Details

The Albuquerque New Mexico Temple is the 73rd operating temple. The Albuquerque New Mexico Temple serves about 55,000 members in New Mexico and bordering parts of Arizona and Colorado. It sits on 8.5 acres (34,000 m²) in northeast Albuquerque.

History

In 1831, one year after the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church leader Oliver Cowdery preached to Native Americans in Missouri. Part of the Mormon Battalion, a group of Latter-day Saints preparing to fight in the Mexican-American War, crossed New Mexico in 1846.

Missionary work among Native Americans began as early as the 1860s. Two elders found success while laboring among the Zuni Indians on the Little Colorado River in New Mexico. They baptized more than 100 converts. Many Church settlements in New Mexico absorbed refugees from the Latter-day Saint colonies in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1912.

Announced

Groundbreaking

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

In his remarks, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, who was then of the Seventy but later became a member of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained, “The temple is a place where people can step outside the worldliness and refresh, regroup and reorient themselves as to what really matters. It is a place to gain strength and gain fresh perspectives.”^[6]Holly Traver, “http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/31043/Ground-broken-for-temple-in-New-Mexico.html">Ground Broken for Temple in New Mexico,” Church News, June 27, 1998,

Open House

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

Dedication

Dedication Order

Albuquerque New Mexico Temple was the first temple in Albuquerque, the first temple in New Mexico, the 39th temple in the United States, and the 49th temple in North America. It was the 73rd operational temple dedicated.

At the time of the temple’s dedication, there were 35 temples under construction, and 6 temples awaiting a groundbreaking announcement.

Commencement

The temple opened for work on 6 March 2000.

Further changes

The original entrance doors of the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple were hinged doors that were opened by hand. However, because of the near-constant mountain winds that made closing the doors difficult, they were replaced with glass sliding doors.

In October 2019, following the announcement of the Temple cafeteria closures, the former kitchen and cafeteria area on the ground level was renovated into additional office space.

Presidents

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served
Robert Clare Rhien	Rebecca Anne Taylor Rhien	2021–
Perry Max Webb	Cindi Turner Webb	2018–2021
William James Kearns	Donna Tayler Kearns	2015–2018
Harry Vern Payne	Yerda Ruth Mason Payne	2012–2015[11]“New Temple Presidents.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 12 May 2012. Accessed 9 April 2015
Wilford Douglas Shumway	Dixie Ann Jarvis Shumway	2009–2012[12]“New Temple Presidents.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 13 June 2009. Accessed 6 January 2015
Ivan Gary Waddoups	Annette Young Waddoups	2006–2009[13]“New Temple Presidents.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 29 July 2006. Accessed 9 April 2015
Allen E. Litster	Janice Louise Morley Litster	2003–2006[14]“New Temple Presidents.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 30 August 2003. Accessed 6 January 2015
Emerson Wayne Pratt	Myrna Jean Frazer Pratt	2000–2003[15]“New Temple Presidents.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 26 February 2000. Accessed 6 January 2015

Details

Location

Exterior

Windows

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.

Symbolism

Stars

The Albuquerque temple has stars extruding from the precast concrete on the lowest section of the spire. There are 5 on each side, for 20 stars total.

Sun

The Temple has 2 representations of the sun. The first is on the west side, molded into the precast concrete. The second is directly opposite, in the single large stained glass panel on the east side.

Moon

The North and south 4 arches contain a large circle within the top of the arch. The 4 arches on the east contain 4 representations of the moon at various stages: near full, waxing, waning and near new. Of the six arches on the front, the most north and most south are empty circles (possibly representing a full moon and a new moon.) The other 4 mirror the 4 on the east side, making 8 representations of the moon.

Arches

The Albuquerque temple has 19 arches spaced around its exterior (4 north, 4 east, 4 south, 7 west.) One of these contains the previously mentioned sun.

Keystones

The Albuquerque Temple has a single keystone. It is located in the arch above the entrance, above the sunstone on the west side.

Inscription

Cornerstone

Spires and Finial

Spire

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

Finial

Interior

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.

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

Celestial Room

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

Sealing Rooms

Individuals and Contractors

Project Manager

Architect

General Contractor

Okland Construction, a veteran of temple construction, was the general contractor for the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple.

Sources and Links

Additional Articles

Oakland Construction – Albuquerque New Mexico Temple
Hinckley, Gordon B. “Open the Hands of Thy Bounty.” LDSChurchNewsArchive.com, 5 March 2000. Accessed 7 August 2015.
Traver, Holly (June 27, 1998), “Ground broken for temple in New Mexico”, Church News
“Angel Moroni statues placed atop 2 temples”, Church News, June 26, 1999
“Open house, dedication set for Albuquerque temple”, Church News, Feb 5, 2000
“‘A place that ties families together'”, Church News, March 11, 2000
Weaver, Sarah Jane (March 11, 2000), “Temple melding members of three cultures”, Church News
“News of the Church,” Ensign, Sept. 1998, 78.

Sources/Citation