Details

The Chicago Illinois Temple serves 17 stakes, or groups of congregations, in northern Illinois, Wisconsin, northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. The members of these stakes are culturally diverse, including Spanish, Polish and Korean members.

History

Announcement

Plans to construct the Chicago Illinois Temple were announced on April 1, 1981, and Church members received this news joyfully. It was not easy getting approval for a temple in Illinois. There was considerable opposition from “groups concerned over the visual effect the Temple would have on the area.” ^[1]”The First 100 Temples,” Hawkins, 2001, 97 It took nearly two years of searching for the appropriate site and another two years to seek government approval. When the ground was finally broken in 1983, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then an apostle, promised the community that, “what we do here will be beautiful and will enhance rather than diminish the charm of this lovely area.” ^[2]”Rites Begin Construction of New Temple Near Chicago,” Winfield, Aug 1983, 3

Groundbreaking

President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then serving in the First Presidency of the Church, conducted services for the groundbreaking ceremony on August 13, 1983. This day was “a day of history,” he said.^[3] “Chicago Temple Dedicated,” Ensign, Oct. 1985, 73. This long-awaited occasion marked the return of a Latter-day Saint temple to the state of Illinois. In February 1846, over 130 years before, Mormons had been forced to leave Nauvoo, Illinois, where they had built a temple. After they moved westward to settle the Great Basin, the Nauvoo Temple was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 2002.

During the temple’s construction, members contributed their time and means to help build the temple. Women crocheted and tatted altar cloths to adorn the interior, and children collected coins to donate to the temple building fund. For the children’s nursery in the temple, a group of young women from the St. Paul Minnesota Stake donated handmade dolls, each one named after the girl who made it.

Open House

Volunteer members spent countless hours helping to organize and run the public open house, which was held from July 15 to August 3, 1985, allowing Church and community members alike to tour the temple before its dedication. 100,065 visitors toured the sacred edifice, and many made positive comments. One visitor called the temple “an obvious place of devotion,” and another said of the visit, “I felt the hand of God.”

Dedication

President Hinckley dedicated the Chicago Illinois Temple on August 9, 1985. In his dedicatory prayer, he paid homage to the early Latter-day Saints of Nauvoo, who sacrificed much to complete and dedicate their temple, knowing that they would soon be compelled to leave it behind. He thanked God “for the inheritance of faith that has come down from that generation.”^[4] “Chicago Temple Dedicated,” 72.

In the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley asked, “May faith increase in the hearts of all who come, and may knowledge of Thine eternal plan grow in the minds of those who here serve.”^[5] Chicago Illinois Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Aug. 18, 1985, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/61698/Chicago-Illinois-Temple-We-thank-Thee-for-a-new-and-better-day.html

Dedication Order

The Chicago Illinois Temple is the 35th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Temple is the first of the currently operating temples built in the Midwest and the second latter-day temple built in Illinois, following the original Nauvoo Temple (1846) built 140 years earlier.

Renovation and Expansion

1988

In 1988, a remodel of the temple more than doubled its size — from 17,850 to 37,062 square feet. The rear central spire and original breezeways between the annex and the temple were enclosed, and additional square footage was built underground, largely retaining the exterior appearance of the temple. The remodel added a fifth ordinance room, large sealing room, cafeteria, and maintenance facility. Enlarged were the laundry, administrative area, and baptistry, which was relocated.

Rededication

The additions to the newly expanded temple were dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley, first Counselor in the First Presidency on 8 October 1989.

1994 renovation

In December 1994, the Chicago Illinois Temple was closed for two months for the addition of an elevator and for other minor changes.

Burst Pipe

On Christmas Eve in 2008, a frozen sprinkler pipe in the ceiling burst, causing extensive water damage to the temple’s interior. Over the span of two months an army of craftsmen, some from as far away as New Mexico , replaced all of the carpet, thousands of feet of wood trim and and replaced or reupholstered most of the furniture in the temple.

2015 Changes

In January 2015, the smallest sealing room in the Chicago Illinois Temple was converted into a changing room for patrons participating in proxy sealings.

2020 Changes

In 2020 the original marble exterior of the temple was stripped off and replaced with a light gray granite, giving the temple a more unified and consistent exterior look.

Presidents

Temple President	Temple Matron	Years Served	Total Years
Jack Donald Ward	Sharmon Oaks Ward	2022–
Russel Bruce Duffield	Denise Stanley Duffield	2019–2022	3
Sherman Leroy Doll	Linda Susan Duncan Doll	2016–2019	3
Douglas Vaughn Nelson	Mary Fleetwood Nelson	2013–2016	3
Paul Wallace Castleton	Ann Pingree Castleton	2010–2013	3
Kenneth Lowell Robinson	Julia Cecelia Taylor Robinson	2007–2010	3
Glenn Allan Hansen	Betty Jeanne Goodsell Hansen	2004–2007	3
George Hamilton Watson	Chloë Diane Kilroy Watson	2000–2004	3
Glenn Lavern Goodwin	Rosemary Badger Goodwin	1997–2000	3
Willard Byron Barton	Catherine Jean Patton Barton	1994–1997	3
Paul Williams Wilson	Helen June Jackson Wilson	1991–1994	3
Edwin Boyd Jones	Mildred Salisbury Jones	1988–1991	3
Lysle Reynolds Cahoon	Betty Jane Preston Cahoon	1985–1988	3

Details

Location

Set apart from the urban landscape in an oasis of natural beauty, the Chicago Illinois Temple is located in the northern suburb of Glenview, 15 miles from downtown Chicago. The temple stands on 13 acres of verdant woodland convenient to Interstate 294. It is bordered on the south by The Grove, a 135-acre nature sanctuary and national historic landmark. The beautifully kept grounds are open to the public and feature two elegant water fountains.

In an effort to preserve the integrity of the surrounding natural landscape, there is a 100 foot buffer zone along the southern border of the Temple site. Additionally the roof on the southern side of the temple is not illuminated at night, allowing the migratory pathways of native birds to be undisturbed.^[6]”Temple a Mecca for Midwest Mormons,” Chicago Tribune, Wood, June 1985

Exterior

The temple, a modern adaptation of a traditional six-spire design, is finished of gray buff marble . The white-tipped spires create a striking display, encouraging viewers to direct their gaze and their thoughts heavenward. The Chicago Illinois Temple is a sister building to the Boise Idaho Temple and the Dallas Texas Temple. These Two other temples shared the same initial floorplan and exterior finish.

Spire

The tallest spire of the Chicago Illinois Temple, bearing a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni, stands at 112 feet tall.

Interior

The Chicago Illinois temple has 5 endowment rooms, each used in a stationary presentation, as well as three (formerly four) sealing rooms.

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Citations