Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple: What We Know So Far
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, the temple is a large, distinctive building with a multi-year construction timeline and several notable design and site features. Below is a summary of the key facts and what to expect as the project progresses.
Announcement and naming
- Announcement date: October 3, 2021, by President Russell M. Nelson.
- Rendering released to the public: November 24, 2021.
- Original name: Provo Utah Temple. The building was renamed Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple on February 20, 2024.
Location and site
- Address: 2200 Temple Hill Dr, Provo, UT 84604.
- Site size: The temple will be built on a 17-acre site. This is larger than the previous site’s 15 acres; the increase comes from removing the road that formerly ran in front of the old temple site.
- Elevation: The site sits at approximately 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
- Parking and meetinghouse: The temple itself will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse. However, there is a meetinghouse and its parking located off to the corner across the street from the temple site.
Design and specifications
- Exterior: Granite finish.
- Spire and statue: The design includes a single attached central spire. The temple will not include a gold-leafed Angel Moroni statue; the existing Angel Moroni that had been associated with the earlier structure is in storage.
- Size: The temple will be a substantial building at approximately 163,000 square feet.
- Height: The temple will reach about 81 meters (265 feet 6 inches).
Construction timeline
- Construction start: February 24, 2024.
- Expected completion: Late 2027 (projected).
Context
- This temple will be the sixth temple in the state of Utah.
- At the time of the temple’s announcement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported roughly 16.8 million members worldwide and there were roughly 500 congregations in the state of Utah.
Conclusion
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple represents a major building project for the Church in Provo: a larger site, a granite exterior and a tall, single-spire design, with construction underway and an expected completion in late 2027. The location on Temple Hill and its proximity to existing meetinghouses make it a continuing focal point for the local Latter-day Saint community. As work continues, additional updates and details—such as public open house plans or dedication dates—are likely to be announced.