Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Wiki

Quick Facts

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History

Two years prior to the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, Church President, Joseph Smith, moved to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and lived in the home of Isaac Hale, his father-in-law. After a few weeks, he moved to a cabin adjacent to the farm. It was in this cabin where Joseph Smith translated most of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ – a companion volume of scripture to the Bible. Joseph and the first members of the Church were baptized in the Susquehanna River in May 1829. A total of 12 congregations were organized in Pennsylvania in the 1830s, prior to the gatherings of Saints to Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. One prominent congregation in Philadelphia had more than 200 members before 1840 and 8 to 10 new members were baptized weekly. Membership fell following the migration of the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley, but grew again as Mormon European emigrants arrived. Eventually the first stake was organized in 1960 with 1,100 members located in congregations in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

Another significant event in Church history which occurred in Pennsylvania was the restoration of Priesthood authority. On 15 May 1829, having read about baptism for the remission of sins as they worked on the translation of the gold plates, Joseph Smith and his scribe Oliver Cowdery went to a secluded area to inquire of the Lord concerning the matter. There, on the banks of the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania, they received the answer to their prayer. John the Baptist, a resurrected being, came to them as “a messenger from heaven . . . in a cloud of light.” He conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood. Then, in obedience to his instructions, Joseph and Oliver baptized each other and ordained each other to the Aaronic Priesthood. Also in May 1829, the ancient Apostles Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. In June 1829, guided “by the gift and power of God” Doctrine and Covenants 135:3, the Prophet Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon. In 1839, Joseph visited Philadelphia to organize a branch of the Church and speak to a gathering of 3,000 people.

Today there are 51,406 members, 2 missions, 12 stakes, 84 wards, and 30 branches in Pennsylvania alone. The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple will be the first temple in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware region. The Philadelphia Temple District will include 10 stakes — seven in Pennsylvania, two in Delaware, and one in New Jersey.

Announcement

Location Announced

Not even 4 days after the temple was announced, a local paper announced that it would be built on the 400 block of North Broad street on the corner shared with Noble Street. This would put the temple across from the Philadelphia School District headquarters on a parking lot. According to city tax records, the church paid $4 million in October 2007 for three lots totaling 39,000 square feet — a little less than an acre.^[2]Maykuth, Andrew. “Phila. Mormon Temple to Be Built on North Broad Street.” Inquirer.com, 8 Oct. 2008, www.inquirer.com/philly/news/breaking/20081008_Mormon_temple_to_be_built_in_Philadelphia.html. The Newspaper says that the “Church Announced” the location, but I have been unable to find said announcement. No design for this temple had been completed, but it as expected to be similar in concept to other temples in urban settings such as the Manhattan New York Temple and Hong Kong China Temple, which are multi-purpose high-rise buildings.^[3]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “New Temple Site Locations Announced,” 7 Oct. 2008, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/new-temple-site-locations-announced. Gerald Prue, director of the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Metro Family History Center, affirms that the temple will indeed be a multi-level building with offices and a visitors’ center on the lower floors and ordinance rooms on the top floors.^[4]Melamed, Alex. “Mormon Temple Planned for Phila.” The DP, 20 Oct. 2008, www.thedp.com/article/2008/10/mormon_temple_planned_for_phila.

Temple Relocated

A little over a year after the original location announcement, contamination problems on the site—discovered after the purchase—prohibited the Church from using the entire parcel as planned. The plan had been to built 2 structures on the site, but the newly discovered issues preempted that possibility. Church officials began combing the city for another suitable site and by May 2009, they had contacted Stephen Klein of Logan Place Associates about his Vine Street property.

On August 10, 2009, Klein signed an agreement to sell the property to the Church for an undisclosed sum.^[5]Jennifer Lin, “Developers say RDA crackdown hurting projects,” The Philadelphia Inquirer 4 Jun. 2010, 4 Jun. 2010 .

