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Sacramento California Temple

Sacramento California Temple
Map
Number123
DedicationSeptember 3, 2006, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site46 acres (19 ha)
Floor area19,500 sq ft (1,810 m2)
Height131 ft (40 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Newport Beach California Temple
Sacramento California Temple 		→
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Additional information
AnnouncedApril 21, 2001, by Gordon B. Hinckley
GroundbreakingAugust 22, 2004, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Open houseJuly 29 – August 26, 2006
Current presidentWalter Robert (Terry) Baggs
Designed byJoseph Marty Architect, Brian Everett and Maury Maher
LocationRancho Cordova, California, U.S.
Geographic coordinates38°38′6.4″N 121°11′38.1″W / 38.635111°N 121.193917°W / 38.635111; -121.193917
Exterior finishLight gray granite
Temple designClassic modern, single-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms4
(edit)

The Sacramento California Temple is the 123rd operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced in a news release by the First Presidency on April 21, 2001.[1] The temple was the seventh built by the church in California, more than any state except Utah.[2] The Sacramento California Temple serves a membership which totals approximately 80,000 in the area.[citation needed]

The temple has a single attached end spire with a statue of the angel Moroni.[3] The temple was designed by Brian Everett and Maury Maher of Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto.[4] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on August 22, 2004, conducted by Hinckley.[5]

History

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On April 21, 2001, the church's First Presidency announced that temples in California would be built in the Sacramento, Redlands, and Newport Beach.

Plans for building the temple were met with little resistance by the surrounding communities and government bodies.[3] Many were glad for planned building, because it would improve the land and bring visitors and money into the area. There was some concern about the height of the temple spire, and the church agreed to lower it 20 feet (6.1 m).

On August 22, 2004, a site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held. Church president Hinckley presided at the ceremony and gave the site dedication prayer. Other prominent church members from the area also attended the groundbreaking and site dedication, including Congressman John Doolittle. The site for the temple, located in Rancho Cordova, covers 46 acres (190,000 m2) and includes views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The temple grounds were designed to fit in with the surrounding landscape. Its design is slightly larger than most of the church's temples constructed at the same time. The temple has a total of 19,500 square feet (1,810 m2), two ordinance rooms and four sealing rooms.[2]

After construction was completed, a public open house was held from July 29 to August 26, 2006.[6] Hinckley dedicated the temple on September 3, 2006.[2] The dedication was done in four sessions and carried by feed to meetinghouses to allow all those who would like to attend the opportunity to participate.[2] The night before the dedication, a cultural celebration was performed at ARCO Arena.

In 2018, a temple was announced in nearby Yuba City, California.[7][8] In March 2020, like all the church's others, the Sacramento California Temple was closed for a time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Design and architecture

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The building has a classically elegant architectural style, coupled with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Brian Everett and Maury Maher, its architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of Sacramento and its spiritual significance to the church.[4]

The temple is on a 47-acre plot which “is set on a hill that overlooks the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Natoma.”[10] The landscaping around the temple features walkways and water features, as well as trees, bushes, and flowers.[10]

The structure stands 131 feet tall, and is constructed with temple white granite from Fuzhou, China.[4] The exterior has arched colonnades on each side of the main entry.[6]

The interior has “numerous art-glass windows, sculpted carpet and an original mural depicting the Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills.”[6] The temple has a baptistry, two ordinance rooms, and four sealing rooms,[10] each designed for ceremonial use.

The design has symbolic elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, to provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the twelve oxen which support the baptismal font, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.[11]

Temple presidents

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The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[12]

Serving from 2006 to 2009, the first president of the Sacramento California Temple was Richard H. Winkel, with Karen H. Winkel being the matron.[12] As of 2024, Ned P. Telford is the president and Karen D. Telford is the matron.[13]

Admittance

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Following the temple’s completion, the church announced held a public open house from July 29 to August 26, 2006 (excluding Sundays).[14] The temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley on September 3, 2006, in four sessions.[15]

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[6][16]

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See also

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Temples in California (edit)

Los Angeles Temples
Temples in the Los Angeles metropolitan
area (edit)
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed
(edit)

References

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  1. ^ "Three Temples Announced for California". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d de la Fuente, Edward. "Hinckley dedicates new temple", The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 September 2006. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Satterfield, Rick. "Sacramento California Temple", ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org, 2020. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Sacramento California Temple". Church News. March 12, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "A joyous day in Sacramento". Church News. August 28, 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Sacramento California Temple Opens Doors to Public", Church News, 26 July 2006. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  7. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "A dozen new LDS temples announced, including Puerto Rico’s first and Utah’s 20th; Salt Lake’s to undergo renovation", The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 October 2018. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  8. ^ Abbott, Jake. "LDS church announces temple location", Appeal Democrat, 26 September 2019. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  9. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 March 2020. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Sacramento California Temple". Church News. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  11. ^ Magazines, Michael R. Morris Church. "Symbolism and Temple Preparation". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Presidents and Matrons of the Sacramento California Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "Learn about 16 couples called to serve as temple presidents and matrons — from Manitoba to Mexico". Church News. March 15, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Sacramento temple opens to the public". Deseret News. August 5, 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Awaited joy". Church News. September 9, 2006. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
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