From Deseret News archives:

Ground broken for LDS temple

South Jordan edifice to be Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Published: Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006 11:08 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
SOUTH JORDAN — Top LDS leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for what will be known as the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan's new Daybreak housing and commercial development.

Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds gathered in a temporary structure set up for the morning meeting. President Gordon B. Hinckley told members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — both the congregation and those gathered in LDS meetinghouses to view the proceedings by satellite — that the new edifice will be known as the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.

Patrons "won't know how to spell it," he said to laughter from the crowd, "but they don't come to the temple to spell. They come to participate in the work of the Lord."

Previous reports have referred to the planned structure at Daybreak as the "South Jordan" temple in order to distinguish it from the Jordan River Temple, a building double the size of the new 60,000-square-foot edifice.

The Jordan River Temple also sits in the city of South Jordan, making it the first city in the world to have two LDS temples within its boundaries.

The new building, which is scheduled to be completed in two years, will be the fourth temple in the Salt Lake Valley.

Story continues below
Oquirrh is a Goshute Indian word, President Hinckley said, noting the building's location near the base of the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. "Oquirrh" has been interpreted to mean "Shining Mountains."

Although the name may seem strange to some, "people don't know how to spell Timpanogos, and some can't even spell Salt Lake City," he quipped.

He said the temple is "the greatest Christmas present" that Latter-day Saints in the South Jordan area can receive. "We couldn't have a better present than a house of the Lord."

The 12-acre temple site sits on a bluff that commands a view of most of the Salt Lake Valley.

"If the valley keeps growing, we may have to build another one," he said, a reference to a fifth temple he announced for the Salt Lake Valley in October 2005 but didn't specify a location for. "But it won't be soon," he said.

President Hinckley also spoke of temple-building in other parts of the world, announcing plans to construct a new temple in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

"The temple in Guatemala City (dedicated in 1984) can't accommodate all those who wish to come. We'll probably be building further temples in Brazil and in other parts of the world. These will bless the people in a way no other structure on Earth can bless them."

Presidents Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, first and second counselors, respectively, in the church's First Presidency, also addressed the gathering.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

President Gordon B. Hinckley, right, is joined by other LDS Church leaders at the groundbreaking for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

previousnext

Latest comments

I love football. Thats all there is too it. I will say I am a major Utah Fan...

This Mormon rant is boring. People get tired of hearing that the Mormon...

So after Max's rant about Utah fans, what will be the response from Utah fans...

NBA Sunday

Actually, the Lakers have lost twice at home. Once to Houston and once to...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

As a Background investigator I realize MAD MAX may not hold any government...

Max, I'm from Brigham City. If you have the guts, contact me. The BYU fans...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Whoever wrote this is probably the most thoughtful person out there. A lot of...

And then, of course, there is no authority for a group like NASA, so we can...

Why no mention of Climategate? You know, the leaked e-mails, data and code...

Great article and as much as I hate to say (I really think, and always have,...

Advertisements