Bentonville Arkansas Temple Wiki

Details

History

Announcement

On October 5, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Bentonville Arkansas Temple at the 189th Semiannual General Conference.^[1]”President Nelson Announces Eight New Temples During General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 5 Oct. 2019.

Temple Site

On April 23, 2020, the location of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple was announced as an 8.8-acre site behind the stake center for the Bentonville Arkansas Stake, at 1101 McCollum Road. The building stands on I-49 near its junction with Highway 72, providing excellent access to members living throughout the region.^[2]”Bentonville Arkansas Temple Location Announced,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 23 Apr. 2020.

Temple Rendering

On August 28, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple was released. They announced at that time that announced that a groundbreaking ceremony would be held on in November 2020.

Groundbreaking

Presiding from a remote location, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the site for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple at a small groundbreaking ceremony held on November 7, 2020. Elder Bednar is a former University of Arkansas professor. He helped organize two stakes (a group of congregations) in Arkansas, including the Bentonville Arkansas Stake. He and his wife, Susan, spent 14 years in Fayetteville, a city around 30 miles south of Bentonville. “This is a moment that for most of my life, I never could have imagined would occur even in this moment,” said Elder Bednar. “It’s also a moment that I wish would never end.” Elder Bednar, who was once a professor at the University of Arkansas, has assisted in the organization of two Arkansas stakes including the Bentonville Arkansas Stake. The 25,000-square-foot temple will be constructed on a field next to the stake center.^[3]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Church Breaks Ground for Bentonville Arkansas Temple,” 7 Nov. 2020.

Sister Bednar said, “I’m grateful that we have a temple coming in northwest Arkansas. It thrills my heart. I can’t even tell you how grateful I am. I wish that we could all jump for joy and that we could be together to give each other hugs and celebration of this wonderful, wonderful moment.”

A small group of Church leaders gathered locally to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple. Other church leaders at the ceremony included Elder James B. Martino, president of the North America Southeast Area and Elder David Harris, an Area Seventy. Elder Martino said, “Groundbreaking is an interesting word. According to sources, ‘groundbreaking was considered a representation of breaking the earth, to make a sacred deposit that would endorse a firm foundation. How appropriate of a description. Truly, this is the symbolic act to begin a foundation for a most sacred building.”

Ground was broken the same day for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple.^[4]Groundbreaking Held for Red Cliffs Utah Temple, Newsroom, churchofesuschrist.org, 7 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

Dedication

Dedication Order

The Bentonville Arkansas Temple will be the first temple built in Arkansas.

Description

The Bentonville Arkansas Temple will be a single-story temple of approximately 25,000 square feet with a center spire. It will stand next to an existing meetinghouse.

Location

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Additional Articles

Sources/Citation