Description

History

The Church’s rich history in Ohio revolves around Kirtland, Ohio. In addition to furnishing the site for the first temple of the Church, Kirtland served as headquarters for the Church from 1831 to 1838, and a Kirtland printing press published the second edition of the Book of Mormon. Following the nationwide financial panic of 1837 and persecution from those in surrounding areas in 1838, Church members mostly left Ohio, and the Kirtland Temple ceased operation as a temple of the Church. Church membership there stayed relatively small until nearly a century later.

After World War II many LDS soldiers and their families went to Ohio for school and then stayed on. The first Columbus Ohio stake, or congregation of members similar to a Catholic diocese, was established in 1962. Since then the Church has grown steadily, with about 46,000 members in the year 2000.

Ownership of the temple site has ties to Julia Clapp Murdock, a devoted member who lived in Kirtland at the time of Joseph Smith. On April 30, 1831, Julia passed away after giving birth to twins on the same day that Emma gave birth to twins who died shortly after birth. Julia’s husband asked the Prophet and Emma to care for the twins, feeling he was unable. The gesture helped softened Emma’s sorrow. Julia’s father, Orris, was a member of Sidney Rigdon’s congregation, who eventually became embittered toward the Church and left New York for Ohio accompanied by his brother, Abner Clapp. Upon their arrival, Abner purchased the land where the temple now stands. Records indicate he was the land’s first owner, and as far as can be ascertained, he did not share his brother’s animosity toward the Church.^[1]Stahle, Shaun (September 11, 1999). “Spiritual celebration — Columbus Ohio Temple dedicated“. Church News. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

Announcement

On April 25, 1998, during a visit to Columbus, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the Church’s plans to construct a temple in Columbus, and the news was joyfully received by the members in the area. The temple nearest to them had been the Washington D.C. Temple, which required an eight-hour drive to attend. Members were delighted to learn that not only would they have a temple near them, but it would be built on the 1.35 acres adjacent to one of their meetinghouses. They responded with a grateful desire to serve, donating their time and skills to assist in the construction process — from cleaning to landscape work. Ed Hammond, who helped with the temple preparation, said, “People would come to the door and say with excitement, ‘I’m here to clean, what can I do?’”^[2]Stahle, Shaun (September 11, 1999). “Spiritual celebration — Columbus Ohio Temple dedicated“. Church News. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

Columbus Mayor Gregory S. Lashutka, a devoted advocate of family values, supported the temple’s construction. During a meeting with Church leaders, he asked his department heads to do whatever they could to facilitate the process. He and other civic and business dignitaries responded to the completed temple with warmth and enthusiasm during VIP tours offered August 19 to 20, 1999. More than 300 civic, business and education leaders visited the temple during the VIP tours, including Ohio Governor Robert Taft and his wife, Hope. Following the tour, Governor Taft, whose ancestry is connected to that of President Ezra Taft Benson, was presented with a statue depicting a young girl walking from her mother to her father. The governor’s wife, who emphasized family values in a statewide initiative, was particularly touched by the statue and said, “This is our family.”^[3]“Columbus Ohio Temple Begins Public Open House,” Church News, Aug. 28, 1999.

Teri McGlaughlin, a member since she was a child said, “I never thought that in my lifetime we would have a temple so close by. I grew up thinking temples were only in Utah and you went there to get married.” ^[4]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 110.

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking held later that year on September 12.^[5]Morello, Pauline (September 19, 1998). “Columbus Ohio Temple: `Faith brought this temple'”. Church News. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

Construction

Shortly after construction began on the Columbus Ohio Temple, the floor plan was altered to include an additional room where patrons who had traveled long distances could eat and change clothes before presenting themselves at the recommend desk. This feature was included in the design of subsequent temples, starting with the Spokane Washington Temple.

Open House

The temple was opened for two days prior to the public open house for VIP tours on Aug. 19-20. Ohio Governor Bob Taft, who shares common ancestry with President Ezra Taft Benson, toured the temple as part of the VIP tours.^[6]Stahle, Shaun (August 28, 1999). “Columbus Ohio Temple begins public open house“. Church News. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

The media afforded the temple plenty of attention, to the delight of the members and the temple committee. Three major television stations aired featured coverage of the temple during the first few days of the open house, and Columbus’s major daily newspaper published a two-page spread covering Church history and temple significance. Articles explaining the temple and its purpose also appeared in suburban and weekly newspapers.

