Description

The temple serves members in Montana and Wyoming, and the temple district contains 17 federally recognized Indian reservations

History

Today Church membership in Montana approaches 50,000 members. Before the temple was announced, Church members in the area traveled hundreds of miles to the Cardston Alberta or Idaho Falls Idaho Temples to participate in temple worship.

Announcement

On 30 August 1996, the Church’s First Presidency announced plans to build the temple on a 33-acre parcel of land in Billings, which would bring the blessings of the temple closer to Church members in the area.

After a 14 month review process, the Billings City Council approved final plans for the Temple on 27 October 1997.^[1]”Go-ahead given for Montana temple,” Church News, 1 November 1997

Groundbreaking

On March 28, 1998, approximately 4,800 people attended a bitterly cold groundbreaking ceremony, where a spring snowstorm took them by surprise.^[2]
Hein, David G., “Temple ground made `white and pure’” Church News, 4 April 1998 A choir consisting of 700 area youth was assembled to sing for the occasion.

Church leader Hugh W. Pinnock presided and conducted, and Church leaders Kenneth Johnson and Lynn G. Robbins also spoke at the event. Elder Pinnock expressed gratitude to the leaders of the community, including Billings Mayor Charles F. Tooley (who received a shovel used in the groundbreaking ceremony) and many others, including city council members, administrators and staff of the city. A Protestant minister who was in attendance draped his coat over Elder Pinnock’s shoulders after Elder Pinnock gave his to an attendee who did not have one. By the end of the ceremony, the ground was blanketed in snow.

Open House

After the temple was completed, an open house was held from October 8 to 23, 1999. An estimated 68,450 visitors toured the inside of the temple and the surrounding temple grounds. When Mayor Tooley returned home from his temple tour, he called and asked if he could come again with his family. Elder Pinnock gave Montana Governor Marc Racicot a personal tour.^[3]Kruckenberg, Janet, “Big Sky Country splendor graces open house tours,” Church News, 14 October 1998

Dedication

The Billings Montana Temple was dedicated in eight sessions from November 20 to 21, 1999, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.^[4]Hill, Greg, “Blessing for saints of Montana, Wyoming,” Church News, 19 November 1999 In the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley spoke of the Spirit that accompanies the construction of a house of God: “Bless those who have worked so long and diligently in the face of opposition to obtain the necessary permits and to erect this sacred temple. May a glad acceptance now prevail concerning it [the temple], even a sense of gratitude for its presence. We pray that this area, in fact this whole city, may feel the Spirit that emanates from this hallowed structure. May it be looked upon as a house of holiness by all who view it.”^[5] “Billings Montana Temple dedicatory prayer,” Church News, 27 November 1999 ^[6]”News of the Church,” Ensign, February 2000, p. 74

Dedication Order

The Billings Montana Temple is the 66th operating temple in the world and the first temple built in Montana.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Randall A. Gormley	2018
Kenneth D. Getz	2015–2018
Edward E. Jorden	2012–2015
G. William Nielson	2011–2012
Ronald M. Morrison	2008–2011
Robert M. Wilkes	2005–2008
David W. Pennington	2002–2005
Stanley Stott	1999–2002

Details

Location

The Billings Montana Temple rests at the base of Montana’s Rimrocks, a 300-foot sandstone cliff formation that runs along the northwest end of Billings in the Upper Yellowstone Valley.

A rock retaining wall and other landscape elements were constructed to blend into the surrounding sandstone. The temple grounds are landscaped with lawns, flower gardens and more than 250 trees and 4,500 shrubs, adding to the tranquility of the neatly manicured temple grounds.

Exterior

White Wyoming dolomite precast concrete lines the exterior walls. many spaces along the walls have been formed with decorative line patterns molded into the facade.

Windows

On the west side of the temple, a beautiful bay window made of stained glass allows natural light into the celestial room.

Spire and Moroni

Spire

The single spire of the temple rises from a tiered tower placed at the buildings center. The tower is faced with louvered vents that appear to be shuttered windows.

Moroni

On top of the temple’s 117-foot central spire is a statue of the angel Moroni, a Book of Mormon prophet, heralding Christ’s Second Coming. The main foyer has a skylight through which patrons can glimpse this distinctive statue. The statue was added on 12 November of 1998 and is a fiberglass replica of Karl Quilter’s 1982 statue.^[7]”Statue placed atop temple in Billings,” Church News, 21 November 1998 It is 7 feet tall and covered in Gold leaf.

Interior

Within the 33,800-square-foot temple are instruction rooms, a baptistry, and a chapel, a laundry, brides’ room, and clothing rental desk. The temple is a model of space efficiency featuring all of the amenities of larger temples in less total square footage than other larger temples.

Instruction Rooms

The temple contains 2 instruction rooms, suet up to present the Endowment Ceremony in a 2 stage progressive fashion.

Sealing Rooms

The Billings Montana Temple contains 3 sealing rooms.

Sources and Links

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation