Spokane Washington Temple Wiki

Description

The Spokane Washington Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in the Spokane Washington suburb of Opportunity. It serves about 32,000 members in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.

History

Missionary work in the Spokane area began in 1854 with four elders sharing the message of Mormon Church. Almost 100 years later membership was only 5,000 statewide.

Announcement

In April 1998, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced plans to build small temples in areas of the Church where membership was small. This announcement opened a significant era of temple building, and by the end of 2000, the number of Mormon temples had doubled. 

On August 13, 1998, plans to build the Spokane Washington Temple, the fourth of the smaller temples, were announced. The small temples built before the Spokane Washington Temple — located in Monticello, Utah; Anchorage, Alaska; and Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico — proved to be too small, and the Monticello Utah Temple and Anchorage Alaska Temple were each expanded. The Colonia Juárez Chihuahua Mexico Temple was left unchanged and remains the smallest temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The floor plan used for these three preceding temples was enlarged to a 10,700-square-foot design for the Spokane Washington Temple, a floor plan that was then used for 38 succeeding temples. Slight variations were used for an additional 14 temples, and enlarged versions of this floor plan were used for 8 more temples. The Spokane Washington Temple was an important part of the Church’s ambitious effort to build identical small temples throughout the world.

Groundbreaking

Since the Church already owned the site, a groundbreaking ceremony took place only a month after the temple was announced.

At the groundbreaking ceremony in October of 1998, Elder F. Melvin Hammond of the Seventy said, “Everyone in this city will be blessed by the establishment of this glorious edifice, member and nonmember alike.”^[1]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Jan. 1999, 74

The site was dedicated in front of an audience of 1,000.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Spokane Washington Temple was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Detroit Michigan Temple, marking the first time that groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the same day.

Construction

Brother Rush Hashid, a truck driver from Albuquerque, New Mexico, transported the statue of the angel Moroni, the oxen, and baptismal font to the temple site in April 1999. He had not been aware, however, of the nature of his cargo until he arrived. Temple historian Mark Bickley, records: “Brother Hashie was so overcome with emotion when he learned what his cargo was that he went to the grove of trees just east of the temple and cried.”^[2]Julie Dockstader, “Amid rays of sunshine, 59th temple dedicated,” Church News 28 Aug. 1999: 3.

Local Church members, who previously had to travel 200 miles and over a mountain pass to attend the Seattle Washington Temple, responded enthusiastically to a call to help landscape the grounds of the new temple. Young children removed unwanted small rocks with their toy wheelbarrows, and adult members laid sod for the lawn.

Open House

A public open house was held from August 6 through 14, 1999, and more than 11,000 people toured the new edifice during the first weekend. Special VIP tours were given to government, civic and religious leaders on August 5.

During the open house of the Spokane Washington Temple 52,000 people toured the beautiful building. President Gordon B. Hinckley commented that as people toured, “They [were] most impressed with pictures of the Savior they see in these holy houses. They must know that the central figure in all of our worship is the Lord Jesus Christ. They will no longer regard us as a non-Christian people.”^[3]Gordon B. Hinckley, “Welcome to Conference,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 4

Dedication

On August 21, 1999, President Hinckley dedicated the Spokane Washington Temple with 16,000 members attending. 11 total dedicatory sessions were held on August 21st and 23rd. During the dedicatory prayer President Hinckley prayed, “Touch the hearts of the people in this temple district that the spirit of Elijah may rest upon them, that their hearts may turn to their fathers, and that they may be motivated to search out their forebears and do a great vicarious work on their behalf.”^[4]“News of the Church,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 109

He also prayed, “Preserve this Thy Holy House from defilement of any kind,” he prayed. “And may all who enter here be worthy in every way. May their thoughts be lifted to things of everlasting worth, and may this be a place of holiness to all who cross the threshold of its portals.”^[5]Spokane Washington Temple dedicatory prayer, in Church News, Aug. 28, 1999.

Between two of the sessions President Hinckley remarked of these smaller temples, “This is a very important movement, because it is making it possible to extend the temples to many, many more people.”^[6] In Julie Dockstader, “‘Wonderful Way’ to Make Temple Blessings Possible,” Church News, Aug. 28, 1999.

Dedication Order

The Spokane Washington Temple is the 59th operating temple. It was the second temple built in the state of Washington, following the Seattle Washington Temple (1980). A third Washington temple, The Columbia River Washington Temple, would be completed in 2001. A fourth temple for the state was announced on 7 April 2019 for Moses Lake.

Angel Turned

In March 2009, nearly a decade after its dedication, the Spokane Washington Temple received a new angel Moroni statue atop its spire. Instead of facing east as the original statue did, this statue was positioned facing west—the same orientation as the temple.

10th Anniversary

On August 22, 2009, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Spokane Washington Temple, members of the Spokane Washington East Stake ensured that every seat in every session was filled the entire day.

Presidents

Details

Location

Typical of these smaller temples, the Spokane Washington Temple is adjacent to a large Church building known as a stake center, and the two buildings share a parking lot. The temple occupies the lot that was once a softball field. A row of trees planted in the 1980s to provide shade now separates the temple grounds from the Church building.

Exterior

The Temple is constructed in the same contemporary modern single spire design as many of the other small temples announced by President Hinckley.

Cladding

The Spokane Washington Temple exterior is clad in granite.

Windows

Symbolism

Inscriptions

Cornerstone

ERECTED
2xxx

Spires and Moroni

Spire

Moroni

Interior

The Spokane Washington Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.

Rooms

Individuals and Contractors

Sources and Links

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation