Memphis Tennessee Temple Wiki

Description

The Memphis Tennessee Temple is the 80th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Travel time has been reduced from days to hours as Latter-day Saint temples have been built closer and closer. Today, some members will have less than an hour to drive. The Memphis Tennessee Temple serves more than 20,000 members in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri.

History

The prophet Joseph Smith sent the first missionary, Wilford Woodruff, to the Memphis area in 1835. Many people joined the Church but left the state as the Saints migrated west because of local persecution. The presence of the Church was small and in 1934 only about 130 members worshiped in Memphis. Since then the Church has grown significantly, warranting not only numerous meetinghouses but a temple as well.

Announcement

Groundbreaking

Ground was broken for the Memphis Tennessee Temple on January 16, 1999.

“This is the beginning of a new temple and a time for reflection,” said Elder Gordon T. Watts, first counselor in the North America Southeast Area presidency, who presided at the Memphis Tennessee Temple groundbreaking ceremony. “If necessary, it should also be a beginning of our personal preparation to be worthy in every way to enter and perform labors for the living and the dead.” Elder Watts noted the great responsibilities and blessings associated with a temple by listing six specific blessings: First, the temple stands as a “landmark of strength, hope and holiness” to all who are associated with it. Second, it enhances the importance and sacredness of values that promote love, honor, respect and the sanctity of marriage. Third, it is “a reminder of the important work of salvation that will take place within its walls.” Fourth, the sacred edifice reminds members—who must be worthy to enter it—”that we must be constantly aware of our personal actions and thoughts.” Fifth, “the temple [stands] as a firm foundation that will encourage and entice the rising generation of young people to pattern their lives after that of the Savior.” And sixth, the “presence of the temple in the community [sparks] the Spirit of Christ in hundreds of people.”

He also noted, “Hundreds, thousands, even millions will be the benefactors of the work that will be done within these sacred walls of this soon-to-be completed temple. I can imagine that many of your ancestors who may have been waiting for years, are shouting for joy at the possibility that they may now receive the sacred, saving ordinances that you can give them.”

Elder Griffin reminded members of President Gordon B. Hinckley’s concern. “Knowing of the essential saving ordinances that are to be had only in the temples, he wanted to make them available to all Church members no matter where they lived,” he said. Speaking of the temple in an interview, Bertha Spencer, widow of L. B. Spencer, the first president of the Tennessee West District, created in 1947, said: “I have prayed ever since I was a girl to have a temple in Memphis.”

Darrell Danielson, president of the Memphis Tennessee Stake, noted: “We are excited to have a temple in our area. Early members traveled to Salt Lake City for their first temple experience. Later the trip was cut in half when the Washington D.C. Temple was built. Then came Atlanta followed by St. Louis. Travel time was reduced from days to hours. Now some members will have less than an hour to go to participate in temple work.”^[1]Church News, 23 January 1999.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Memphis Tennessee Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mérida Mexico Temple.

Open House

Dedication

On 23 April 2000, President James E. Faust, then second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, dedicated the Memphis Tennessee Temple. During the dedicatory prayer he echoed the prayers of many of the members in the area when he said, “Now Father, we thank Thee for this temple. It is an answer to our prayers. It will enrich the lives of countless thousands who will here seek blessings for themselves and stand as proxies on behalf of those who have passed beyond. May hearts leap with joy, and may smiles of satisfaction come to the faces of all who labor herein as they carry forward Thy work of salvation and exaltation.”^[2]”Memphis dedicatory prayer: ‘A sanctuary loved by the Saints,'” Church News, 29 Apr. 2000, 11

The Memphis Tennesse Temple was dedicated on the same day as the Reno Nevada Temple.

The Memphis Tennessee Temple was the first temple built in Tennessee, though plans for a temple in Nashville had been announced several years earlier.

In 2003, the city of Bartlett, Tennessee, awarded the Memphis Tennessee Temple the “America in Bloom” award. The award came as a surprise to Church representatives as they had not entered the temple in the contest. However, contest committee members can enter buildings they felt should have been, and such was the case with the temple.

Renovation

The Memphis Tennessee Temple renovation improved the entry and tower of the temple. The steeple was raised 10 feet from its existing height to better correspond with the revised entry. The building’s exterior is clad in a beige limestone.

Gold leaf pinstriping is seen in the instruction, celestial and sealing rooms. Art glass throughout the temple incorporates the infinity bell flower and lazy eight motif and is created in blues, greens and corals.

Antiqued bronze pendant lighting is featured throughout much of the temple. The neoclassic crystal and brass chandelier highlights the celestial and sealing rooms.

Daphne white stone tile from Sorrento, Florida, is utilized throughout the entry, baptistry and brides’ room.

Rugs feature a pawpaw flower field pattern with a lazy eight border in greens, blues and creams in the entry, waiting room and brides’ room.

Announcement

On April 10, 2017, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the closure of the Memphis Tennessee Temple later that year for extensive renovations. The renovations will help maintain functionality, efficiency, and beauty. The temple will receive mechanical upgrades along with updates in finishes and furnishings. The Renovations are expected to be completed in 2019.^[3]”Four Mormon Temples Will Close for Renovation“, Newsroom, LDS Church, April 10, 2017

Once the renovations are complete, a public open house and rededication services will be announced. While the temple is closed, Latter-day Saints will be able to attend neighboring temples.

Closure

The Memphis Tennessee Temple closed on September 29, 2017.

Open House

As the renovations neared completion, the church originally announced there would be no open house, but an update on April 11, 2019, indicated there would be an open house from April 13 to April 20, excluding Sunday.[ref”Memphis Tennessee Temple Opens Doors to the Public“, Newsroom, LDS Church, April 11, 2019[/ref]

Rededication

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles rededicated the Memphis Tennessee Temple on Sunday, 5 May 2019, in one session. Members of the Church gathered in the temple for the sacred service. A youth devotional was not scheduled, and the rededication service was not broadcast to local meetinghouses. so the two-hour block of Sunday meetings was held as planned.^[4]”Temple Rededications Announced for May 2019“, Newsroom, LDS Church, January 16, 2019^[5]”Elder Holland Rededicates Renovated Memphis Tennessee Temple“, Newsroom, LDS Church, May 5, 2019

The temple will resume operation on Tuesday, 14 May 2019, allowing devout members the opportunity to participate in sacred ordinances.

Detail

Location

The temple is located at 4199 Kirby-Whitten Parkway in Bartlett, Tennessee, a community just outside Memphis. It serves Latter-day Saints in Memphis; Greater Little Rock, Arkansas; Searcy, Arkansas; and Tupelo, Mississippi.

The Memphis Tennessee Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. About a month after the dedication of the temple in Memphis, another Latter-day Saint temple was dedicated in Nashville.