Location Announced

On November 19, 2009, the Church officially announced it would be moving the project to the Vine Street in downtown Philadelphia, directly northeast of Logan Circle. This location places the temple near the Parkway Central Library, Family Court Building, and the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, head church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.^[6]Church News Archives. “Downtown Site for Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple.” Church News, 11 Jan. 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/2009/11/27/23229335/downtown-site-for-philadelphia-pennsylvania-temple.^[7]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

In January 2010, Church officials met with top administration officials of the City of Philadelphia to review preliminary plans for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. Darrell Clarke, councilman for the 5th district, referred to the plans as magnificent. “I think it’s important for the city of Philadelphia to have such a facility in the city, as opposed to the suburbs. I think the long-term benefits of bringing that many people—upwards of 400,000 visits per year to the city—is very significant.”^[8]Mike Dunn, “City Officials Review Plans for Mormon Temple Downtown,” KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia 9 Jan. 2010, 9 Jan. 2010

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Councilman Clarke introduced a bill to the City Council to amend Section 14-1611 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Benjamin Franklin Parkway Controls.” The proposed ordinance would exempt certain building features from being considered as part of the height of a building within a specified area subject to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Controls, which would allow for construction of the preliminarily designed Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. The bill was referred to the Committee on Rules.^[9]”Journal of the City Council of Philadelphia,” City of Philadelphia 15 Apr. 2010, 12 May 2010 .

On May 12, 2010, the Committee on Rules—a committee organized under the Philadelphia City Council—held a hearing to receive public comment on the ordinance, which would allow “monuments, belfries, cupolas, minarets, pinnacles, gables, spires, or ornamental towers not intended for human occupancy” to exceed the 125-foot height limit imposed on buildings subject to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Controls up to a maximum of 209 feet. Following the hearing, the Committee unanimously recommended City Council approval, which would permit construction of the temple with double spires that reach just over 200 feet high.^[10]Natalie Kostelni, “Mormon temple hops hurdle,” Philadelphia Business Journal 14 May 2010, 14 May 2010 .

On May 18, 2010, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission added its endorsement to the zoning code amendment recommended by the Committee on Rules. Church spokesman Ahmad Corbitt explained to the Commission that three meetings with the community had already been held where the plans were explained; neighbors were supportive. He also noted that the spires will not reach the top of the cross of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul across the Parkway.^[11]Kellie Patrick Gates, “PCPC accepts Eastern North Philadelphia plan,” Plan Philly 18 May 2010, 27 May 2010 .

On June 3, 2010, the Philadelphia City Council voted unanimously to approve the height ordinance in its second and final vote, enacting the ordinance into law. The first vote was taken on May 20.

On June 7, 2010, interagency discord was plainly evident at a hearing where City Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell—chair of the committee on housing, neighborhood development, and the homeless—criticized the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) for taking legal action in an attempt to reclaim land in high-profile, Council-supported projects including the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. “Why fight projects we support?” Blackwell asked RDA director Terry Gillen. The RDA brought legal action against Stephen Klein, who has development rights on the property, on grounds that he let the site sit undeveloped too long. Klein signed an agreement to sell the site to the Church on August 10, 2009.^[12]Jennifer Lin, “City Council grills RDA over stalled land projects,” The Philadelphia Inquirer 8 Jun. 2010, 8 Jun. 2010 .

On August 2, 2010, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced that construction of the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple would move forward at its Vine Street location near Logan Square. The fate of the project came under question when the RDA attempted to seize the property by suing the site’s developer for letting the property remain undeveloped for too long. RDA officials then offered to drop the lawsuit if the developer would pay the agency 25 percent of the proceeds of the sale of the property to the Church. The mayor did not elaborate on how this dispute had been resolved, but he did express that the addition of the temple would make Benjamin Franklin Parkway “one of the most incredible boulevards anywhere in the world.” Final site plans and architectural drawings, which may be available in September, still must go before the Planning Commission and City Council before final City approval is received.^[13]David O’Reilly, “After dispute, Mormon Temple will be built in Philly,” Philadelphia Inquirer 2 Aug. 2010, 2 Aug. 2010 .

On September 8, 2010, Mayor Nutter announced the unpetitioned contribution of $300,000 from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Philadelphia’s prisoner-reentry program, namely the Mayor’s Office of Reintegration Services for Ex-Offenders (RISE). The program assists former prisoners to reenter society through schooling, job training, job placement, housing, drug and alcohol treatment, and “life coaches.” Church leaders selected the program because “it fits with the mission of the Church.” The month before, the mayor announced preliminary approval of the Church’s plan to construct the Philadelphia temple. Renderings of the project have not been released, but the groundbreaking is expected to occur in late 2011 with completion anticipated in 2014.^[14]David O’Reilly, “Mormons contribute $300,000 to Philadelphia prisoner-reentry program,” The Philadelphia Inquirer 9 Sept. 2010, 10 Sept. 2010 .

On September 21, 2010, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved an amendment to the Center City Redevelopment Area Plan, which would accommodate the Church’s plans for facilities on Vine Street, including the temple.

