The Orem Utah Temple, designated as the 188th dedicated temple in operation, is located at 1451 S 1100 W, Orem, Utah 84058. The announcement for its construction was made on October 5, 2019, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 5, 2020, led by Craig C. Christensen.
The public open house for the temple was held from October 27 to December 16, 2023. The temple is situated on a 15.39-acre site and features a chapel in the same parking lot. Its exterior is finished with pedras salgradas granite sourced from Portugal, showcasing a uniquely designed single attached central spire. Notably, the Orem Utah Temple does not have a gold-leafed Angel Moroni atop its spire.
Inside, the temple comprises four instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, and one baptistry, offering a total of 71,998 square feet of space. The structure rises to a height of 218 feet and is positioned at an elevation of 4,539 feet. It is the nineteenth temple built in Utah and the sixth within Utah County.
At the time of the announcement in 2019, the Orem area was experiencing rapid growth, with 26 stakes and an increasing number of wards. The land for the temple was purchased in 2004 from the Williamson family, Norwegian emigrants who settled in the area in 1870. Several descendants of the Williamson family attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
The temple’s rendering was made public on June 24, 2020. The groundbreaking ceremony was relatively small due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Elder Craig C. Christensen emphasized its significance, stating, “The Orem Utah Temple will become an added refuge of strength in an increasingly uncertain world—a holy place where we learn and live more fully the great plan of happiness made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Architecturally, the temple features granite cladding, a symmetrical three-story steel structure, and a multi-tiered tower with a slender steeple. The bronze-colored doors complement the design, while the taupe-hued windows adorned with art glass depict cherry blossom designs and elements representing the wetlands around Utah Lake, including water, cattails, and bulrushes.
The landscaping incorporates a variety of plants, including Norwegian sunset maple, snow queen hydrangeas, common periwinkle, whirling butterflies, big tooth maple, and white fir. Inside, the flooring showcases exquisite Crema Marfil marble from Turkey, fabricated in California, with a captivating color palette of cream, red, green, and brown. The patterns include diamond shapes with circular accents and simple linear borders, complemented by an additional cherry leaf border.