Description
History
The story of the Church in Montreal and Quebec began long before a temple was dedicated there in 2000. In the early days of the Church, people did not join the Church as quickly in the eastern part of the country as they had in western areas, like Alberta. The first English-speaking branch, a small congregation, in Montreal was organized in 1930, and the first meetinghouse was established in 1942.
In 1978, the first French-speaking stake (a group of congregations) in North America was organized in Quebec. Montreal Church members continue to be very diverse, which corresponds with the cultural diversity of Quebec’s largest city. Members in Montreal congregations are from both English- and French-speaking areas of the country as well as from many other places of the world, including Africa, the Caribbean and Italy.
Announced
The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ announced plans to build a temple in Montreal, Quebec on 6 August 1998. For a decade the closest temple had been a six-hour drive away in Toronto, Ontario. The new edifice would bring the blessings of the temple so much closer to home.
It was one of the temples announced with a long list of others, which President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, hoped to have completed by the end of 2000 so that there would be 100 operating temples throughout the world.
Groundbreaking
A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on 9 April 1999. Gary J. Coleman, a member of the Seventy, presided at the ceremony with 450 guests looking on.[1]”Dream of Quebec temple near reality with groundbreaking“, Church News, April 17, 1999
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in the empty garage of a vacated automobile dealership which was removed before construction begins.
In his remarks, Elder Coleman, second counselor in the North America Northeast Area presidency, encouraged members to “come often…come with the family…come with the family names…in establishing the Lord’s temple in Montreal.”
President Benoit Duquette of the Montreal stake remarked that when he joined the Church in 1975, members from the area drove 45 hours to attend the Alberta Temple in Cardston or would fly to the Swiss Temple. Since 1990, members have traveled for six hours to attend the Toronto Ontario Temple.
“As we stand here this morning,” said President Walter Svenson of the Mount Royal stake, “although the spot is still without form, with our spiritual eyes we can see a…fountain of potential blessings, a hill of personal challenge and the mountain of the Lord’s house, foreseen by Isaiah.”
Gerard Pelchat, the first stake president in the Montreal stake, remembers telling friends in the Toronto temple a year ago of his desire for a temple in Montreal. “I never dreamed it would happen, let alone this soon.”1
Open House
The Montreal Temple was open to the public for tours of the interior May 20th through the 27th 2000. Despite the short week long open house, more than 10,000 people toured the temple.
Dedication
The President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, Gordon B. Hinckley, dedicated the Montreal Quebec Temple on 4 June 2000. Before the dedication began, a cornerstone ceremony was held to officially complete the construction of the temple. Gordon B. Hinckley placed the cornerstone and had help from local children in placing the mortar. More than 3,700 Church members attended the four dedicatory sessions. The Montreal Temple serves more than 12,200 members from Montreal, Ottawa Ontario, Montpelier Vermont, and New York areas.
In the dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley gave thanks, saying, “On this historic day we sing Thy praises, dear Father. We speak words of thanksgiving. We look upward to Thee and pray that Thou wilt smile with favor upon us.”[2]Montreal Quebec Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, June 4, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/37942/MONTREAL-QUEBEC-That-time-cannot-break.html.
Church members were touched by the prayer and by the completion of this new temple. “There are no words for the feelings in my heart today,” said Orise LeMieux, a member of the Montreal Quebec Mount Royale Stake at the time of the temple’s dedication.[3]Julie Dockstader, “Montreal Temple Highlight of 40 Years of Progress,” Church News, June 10, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/37928/Montreal-temple-highlight-of-40-years-of-progress.html. President Thomas S. Monson, a member of the Church’s First Presidency who later became the prophet, was especially happy to attend the dedication alongside his wife, Frances. They served in Canada together when President Monson was the president over the Canadian Mission from 1959 to 1962, and their efforts brought about the baptisms of many in Quebec. They greeted many old friends with hugs and tears. Sister Monson said, “We had so many cherished experiences working with the people and missionaries here many years ago. They’ve been so wonderful and we’re grateful they now have a temple nearby. We want to thank them for everything they did for us.”[4]Julie Dockstader, “Pres. Monson Returns to Land, People He Loves,” Church News, June 10, 2000, Julie Dockstader, “Pres. Monson Returns to Land, People He Loves,” Church News, June 10, 2000, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/37927/Pres-Monson-returns-to-land-people-he-loves.html.
