Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple: What We Know So Far
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major new temple project for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that brings significant scale and a refreshed site plan to the city of Provo. Announced by Prophet Russell M. Nelson on October 3, 2021, and later renamed from the Provo Utah Temple to the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple on February 20, 2024, the project reflects both continuity with local Latter‑day Saint history and a larger, updated footprint for future generations.
Announcement and context
When the temple was announced in October 2021, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported roughly 16.8 million members worldwide and there were about 500 congregations in the state of Utah. A public rendering of the new temple was released on November 24, 2021, giving the community an early look at the planned design language and exterior materials.
Location, elevation, and site
The temple’s official address will be 2200 Temple Hill Dr, Provo, UT 84604. The new complex will be built on a 17‑acre site — larger than the former Provo temple site (which was approximately 15 acres). That increase in acreage is in part because the road that once ran along the old temple’s front was removed as part of the new site plan. The temple sits at an elevation of about 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
Design, materials, and distinctive features
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be a large temple, planned at about 163,000 square feet. The exterior will be clad in granite, giving the building a durable and timeless finish. Architecturally, the temple will feature a single attached central spire; it will not include a gold‑leafed Angel Moroni statue. The current Angel Moroni from the previous temple is reported to be in storage.
Size and scale
Rising to a height of 81 meters (265 feet 6 inches), this temple will be one of the taller temple buildings in the region. Its substantial square footage and vertical presence emphasize its role as a major house of worship and community landmark.
Construction timeline and status
Site construction officially began on February 24, 2024. The temple is expected to be completed in late 2027, barring any unforeseen delays. As with any large religious construction project, schedules can shift, but the announced timeline places completion in the latter part of that year.
Access and parking
The Rock Canyon Temple will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse; however, a meetinghouse and associated parking are located off to the corner across the street from the temple site. This separation of facilities is consistent with some newer temple site layouts, where temple grounds and meetinghouse operations are planned independently.
Regional significance
Once completed, the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be the sixth temple in the state of Utah. Given Provo’s long history with the Church and its sizeable Latter‑day Saint population, the new temple will serve a large number of members and become an important local religious and civic landmark.
Looking ahead
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple brings a modernized, larger site and distinct design choices to a city with deep Church roots. With construction underway and an anticipated late‑2027 completion, the temple is poised to be a prominent feature of Provo’s built landscape for decades to come.
If you’d like, I can summarize the key dates and statistics as a short timeline or provide directions and nearby landmarks for visitors to the site at 2200 Temple Hill Dr.