In December 2010, the Church became the owners of the Vine Street property when sale of the parcel was finalized. Peter Kelsen, a Blank Rome attorney representing the Church on the project, indicated that the Church would quickly move forward with the necessary land and zoning approvals to allow ground to be broken. He noted that an opening is targeted for 2013.^[15]Natalie Kostelni, “Church of Latter-Day Saints buys land for $70M temple,” Philadelphia Business Journal 3 Dec. 2010, 7 Feb. 2011 .

Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy unveiled the official rendering of the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple for the first time at a VIP event held prior to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert in Philadelphia’s Mann Center on June 24, 2011.

Groundbreaking

Render Released

By July 2012, no significant work had begun on the temple as a contractor had not been found to remove the existing parking lot and start the below ground excavation for the two-level parking garage.^[20]”Fall groundbreaking expected for Philadelphia’s Mormon temple” David O’Reilly, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 26, 2012

In November 2012, the Philadelphia Art Commission granted final approval for the temple design, despite some members feeling the building was too similar to other buildings in the vicinity in its appearance.^[21]Plan Philly, Nov. 8, 2012

Most of the parking lot on the temple site had been removed by February 2013, and by May 2 that year, the underground digging for the building of the temple had been completed.

City and church officials announced in February 2014 that a meetinghouse and a 32-story residential building will be built on a lot adjacent to the temple site, at 1601 Vine Street. The residential structure and meetinghouse were designed by Paul L. Whalen of RAMSA. The meetinghouse will serve approximately 1,000 of the 25,000 Latter-day Saints in the Philadelphia area and will include a Family History Center. The residential building is anticipated to include 258 apartments and 13 townhouses, along with retail space, and be subject to regular, applicable taxes.^[22]McCrystal, Laura (February 14, 2014). “Mormons to build 32-story tower near Center City“. Philly.com. Retrieved January 10, 2016.

The building was framed to its full height by August 2014.^[23]”August 23, 2014 LDS Church News article on progress on the Philadelphia Temple“. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2014.

In a Friday, 2 October 2015 Deseret News article, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated, “It is in a way symbolic. It’s nice to have these two buildings, those key symbols of our faith, the basilica and the temple, side by side almost. I think they complement each other well.” The archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput, who spoke at Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2014, and also during Elder Christofferson’s presentation at the World Meeting of Families, commented that Catholics can learn from Mormons about strengthening families. Elder Christofferson further commented, “here are many ways and venues in which we’re participating together, and these great buildings side by side say, ‘Here we are, together.'”

Stake President, Jordan Peterson, a PNC Bank senior vice president who lives in suburban Lansdale, commented, “I’ve been to the Manhattan Temple many times, and to the Washington D.C. Temple, but Philadelphia is in a really historical and wonderful place. I really believe it’s going to be an icon in the city and draw people to it.”

Angel Moroni Statue is Put in Place

On 30 December 2015, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints placed an Angel Moroni statue atop the highest spire of its temple in downtown Philadelphia, thus marking a major milestone in the construction of the first Mormon temple in Pennsylvania. An area seventy and senior Church leader for the Philadelphia region, Elder Milan Kunz, commented, “Mormons in our area have been watching for this visible highlight of the construction period. It indicates the temple is nearing completion and it adds a new image to the skyline of the city.” He further stated, “Our temples point us to Jesus Christ. These sacred edifices are houses of the Lord and play a key role in strengthening our faith and commitment to follow Jesus Christ and His teachings.”

Moroni is a prophet from the Book of Mormon, which Latter-day Saints consider scripture and a companion to the Bible for study and teaching. The statue of Moroni is not a figure of worship, but rather a symbol of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Picturesque Tour of the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple

Open House

Cultural Celebration

A youth cultural celebration, which recognized the heritage of the region through song, dance, and narration, was held on September 17.^[25]”Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple”. LDSChurchTemples.com.^[26]”The First Presidency Announces Open House and Dedication Dates for Three Temples: Temples to open in Sapporo, Japan, Freiberg, Germany, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania“, Newsroom, LDS Church, January 21, 2016 Like the groundbreaking in 2011, the cultural celebration occurred on the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. ^[27]Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). “President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place ‘where so much began‘”. Deseret News.^[28]”Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Is Dedicated as Church’s 152nd: President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency dedicates“, Newsroom, LDS Church, September 18, 2016

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, presided over the cultural celebration at Temple University.