The general public open house lasted from August 21 to 28, 1999, and over 7,000 visitors entered its doors on the first day. Church members along with many visitors of other faiths toured the temple, and some came from as far away as Pennsylvania and Indiana.^[7]Stahle, Shaun (August 28, 1999). “Columbus Ohio Temple begins public open house“. Church News. Retrieved April 14, 2017. About 30,000 people attended the open house prior to the dedications.

Dedication

President Hinckley dedicated the Columbus Ohio Temple on 4-5 September 1999. About 11,000 members attended the six dedicatory sessions. The dedication of the Temple marked the first modern LDS temple in the state and the first since the 1836 dedication of the Kirtland Temple.

In the dedicatory prayer, President Gordon B. Hinckley referred to the return of a temple to Ohio: “It is now 163 years since a temple was dedicated in the State of Ohio. We are reminded today of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple and of the prayer given on that occasion which Thy prophet declared was revealed unto him. We, too, as Saints of this day, seek Thine inspiration in the words which we direct in prayer to Thee, our Father and our God.”^[8]Columbus Ohio Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Sept. 11, 1999. President Hinckley also said: “We pray for Thy cause in all the earth. Bless the faithful tithe payers throughout the Church whose consecrated offerings have made this structure possible. Shower blessings upon them, and increase their faith as they give of their means to the building of Thy kingdom.” ^[9]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 109.

Additionally President Hinckley quoted verses from Joseph Smith’s dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, “that thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners; and be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens.” ^[10]D&C 109:73-74

The Saints of Ohio are once again blessed to have a temple within their midst. President Hinckley said, “Our people are more accepted now. It is a new day of opportunity. The struggles of Kirtland are past.” ^[11] “News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 109.

Dedication Order

The Columbus Ohio Temple was second temple built in Ohio, following the Kirtland Temple (1836), which is no longer owned or operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is is the 60th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Renovation

Announced

On 27 March 2020 the First presidency announced the the Columbus Ohio Temple would close for an extensive renovation.

Commenced

On August 15, 2020, the Columbus Ohio Temple closed for extensive renovation. During the closure, patrons in the temple district are encouraged to attend the Indianapolis Indiana Temple and Detroit Michigan Temple. The temple is expected to reopen in 2022. Specific dates and details will be announced as the renovation nears completion.

Open House

Dedication

Presidents

Details

Location

The Columbus Ohio Temple is located 150 miles south of Kirtland, Ohio, where the restored Church of Jesus Christ dedicated its first temple in 1836. The temple stands in a wooded area of western Columbus adjacent to a meetinghouse in the Columbus Ohio Stake. The beautiful white Vermont marble facing on the exterior was quarried near Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the temple grounds and enjoy the peace and tranquility found there.

Exterior

The Temple shares a contemporary, single-spire design with over 30 temples across North America and the globe. These temples were constructed as part of an accelerated temple-building program initiated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, who desired to bring more temples closer to Church members.

The exterior finish is Imperial Danby marble quarried in Vermont, and a statue of the angel Moroni stands atop the temple’s spire. Trios of rectangular art-glass windows, topped with raised circular designs in the marble, shine on all sides of the building. Although the temple shares its design with several other temples, two of its windows are unique — Brent Harris of the Columbus Ohio East Stake built them to resemble the windows crafted in the Kirtland Temple by Truman O. Angell, an architect for the early Church.

The Moroni Myth

Somewhere in the early 2000s a popular and now all to oft repeated story popped up online that the original white statue from the Monticello Utah temple was gilded and placed atop the Columbus Temple. As the Columbus Temple is one of 5 temples to feature a distinctive statue holding a scroll, the tradition is readily believable.

However, while 5 temples have this statue, 6 were originally created by sculptor LaVar Wallgren for use on temples^[12]Cala Byram “A Life-size Moroni” Deseret News, 23 May 1998., and while all were originally white, after the placement at Monticello proved the white statues to be difficult to see, the other 5 were all gilt before being placed.

Currently, the white statue from Monticello is in the possession of the Church History Museum, still white, and in a storage crate, the statue has a tag around one wrist identifying the statue as having come from the Monticello Temple. It has never been used on another temple. ^[13]Phone interview with Marvin Quist, who saw and photographed the what statue in the back room of the Church History Museum prior to it’s crating for storage in 2017.

Interior

The 10,700-square-foot edifice

Within the temple are a baptistry, two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms (where marriages are performed) and a celestial room, which represents heaven on earth.