San Antonio Texas Temple

The San Antonio Texas Temple is the 120th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

San Antonio Texas Temple
Number	120
Dedicated	May 22, 2005 (May 22, 2005) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	5.5 acres (2.2 hectares)
Floor area	16,800 sq ft (1,560 m^2)
Height	115 ft (35 m)
Preceded by	Manhattan New York Temple
Followed by	Aba Nigeria Temple
Official website • News & images
Additional information Announced June 24, 2001 Groundbreaking March 29, 2003 by H. Bruce Stucki Open House April 16 – May 7, 2005 Designed by Rehler, Vaughn & Koone Location 20080 Stone Oak Parkway San Antonio, Texas United States Exterior finish Granite Temple design Classic modern, single-spire design Ordinance rooms 2 (Movie, two-stage progressive sessions) Sealing rooms 2 Clothing rental No Cafeteria No Visitors' center No

History

On June 24, 2001 the LDS Church announced it would build a temple in San Antonio, Texas, making it the state's fourth. Within ten years, the number of church members in the area grew from 9,000 to 12,000. Until the San Antonio Texas Temple was completed, Latter-day Saints in the area travelled 200 miles (320 km) to reach the nearest temple, near Houston.

On March 29, 2003 a site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony initiated construction. As the temple neared completion in September 2004, a ceremony was held to place a thirteen-foot, gold leafed angel Moroni statue on the spire of the temple.

After the building's completion, an open house was held April 16 through May 7, 2005 to allow people to see the inside of the temple. During these three weeks, more than 50,000 people took a tour through the newly finished temple. The inside of the temple is aesthetically furnished with African Cherrywood, stained glass windows, paintings of Jesus' life and a mural by San Antonio artist Keith Bond. The use of color in the stained glass windows, in a slightly muted southwest style, and the indigo and star motif inside the central spire sets this edifice apart from most all other LDS temples.

LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the San Antonio Temple on May 22, 2005. A celebration was held at the Alamodome the night before the dedication. More than 20,000 people attended to watch a show featuring over 4,000 singers and dancers, horses, fireworks, and presentations of Texas history, family values, and Latter-day Saint beliefs. Hinckley spoke to those in attendance about the temple.

The San Antonio Texas Temple serves about 45,250 members living in an area spanning from Killeen to Brownsville. It has a total of 16,800 square feet (1,560 m²), two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.

In 2020, the San Antonio Texas Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

Gallery

• 
  waterfall steps in front of Temple
• 
  Temple spire with night star motiff
• 
  San Antonio Temple at night
• 
  color; stained glass and spire
• 
  stained glass northeast facade
• 
  stained glass, south facade

See also

• 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

References

1. 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

• San Antonio Temple Official site
• San Antonio Texas Temple at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org