Rexburg Idaho Temple Wiki
Quick Facts
ANNOUNCED
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ANNOUNCED BY
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GROUNDBREAKING
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GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
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DEDICATED
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DEDICATED BY
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DEDICATION ORDER
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LOCATION
750 S 2nd E
Rexburg, Idaho 83440-5404
United States
PHONE
(+1) 208-656-0880
Description
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History
Latter-day Saints first began to settle the Upper Snake River Valley in 1879, following the completion of the Utah Northern Railroad. By 1883, under the direction of Thomas E. Ricks, the city of Rexburg was established, and just a year after that, Idaho’s second stake—the Bannock Stake—was organized with headquarters in Rexburg. As was tradition at the time, a stake academy was also founded in 1888: the Bannock Stake Academy. And by 1923, the school had matured into a junior college, named Ricks College after Rexburg’s founder.[1]Gerry Avant, ed. “Worldwide Church: United States of America: Idaho,” 2004 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2004) 185–186.
In June 2000, Rexburg received a major announcement from the Church that two-year Ricks College would become four-year Brigham Young University–Idaho by fall 2001. New construction gripped the quiet farming community as housing complexes seemed to appear overnight.
Students who wanted to attend the temple have had to travel 30 miles to the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, and it became increasingly difficult to make the trip for many of the students attending Ricks College, due to funds and transportation.
Announcement
The intent to build the temple was announced by the First Presidency on 12 December 2003, in a letter to local church leaders.[2]”First Presidency letter to leaders: Rexburg Idaho Temple”. Church News. December 27, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2024. https://www.thechurchnews.com/2003/12/27/23239121/first-presidency-letter-to-leaders-rexburg-idaho-temple/. Rexburg became Idaho’s fastest growing city as its 17,500 residents in 2000 multiplied to 28,000 by the time the temple was dedicated in 2008.[3]Carrie A. Moore, “Temple adds to Rexburg’s economic boom,” Deseret Morning News 10 Feb. 2008.
The announcement of the Rexburg Idaho Temple came three and a half years after the announcement that two-year Ricks College would become four-year Brigham Young University–Idaho.
Idaho Temples at the Time of Announcement
Announced
- –
Under Construction
- –
Dedicated
- Idaho Falls Idaho [1945]
- Boise Idaho [1984]
ANNOUNCED ORDER
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| Date | 2003 12 12 |
| By | First Presidency |
| Role | – |
| Via | Local Letter |
⮜Preceded by Panama City Panama
Followed by Draper Utah⮞
On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, Architectural Nexus applied for its building permit to begin preparation work for the temple site. Included in the application materials were building and site plans. The plans revealed a five-story, 57,504 square-foot building. The single steeple, set on the east side of the east-facing building, would rise 168 feet, topped by a gold-leafed statue of Moroni. A garden plaza would separate the temple from an adjacent stake center to the west, leaving only the temple and its landscaping visible from 7th South.[4]Josh Donat, “Temple architect applies for city building permit,” Rexburg Standard Journal 30 Jun. 2005.
Groundbreaking
Elder John H. Groberg of the Seventy, newly called as president of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, presided at the Saturday 30 July 2005 groundbreaking for the temple where over 8,000 people were in attendance. Attendance was open to any who wished to attend including members of other faiths. Elder Ronald J. Hammond, an Area Authority of the Seventy from Rexburg, noted, “As the ground opens and as the shovel breaks it and turns it, your spiritual senses will know immediately that something very, very significant is happening—something that at once disturbs the devil and blesses God’s children on both sides of the veil.”[5]”Thousands attend temple groundbreaking,” BYU–Idaho News & Notes 4 Aug. 2005.
GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
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| Date | 2005 07 30 |
| By | John H. Groberg |
| Role | Seventy |
| Attendees | 8,000 |
⮜Preceded by Curitiba Brazil
Followed by Panama City Panama⮞
Render Released
The official render for the Rexburg Idaho Temple was released at the groundbreaking ceremony.
