Elko Nevada Temple Media LDS Temple News
The Elko, Nevada Temple encompasses an area of 5.2 acres. Its groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication took place on May 7, 2022. The public open house occurred from August 30 to September 13, 2025, and it was subsequently dedicated on October 12, 2025, by President Gary E. Stevenson. The exterior features white Mount Airy granite and a design that includes a single central tower. The temple spans 12,901 square feet, rises to a height of 108 feet, and is situated at an elevation of 5,133 feet.
This temple represents Nevada’s third, following those in Las Vegas (1989) and Reno (2000). Its dedication coincided with a transitional period between church presidents, shortly after the passing of President Russell M. Nelson on September 27, 2025, and just prior to the October 2025 general conference held on October 4-5. Nelson’s funeral was held 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 mission in Nevada commenced in 1855 in The Meadows (Las Vegas). Nevada was part of Utah Territory until it gained statehood in 1864. The first stake in Elko County was organized in 1942, at which time Nevada had over 184,000 members and approximately 350 congregations, with the temples in Las Vegas and Reno already operational.
The site for the temple was announced on June 10, 2021, covering 5.2 acres adjacent to the Ruby View Golf Course. It is planned as a single-story structure approximately 10,000 square feet in size. The exterior rendering was publicly displayed on September 17, 2021.
Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Quorum of the Seventy presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on May 7, accompanied by his wife Melissa and other Church leaders. He expressed gratitude towards the temple and members who travel to other temples, encouraging increased love for God and neighbors during its construction. An open house was scheduled for August 27, 2025, with tours conducted from August 30 to September 13, excluding Sundays. Elder Gary E. Stevenson dedicated the temple on October 12 through a broadcast to district units. The structure features steel framing with a veneer of white Mount Airy Granite.
Native desert globemallow flowers are represented through wood carvings, art glass, paint, fabrics, and metal motifs inspired by Paiute and Shoshone cultures. The color palette, including shades of orange, yellow, and green, reflects the landscapes of Elko. The main temple and waiting room are adorned with green carpets and beige and geometric patterns, harmonized with the white tones of the celestial and sealing rooms. Entry and waiting areas contain wool rugs with complementary patterns. Porcelain tiles, emulating stone, are used throughout, with Emperador Light for counters and wall bases, Crema Ella for baptismal and instruction rooms, and Latte for transitional spaces. The lighting fixtures include brass and frosted-glass pendant lights and chandeliers from Preciosa, with crystals accentuating the elegance of the ordinance spaces. The baptismal font is equipped with a brass-finished painted aluminum railing, glass panels, and sapele wood accents. Doors crafted from sapele veneer or painted metal feature custom hardware designed to complement the temple’s motifs.