Title: Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple — Facts, Design, and Construction Update
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, Utah. Announced in 2021 and under construction as of 2024, this large temple will be a prominent addition to the area both in size and visibility. Below is an informative summary of its history, design, site details, and timeline.
Announcement and Naming
- The temple was announced on October 3, 2021 by President Russell M. Nelson.
- Originally called the Provo Utah Temple, it was renamed Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple on February 20, 2024.
Site and Location
- Address: 2200 Temple Hill Dr, Provo, UT 84604.
- The temple will be built on a 17-acre site. This is larger than the former site footprint of 15 acres, largely because the road at the old front of the temple was removed, allowing expansion of the site.
- Elevation: the site sits at approximately 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
Parking and Meetinghouse Relationship
- The temple will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse. There is, however, a meetinghouse and its parking located off to the corner across the street from the temple site.
Design and Exterior
- Exterior material: granite.
- The design features a single attached central spire. There will be no gold-leafed Angel Moroni statue on the spire; the previous Angel Moroni statue from the old temple is currently in storage.
- A public rendering of the temple was released on November 24, 2021.
Size and Height
- The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be a large temple, totaling approximately 163,000 square feet.
- Overall height: listed at 81 meters, or approximately 265 feet 6 inches.
Construction Timeline
- Construction officially began on February 24, 2024.
- The temple is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Context within Utah and Church Statistics
- When announced, this temple was designated to be the 6th temple in the state of Utah.
- At the time of the announcement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 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 significant new temple project with a substantial footprint, distinctive granite exterior and central spire, and a multi-year construction timeline. With construction underway and a projected late-2027 completion, it will be an important landmark for members in the region and part of Utah’s growing number of temples.