On June 17, 2023, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to officially launch the Montpelier Idaho Temple’s construction. General Authority Seventy Elder Ryan K. Olsen gave a talk at the gathering.
“It is with deep gratitude and in humility that we assemble in this sacred place to prepare the ground and dedicate this site for the construction of the Montpelier Idaho Temple,” Elder Olsen said during the dedicatory prayer.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured speakers and a children’s choir assembled from local congregations. Though space was limited, over 600 people from the surrounding area attended. There are more than 15,000 Latter-day Saints in the proposed temple district.
Church President Russell M. Nelson announced the Montpelier Idaho Temple during the April 2022 general conference of the Church. The sacred two-story structure will be built on a 2.6-acre site and encompass about 27,000 square feet.
“We ask a special blessing on those who have gathered this day that they and their families will be given understanding and peace with confidence in Thy plan,” said Elder Olsen at the conclusion of the dedicatory prayer.
Located along the spine of the Northern Rockies of the United States, Idahois home to more than 470,000 Latter-day Saints in over 1,200 congregations. In addition to the Montpelier Idaho Temple, the state has eight other temples in operation, under construction or announced in Boise, Burley, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Pocatello, Rexburg (the Rexburg Idaho Temple and Teton River Idaho Temple) and Twin Falls. Only Utah and California have more temples than Idaho.
Latter-day Saints consider temples to be houses of the Lord and the most sacred places of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living.
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