Draper Utah Temple is unlike any other

The new Draper Temple of the LDS Church is unlike any other temple along the Wasatch Front.

That's because it is smaller, has its own design, features some

unique artwork, lacks a patron cafeteria and has no clothing rental

facilities.

A contingent of more than three dozen media took a 90-minute tour

of the new temple Friday. The general public can tour temples of The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, until they are dedicated.

Public open houses of the Draper Temple begin Jan. 15 and go through March 14. The temple will be dedicated March 20-22.

Nestled in Corner Canyon in the southeast foothills of the Salt

Lake Valley at 14065 S. Canyon Vista Lane, this temple (and the Oquirrh

Temple now under construction in South Jordan's Daybreak community)

will ease pressure on the Jordan River Utah Temple. It will serve

approximately 60,000 church members in the Draper area.

This will be the 129th operating temple in the world, the 12th in Utah and the third in Salt Lake County.

"This is a great event for us as the dedication of any temple is,"

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, said.

"This is a great time for the church to dedicate another house unto the

Lord."

Elder William R. Walker, executive director of the church's temple

department, described the Draper Temple as "medium-sized," among the

church's other temples. He said it is about one-fourth the size of the

Salt Lake Temple, at 58,300-square-feet. It is approximate in size to

the Rexburg, Idaho Temple and smaller than the Jordan River or

Bountiful temples.