2006 Holland Convocation Address
In an end-of-semester convocation address given Dec. 20, 2006, Elder Holland said: “When the Prophet Joseph Smith drew the plans for the ideal city of Zion, … he conceived such a city as being anchored by two great symbolic structures: a temple and a university — a house of covenant and a house of learning, two institutions dedicated to the exalting of the human soul.”
The Apostle continued, “BYU–Idaho and its host environment here in southeastern Idaho becomes the newest of the Lord’s experiments in attempting to create yet again a kind of Zion, or at least the newest opportunity to show how the whole soul is edified when a temple and a university join hands to bless a very fortunate student community.”
Finial
On September 21, 2006—the 183rd anniversary of the first appearance of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith—a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was installed atop the spire of the temple. Thousands of spectators gathered under rain clouds, making for a memorable Moroni raising. At the conclusion, cheers erupted from the enthusiastic onlookers.[6]Matt Longmore, “Angel Moroni placed atop Rexburg Temple,” Scroll Online 21 Sept. 2006.
Dedication announced
Reservations for the open house were snatched up in the first week after they became available, giving committee planners its first indication that its original estimate of 150,000 visitors was too low. Tour group sizes were regularly increased and tour times added to accommodate the overwhelming demand. Once tours concluded, over 200,000 visitors had viewed the interior of the edifice. To keep the open house running efficiently, over 10,000 volunteers willingly gave their time and talents including handing out over 10,000 cookies a day and 60,000 gallons of punch. Other responsibilities included leading tours, ushering, directing traffic, and putting foot coverings over visitors’ shoes. Volunteers of all ages participated including a large number of eager BYU–Idaho students.[7]John Merrifield, “Rexburg Temple Volunteers Hard at Work,” KPVI 24 Jan. 2008.
Open House
The public was invited to tour the temple from 29 December 2007, to 26 January 2008. Interest in the open house of the Rexburg Idaho Temple was so high that additional early-morning and evening tours were added to each day. An unexpected turnout of more than 10,000 visitors on the first day Over 200,000 visitors toured the temple.
| Start Date | 2007 12 29 |
| End Date | 2008 01 26 |
| Days | 25 |
| Attendees | 200,000 |
| Per day | 8,000 |
Cultural Celebration
The evening preceding the dedication of the temple, some 2,000 youth from the temple district’s 17 stakes gathered in the Hart Auditorium on the BYU–Idaho campus to celebrate the area’s heritage in a vibrant display of costume, music, dance, and multimedia. The celebration was broadcast to stake centers and other buildings on campus to accommodate the great number in attendance. Narration highlighted significant events from Upper Snake River Valley history including pioneer struggles, the founding of Ricks Academy, and the role of agriculture. The level and diversity of talent was outstanding.[8]Laurie Williams Sowby, “Color, Culture, Energy Abound in Youthful Celebration,” Meridian Magazine 12 Feb. 2008.
Dedication Delayed
On the evening of January 27, 2008, one week before the scheduled dedication of the temple, news traveled across the globe of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who had intended to dedicate the temple. To accommodate Pres. Hinckley’s funeral, the dedication ceremony was postponed one week. On the day of the originally scheduled dedication, President Thomas S. Monson was ordained the 16th president of the Church.
Dedication
President Monson assumed the task of dedicating the temple on 10 February 2008, the next week after the scheduled date, as his “first official act” as president. Dense fog the morning of the dedication prevented his plane from landing in Idaho Falls as scheduled, so the plane was rerouted to Pocatello, and the final 80 miles of the trip was resumed by car. The First session, intended to start at 9, was delayed 30 minutes due to the weather.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency and Elder David Bednar of the Twelve, both former presidents of Ricks College, planned to attend the dedication, but Pres. Eyring was prevented due to a broken ankle. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Twelve and Elder Claudio M. Costas of the Seventy attended as well. The four dedicatory sessions were broadcast throughout the region to the thousands of members wishing to attend. In his dedicatory prayer, Pres. Monson declared, “May Thy faithful saints of this and future generations look to this temple as a sanctuary and a place of service to Thee and to Thy children.”[9]Carrie A. Moore, “LDS dedicate Rexburg Temple,” Deseret Morning News 11 Feb. 2008.
