Yes
Clothing Issue
Yes
Entry
| Area | # f2 (#m2) |
| Floors above grade | 3 |
| Floors below Grade | 1 |
| Baptistries | 2 |
| Initiatories | |
| Endowment Rooms | 6 |
| Sealing Rooms | # |
Baptistry
| Baptistries: | 2 |
| Location: | North west; South west |
| Exterior Windows: | |
| Artwork: | |
| Artwork Type: | – |
| Oxen: | |
| Type: | |
| Hoof: | |
| Color: | |
| Layout: | |
| Font Exterior: | |
| Interior: | |
| Shape: | |
| Bowl Shape: | |
| Pillar: | |
| Stairs: | |
| Font Well: |
Initiatory Spaces
text
| Style | TBD |
| Type | TBD |
| Rooms | TBD |
Instruction Rooms
The top floor accommodates 6 ordinance rooms and the Celestial Room. Only three other temples have six ordinance rooms: the Ogden Utah , Jordan River Utah , and Washington D.C. Temples.
| Rooms | 6 |
| Type | Stationary |
| Capacity | # |
| Murals | TBD |
| Total Muraled Rooms | TBD |
| Mural Type | – |
Celestial Room
The Celestial room of the temple is in the center of the upper floor, directly under the spire.
Sealing Room
| Sealing Rooms | TBD |
| Largest Capacity |
Cafeteria
Yes
Clothing Issue
Yes
Individuals and Contractors
Architect
Emil Fetzer was the Architect for this Temple.
Other Projects By Emil Fetzer
| Project | Year |
|---|---|
| Provo Utah | 1968-1972 |
| Ogden Utah | 1968-1972 |
| Washington D. C. [supervising architect] | 1968-1974 |
| Lincoln Center skyscraper and Stake Center, (now houses the Manhattan New York Temple) | 1968 |
| Idaho Falls Idaho [renovation] | 1972-1973 |
| Mesa Arizona [renovation] | 1972-1975 |
| St. George Utah [renovation] | 1972-1975 |
| São Paulo Brazil | 1975-1978 |
| Tokyo Japan | 1975-1980 |
| Seattle Washington | 1975-1980 |
| Laie Hawaii [renovation] | 1972-1978 |
| Logan Utah | 1972-1979 |
| Pago Pago American Samoa [original] | 1977-1981 |
| Jordan River Utah | 1978-1981 |
| Atlanta Georgia | 1980-1983 |
| Nuku’alofa Tonga | 1980-1983 |
| Santiago Chile | 1980-1983 |
| Mexico City Mexico | 1980-1983 |
| Sydney Australia | 1980-1984 |
| Freiberg Germany | 1982-1985 |
| Manti Utah [renovation] | 1982-1985 |
Project Manager
Fred A. Baker and Mark Graff were the project managers for this temple.
General Contractor
Hogan and Tingey was the general contractor for this project
Architect
– was the Architect for this Temple.
General Contractor
Westland Construction is the General Contractor for this temple.
Other Projects by Westland Construction
| Project | Years |
|---|---|
| Monticello Utah (Renovation) | 2000-2002 |
| Anchorage Alaska (Renovation) | 2002-2004 |
| Apia Samoa (Renovation) | 2002-2003 |
| Manti Utah (Renovation) | ? Before 2009 |
| Seattle Washington (Renovation) | ? Before2009 |
| Vernal Utah (Renovation) | ? Before 2009 |
| Columbus Ohio (Renovation) | 2019-2023 |
| Chicago Illinois (Renovation) | 2013-2015 |
| Provo Utah (Renovation) | 2013-2014 |
| St. George Utah (Renovation) | 2013-2014 |
| Suva Fiji (Renovation) | 2014-2015 |
| Port-au-Prince Haiti | 2015-2019 |
| Jordan River Utah (Renovation | 2016-2018 |
| Hamilton New Zealand (Renovation) | 2017-2022 |
| Memphis Tennessee (Renovation) | 2017-2020 |
| Oklahoma City Oklahoma (Renovation) | 2017-2019 |
| Praia Cape Verde | 2018-2021 |
| Columbus Ohio | 2019-2023 |
| St. George Utah (Renovation) | 2019-2023 |
| Neiafu Tonga | 2019- |
| Orem Utah | 2019-2024 |
| Pago Pago American Samoa | 2019- |
| Provo Utah (Renovation) | 2021- |
| Querétaro Mexico | 2022- |
| Ephraim Utah | 2022- |
| Freetown Sierra Leone | 2022- |
| Provo Utah (Renovation) | 2022- |
| Toronto Ontario (Renovation) | 2023-2025 |
| Anchorage Alaska (Renovation) | 2024- |
