Orem Utah Temple Wiki

The Orem Utah Temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson on October 5, 2019, during his closing remarks at the General Women’s Session of General Conference. ^[3]”President Nelson Announces Eight New Temples During General Conference,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 5 Oct. 2019.

At the time of the announcement, there were 26 stakes organized in the densely populated community of Orem, located between the Provo Utah Temple and Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. Attendance was very high at these two temples, which were nearly running at capacity before the Payson Utah Temple and Provo City Center Temple were dedicated. The construction of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple and Orem Utah Temple would further alleviate demands on these temples and provide more opportunities for temple service among the Saints in Utah County.

The Orem Utah Temple was the nineteenth temple built in Utah and the sixth built in Utah County, following the Provo Utah Temple (1972), the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple (1996), the Payson Utah Temple (2015), the Provo City Center Temple (2016), and the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple (2023).

Utah Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

• Deseret Peak Utah [groundbreaking scheduled]
• Taylorsville Utah
• Red Cliffs Utah

Under Construction

• Saratoga Springs Utah

Dedicated

• St. George Utah [1877]
• Logan Utah [1884]
• Manti Utah [1888]
• Salt Lake [1893]
• Ogden Utah [1972]
• Provo Utah [1972]
• Jordan River Utah [1981]
• Bountiful Utah [1995]
• Mount Timpanogos Utah [1996]
• Monticello Utah [1998]
• Draper Utah [2009]
• Oquirrh Mountain Utah [2009]
• Brigham City Utah [2012]
• Payson Utah [2015]
• Provo City Center Utah [2016]
• Cedar City Utah [2018]

On June 24, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Orem Utah Temple was released.

A small gathering of 30 attendees broke ground for the Orem Utah Temple on Saturday, September 5, 2020. Elder Craig C. Christensen, president of the Utah Area, presided at the event and said in his remarks: “The Orem Utah Temple will become an added refuge of strength in an increasingly uncertain world—a holy place where we learn and live more fully the great plan of happiness made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Elder Evan A. Schmutz, a member of the Utah Area presidency who grew up in Orem, said: “[The temple] will act as a beacon, drawing the gaze of millions as they pass by this hallowed ground, and inviting the devoted service of hundreds of thousands of faithful Latter-day Saints, as the ordinances of salvation are offered to the living and the dead.”

Dignitaries in attendance included Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Orem Mayor Richard Brunst, Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer and Utah Valley University President Astrid S. Tuminez.^[12]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Groundbreaking Held for Orem Utah Temple,” 5 Sept. 2020.

A public open house for the Orem Utah Temple was held from Friday, 27 October through Saturday, 16 December 2023, excluding Sundays and Thanksgiving Day. A media day kicked off the event on Monday, 23 October, followed by invited guest tours through Thursday, 26 October.

On 5 December 2023, a tactile open-house tour was held through the Orem temple for those who were visually impaired.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Orem temple in two sessions on 21 January 2024. He was joined by Elder Patrick Kearon, called into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles just the month prior. General Authority Seventies also in attendance included Elder Hugo E. Martinez, first counselor in the Utah Area presidency; Elder Kevin R. Duncan, executive director of the Temple Department; and Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt, assistant executive director of the Temple Department.

Although Latter-day Saints’ problems and challenges don’t change when they leave the temple, said Elder Christofferson, their perspective does change. “We now see that what had seemed overwhelming and impossible can, with the Lord’s help, find resolution, and we are more certain of His help.”

Elder Kearon added that Church members can find solace, peace and refuge in the house of the Lord, especially when they feel lost. “In this sacred space, our true selves can be found, as we leave the distractions and pettiness of the world outside and receive an extra measure of the Spirit of the Lord to help us hear His still, small voice and meet the demands of life.”

Located between the Wasatch Mountains and the shores of Utah Lake, the Orem Utah Temple is a 15-minute walk from the Orem Front Runner station. A pedestrian bridge to the station from the Utah Valley University campus across the freeway gives easy access to the school as well.

The temple stands on a 15.39-acre site.

While not in the same city as the Provo and Provo City Center Temples, the grouping of these three temples is closer together than any other three in the world, including the closest three temples in the Salt Lake Valley.