President Monson, who was ordained as Church President seven days prior, was joined at the ceremony by then-Elder Russell M. Nelson and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Bednar had previously served as president of BYU–Idaho from 1997 to 2004, including when the temple was announced in 2003.
DEDICATION ORDER
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| Date | 2008 02 10 |
| By | Thomas S. Monson |
| Role | President |
| Sessions | 4 |
| Attendees | 7,300 |
⮜Preceded by Helsinki Finland
Followed by Curitiba Brazil⮞
Construction Duration
| Span | Duration |
|---|---|
| Announced to Groundbreaking | – y, – m, – d |
| Groundbreaking to Dedication | – y, – m, – d |
| Announced to Dedication | – y, – m, – d |
Dedicatory Order
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Summary
The temple was the third in Idaho with a fourth dedicated in Twin Falls later in the year, and the first in the state in the 21st century, and the first temple dedicated by Thomas S. Monson as the church’s new president. Prior to its completion. BYU–Idaho was the only university owned by the LDS Churchthat did not have a temple adjacent to its campus.
Detail
Groundbreaking Announced
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Announced
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Dedication Announced
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Under Construction
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Rededication Announced
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Under Renovation
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Renovation Scheduled
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Firsts
- In December 2011, the creation of the Rexburg Idaho YSA 8th Stake and Rexburg Idaho YSA 9th Stake made the Rexburg Idaho Temple District the first and only temple district to be comprised of a majority of young adult stakes (YSA and Student Married).
- It was the first temple dedicated by Thomas S. Monson as the church’s new president
Presidents and Matrons
| Temple President | Temple Matron | Years Served |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Edward Chambers | Robin Sue Christensen Chambers | 2025–2025 |
| Ryan Merle Kunz | Ranae Hathaway Kunz | 2022–2025 |
| Max Lynn Checketts | Donna Lynn Hillis Checketts | 2019–2022 |
| Fenton Lynn Broadhead | Carol Ann Jackson Broadhead | 2016–2019 |
| Philip Coy Wightman | Patsy LoAnn Wright Wightman | 2013–2016 |
| Clair Ogden Thueson | Myrtle Anne Byram Thueson | 2010–2013 |
| Val Rigby Christensen | Ruth Ann Wood Christensen | 2008–2010 |
Details
Location
Adjacent to the Brigham Young University–Idaho campus, the five-story Rexburg Idaho Temple soars high above its hillside location—creating a striking landmark visible for miles along the Highway 20 corridor. It is the finest, most notable building in this rural community. West of the temple lies a beautiful garden area open to the public for quiet strolls or moments of reflection.
The Rexburg Idaho Temple stands adjacent to Church-owned Brigham Young University–Idaho. The Church’s other two universities; Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and Brigham Young University–Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii; also have adjacent temples.
Site
Exterior
Cladding
The exterior walls of the Rexburg Idaho Temple are made of 637 precast panels from 45 different molds, including the retaining wall. The material is called China White—a white quartz finish (mined in Washington state) on concrete panels. A water-proofing compound allows dust to wash off in the rain, keeping the temple a radiant white.
Water Course
Windows
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Spandrel panel
Exterior Finish
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Architectural Features
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| Feet | Meters | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | # | # |
| To Shoulder | # | # |
| Width | # | # |
| Length | # | # |
| Footprint | # | # |
| Heading | Calc |
Symbolism
Inscription
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| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
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| Setting | |
| Font | |
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| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
Cornerstone
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| Location | |
| Faces | |
| Material | |
| Set | |
| Edge | |
| Type | |
| Finish | |
| Language |
Spires and Finial
Spires
A single steeple rises 168 feet and is crowned with the gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni.
