Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Wiki
Quick Facts
ANNOUNCED
#
ANNOUNCED BY
TBA
GROUNDBREAKING
#
GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDED BY
TBA
DEDICATED
#
DEDICATED BY
TBA
Description
The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple is the 94th operating temple.The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple serves 24,000 LDS Church members in the New Orleans, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, and Monroe Louisiana stakes, as well as members in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Jackson, Mississippi stakes.
History
The first Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Louisiana in 1841 in response to a letter sent to Joseph Smith, asking him to send missionaries to New Orleans. A few joined the Church, and most left Louisiana to be with the rest of the body of the Church.
New Orleans was the port of entry to the United States for most of the early British converts of the Church. Between 1840 and 1855, around 18,500 members crossed the ocean to the U.S., and 17,600 of them first arrived in New Orleans. Because of this, most of the Church members in New Orleans were either emigrants, who could not yet afford to go further, or Church agents who helped the emigrants continue their journey. After 1855 when the last of the emigrants left New Orleans, the Church no longer had a presence in Louisiana.
In 1895, Latter-day Saint missionaries were sent again to the state. The missionary work was slow in the South, but those who did join the Church were strong members. The Church continued to grow and by 1955, with more than 3,500 members, a stake was organized in the area. Today there are more than 24,000 members in Louisiana.
Announcement
The LDS Church First Presidency announced on October 14, 1998 that a temple would be built in Baton Rouge.[1]“5 new temples in U.S., Mexico announced”, Church News, October 24, 1998
ANNOUNCED ORDER
95
| Date | 1998 10 14 |
| By | First Presidency |
| Role | # |
| Via | Local Letter |
⮜Preceded by Mérida Mexico
Followed by Melbourne Australia⮞
Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 May 1999, with Elder Monte J. Brough of the Seventy presided at the ceremony and dedication.[2]Strawn, Karen; Smith, Gayle (May 15, 1999), “2,000 attend ceremony for Louisiana’s first temple”, Church News
During his remarks, Elder Brough said that the greatest revelation of the latter days was Joseph Smith’s first vision. “This experience allowed Joseph to have actual knowledge of the Father and the Son,” he said. Elder Brough further explained that all men must come to know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ. That is the purpose of temples, he affirmed. “It is a process whereby we come to know Jesus Christ because we act as saviors, in a modest sense, to bring to those who have not had a chance across this earth and those who lived prior to our time the opportunity to hear the gospel, to accept the gospel and to be members of Heavenly Father’s Church.”[3] Strawn, Karen, and Gayle Smith, “2,000 attend ceremony for Louisiana’s first temple,” Church News 17 Feb. 2001: 3.
Elder Brough also spoke of the revelation on September 21, 1823, when the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and quoted Malachi: “The hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.” Elder Brough indicated that the dramatically increased interest in family history research, rapidly changing technology and dozens of temples currently being constructed across the earth are fulfilment of Malachi’s prophecy. “Last year, ” he said, “the Family History Department filmed in many different countries, gathering millions of names. At current rates, we have collected enough names to keep the temples busy for a long time,” he said. “We really have no excuse.” [4] Strawn, Karen, and Gayle Smith, “2,000 attend ceremony for Louisiana’s first temple,” Church News 17 Feb. 2001: 3.
GROUNDBREAKING ORDER
96
| Date | 1999 05 08 |
| By | Monte J. Brough |
| Role | Seventy |
| Attendees | 2,000 |
⮜Preceded by Montevideo Uruguay
Followed by Suva Fiji⮞
Groundbreaking 1999 05 08
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Fiji Temple.
Open House/Dedication Announced
The dedication and open house dates for four new temples — Baton Rouge Louisiana, Birmingham Alabama, Merida Yucatan Mexico and Veracruz Mexico temples — have been announced by the First Presidency.
The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, announced Oct. 14, 1998, will open its doors to the public July 1-8, except Sunday, July 2. It will be dedicated in four sessions on Sunday, July 16, and begin ordinance work the following day, July 17.[5]“Dedication dates announced for temples in Mexico, U.S.”,Church News, May 20, 2000, https://www.thechurchnews.com/2000/5/20/23246470/dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-u-s/.
Open House
The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was open to the public for tours from July 1 through 8th, 2000.[6]“Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Facts and Figures.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2000/7/22/23246098/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-facts-and-figures.