Sources and Links
References
| ↑1, ↑3, ↑4, ↑6, ↑7, ↑15, ↑16, ↑40 | Green, Doyle L., “Two Temples to Be Dedicated”, Ensign, January 1972 |
|---|---|
| ↑2, ↑5, ↑8, ↑9, ↑10, ↑11, ↑12, ↑13, ↑17 | ”The Detailed Story of the Old and New Ogden Temples,” Nighuntokolob.blogspot.com, 17 December 2015. Accessed 2 October 2016. |
| ↑14 | David O. McKay, quoted in Emil Baer Fetzer, Completed Writings of Emil Baer Fetzer, 2003, 3, Church History Library, Salt Lake City. |
| ↑18 | Smith, Henry A., “Church Chooses Sites For Temples,” Deseret News, 25 August 1967, p19. |
| ↑19 | Jarrard, Jack E., “Two New Utah Temple Drawings Win Okay,” , 03 February 1968, Church News, Deseret News p29, 34-35 |
| ↑20 | ”Designs Released for Two Church Temples, 1 February 1968, Herald Journal.” |
| ↑21 | Bergsma, Donald J. “The Temple as a Symbol.” Dialogue: A Journal Fo Mormon Thought, vol. 3, no. 1, 2, 1968, pp. 9–19. |
| ↑22 | ”Cornerstone Rites Set at Temple on May 21,” 13 March 1971, The Daily Herald, p1. |
| ↑23 | For many of the temples built in the 1900s through the first decades after World War II, it was common for a cornerstone ceremony to be held after the shell of the building was roughly in place, rather than just prior to the dedication, as with modern temples, or just after groundbreaking, as with the early temples. |
| ↑24 | Perry, Leo, “Lay Cornerstone at Provo Temple,” 22 May 1971, Deseret News, p7. |
| ↑25 | ”Cornerstone Ceremenoy Tomorrow,”, 20 May 1971, The Daily Herald. |
| ↑26 | ”New Temples Set Tours, Rites,” 12 November 1971, Deseret News, p21. |
| ↑27 | Young, Jerry M., “2461,201 See Provo Temple, 31 January 1972, The Daily Herald, |
| ↑28 | ”Provo Temple to Greet 200,000th Visitor.” 26 January 1972, The daily Herald. |
| ↑29 | ”55 Attend UF Social for the Blind”, 30 January 1972, The DaAily Herald, |
| ↑30 | Provo Utah Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Feb. 9, 1972, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/61718/Provo-Utah-Temple-We-plead-with-thee-to-pour-out-thy-Holy-Spirit-upon-us.html |
| ↑31 | ”Temple Dedicated at Provo,” 12 February, Deseret News. |
| ↑32, ↑34 | “The Prophet Announces 13 New Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 3 Oct. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2021-general-conference-new-temples. |
| ↑33 | “See Renderings for the Provo and Smithfield Temples.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 24 Nov. 2021, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/provo-smithfield-utah-temple-exterior-rendering. |
| ↑35 | “Dedication Dates Announced for Temple in Utah.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 20 June 2023, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/news-for-three-temples-in-us. |
| ↑36 | “The Provo Temple Will Reopen as the Provo Rock Canyon Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 20 Feb. 2024, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-provo-temple-will-reopen-as-the-provo-utah-rock-canyon-temple. |
| ↑37 | Church News Archives. “Temples Renamed to Uniform Guidelines.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/10/16/23247736/temples-renamed-to-uniform-guidelines. |
| ↑38 | Price, Emma Butler. “Provo Temple closes after 52 years.” Daily Universe, 19 Mar. 2024, universe.byu.edu/2024/03/19/provo-temple-closes-after-52-years. |
| ↑39 | [Taylor, Scott. “A Look at Temple Renovations and the Provo and Manhattan Temples.” Church News, 20 Dec. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/04/04/temples-renovations-provo-utah-rock-canyon-manhattan-salt-lake. |
Last updated on: 18 February 2026