Houston Texas Temple
| Houston Texas Temple | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
 | ||||
| Number | 97 | |||
| Dedication | August 26, 2000, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
| Site | 11 acres (4.5 ha) | |||
| Floor area | 33,970 sq ft (3,156 m2) | |||
| Height | 159 ft (48 m) | |||
| Official website • News & images | ||||
| Church chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Additional information | ||||
| Announced | September 30, 1997, by Gordon B. Hinckley | |||
| Groundbreaking | June 13, 1998, by Lynn A. Mickelsen | |||
| Open house | August 5–22, 2000 | |||
| Rededicated | April 22, 2018, by M. Russell Ballard | |||
| Current president | Randy C Tolman | |||
| Designed by | Spencer Partnership Architects and Church A&E Services | |||
| Location | Spring, Texas, United States | |||
| Geographic coordinates | 29°59′59″N 95°32′00″W / 29.9996°N 95.5333°W | |||
| Exterior finish | Luna pearl granite | |||
| Temple design | Classic modern, single-spire design | |||
| Baptistries | 1 | |||
| Ordinance rooms | 2 (stationary) | |||
| Sealing rooms | 3 | |||
| Clothing rental | Yes | |||
| Notes | Rededicated after repairing damage from Hurricane Harvey | |||
| () | ||||
The Houston Texas Temple is the 97th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The temple serves over forty-four thousand Latter-day Saints in east Texas, and a few congregations in southwest Louisiana.
History
After the September 1997 announcement that the LDS Church would build a temple in Houston, the search began for an appropriate site. The site chosen formerly belonged to a developer unwilling to sell. Years earlier, however, the developer had gone through difficult financial times and had made a promise to God that if God would help him avoid financial ruin, he would someday "pay God back". When the developer learned what was proposed to be built on his land, he decided to sell the land as his way of paying God back.[1]
The spire of the Houston Texas Temple bears a strong resemblance to that of the old Washington Chapel, a chapel at 2810 16th Street NW in downtown Washington, D.C. built by the LDS Church in 1933.[2] As the most visible symbol of the LDS Church’s presence in the national capital until the dedication of the Washington D.C. Temple in 1974, the Washington Chapel featured a golden figure of an angel blowing a trumpet atop its spire—a symbol typically reserved for temples. In 1977 the Washington Chapel was sold to the Unification Church, 20 years before the Houston Texas Temple was announced.[3]
LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Houston Texas Temple on August 26, 2000.[4] The temple has a total of 33,970 square feet (3,156 m2), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.[5]
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused significant flood damage.[6] As a result, although the temple had not been in use since August, the church formally announced its closure for renovations in October 2017.[7] Following completion of the renovations, the temple was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018.[8]
In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Houston Texas Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[9]
See also
Dallas-Fort Worth Temples Temples in Texas and Oklahoma ()
|
- William R. Bradford, former temple president
- Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
- Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas
Additional reading
- Holmes, Cecile S. (March 10, 1997), "Mormons plan to build Houston-area temple", Houston Chronicle, p. A-33
- Nielsen, Wendy; Rasmussen, Harriet (June 20, 1998), "Ground broken for temple in Houston", Church News
- Leon and Becky Rowley (July 11, 1998), "On the bright side", Church News
- "Angel Moroni statues placed atop 2 temples", Church News, June 26, 1999
- "Houston Texas Temple dedication dates announced", Church News, June 17, 2000
- Swensen, Jason (September 2, 2000), "Elegant temple is dedicated in Houston", Church News
- Swensen, Jason; Weaver, Sarah Jane (June 16, 2001), "Clean up after tropical storm floods Houston", Church News
References
- ^ Nielsen, Wendy; Rasmussen, Harriet (June 20, 1998), "Land owner remembers promise made to the Lord", Church News
- ^ "Washington Chapel", Church History, retrieved May 4, 2023
- ^ "Addendum to Washington Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (PDF), Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey, retrieved May 4, 2023
- ^ "HOUSTON TEXAS: 'How glorious and complete is Thy plan'", Church News, September 2, 2000
- ^ "Facts and figures: Houston Texas Temple", Church News, September 2, 2000
- ^ Curtis, Larry D. "LDS temple suffers 'significant' damage as members help with Harvey recovery". Sinclair Broadcast Group. KUTV.
- ^ "Harvey Update: Houston Texas Temple Temporarily Closed", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 25, 2017
- ^ "Houston Texas Temple Reopens After Rededication", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 22, 2018
- ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
External links
Media related to Houston Texas Temple at Wikimedia Commons- Official Houston Texas Temple page
- Houston Texas Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org
