Title: Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple — An Informative Overview
Introduction
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major new temple project for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo. Announced by President Russell M. Nelson on October 3, 2021, the temple represents a significant expansion and modernization of the historic Provo temple site. Below is a concise, informative summary of the temple’s location, design, timeline, and key facts.
Overview and Significance
- Announced: October 3, 2021, by President Russell M. Nelson.
- At the time of announcement, The Church reported roughly 16.8 million members worldwide and roughly 500 congregations in the state of Utah.
- The building was originally identified as the Provo Utah Temple and was renamed the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple on February 20, 2024.
- It will be the sixth temple located in the state of Utah.
Location and Site
- Address: 2200 Temple Hill Dr, Provo, UT 84604.
- The new temple will be built on a 17-acre site. (This is slightly larger than the previous site, which was about 15 acres; the increase reflects removal of the road that formerly sat at the old temple’s front.)
- Elevation: approximately 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
Design, Exterior, and Size
- Exterior material: granite.
- Size: a large temple of approximately 163,000 square feet.
- Height: will stand about 81 meters (265 feet 6 inches).
- Spire and statue: the design features a single, attached central spire. There will be no gold-leafed Angel Moroni statue on the completed spire; the previously used Angel Moroni statue is currently in storage.
Site Access and Parking
- The temple will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse. However, there is a meetinghouse located off to the corner across the street from the temple site, and a parking lot is available there.
Public Reveal and Construction Timeline
- Public rendering released: November 24, 2021.
- Construction start date: February 24, 2024.
- Expected completion: late 2027.
What to Expect
- The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be one of the largest temples in the region at 163,000 square feet and will be a prominent visual landmark given its central spire and substantial height. Its granite exterior reflects a traditional, durable finish expected of major temple projects. The relocation and expansion to a 17-acre parcel provides additional site room compared with the previous footprint.
Conclusion
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major addition to the Church’s temple footprint in Utah and will be the sixth temple in the state. With a significant increase in building size, a granite exterior, a single central spire, and an elevated site at nearly 4,900 feet, the temple is intended to be both functional and prominent in the Provo landscape. Construction began in February 2024, and the temple is expected to be completed in late 2027.
If you’d like, I can prepare a timeline graphic for the project milestones, or summarize how this temple fits historically with the earlier Provo temple and other nearby temples.