OPEN HOUSE
| Start Date | 2000 07 01 |
| End Date | 2000 07 08 |
| Days | 7 |
| Attendees | 18,556 |
| Per day av. | 2,650 |
Dedication
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on July 16, 2000.[7]“Baton Rouge Louisiana: ‘Prosper the cause of righteousness'”, Church News, July 22, 2000
Four dedicatory services were held to accommodate the members who wanted to attend. A total of 4,655 Church members attended the dedication sessions.
Cornerstone
Just before the first dedication service a cornerstone ceremony was held.
DEDICATION ORDER
94
| Date | 2000 07 16 |
| By | Gordon B. Hinckley |
| Role | President |
| Sessions | 4 |
| Attendees | # |
⮜Proceeded by Veracruz Mexico
Followed by Oklahoma City Oklahoma⮞
Construction Duration
| Span | Duration |
|---|---|
| Announced to Groundbreaking | 0 y, 6 m, 25 d |
| Groundbreaking to Dedication | 1 y, 2 m, 8 d |
| Announced to Dedication | 1 y, 9 m, 2 d |
Dedicatory Order
GLOBAL
94
REGION
N. AM
63
COUNTRY
US
45
STATE
LOISIANA
1
COUNTY
E. B. R. PARISH
1
CITY
BATON ROUGE
1
The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was the first temple built in Louisiana, The 47th in the United States, and the 94th in the World.
Announced
Under Construction
Under Renovation
After many called the Baton Rouge temple a “house of refuge” at the 2000 dedication, the sacred edifice stood as a beacon of refuge and safety for decades to come.
The temple went on to provide refuge and safety not only to Church members, but also community members in Louisiana during several natural disasters over the coming years. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005[8]Hart, John L. “Epic Clean-up Efforts.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2005/10/15/23235843/epic-clean-up-efforts. and disastrous flooding in both 2016 and 2019, the temple site acted as a gathering place for relief.[9]Lloyd, R. Scott. “Mormon Helping Hands Show up by the Thousands to Help With Louisiana Floods.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2016/9/1/23214546/mormon-helping-hands-show-up-by-the-thousands-to-help-with-louisiana-floods.
Renovation
Announcement
On June 27, 2017 the Church announced that beginning February 2018, the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple would close for renovations that are anticipated to be completed in 2019. [10] “Three Mormon Temples in the US to Close for Renovation: Upgrades planned for sacred buildings in Mesa, Baton Rouge and Raleigh“. Newsroom. LDS Church. June 27, 2017, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/three-mormon-temples-closing-mesa-baton-rouge-raleigh.
ANNOUNCED
| Date | 2017 06 27 |
| By | First Presidency |
| Role | # |
| Via | Local Letter |
Renovations Announced
2017 06 27
Commencement
The temple officially closed for the renovation on 28 January 2018.[11]Satterfield, Rick, “Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple,” ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org.
Open House/Rededication Announced
3 May 2019 saw the announcement that the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple will be open for free public tours from 26 October through 2 November 2019, except for Sunday, 27 October 2019. [12]“Open House and Rededication Dates Announced for Two US Temples: Rededications in late summer and fall”, Newsroom, LDS Church, May 3, 2019
Open House
The public was invited to tour the newly renovated temple from Oct. 26 through Nov. 2, 2019. Around 12,000 visitors toured the temple during its open house.[13]Eyre, Aubrey. “Elder Cook Reflects on Hurricane Katrina During Rededication and How the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Is a Refuge From the Storm.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2019/11/18/23215684/why-rededicating-the-baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-was-a-special-experience-for-elder-cook.
OPEN HOUSE
| Start Date | 2019 10 26 |
| End Date | 2019 11 02 |
| Days | 7 |
| Attendees | 12,000 |
| Per day av. | 1,714 |
Rededication
Dedication
text
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles commended the resiliency of the people in Louisiana when he rededicated the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple on Nov. 17, 2019.
“It’s been an incredible blessing to be here and see the great diversity of people here,” he said.
“You see people from different cultures and races, and they are all united by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is a marvelous thing. … It is the commitment to the Savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ that just unites us.”
