Medford Oregon Temple Wiki

The Medford Oregon Temple was announced on 27 March 1999.^[1]”Six more temples announced; total now 108“, Deseret News, 27 March 1999, https://www.deseret.com/1999/3/27/20774655/six-more-temples-announced-total-now-108. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.

Oregon Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

• –

Under Construction

• –

Dedicated

• Portland Oregon [1989]

“This new temple is now another ensign to the restoration of the gospel,” said Elder D. Lee Tobler of the Seventy during the 20 May 1999 the groundbreaking ceremony. “It is an ensign not only for you, but it is an ensign for your neighbors. It is an ensign for all.” Elder Tobler said that the temple will not be built for just the members of today but also for the those of tomorrow and the families of yesteryears.^[2]Church News, 29 May 1999.

Nearly 46,000 people toured the Medford Oregon Temple During the open house held 24-31 March 2000 Many non-members felt the reverent spirit of the building commenting that they felt a “a sweet feeling inside the temple,” and a “sense that [the temple] was a very spiritual place.” Many entered the temple casually but came out “with a spirit of reverence about them.” ^[3]“News of the Church,” Ensign, July 2000, 74

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Medford Oregon Temple on 16 April 2000. During the dedicatory prayer President Faust prayed, “Wilt Thou touch the hearts of Thy people in this temple district that they may ever regard it with gratitude and appreciation, that they may qualify themselves to come here as Thy servants and carry forward the great work for which it is designed…. May they come to this Thy house to solemnize the most sacred event of their lives, their marriage to partners of equal worthiness, and may the covenants which they will make in this house be kept inviolate throughout their lives.”^[4]”Medford dedicatory prayer: ‘Carry forward the great work,'” Church News 22 Apr. 2000, 25 Jun. 2005