Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Wiki

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The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was announced on March 14, 1999.^[1]”Six more temples announced; total now 108“, Church News, March 27, 1999, https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1999-03-27/six-more-temples-announced-total-now-108-15365. Prior to the announcement members would travel nearly 200 miles to the Dallas Texas Temple.

Years earlier, the Church had purchased land on which to build a meetinghouse. With the purchase of this land, the sellers donated an additional parcel of land. The meetinghouse was built and the members enjoyed using the additional land for social and sporting events. When asked in 1999 if they could give up their baseball field for a temple, the local members were both willing and eager.

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple on 3 July 1999, Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the Seventy and president of the North America Southwest Area declared that turning the ceremonial shovelful of soil during groundbreaking services is symbolic of “turning our lives over to Christ and keeping His commandments.” He also recognized the role that having a temple in an area plays in aiding members to develop their faith and build strong families. Additionally, the temple’s presence will help the youth of the temple district to see their future clearly and understand what the Lord expects of them.

In his remarks, Elder Pinegar also referred to the deadly tornado that struck Oklahoma City on May 3. After the tornado, he toured the devastated areas and saw little standing but the people, which manifested their faith. He mentioned the pure motivations of Church members who reached out to help others simply because they wanted to help.

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple open house ran from 15 to 22 July 2000 with over 40,000 visitors touring the temple in the seven-day period. Organizers experimented with having half of the tours self-guided and the other half with a guide. They quickly discovered that the guided tours were far more successful and soon arranged for all tours to be assisted by a guide. In fact, the guided tours were so successful that they were used as a reference for future open houses in LDS temples. By the end of the week, fifteen hundred copies of the Book of Mormon were placed and thirty-eight missionary referrals were received.

President James E. Faust, First Counselor in the First Presidency dedicated the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple on 30 July 2000. In the dedicatory prayer, President Faust said, “We pray for Thy cause and kingdom, that it may grow stronger in this community. May all who have favored Thy cause be blessed for that which they have done. May many continue to seek for knowledge concerning Thy work until they have embraced Thy restored gospel…May none of evil intent enter the portals of Thy house. May the defiling hand of the vandal and the destroyed be kept from the exterior. May all who pass this way recognize Thy temple as a sacred and beautiful structure built unto Thy Holy Name.”^[2]”Oklahoma City Oklahoma: ‘A sacred and beautiful structure‘”, Church News, August 5, 2000

On April 10, 2017 the LDS Church announced that the temple would close in October 2017 for renovations that would be completed in 2019. 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

A public open house was held from April 24 to May 1, 2019. More than 21,000 people toured the newly renovated temple, including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, U.S. Sen. James Lankford and U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin.[refr]“Public Open House Begins for Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 22 Apr. 2019, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/public-open-house-begins-for-oklahoma-city-oklahoma-temple#:~:text=An%20open%20house%20begins%20Wednesday,through%20templeopenhouse.lds.org.&text=The%20Oklahoma%20City%20Oklahoma%20Temple.[/ref]^[6]Swensen, Jason. “President Eyring’s Spiritual Experience and Other Highlights at the Oklahoma Temple Rededication.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2019/5/19/23215073/rededicating-oklahomas-spiritual-refuge.

President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church rededicated the temple in one session at 10:00 am, Sunday, 19 May 2019. Attendance at the session was by invitation, and the rededication session was not broadcast to local meetinghouses. President Eyring said he prays the members of the Church will remember this day of rededication. He said, “It will benefit our ancestors. Don’t forget that our ancestors are real. They are waiting and when we do their [temple] work, the warm feeling [we feel] is the Spirit. That warm feeling will stay with you forever.”^[7]”Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededicated“, Newsroom, LDS Church, May 19, 2019^[8]Swensen, Jason. “President Eyring’s Spiritual Experience and Other Highlights at the Oklahoma Temple Rededication.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2019/5/19/23215073/rededicating-oklahomas-spiritual-refuge.