Taylorsville Utah Temple Wiki

On October 5, 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Taylorsville Utah Temple at the 189th Semiannual General Conference. In a surprise move, he announced the new temples during general women’s session. ^[1]Nelson Russell, M. “Spiritual Treasures“. 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 5 October 2019, Web, ^[2]Toone, Trent (October 5, 2019). “8 new Latter-day Saint temples announced by President Nelson at women’s session“. Deseret News. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[3]Bennett, Craig (October 7, 2019). “Eight new temples announced in LDS Church semiannual conference“. KDXU News. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[4]Noyce, David (October 5, 2019). “Latter-day Saint temples coming to Orem and Taylorsville, upping Utah’s eventual total to 23“. The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved October 17, 2019. ^[5]Walker, Sean (October 6, 2019). “5 takeaways from the 189th semiannual general conference“. KSL.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.

The Taylorsville Utah Temple will be the twenty-third temple built in Utah and the fifth built in the Salt Lake Valley, following the Salt Lake Temple (1893), the Jordan River Utah Temple (1981), the Draper Utah Temple (2009), and the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple (2009).

Utah Temples at Time of Announcement

Announced

• Saratoga Springs Utah [groundbreaking scheduled
• Layton Utah
• Orem Utah
• Red Cliffs Utah

Under Construction

• –

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 13 August 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Taylorsville Utah Temple was released, revealing a three-story building of approximately 70,000 square feet with a central spire. Two-level parking was planned for the site, providing both surface and underground parking spaces.^[8]“Renderings Released for Three Temples in the Western United States.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 7 Apr. 2020, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/renderings-released-three-temples-western-united-states.

Note that the render shows a more orange-brown color than the final temple would have, the color being changed during construction.

Ground was broken on Saturday, 31 October 2020, for a new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be constructed in Taylorsville, Utah. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the event.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the groundbreaking ceremony was private. About 25 people attended the event by invitation, wearing masks and sitting in upholstered folding chairs spread far apart in an open field under a cloudless but hazy blue sky on a cool morning. Guests included local leaders representing the communities in the temple district along Utah’s Jordan River corridor, including Kearns, West Valley City, Taylorsville, Bennion, Murray, and Cottonwood. Neighbors from the homes on the temple’s southern border peered over a cinderblock wall to watch and listen to the ceremony.

In his site dedication prayer, Elder Gong mentioned the settlement of the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, when Joseph and Susanna Harker, of England, crossed the Jordan River in 1848 to establish a fort and a home right in the valley’s center. The Harkers’ great-great-great grandson, Max Harker, 17, spoke at the groundbreaking and related how they gave up their home, their country and lost two children traveling to Utah. He encouraged those in attendance and those who will watch video of the ceremony to engage in family history and temple work. He said, “I am thrilled for a temple to be built here in Taylorsville. I’m excited to continue the legacy of Joseph Harker.”

During the dedicatory prayer, he said, “Gathered in these times, in person and via technology, we acknowledge and rejoice with faithful generations, including in historic ‘over Jordan’ communities, who have, here at heart, made this valley home. We celebrate the continuing legacy and promise of their righteous lives and examples.” He continued, “Grateful roots and wings, we come as one from across our generations, communities, heritages and languages — one in heart and mind, one in the restored gospel of Thy Son Jesus Christ, one in the household of faith and fellowship of the saints.”

In his site dedication, Elder Gong also prayed that the temple would radiate as a blessing to the community, which was named for John Taylor, the third president and prophet of the Church.

Elder Craig C. Christensen, Utah Area President, conducted the groundbreaking service. He commented, “This temple will be not just a blessing to the members of the church, but everyone in this community will take some sense of ownership and pride. We’re just watching the temples start to dot this land. It’s a reflection of the strength of the saints in Utah.”^[10]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, “Taylorsville Utah Temple Groundbreaking Signals Official Start of Construction,” 31 Oct. 2020..

The Taylorsville Utah Temple was dedicated in two sessions by Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 2 June 2024. He was accompanied by his wife, Sister Susan Gong; Elder Hugo E. Martínez, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Utah Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Nuria Martinez; and Elder Erich W. Kopischke, a General Authority Seventy and assistant executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Christiane Kopischke.

The temple has special ties to the Gongs because of Sister Gong’s father, the late general authority Elder Richard P. Lindsay, who as a bishop led the Taylorsville 2nd Ward in constructing a chapel that stood on the site of what is now the Taylorsville temple.^[13]Rappleye, Christine, and David Schneider. “Elder Gerrit W. Gong Dedicates Taylorsville Utah Temple.” Church News, 6 June 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/06/02/taylorsville-utah-temple-dedication-elder-gerrit-gong-come-to-the-temple.

Elder Gong first came to Taylorsville 45 years ago to meet his fiancée’s family, including Susan’s parents, the late Elder Richard P. and Sister Marian Bangerter Lindsay. The Lindsay family are one of many multi-generation families living in the area served by the Taylorsville temple home.

