Church completes Manhattan temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the completion of its first-ever temple in New York City.

It will open the new temple in Manhattan at 125 Columbus Ave. across from Lincoln Center June 13. The temple will serve more than 42,000 church members in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

A public open house will be held from May 8 through June 5 before the building is formally dedicated, after which it will be closed to the public.

This particular temple is unusual because of its location in midtown Manhattan. Most LDS temples are free-standing structures surrounded by manicured gardens in suburban settings, but the Manhattan temple was built in an existing building that rises six stories above ground in an urban setting one block west of Central Park. The temple uses four of the building's levels — the other levels house a chapel, classrooms and church offices.

The building is adjacent to other city buildings and blends into the surrounding urban landscape.

Brent Belnap, chairman of the temple committee, said the church is expecting thousands of visitors.

President Gordon B. Hinckley will formally dedicate the temple on June 13.