Edmonton Alberta Temple Wiki

The construction arrangements for the Edmonton Alberta Temple were announced on 11 August 1998, as one of the small-scale temples.^[1]Sarah Jane Weaver, “Temple Dedicated in ‘Hub of the North,’” Church News, Dec. 18, 1999.

Alberta Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

• –

Under Construction

• –

Dedicated

• Cardston Alberta (1923)

Church leaders and members attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Edmonton Alberta Temple on 27 February 1999. Yoshihiko Kikuchi, a member of the Church’s First Quorum of the Seventy from 1977 to 2011, led the groundbreaking ceremony. The Edmonton mayor and members of the Canadian parliament also attended the groundbreaking ceremony.^[2]Lloyd, R. Scott. “Ground Is Broken for Temple in Canada, ‘a Monument of Faith.’” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/1999/3/6/23249156/ground-is-broken-for-temple-in-canada-a-monument-of-faith.

The groundbreaking ceremony was limited to just 300 persons on-site, with a video broadcast sent to the nearby stake center. Saints in other Church buildings nearby were able to listen to the audio of the groundbreaking.

A Public open house was held for the Edmonton Alberta Temple from 3 December to 7 December of 1999. No tours were held on Sunday 5 December. During the four days of the open house an estimated 27,213 people toured the temple. 10,345 people toured the temple on Saturday 4 December alone.

An estimated 800 local residents toured the temple from the immediate area. 500 locals received invites, with more coming because of word of mouth, and some just seeing the tours in progress and stopping by.^[3]Weaver, Sarah Jane, “Open house visitor: ‘What does this mean to me?‘” Church News, 20 December 1999.

During the open house, the various contractors who had worked on the temple got to tour their new creation and show their families the finished product.

President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on 11-12 December 1999. It was a cold winter day, but vinyl tents and enclosed walkways protected all in attendance from the harsh weather. Even though it was cold, the temperature was warmer than a typical December Edmonton day, and members called the weather “temple weather.”^[4]Sarah Jane Weaver, “Temple Dedicated in ‘Hub of the North,’” Church News, Dec. 18, 1999, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/36933/Temple-dedicated-in-hub-of-the-north.html.

During the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley prayed for the nation of Canada saying, “Let Thy providence be felt in this great nation of Canada, that it shall continue to be a land where Thy sons and daughters enjoy the precious boon of freedom of assembly and worship… Bless those who govern that they shall look with favor upon Thy people, and may Thy work grow in numbers, in majesty, and in strength in this good land.” ^[5]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 74

“We have become something we never thought we would become—a temple city,” said first temple President Donald D. Salmon at the temple dedication. And as such, Edmonton became a place where couples who traditionally would retire to southern Alberta now stay. Like many others, President Salmon and his wife, Joyce, had after retirement planned to leave the harsh Edmonton winters and move to southern Alberta, nearer the Cardston Alberta Temple. Then came the August 11, 1998 announcement of the Edmonton temple that changed their lives. “We are staying and many others are staying, too,” he said. Some are even returning. After the temple announcement, Calvin G. and Verona Harker Merkley sold their home in Lethbridge, Alberta, where they had planned to spend their retirement years closer to a temple, and returned to their home ward in Edmonton. “We are coming home to family and the temple; we can’t beat that,” said Sister Merkley.

Previous to the building of the Edmonton temple many LDS couples would move to Cardston after retirement to be near a temple.

Rising amid the trees and natural foliage, the Edmonton Alberta Temple can be seen by motorists traveling along the Whitemud Freeway, which runs through Alberta’s capital city.

The one-acre grounds around the temple are landscaped with trees, shrubbery and flowers. Community members of all religions and ages are welcome to enjoy the peaceful grounds, and attendants are available on the grounds to answer visitors’ questions.

The Edmonton Alberta Temple’s contemporary style was envisioned by Church designers and Robert Bennett, an architect of Bennett Architect, Inc. Bennet incorporated engravings the regional wild roses and and wheat shafts, two common crops farmed in Edmonton, engraved into the stone landscaping features in front of the temple.

The stone exterior of the temple is a light gray granite exterior quarried in Quebec.

Cladding

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Water Course

Windows

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Spandrel panel

The temple has 10,700 square feet and holds two instruction rooms, a celestial room and two sealing rooms.

Entry

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