Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple Wiki

Details

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.

Announced

President Thomas S. Monson announced that the City of Brotherly Love would be home to Pennsylvania’s first temple during his opening remarks of the 178th Semiannual General Conference. The temple was announced jointly with four other temple locations including Calgary, Canada; Córdoba, Argentina; Kansas City, Missouri; and Rome, Italy.^[1]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Church Continues Temple Building Throughout the World,” 4 Oct. 2008.

The temple was originally to be a multipurpose building constructed at the northeast corner of North Broad Street and Noble Street, but contamination problems on the site—discovered after the purchase—prohibited the Church from using the entire parcel as planned. Church officials began combing the city for another suitable site and by May 2009, they had contacted Stephen Klein dba 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.^[2]Jennifer Lin, “Developers say RDA crackdown hurting projects,” The Philadelphia Inquirer 4 Jun. 2010, 4 Jun. 2010 .

On November 19, 2009, theChurch announced it would be moving the project to the Vine Street in downtown Philadelphia, directly northeast of Logan Circle.[5][6][7] 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.^[3]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

According to the Deseret News, the LDS Philadelphia project includes the temple — expected to be complete in 2016, according to published reports — a meetinghouse across the street and a neighboring 32-story residential tower which will have 258 apartments and 13 townhouses, and will also include retail space. “The look of the temple’s two towers provides echoes of Independence Hall, the site two miles away where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.”

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.”^[4]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.^[5]”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.^[6]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.^[7]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.^[8]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.^[9]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.^[10]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.^[11]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

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple on Saturday, 17 September 2011 — the 224th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. Attendance at the temple site was by invitation only. ^[12]”Church Breaks Ground for Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Trujillo Peru Temples“, News Release, LDS Church, September 17, 2011, archived from the original on October 21, 2015, retrieved November 5, 2012^[13] Rosenlof, Celeste Tholen (September 18, 2011), “LDS Church breaks ground for first temple in Pennsylvania“, KSL.com, retrieved November 5, 2012^[14] Sowby, Laurie Williams (September 20, 2011), “President Eyring returns home for Philadelphia Temple groundbreaking“, Church News, retrieved November 5, 2012The event warranted a long story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.^[15]O’Reilly, David (September 18, 2011), “Construction to begin on Philadelphia’s Mormon temple“, The Philadelphia Inquirer, retrieved November 5, 2012.

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.^[16]”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.^[17]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.^[18]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.^[19]”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

A public open house was held from August 10 through September 9, 2016, excluding Sundays. According to the church, approximately 140,000 visitors attended the open house.^[20]Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). “President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place ‘where so much began‘”. Deseret News.

Cultural Celebration

A youth cultural celebration, which recognized the heritage of the region through song, dance, and narration, was held on September 17.^[21]”Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple”. LDSChurchTemples.com.^[22]”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. ^[23]Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). “President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place ‘where so much began‘”. Deseret News.^[24]”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

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple was dedicated as the 152nd temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday, 18 September 2016. It is the first temple in Philadelphia and the state. President Henry B. Eyring, the First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, dedicated the temple in three sessions 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. The dedicatory sessions were broadcast to all Church meetinghouses in Pennsylvania and those in the Philadelphia Temple district.

President Eyring has a close bond to this particular temple since he was born and lived in New Jersey and was baptized in Philadelphia as a boy.^[25]Weaver, Sarah Jane (September 18, 2016). “President Eyring dedicates temple in Philadelphia, the place ‘where so much began‘”. Deseret News.

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple will be the first temple built in Pennsylvania.

Details

Location

The temple services building and temple plaza, designed by Perkins+Will, complement the temple. The services building, which houses non-patron waiting space and restrooms as well as offices and support spaces, has a roof-top garden terrace and two levels of below-grade parking for 200 cars.^[26]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018. The 44 mature Bloodgood Japanese maples at the base of the temple shelter visitors from the outside world, while the plaza and roof gardens of the services building become stages for wedding parties and other social events.

Exterior

The church commissioned a contemporary temple from Perkins+Will, but chose a neoclassical design from architect of record FFKR, with Perkins+Will designing the temple’s interior, plaza, garage, landscape, and a services building. Roger Jackson of FFKR said that his company studied notable Philadelphia buildings when designing the temple, such as Christ Church’s tower, Independence Hall’s interior, and Franklin Institute.^[27]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

The exterior is light gray Deer Island granite to match nearby buildings. The stone is from was quarried off the coast of Maine, then shipped to Quebec Canada for cutting and carving. The stone is light gray with a taupe colored grain.

The Corinthian Capitals of the upper exterior columns weigh over 5,000 pounds each.

Arched windows punctuate the rusticated base course, and the stone detailing carefully follows the traditional Corinthian order in proportion and detail, with large pilasters supporting hand-carved capitals and a full entablature and cornice. Doric pilasters and a pair of historic-style decorative scones flank the entrance^[28]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

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.^[29]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”.^[30]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.^[31]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”.^[32]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.^[33]Tosti, Lauren (November 15, 2017). “2017 Construction Excellence Awards: Congratulations to the Winners!“. General Building Contractors Association.

Interior

“Since the early history of our country and the LDS church overlap in the early 19th century, it was natural to choose the British-influenced Late Georgian Style as the guide for the interiors,” Principal Architect Roger Jackson said. “The American interpretation of this style was meant to reflect ancient notions of democracy, citizenship and freedom of religion.”^[34]Ruhling, Nancy A. (December 13, 2016). “New Neoclassical Revival Mormon Temple“. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

The interior of the temple follows the classical order of architecture, like the exterior. The first floor and second floor features Doric order and details. The baptistry, dressing rooms and administrative offices, are on the first floow, while the second floor has spaces for patron dressing and the bride’s dressing suite.

Things begin to change with the third floor. The chapel and workers instruction are primarily fitted with the Doric order and details, like the floors below.

Also on the third floor are the two Ordinance Rooms, seating 60 people each. The rooms are arranged in a Progressive (2 stage) fashion. The first room has Doric features and has a naturalistic mural painted on the walls. The second room is in the more formal, embellished Ionic order.

Finally, at the east end of the Third floor is the Celestial Room, ornamented with the Corinthian order, defined by rich ornament and lighter colors.

The fourth floor has the Sealing Rooms where marriages are performed.

The decorative plaster ornament throughout the interior was hand-crafted by artisans who, following traditional methods, sculpted the details in clay and cast them with gypsum plaster.

The temple’s custom lighting fixtures were based on candle-light antiques, and the bronze hardware and rugs are custom and period-appropriate. The temple also features two hand-painted murals and eight original oils.