Site

The property was purchased in 2004 from a descendant of Latter-day Saint Niels Williamson who emigrated from Norway in 1870. Three of his great-great-grandchildren watched the COVID limited groundbreaking for the temple from the fence that separates the temple plot from their own land. The property had been home to many fruit orchards.

Trees, shrubs and perennials fill the grounds, including white fir, bigtooth maple, Norwegian sunset maple, snow queen hydrangeas, common periwinkle and whirling butterfly bushes. Mountains can be seen in the distance on the east side. A 20,000-square-foot meetinghouse is located on the west side of the area.

The Orem Utah Temple is a three-story, granite-cladding. Including its spire, the house of the Lord reaches 218 feet into the air. With a site originally home to many fruit orchards, the temple features the design of the cherry tree — including its blossoms, leaves, fruit and branches — throughout the interior.

The temple is a symmetrical three-story steel structure with granite cladding, topped by a multi-tiered tower with a slender steel steeple. The total height of the temple, including the spire, is 218 feet, making it one of the taller temples in the Church.

The doors are bronze colored and the windows taupe hued with art glass.

The Pedras Salgadas granite is cut and fabricated by Transgranitos, located in Portugal. The many granite panel carvings on the parapets and the window surrounds were done by Quora in Michigan.

Cladding

The exterior of the temple is clad in Pedras Salgadas granite from Portugal

The stone panelsare cut and fabricated by Transgranitos. The many granite panel carvings on the parapets and the window surrounds were done by Quora.

Windows

The art glass design of the first-story windows is reminiscent of the nearby wetlands and Utah Lake, using water, cattails, bulrushes and other grasses as prominent motifs. Design elements of the second- and third-story windows include the cherry tree, with blossoms, leaves and fruits all representing many of the surrounding orchards.

Spandrel panel

The cornerstone of the temple is on the right hand side of the west gable, when standing at the front doors. It faces south.

Spires

Single attached central spire tops the center of the building. The structure is a multilevel tower with a square base and a tall, arched window on each side.

Finial

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Topping Out

The spire and finial of the temple were added on 11 December 2021. The spire features art Deco styling, and the use of the finial rather than the traditional Angel statue is indication of the statue practice being all together discontinued.

The flooring features Crema Marfil marble from Turkey that was fabricated in California, with cream, red and shades of green and brown coloring. The patterns show diamond shapes with circle accents, simple linear borders of multiple colors and additional cherry leaf border.

The stone flooring transitions to carpet in the ordinance rooms. The carpet carving is similar to the stone floor, with a diamond pattern and circle accents. Corner elements feature various flowers and cherry branches with blossoms, leaves and cherries wrapped around a bead-and-reel border. The carpets come in a range of green and gold colors to create an abstract floral atmosphere.

Designs for the decorative painting were based on art nouveau styles, using curving lines, cattails and cherry branches and blossoms for the floral elements. Painted colors reflect the other colors used throughout the temple: reds and greens with light-brown and pink accents. Gold-leaf line work highlights specific designs and structural elements.

The interior art glass designs are a simplification of the exterior windows and use the same bottom border pattern and grid work. The celestial room’s glass doors and upper windows feature cherry tree branch, blossom and leaf designs.

The light fixtures are a transitional cylindrical shape and include motifs inspired by the cherry tree. Their materials include brass, crystal and glass.

Decorative millwork is featured throughout the temple, with art nouveau motifs inspired by local flora and the nearby wetlands.

The railings in the baptismal font are decorative metal and etched glass, also inspired by the cherry tree.

The interior doors are painted wood with custom hardware.

Painted walls, vinyl wallcovering, cellulose and nonwoven wall coverings specified for the temple feature cream, tan and green tones.

The ceilings are gypsum board, with various millwork and decorative paint accents featuring the cherry tree and nearby wetlands.

Furnishings throughout the temple feature a cherry finish.

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Four instruction rooms, each with 50 seats, are in the temple. . Covering the instruction rooms is carpet carved with a diamond pattern and circle accents.

The Celestial Room of the temple is on the center of the Second and Thrid floors, having a vaulted ceiling.

The Temple sealing rooms are on the top floor of the temple.