Spire Details
| Spires | # |
| Location | # |
| Finish | # |
| Type | dome, steeple, tower, spire |
| shape | # |
| Tower shape |
Finial
[moroni option]
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Events
| Placed | dd month yyyy |
| Removed | dd month yyyy |
| Reguilded | dd month yyyy |
| Replaced | dd month yyyy |
| 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: | |
| Placed: | |
| Faces: |
Interior
The Rexburg Idaho Temple features beautiful ordinance room murals by Rexburg artist Leon Parson, reflecting the wildlife and landscapes of the Upper Snake River Valley. Parson was the 2010 recipient of the Eliza R. Snow Award.
A wheat motif, created by Utah artist Tom Holdman, is used throughout the Rexburg Idaho Temple including most of the 700 art-glass windowpanes. The wheat stalk symbolizes the widespread agricultural industry in the area.
The finest materials were used for this House of the Lord including wood imported from Africa and stone and tile from Israel.
The 57,000-square foot, five-story edifice is the highest building on the BYU-I campus.
Entry
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| Area | – f2 (- m2) |
| Floors above grade | 4.5 |
| Floors below Grade | 0.5 |
| Baptistries | 1 |
| Initiatories | |
| Endowment Rooms | |
| Sealing Rooms |
Baptistry
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| Baptistries: | – |
| Location: | – |
| Exterior Windows: | – |
| Artwork: | – |
| Artwork Type: | – |
| Oxen: | – |
| Type: | – |
| Hoof: | – |
| Color: | – |
| Layout: | – |
| Font Exterior: | – |
| Interior: | – |
| Shape: | – |
| Bowl Shape: | – |
| Pillar: | – |
| Stairs: | – |
| Font Well: | – |
Initiatory Spaces
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| Style | detached, attached, combined |
| Type | stationary, progressive |
| Rooms | # |
Instruction Rooms
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Creation Room
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Garden Room
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World Room
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Terrestrial Room
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| Rooms | # |
| Type | # |
| Capacity | # |
| Murals | y/n |
| Total Muraled Rooms | # |
| Mural Type |
Celestial Room
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Sealing Room
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| Sealing Rooms | |
| Largest Capacity |
Contractors
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Architect
[with additional version]
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Projects by Architect
Project Manager
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General Contractor
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Other Contractor
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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 |
TEMPLES IN UNITED STATES by state
Total: 158
TEMPLES IN NORTH AMERICA by country
Total: 209
Sources and Citations
References
| ↑1 | Gerry Avant, ed. “Worldwide Church: United States of America: Idaho,” 2004 Church Almanac (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Morning News, 2004) 185–186. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | ”First Presidency letter to leaders: Rexburg Idaho Temple”. Church News. December 27, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2024. https://www.thechurchnews.com/2003/12/27/23239121/first-presidency-letter-to-leaders-rexburg-idaho-temple/. |
| ↑3 | Carrie A. Moore, “Temple adds to Rexburg’s economic boom,” Deseret Morning News 10 Feb. 2008. |
| ↑4 | Josh Donat, “Temple architect applies for city building permit,” Rexburg Standard Journal 30 Jun. 2005. |
| ↑5 | ”Thousands attend temple groundbreaking,” BYU–Idaho News & Notes 4 Aug. 2005. |
| ↑6 | Matt Longmore, “Angel Moroni placed atop Rexburg Temple,” Scroll Online 21 Sept. 2006. |
| ↑7 | John Merrifield, “Rexburg Temple Volunteers Hard at Work,” KPVI 24 Jan. 2008. |
| ↑8 | Laurie Williams Sowby, “Color, Culture, Energy Abound in Youthful Celebration,” Meridian Magazine 12 Feb. 2008. |
| ↑9 | Carrie A. Moore, “LDS dedicate Rexburg Temple,” Deseret Morning News 11 Feb. 2008. |
Last updated on: 8 December 2025