Albuquerque New Mexico Temple Wiki

The First Presidency announced a house of the Lord for Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 4 April 1997. The day after, President Hinckley repeated the news in the Saturday morning session of the 167th Annual Conference .^[1]Hinckley, Gordon B.“ May We Be Faithful and True.” LDS.org, 5 April 1997. Accessed 22 January 2015^[2]“Open House, Dedication Set for Albuquerque Temple.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 5 February 2000. Accessed 6 January 2015 The temple was announced in conjunction with one for Campinas Brazil.

Latter-day Saints in New Mexico performed service at the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple grounds even before it was dedicated. Church members across the state gave countless hours of service at the site of this house of the Lord.

Ground for the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple was broken in a special ceremony on June 20, 1998. About 6,500 members attended the event, which had a 600-voice youth choir providing the music. Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy conducted the groundbreaking.^[3]Traver, Holly “Ground Broken For Temple in New Mexico.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 27 June 1998. accessed 9 April 2015^[4]“Open House, Dedication Set for Albuquerque Temple.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 5 February 2000. Accessed 6 January 2015

Local Church members, civic leaders, neighbors of the temple, religious leaders in the community and the media were invited to attend. More than 6,500 members of the Church were in attendance, including a 600-voice youth choir. Elder Mickelsen commented, “It is during these special moments that we can feel and see the hand of the Lord moving in the work. You might not remember everything that was said this warm and glorious morning, but you will remember the feeling. What you feel today will help you in your search for happiness throughout your lives.” ^[5] “News of the Church,” Ensign, Sept. 1998, 78

The official render for the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple was likely released during the groundbreaking.

From 17-26 of February 2000 an open house was held for the Albuquerque Temple. During the 10-day open house 73,402 people toured the Temple, an average of 7,340 people per day.^[7]“Open House, Dedication Set for Albuquerque Temple.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 5 February 2000. Accessed 6 January 2015 During the open house some visitors, who were members of other churches, commented on the spiritual nature of the building. Others noticed its fine craftsmanship. A visitor described the new building with the word ‘powerful.'^[8] Weaver, Sarah Jane (March 11, 2000), “Temple melding members of three cultures”, Church News

Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on 5 March 2000. During the dedicatory prayer, Hinckley expressed his hope that the new temple would turn the hearts of the members to their families. “Let it be a sanctuary of peace, a refuge from the noise of the world. May it be a house of quiet contemplation.” Approximately 13,500 people attended the 4 dedicatory sessions, an average of 3,250 people per session.^[9]Hollinbaugh, Joe “Albuquerque Temple third dedicated in eight days.” Universe.BYU.edu, 7 March 2000. Accessed 9 April 2015^[10]
Albuquerque New Mexico Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, March 11, 2000,

Once dedicated, the Albuquerque temple served 51,300 Latter-day Saints in 15 stakes and one district in the majority of New Mexico and part of Colorado.

The Temple is located prominently on the northeast edge of Albuquerque, just west of the Sandia mountain range.

Like a blossom in the desert, the beautiful Albuquerque New Mexico Temple adorns the arid landscape of northeastern Albuquerque in the residential neighborhood of North Albuquerque Acres. The temple grounds are an oasis of green grass and vibrantly colored flora including many native plant species. At the main entrance, a magnificent spraying water feature delights patrons as they enter and leave the sacred structure.

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Cladding

The exterior is finished with desert rose colored pre-cast concrete, which appears to be different colors, including pink or tan, based on the time of day. ^[16]“Albuquerque New Mexico Temple.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com. Accessed 9 April 2015

Water Course

The foundation of the temple is trimmed with Texas pearl granite.

Windows

The Temple has Small Windows in sets of twelve, inset into a concrete grid, in the arches that also contain the moonstones on each side of the temple.

It also features one large stained-glass window on the East Side.

There is one engraving on the Albuquerque Temple. The engraving is on the center east section of the temple underneath the spire. The inscriptions is engraved and gilded, and is English.

Near the south east corner, on the east side of the temple, facing east. The Inscription is engraved and gilded, and is in English.

The Albuquerque New Mexico Temple has a single spire about 120 ft (36.58 m) tall. It is formed by three irregular stacked blocks , a large width short block at the bottom, a medium width tall block in the center, and a narrow block closer to the height of the base block at the bottom. The Spire is on the east end, center line of the temple

The statue is a fiberglass and gold leafed casting of Karl Quilter’s 1982, 7 foot statue with a closed left fist and tight fitting sleeves. The statue was placed on 18 June 1999 and faces South east. ^[17]“Angel Moroni statues placed atop 2 temples”, Church News, June 26, 1999

Motif

The Motif of the Albuquerque Temple is a Southwestern theme, melding aspects of three local cultures, American Indian, Hispanic and Anglo.^[18] Weaver, Sarah Jane (March 11, 2000), “Temple melding members of three cultures”, Church News Two Navajo tapestries, handmade by an elderly Navajo woman, hang in the entryway, one of which includes 35 colors made from natural vegetable dyes. Native American pottery and handwoven baskets are featured inside the temple. Oil paintings of Southwest landscapes, pictures of the Savior, stained glass windows and the celestial room’s hand-painted ceiling all contribute to the quiet elegance and peace of the temple.

Rooms

The temple has a total of 34,245 square feet (3,181.5 m²), two ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms.

Services Rooms

This temple has a full clothing issue. Up until 2022, this temple had a full Cafeteria.

Entry/Waiting Area

The Entry and Waiting Area of the temple is on the east end of the temple, near the front doors.

The Albuquerque New Mexico Temple has a single baptistry.

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The Temple has 2 instruction rooms.

The Celestial Room, a place for prayer and meditation representing Heaven, is at the east end of the temple on the center lines.

The Albuquerque Temple has two sealing rooms.

The project managers for the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple were James Aulestia and Lloyd Hess.

The architects for the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple were Fanning, Bard and Tatum. This was the first temple designed by the firm.