Description

The Brisbane Australia Temple serves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Queensland and northern New South Wales. Prior to the dedication of the Brisbane Australia Temple, members would travel 550 miles south to the Sydney Australia Temple

History

The Church has an interesting history in Australia. The first missionary sent to Australia was seventeen-year-old William James Barratt from England. He arrived in Australia in 1840 and stayed until his death in 1890, the whole time teaching the gospel. In 1841, Andrew Anderson from Scotland became the second missionary in Australia. On October 31, 1851, the first missionaries from the United States arrived in Australia. The Church did not take a firm hold in Brisbane until after 1890, but it grew quickly and soon became the site of the first Mormon meetinghouse in Australia, constructed in 1904.

Church membership in Australia is strong and has grown rapidly. In 1955 there were only 3,000 members in Australia. Then, in the mid-1950s, roughly 100 years after the first missionaries set foot on Australian ground, Australia saw an unprecedented boost in membership that has continued for more than 50 years. This surge can be attributed to a decline in Church members immigrating to the United States, a growing social acceptance of the Church and the building of numerous chapels, which increased the number of local leaders and members attending Church meetings.

Now there are 186 meetinghouses throughout Australia and more than 106,000 members. The Brisbane Australia Temple is a direct result of this increased membership.

Announcement

On July 20, 1998, the First Presidency sent a letter to local leaders of the church in the Brisbane area. In the letter they announced that one of President Hinckley’s new smaller temples would be built in Brisbane, Australia.^[1] Purdie, Daniel. “Brisbane Australia Temple – News Archive.” Brisbane Australia Temple – News Archive, Aug. 1998. Despite the 1998 announcement, construction of the temple and new meeting house was continuously delayed.

Plans were initially submitted to the city around 23 July of 1999, and reception was apparently favorable. ^[2] Purdie, Daniel. “Brisbane Australia Temple – News Archive.” Brisbane Australia Temple – News Archive, 4 Aug. 1999.

While the project was approved by the Brisbane City Council in 2000, the church had issues with some of the restrictions and operating conditions placed upon the temple.These restrictions included the restraint that only one of the two buildings, The Temple or the Chapel, but never both, could be used at a time. Furthermore, the City was requiring an acoustical barrier around the site. (Temple grounds are traditionally very quiet by design, so this particular request seems particularly confusing.)^[3] Marx, Anthony. “Temple to Transform City Skyline.” The Courier-Mail, .

These restrictions were further aggravated by complaints from neighbors who complained the new complex would be to busy or block views.^[4] Marx, Anthony. “Temple to Transform City Skyline.” The Courier-Mail, .

The issue was scheduled to go to court on 26 February 2001 with the Planning and Environment Court^[5] Marx, Anthony. “Temple to Transform City Skyline.” The Courier-Mail, . All issues were satisfactorily settled just three days prior to the court date with newly negotiated design conditions.^[6] Purdie, Daniel. “Court Case Settled!” Latest News – BrisbaneTemple.Net, 23 Feb. 2001. Among the new conditions were requests to reduce the roof pitch of the meetinghouse and to lower the temple platform (the roof above the parking area on which the temple and chapel sit.)

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication for the temple were held on May 26, 2001. Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy, a Church leader from Great Britain, presided at the ceremony. 400+ Guests were on hand for the event.^[7] Baker, Alan. “Work Begins on Brisbane Temple, the Fifth to Be Built in Australia.” Church News, Deseret News, 1 June 2001.

Construction began in November of 2001.

The historic Brisbane Australia Stake Center was razed to make way for the Brisbane Australia Temple and a new stake center.

It took eighteen months and eleven million dollars to complete its construction. Despite the high price, the temple was built without any debt and was completely funded by members.

Open House

A public open house was held 10 May 2003 through 7 June 2003.

Dedication

The Brisbane Australia Temple was dedicated on June 15, 2003. President of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, gave the dedicatory prayer. In his prayer he not only asked for blessings to be on the temple and those who use it, but also on the nation of Australia, that the people would always be free and that they would safeguard their right to worship as they see fit.

With 6,500 members attending the services either at the temple or through a broadcast to local meetinghouses, he gave a dedicatory prayer, saying, “Incline the hearts of Thy people to come here frequently to engage in Thy service. May they love this Thy house and find sweet communion here.”^[8]Brisbane Australia Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 21, 2003,

Elder L. Tom Perry, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, also attended the dedication. He felt the enthusiasm of the Brisbane members and said, “We’ve found here a very devoted people, a wonderful people. From the time we arrived last night … large groups gathered. They’re so anxious to see the prophet [President Gordon B. Hinckley] and [are] so grateful for the opportunity of having a temple.”^[9]“President Hinckley Dedicates Temple, Visits Members ‘Down Under,’” 75.

Dedication Order

The Brisbane Australia Temple is the 115th operating temple

The Brisbane Australia Temple was the fifth temple built in Australia, following the Sydney Australia Temple (1984), Adelaide Australia Temple (2000), Melbourne Australia Temple (2000), and Perth Australia Temple (2001).

Though it was the fifth temple built in Australia, the Brisbane Australia Temple was the second temple announced for Australia. Negotiations over the height of the temple and adjacent meetinghouse, nighttime flood lighting, and traffic concerns created significant delays.

Recognition

The Brisbane Australia Temple’s state-of-the-art architecture and interior design were recognized by the Brisbane community. In 2003, the same year the temple was completed, it won the Brisbane Project of the Year award from the Queensland Master Builders Association. The judges noted “the intricate finishes, including the granite cladding, coffered and domed ceilings, timber paneling and mouldings, marble floor tiling, gold leaf and decorative artwork,” the association stated.^[10]“President Hinckley Dedicates Temple, Visits Members ‘Down Under,’” Ensign, Sept. 2003, 75. The temple was also honored in the Community Service Facilities category.

Presidents

Temple President	Years Served
Douglas W. Hill	2018–
Robert M. Cowan	2015–2018
Grant A. Pitman	2013–2015
Dirk Smibert	2012–2013
John R. Gibson	2009–2012
Terence L. Davies	2006–2009
John D. Jeffrey	2003–2006

Details

Location

The Brisbane Australia Temple is located on the striking Kangaroo Point cliffs, overlooking the Brisbane River and central business district. The beautiful granite building sits adjacent to an equally lovely meetinghouse built at the same time. Parking is available in an underground lot beneath the temple. The landscaped grounds of the temple are open to the anyone who wishes to admire the beautiful buildings or the expansive views from the cliffs.

Exterior

Spire and Moroni

Spire

Moroni

The temple’s single spire rises 71 feet in the air, and a striking gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, sits atop the spire and represents the invitation for all to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sources and Citation

External Links

• ChurchOfJesusChrist.org
• ChurchOfJesusChristTemples.org
• Wikipedia
• MormonWiki

Additional Articles

Sources/Citations