Dedication

Dedicatory Order

Details

Location

Exterior

In 2016 Inga Saffron, architecture critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer, called the temple “the most radical work of architecture built in Philadelphia in a half-century … because it dares to be so out of step with today’s design sensibilities and our bottom-line culture.” Estimating its cost as more than $100 million, she wrote that the temple was “the real classical deal” and “a bold incursion into the hierarchical fabric of Philadelphia”. Saffron praised the interior woodwork as “exceptional” and approved of the exterior replicating the nearby Family Court building, “the last truly satisfying neoclassical design”. She criticized the decision to put the front door on 17th Street, stating that the temple “turns its back on Logan Square. It occupies this important civic space without being a real participant”. Saffron also disliked the design of the LDS chapel next door, describing the Robert A. M. Stern-designed building as “strange … a squashed cupcake with a giant candle stuck on top”, with a “baffling” drainage ditch on Vine Street.^[33]Saffron, Inga (August 2, 2016). “Changing Skyline: Mormon Temple: Radical conservative upstart“. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 2, 2016.

Jeffrey S. Markovitz of Hidden City Philadelphia agreed that the temple “respects the neoclassical monuments of the Logan Square neighborhood”, stating that it “is simultaneously new and appears to have been there all along”. He concluded that Benjamin Franklin Parkway gained “an august edifice [that] joins a list of the city’s most noteworthy architectural monuments”.^[34]Markovitz, Jeffrey S. (August 2, 2016). “Mormon Temple Transcends Tradition On The Parkway“. Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Curbed described the temple as the “most unexpected surprise” of Philadelphia architecture that year.^[35]Romero, Melissa (December 22, 2016). “Year in Review: Philly’s best new architecture of 2016“. Curbed Philly. Retrieved July 5, 2018. Architect Jackson claimed that in 2016 a tour guide told a friend that the temple was “‘one of the old buildings’ … That was not our intent, but it was a side benefit”.^[36]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

In 2017, the temple won the Excellence in Craftsmanship award from the General Building Contractors Association.^[37]Tosti, Lauren (November 15, 2017). “2017 Construction Excellence Awards: Congratulations to the Winners!“. General Building Contractors Association.

Interior

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

Celestial Room

Sealing Room

Assembly Hall

Cafeteria

Yes

Clothing Issue

Yes

Region

TEMPLES IN UNITED STATES _{by state}

Alabama	2	Birmingham · Huntsville
Alaska	2	Anchorage · Fairbanks
Arizona	9	Flagstaff · Gilbert · Mesa · Phoenix · Queen Creek · Snowflake · The Gila Valley · Tucson · Yuma
Arkansas	1	Bentonville
California	12	Bakersfield · Feather River · Fresno · Los Angeles · Modesto · Newport · Oakland · Redlands · Sacramento · San Diego · San Jose · Yorba Linda
Colorado	4	Colorado Springs · Denver · Fort Collins · Grand Junction
Connecticut	1	Hartford
Florida	5	Fort Lauderdale · Jacksonville · Orlando · Tallahassee · Tampa
Georgia	1	Atlanta
Hawaii	4	Honolulu · Kahului · Kona · Laie
Idaho	11	Boise · Burley · Caldwell · Coeur d’Alene · Idaho Falls · Meridian · Montpelier · Pocatello · Rexburg · Teton River · Twin Falls
Illinois	2	Chicago · Nauvoo
Indiana	1	Indianapolis
Iowa	1	Des Moines
Kansas	1	Wichita
Kentucky	1	Louisville
Louisiana	1	Baton Rouge
Maine	1	Portland
Maryland	1	Washington D.C.
Massachusetts	1	Boston
Michigan	2	Detroit · Grand Rapids
Minnesota	1	St. Paul
Missouri	3	Kansas City · Springfield · St. Louis
Montana	3	Billings · Helena · Missoula
Nebraska	1	Winter Quarters
Nevada	4	Elko · Las Vegas · Lone Mountain · Reno
New Jersey	1	Summit
New Mexico	2	Albuquerque · Farmington
New York	2	Manhattan · Palmyra
North Carolina	2	Charlotte · Raleigh
North Dakota	1	Bismarck
Ohio	3	Cincinnati · Cleveland · Columbus
Oklahoma	2	Oklahoma City · Tulsa
Oregon	3	Medford · Portland · Willamette Valley
Pennsylvania	3	Harrisburg · Philadelphia · Pittsburgh
South Carolina	1	Columbia · Greenville
South Dakota	1	Rapid City
Tennessee	3	Knoxville · Memphis · Nashville
Texas	10	Austin · Dallas · El Paso · Fort Worth · Houston South · Houston · Lubbock · McAllen · McKinney · San Antonio
Utah	32	Bountiful · Brigham City · Cedar City · Deseret Peak · Draper · Ephraim · Heber Valley · Jordan River · Layton · Lehi · Lindon · Logan · Manti · Monticello · Mount Timpanogos · Ogden · Oquirrh Mountain · Orem · Payson · Price · Provo Rock Canyon · Provo City Center · Red Cliffs · Salt Lake · Saratoga Springs · St. George · · Smithfield · Spanish Fork · Syracuse · Taylorsville · Vernal · West Jordan
Virginia	4	Norfolk · Richmond · Roanoke · Winchester
Washington	6	Columbia River · Moses Lake · Seattle · Spokane · Tacoma · Vancouver
Wisconsin	1	Milwaukee
Wyoming	3	Casper · Cody · Star Valley