DEDICATION ORDER
#
| Date | yyyy mm dd |
| By | # |
| Role | # |
| Sessions | # |
| Attendees | # |
⮜Proceeded by
Followed by ⮞
Construction Duration
| Span | Duration |
|---|---|
| Announced to Groundbreaking | – y, – m, – d |
| Groundbreaking to Dedication | – y, – m, – d |
| Announced to Dedication | – y, – m, – d |
The temple re-opened on 23 November 2019 for temple work.
Presidents
| Temple President | Temple Matron | Years Served |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Blair Pack | Cindy Alice Abel Pack | 2024– |
| Terrence Michael Donahue | Patricia Ann Bubert Donahue | 2021–2024 |
| Robert Paul Garrett | Terrie Lee Merrill Garrett | 2017–2021 |
| Blair Philip Pack | Betty Jane Forsyth Pack | 2014–2017 |
| Severia Baunchand | Betty Jean Wright Baunchand | 2011–2014 |
| John Ray Pollard | Rosa Louise Boston Pollard | 2008–2008 |
| Max Paul Brough | Rosanna Kennedy Brough | 2008–2011 |
| Vernon Kenneth Dutile | Betty Jean Grappe Dutile | 2005–2008 |
| Doye Gregory Brumfield | Alicia Marie Whitney Brumfield | 2000–2005 |
Details
Location
The site is 6.3 acres (25,000 m2), which includes a meetinghouse.
Site
The temple grounds are filled with bushes and gardens, and the building is surrounded by trees. The site is located between a stake center and a wetlands nature reserve.
LOCATION
Address
10339 Highland Rd
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810
United States
| Latitude | # |
| Longitude | # |
Phone
Elevation
| Feet | Meters |
|---|---|
| 18 | 5 |
Site
| Acres | Hectares |
|---|---|
| 6.3 | 2.5 |
Exterior
Cladding
The exterior is made from Imperial Danby White marble quarried in Vermont.
Windows
The Baton Rouge Temple has the triplicate set of windows typical of the small temples. They are low set, even with the floor of the interior. This is uncommon in the small temples and is usually only found in the small temples of the south and midwest U.S..
Transom panel
text
Spandrel panel
text
Exterior Finish
text
Architectural Features
Single attached spire
Specifications
| Feet | Meters | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | # | # |
| To Shoulder | # | # |
| Width | # | # |
| Length | # | # |
| Footprint | # | # |
Symbolism
On the original Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, there are three inscriptions. All three inscriptions were arranged in two lines, with “Holiness” listed first. The first was above the entryway doors, etched into the glass transom.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
The second was farther above the entry doors, above the entry porch, just below the spire. The third was on the East Side of the temple, below the spire, directly opposite the entry doors.
The second and third are engraved and painted black
HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
INSCRIPTION DETAILS
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
The second was farther above the entry doors, above the entry porch, just below the spire. It is engraved and painted black.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
INSCRIPTION DETAILS
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
The third was on the East Side of the temple, below the spire, directly opposite the entry doors. It is engraved and painted black.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
INSCRIPTION DETAILS
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
Cornerstone
The cornerstone is near the south east corner, on the east side of the temple, facing east. (Last pillar on the east (north east) side)
ERECTED
2000
CORNERSTONE DETAILS
| Location | |
| Faces | |
| Material | |
| Set | |
| Edge | |
| Type | |
| Finish | |
| Language |
Cladding
The Temple is clad in Beige limestone.
Water Course
text
Windows
text
Transom panel
text
Spandrel panel
text
Exterior Finish
Beige limestone
Architectural Features
Single attached spire
Specifications
| Feet | Meters | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | # | # |
| To Shoulder | # | # |
| Width | # | # |
| Length | # | # |
| Footprint | # | # |
Symbolism
On the new temple exterior there is a single inscription, above the entry doors. It is carved into the stone and gilded. This inscription, in English, is arranged on a single line. The two halves of the inscription are separated by an open diamond shape.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD ◇THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
INSCRIPTION DETAILS
| Order | |
| Location | |
| Language | |
| Type | |
| Color | |
| Setting | |
| Font | |
| Glyph | |
| Church Name | |
| Temple Name | |
| Dates |
Cornerstone
The new cornerstone will be on the east side of the temple, to the left of the windows that are directly beneath the spire.
text
CORNERSTONE DETAILS
| Location | |
| Faces | |
| Material | |
| Set | |
| Edge | |
| Type | |
| Finish | |
| Language |
Spires and Moroni
Spire
The original spire is a typical small temple spire, inline with the main entrance, and consisting of 4 levels. The new spire, while consisting of four steps as well, is much thicker in diameter, and has stained art glass windows in the upper two segments.
