Dedication of the Portland Oregon Temple
A total of 314,232 people — the fifth highest in Church history to that point — toured the Portland Oregon Temple during its
22-day open house. Some
21,000 people visited on the final day, Saturday, July 8.
James Bean, vice chairman of the temple committee, said that while his work with the temple had been one of “the choicest times of my life,” it was not without challenges. “Whenever temples are built, there are challenges that come. The Saints are tested; it is almost as though the Lord wants the members to know how much they want a temple. It really isn’t easy.”
“At times, we were taking 2,500 people per hour through the temple,”
said Brian L. Smith, Portland area public communications director.
Smith said that to announce the open house, 80 radio spots and 60 television spots were played by area stations. “Whenever the spots were broadcast, the phones began to ring at the temple information center,” he explained. “The last I heard, we had received more than 10,000 phone calls.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency,
dedicated the Portland Oregon Temple on Aug. 19, 1989. President Hinckley delivered the dedicatory prayer during the first session and spoke at four other sessions.
President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, delivered the dedicatory prayer in later sessions and spoke at six dedicatory sessions. Church
President Ezra Taft Benson was also present for the first three sessions and offered brief remarks.
In a dedicatory session, President Hinckley
said of the temple, “This is a house of forgiveness. This is a place of repentance. The Lord will forgive if we repent sincerely and in faith. This is a house that must be clean. That cleanliness is not particularly in the drapes, carpets and walls; that cleanliness is in the hearts of the people who come here.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Bless all who shall preside and serve in this house, now and in the years to come. Give them strength according to their need. Give them faith to accomplish Thy work. Give them that love which is the essence of the gospel of Christ.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Portland Oregon Temple here.
The Portland Oregon Temple was announced on April 7, 1984, and
President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, presided at the temple groundbreaking on Sept. 20, 1986. The house of the Lord was available to tour for the public open house from June 15 to July 8, 1989. President Hinckley dedicated the temple on Aug. 19, 1989.
Architecture and Design of the Portland Oregon Temple
The Portland Oregon Temple is 80,500 square feet, with white marble exterior walls and a slate roof. The house of the Lord stands with six spires on a 7.3-acre site. Included in the temple are the baptistry, the celestial room, four instruction rooms and 14 sealing rooms.
FAQs
The Portland Oregon Temple is 80,500 square feet, with white marble exterior walls and a slate roof. The house of the Lord stands with six spires on a 7.3-acre site. Included in the temple are the baptistry, the celestial room, four instruction rooms and 14 sealing rooms.
Is the Portland Temple closed in 2024? ›
Temple closed— Monday, 29 April 2024 - Monday, 17 June 2024
The presentation of the endowment is available in many languages in every temple. Please select the desired language when scheduling an appointment online or ask at the recommend desk.
Where will the Vancouver WA Temple be built? ›
The temple will sit on a 15.11-acre site on the northwest corner of the intersection of Southeast Bybee Road and Southeast 20th Street, just inside the border of the city of Camas. However, the church is referring to the building as its “new Vancouver Washington Temple” on its website.
How big is the Portland Oregon Temple LDS? ›
The 80,500-square-foot temple's exterior is white marble walls and slate roof. Currently, there are more than 20 temples in various stages of construction or have been announced throughout the world.
When was the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple announced? ›
Timeline of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple
A temple for Eugene, Oregon, was announced during general conference on April 4, 2021. President Russell M. Nelson announced this temple along with 19 others. A groundbreaking ceremony for the temple was held Oct.
What hotel is being built in Portland? ›
A gleaming, sail-like 35-story tower has emerged on the corner of Southwest Washington and 10th Avenue in downtown Portland, Oregon, over the past few years. It's home to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences, a nearly $700 million development that broke ground in 2019 and is set to open in October.
Which is the smallest LDS temple? ›
As of 2017, the Colonia Juárez Chihuahua México Temple is the smallest temple the LDS Church operates. Colonia Juárez is about two hundred miles southwest of the U.S.–Mexico border at El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.
What is the busiest LDS temple in the world? ›
Jordan River Utah Temple - Wikipedia.
Where is the largest Mormon temple in the world? ›
The Salt Lake Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. At 253,015 square feet (23,505.9 m2), it is the largest Latter-day Saint temple by floor area.
How many Mormon temples are in Oregon? ›
Temples of Oregon
| Temple | Dedicated |
|---|
| 1 | Portland Oregon Temple | August 19, 1989 |
| 2 | Medford Oregon Temple | April 16, 2000 |
| 3 | Willamette Valley Oregon Temple | Under Construction |
Temple Site
The temple will be constructed on a 10.5-acre site located at the intersection of International Boulevard and Corporate Way in Springfield, Oregon, a suburb of Eugene, near the wooded hills bordering the McKenzie River.
What is Willamette Valley named after? ›
Willamette, pronounced “will-AM-it,” is believed to derive from the colonized pronunciation of Wallamt, which means “still water,” describing a place on the river near Oregon City. The area was and is largely inhabited by Kalapuyans (members of the Kalapuya Tribe) as well as Molalla, Clackamas and Chinook peoples.
When did the Mesa temple close for renovation? ›
In May 2018, the temple closed for significant renovations and was rededicated by Dallin H. Oaks on December 12, 2021. Prior to the temple rededication, a public temple open house was held from October 16 to November 20, except for Sundays, with a youth devotional on December 11.
How many LDS temples are there in Oregon? ›
Temples of Oregon
| Temple | Dedicated |
|---|
| 1 | Portland Oregon Temple | August 19, 1989 |
| 2 | Medford Oregon Temple | April 16, 2000 |
| 3 | Willamette Valley Oregon Temple | Under Construction |
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Cleveland is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie about 20 miles from the Kirtland Temple. The new temple will be constructed on Brecksville Road in the suburb of Independence. Plans call for a temple of approximately 9,000 square feet with a 100-foot spire.
What is curfew in Portland? ›
Is there a teen curfew in Portland? Persons under age 17 may not be out in public during curfew hours. Curfew hours are: Sunday - Thursday 11:00pm - 6:00am Friday - Saturday 12:00am - 6:00am.