The Montreal Quebec Temple is the 86th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Montreal Temple is the 6th temple to be built in Canada.
Renovation
The Montreal Quebec Temple was remodeled from 2 June 2014-22 November 2015. While the renovation was initially expected to finish in September 2015, the actual completion came 2 months later. The structure was reinforced, replacing the original wood framing with reinforced concrete and steel. Major repairs were carried out including remediation of a mold problem. In addition, the ordinance rooms were decorated with beautiful landscape murals, and the exterior was slightly altered to give the edifice an updated appearance.
Announced
The renovation of the Montreal Quebec Temple was announced 26 March 2014.
Commenced
On Monday, June 2, 2014, the Montreal Quebec Temple closed for a complete renovation of the interior and exterior.
Open House
Guided tours of the newly remodeled temple began on Thursday, November 5, 2015, and ran through Saturday, November 14, 2015, except for Sunday, November 8.[5]”Open House and Rededication Dates Announced for Montreal Quebec Temple“, Newsroom, LDS Church, 2015-04-30
Cultural Celebration
The formal rededication of the Montréal Québec Temple was preceded by a cultural celebration featuring music and dance by the youth of the Church. The celebration was held at the Monument-National Theatre on the evening of Saturday, 21 November 2015. Due to limited seating, attendance was by invitation only, but media were invited to attend. Those who wished to watch the cultural celebration were invited go to their local meetinghouse.
More than 400 Mormon youth from Quebec and eastern Ontario Canada gathered to participate in an event representing their spiritual and cultural heritage and the diverse history of the area. In a production named after the French province’s motto “Je me souviens — I remember,” the 12- to 18-year-old youth sang, danced and narrated their way through the various histories and cultures they represent.
Rededication
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rededicated the Montréal Québec Temple in three sessions Sunday, November 22, 2015. The sessions were broadcast to meetinghouses throughout Canada, enabling thousands of Latter-day Saints to participate.
Assisting President Eyring was Presiding Bishop of the Church Gérald Caussé, Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elders Anthony D. Perkins and Kent F. Richards of the Seventy.[6]Weaver, Sarah Jane (23 Nov 2015). “Renovated LDS temple represents Montreal’s diversity“. Deseret News. Retrieved 30 March 2022.[7]Weaver, Sarah Jane. “Montreal temple rededication“, Church News, 22 November 2015. Retrieved on 21 March 2020.
Details
Location
The Montreal Quebec Temple overlooks the St. Lawrence River in a suburb of Canada’s second most populous city. The temple plot is 2.4 acres in the town of Longueuil.
Exterior
The exterior finish is made of Bethel white granite from Northern Vermont. A single spire rises above the square, linear structure. On top of the spire a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni, a figure from the Book of Mormon, raises his trumpet to symbolize the preaching of the gospel of Jesus
24 March 2015
The Montreal Quebec Temple overlooks the St. Lawrence River in Canada’s second most populous city. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montreal and surrounding areas attend this temple to experience peace and to worship God.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Church built a number of temples with smaller floor plans than previous temples to bring worship services closer to more members. The Montreal Quebec Temple was built using this simplified floor plan, totaling 10,700 square feet, and its design matches other temples that were constructed around the same time. A single spire rises above the square, linear structure. On top of the spire a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni, a figure from the Book of Mormon, raises his trumpet to symbolize the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.
Interior
The Montréal Québec Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and one baptisry.