Moroni
The Angel Moroni Statue on the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple is a fiberglass replica of Karl Quilter’s 1982 statue. It was placed on 28 December 1999 and Faces East North East.
A new refurbished Angel Moroni Statue, again a fiberglass replica of Quilter’s 1982 statue, was placed atop the new temple spire 13 February of 2019, just over 19 years later. This new statue faces exactly 180 degrees the opposite direction of the original statue, facing West South West. Patrons visiting the temple will now have the Angel facing them, instead of presenting its back, as they approach temple doors.
Interior
The temple is 10,700 square feet (990 m2), with a baptistry, two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a Celestial room.[14]“Facts and figures: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple”, Church News, July 22, 2000
Individuals and Contractors
Originally, the temple was designed by Church Architectural and Engineering Services, assisted by Paul Tessier & Associates. Leon Rowly was the Church’s Project Manager for the temple, which was built by Layton Construction Co..
The new temple look was designed by VCBO Architecture and the Church Special Projects Department. Wadman Corporation was the General Contractor for the reconstruction.
Region
TEMPLES IN UNITED STATES by state
Total: 158
TEMPLES IN NORTH AMERICA by country
Total: 209
Sources and Links
Additional Articles
- Weaver, Sarah Jane (July 22, 2000), “Baton Rouge temple: ‘a house of refuge'”, Church News
- Hart, John L. (September 17, 2005), “After Katrina’s fury, relief on a grand scale”, Church News
- Heaps, Julie Dockstader (September 17, 2005), “The extra mile”, Church News
- “Temple moments: Keeping it going”, Church News, February 25, 2006
Sources/Citation
References
| ↑1 | “5 new temples in U.S., Mexico announced”, Church News, October 24, 1998 |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Strawn, Karen; Smith, Gayle (May 15, 1999), “2,000 attend ceremony for Louisiana’s first temple”, Church News |
| ↑3, ↑4 | Strawn, Karen, and Gayle Smith, “2,000 attend ceremony for Louisiana’s first temple,” Church News 17 Feb. 2001: 3. |
| ↑5 | “Dedication dates announced for temples in Mexico, U.S.”,Church News, May 20, 2000, https://www.thechurchnews.com/2000/5/20/23246470/dedication-dates-announced-for-temples-in-mexico-u-s/. |
| ↑6 | “Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple: Facts and Figures.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2000/7/22/23246098/baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-facts-and-figures. |
| ↑7 | “Baton Rouge Louisiana: ‘Prosper the cause of righteousness'”, Church News, July 22, 2000 |
| ↑8 | Hart, John L. “Epic Clean-up Efforts.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2005/10/15/23235843/epic-clean-up-efforts. |
| ↑9 | Lloyd, R. Scott. “Mormon Helping Hands Show up by the Thousands to Help With Louisiana Floods.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2016/9/1/23214546/mormon-helping-hands-show-up-by-the-thousands-to-help-with-louisiana-floods. |
| ↑10 | “Three Mormon Temples in the US to Close for Renovation: Upgrades planned for sacred buildings in Mesa, Baton Rouge and Raleigh“. Newsroom. LDS Church. June 27, 2017, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/three-mormon-temples-closing-mesa-baton-rouge-raleigh. |
| ↑11 | Satterfield, Rick, “Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple,” ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org. |
| ↑12 | “Open House and Rededication Dates Announced for Two US Temples: Rededications in late summer and fall”, Newsroom, LDS Church, May 3, 2019 |
| ↑13 | Eyre, Aubrey. “Elder Cook Reflects on Hurricane Katrina During Rededication and How the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Is a Refuge From the Storm.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2019/11/18/23215684/why-rededicating-the-baton-rouge-louisiana-temple-was-a-special-experience-for-elder-cook. |
| ↑14 | “Facts and figures: Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple”, Church News, July 22, 2000 |
Last updated on: 17 February 2026