Title: Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple — Facts, Design, and Timeline
Introduction
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently under construction in Provo, Utah. Announced in 2021 and renamed in 2024, the temple represents a significant addition to the church’s presence in Utah. Below is an informative overview of the site, design, timeline, and key specifications.
Announcement and Naming
- Announcement: The temple was announced by President Russell M. Nelson on October 3, 2021.
- Rendering released: A public rendering was released on November 24, 2021.
- Name change: Originally referred to as the Provo Utah Temple, it 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 new temple will be built on a 17-acre site. This is larger than the previous site’s 15 acres; the additional acreage reflects removal of a roadway that had been at the old temple’s front, allowing for an expanded footprint.
- Elevation: The temple sits at approximately 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
- Parking/meetinghouse relationship: The temple will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse. There is, however, a meetinghouse and its parking off to the corner across the street from the temple site.
Design and Exterior
- Exterior materials: The temple exterior will be granite.
- Spire and angel statue: The design includes a single attached central spire and does not feature a gold-leafed Angel Moroni statue on the spire. The existing Angel Moroni statue from the previous temple is in storage.
Size and Specifications
- Floor area: The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be a large temple at approximately 163,000 square feet.
- Height: The building will rise to about 81 meters, which is approximately 265 feet 6 inches.
- State ranking: When completed, it will be the sixth temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in the state of Utah.
Construction Timeline and Status
- Construction start: Groundbreaking and construction began on February 24, 2024.
- Expected completion: The temple is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Context and Church Statistics at Announcement
- At the time of the temple’s announcement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had roughly 16.8 million members worldwide.
- In Utah there were roughly 500 congregations (wards and branches) at the time of the announcement, underscoring Utah’s continued centrality to the church’s membership and temple-building activity.
Significance
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple represents a substantial investment in both size and design for the area. Its larger site, granite exterior, and significant floor area reflect the importance of the temple to local members and to the church’s ongoing expansion of temple access in regions with dense membership.
Conclusion
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a prominent, large-scale temple project in Provo with a clear timeline and distinctive design choices. With construction underway and an expected completion in late 2027, it is poised to become a notable landmark and the sixth temple in Utah for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.