Elko Nevada Temple by LDS Temple News
The Elko, Nevada Temple covers 5.2 acres. Its groundbreaking and site dedication occurred on May 7, 2022. The public open house was held from August 30 to September 13, 2025, and it was dedicated on October 12, 2025, by Gary E. Stevenson. The exterior features white Mount Airy granite and a design with a single central tower. The temple spans 12,901 square feet and rises 108 feet tall, located at an elevation of 5,133 feet.
This was Nevada’s third temple, after those in Las Vegas (1989) and Reno (2000). It was dedicated shortly after President Russell M. Nelson’s death on September 27, 2025, during a transitional period between church presidents, just before the October 2025 general conference held on October 4-5. Nelson’s funeral took place on October 7.
President Nelson announced the construction of the temple on April 4, 2021, during the 191st Annual General Conference. The church’s first Nevada mission started in 1855 in The Meadows (Las Vegas). Nevada was part of Utah Territory until statehood in 1864. The first stake in Elko County was organized in 1942, when Nevada had over 184,000 members and about 350 congregations, with the Las Vegas and Reno temples already active.
The temple site was announced on June 10, 2021, covering 5.2 acres next to the Ruby View Golf Course. It is planned as a single-story building approximately 10,000 square feet in size. The exterior rendering was shown on September 17, 2021.
Elder Paul B. Pieper from the Quorum of the Seventy led the groundbreaking on May 7, with his wife Melissa and other Church leaders present. He expressed gratitude for the temple and members who travel to other temples, encouraging greater love for God and neighbors during construction. An open house was scheduled for August 27, 2025, with tours from August 30 to September 13, excluding Sundays. Elder Gary E. Stevenson dedicated the temple on October 12 via broadcast to district units. The structure features steel framing with a white Mount Airy Granite veneer.
Native desert globemallow flowers are depicted through wood carvings, art glass, paint, fabrics, and metal motifs inspired by Paiute and Shoshone cultures. The color palette of orange, yellow, and green reflects Elko’s landscapes. The main temple and waiting room have green carpets with beige and geometric patterns, mirrored in the white tones of the celestial and sealing rooms. Entry and waiting areas include wool rugs with matching patterns. Porcelain tiles imitate stone, using Emperador Light for counters and wall bases; Crema Ella for baptismal and instruction rooms; and Latte for transitions. Lighting features brass and frosted-glass pendant lights and chandeliers from Preciosa, with crystals enhancing the elegance of the ordinance spaces. The baptismal font has a brass-finished painted aluminum railing, glass panels, and sapele wood accents. Doors made of sapele veneer or painted metal incorporate custom hardware designed to complement the temple’s motifs.