Total: 158

TEMPLES IN NORTH AMERICA _{by country}

Canada	11	Calgary · Cardston · Edmonton · Halifax · Lethbridge · Montreal · Regina · Toronto · Vancouver · Victoria · Winnipeg
Costa Rica	1	San José
Dominican Republic	1	Santiago · Santo Domingo
El Salvador	1	San Salvador · Santa Ana
Guatemala	6	Cobán · Guatemala City · Huehuetenango · Miraflores Monterrey · Guatemala City · Quetzaltenango · Retalhuleu
Haiti	1	Port-au-Prince ·
Honduras	2	Tegucigalpa · San Pedro Sula
Mexico	27	Cancún · Chihuahua · Ciudad Juárez · Colonia Juárez · Cuernavaca · Culiacan · Guadalajara · Hermosillo Sonora · Juchitán de Zaragoza · Merida · Mexico City Benemerito · Mexico City · Monterrey · Oaxaca · Pachuca · Puebla · Querétaro · Reynosa · San Luis Potosi · Tampico · Tijuana · Toluca · Torreon · Tula · Tuxtla Gutierrez · Veracruz · Villahermosa
Nicaragua	1	Managua
Panama	1	Panama City
Puerto Rico	1	San Juan
United States	158	Albuquerque · Anchorage · Atlanta · Austin · Bakersfield · Baton Rouge · Bentonville · Billings · Birmingham · Bismarck · Boise · Boston · Bountiful · Brigham City · Burley · Caldwell · Casper · Cedar City · Charlotte · Chicago · Cincinnati · Cleveland · Cody · Coeur d’Alene · Colorado Springs · Columbia · Columbia River · Columbus · Dallas · Denver · Des Moines · Deseret Peak · Detroit · Draper · El Paso · Elko · Ephraim · Fairbanks · Fairview · Farmington · Feather River · Flagstaff · Fort Collins · Fort Lauderdale · Fort Worth · Fresno · The Gila Valley · Gilbert · Grand Junction · Grand Rapids · Greenville · Harrisburg · Hartford · Heber Valley · Helena · Honolulu · Houston South · Houston · Huntsville · Idaho Falls · Indianapolis · Jacksonville · Jordan River · Kahului · Kansas City · Knoxville · Kona · Laie · Las Vegas · Layton · Lehi · Lindon · Logan · Lone Mountain · Los Angeles · Louisville · Lubbock · Manhattan · Manti · McAllen · Medford · Memphis · Meridian · Mesa · Milwaukee · Missoula · Modesto · Monticello · Montpelier · Moses Lake · Mount Timpanogos · Nashville · Nauvoo · Newport · Norfolk · Oakland · Ogden · Oklahoma City · Oquirrh Mountain · Orem · Orlando · Palmyra · Payson · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Pittsburgh · Pocatello · Portland M · Portland O · Price · Provo City Center · Provo Rock Canyon · Queen Creek · Raleigh · Rapid City · Red Cliffs · Redlands · Reno · Rexburg · Richmond · Roanoke · Sacramento · Salt Lake · San Antonio · San Diego · San Jose · Saratoga Springs · Seattle · Smithfield · Snowflake · Spanish Fork · Spokane · Springfield · St. George · St. Louis · St. Paul · Star Valley · Summit · Syracuse · Tacoma · Tallahassee · Tampa · Taylorsville · Teton River · Tucson · Tulsa · Twin Falls · Vancouver · Vernal · Washington D.C. · West Jordan · Wichita · Willamette Valley · Winchester · Winter Quarters · Yorba Linda · Yuma

Total: 209

Sources and Citations

Last updated on: 9 October 2025