“Many have deep roots, many are new, all are pioneers,” Elder Gong said. “These are faithful, honored stakes and communities which have grown up, including in Bennion, Kearns, Magna, Midvale, Murray, Granger, Hunter and Taylorsville. This heart of the valley represents being ‘one in the household of faith and fellowship of the Saints.’”[1]

With temples coming closer to many members in many places, including now in Taylorsville, Elder Gong said he hopes people will find their circumstances include “a desire to come more frequently to the Lord in the house of the Lord.”

There are many blessings when people come to the Lord through His ordinances and covenants in His holy house. “We come and understand more about who He is. We draw closer to God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and we and our loved ones can receive Their mercy, protection, strength and power.”

“Temples help prepare us to enter the presence of the Lord,” Elder Gong said. He added: “This invitation and opportunity is for all of us. Youth can attend regularly, with the opportunity to grow up with the house of the Lord.” With changes in the youth programs and age progression in the past few years, youth can receive a temple recommend in January of the year they turn 12.^[14]“Elder Gerrit W. Gong Dedicates Taylorsville Utah Temple.” newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 2 June 2024, newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-gong-dedicates-taylorsville-utah-temple.

When the Taylorsville temple was dedicated, its district comprised 38 stakes in the central Salt Lake Valley, an area with a blend of both pioneer-descended multigenerational members and newer residents from around the world — particularly large populations of Latinos and Pacific Islanders, many of whom attend the multiple Spanish-speaking wards and Tongan-speaking stakes in the area.^[15]Rappleye, Christine, and David Schneider. “Elder Gerrit W. Gong Dedicates Taylorsville Utah Temple.” Church News, 6 June 2024, www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2024/06/02/taylorsville-utah-temple-dedication-elder-gerrit-gong-come-to-the-temple.

A church owned property and site of an existing meetinghouse and recreational field at 2603 West 4700 South was chosen as the location for the temple.

It stands on the former site of a Church meetinghouse and recreational field.

Site

The landscaping consists of annuals, shrub beds and turf areas, with many evergreen and deciduous trees. Due to the tight nature of the site, nearly half of the landscape is planted over structure, requiring limited solid-depth and sub-grade tree rootball anchors. Drought-tolerant plant material, limited turf areas and an efficient smart-controlled drip irrigation system were used in an effort to be water wise and maintenance friendly.

Fencing is ornamental aluminum and manufactured by Ameristar. It runs along the north and west property lines. Precast concrete panel fencing, manufactured by Olympus Precast and Verti-Crete, runs along the south and east property lines. A Belgard Mega-Tandem retaining wall system curves around the temple and is used as a veneer on the north plaza stairs as well as the stairs and ramp to the parking garage. Belgard concrete pavers create the decorative paving pattern in the four main plazas, which take their quatrefoil design inspiration from the archi­tecture. The site wall stone veneer matches the architec­tural exterior stone.

The Taylorsville Utah Temple is made with structural steel and Concrete.

The architectural style is being called pioneer-era Gothic. The architect derived much inspiration from local pioneer tabernacles.

Cladding

The exterior is clad in a light creame stone.

Windows

The exterior art glass was designed by the consultant designer from FFKR Architects. The designs pay homage to the area’s pioneer heritage while also incorporating arches and motifs inspired by Gothic architecture. The flowers are stylized versions of local Utah wildflowers, specifically the bird’s-foot trefoil, “red beauty” bergenia, and broad­leaved gilia. The deep burgundy, lavender and gold color palette was also inspired by the richness of Gothic architecture but stays true to the natural colors found in the west side of the valley.

Spandrel panel

Between window levels a carved stone spanderel panel can be found featuring a portion of a repeating quatrafoil pattern.

The cornerstone is on the south west corner of the temple and faces south

A large octagonal steeple tops the tower, covered in slate tiles. below that, a white fiberglass solid railing marks the transition between the steeple and the tower.

The tower is made of three stacked octagonal blocks, progressively smaller in diameter as tehey go up. The middle block is smallest, with the bottom block being both taller and wider. The narrowest block, at the top, is also taller than the other two togetherr, and features pairs of art glass windows in an arch, with pilasters marking each corner of the octagon.

The entire construction sits atop a square pedestal, to which all the diagonal cornerrs of the roof meet. The pedestal is topped with a short railing, made of circle elements linked by a half diamon dhape on the sides, and intersected by half diamond shapes at the top and bottom, creating an “x” shape int he negative space within the circle.

The temple features a conical finial atop the spire. A small sphere at te top is just below a bright red light, neccesitated by the temple’s proximity to an airport. A large tourus with multiple levels breaks up the shape about 1/3 fromt he bottom, and a similar but smaller andd more plain torus caps the spire at the bottom of the finial.