LDS Temple News Presents Elko Nevada Temple
The Elko, Nevada Temple occupies 5.2 acres. Its groundbreaking and site dedication occurred on May 7, 2022. The public open house was from August 30 to September 13, 2025, and the temple was dedicated on October 12, 2025, by Gary E. Stevenson. The exterior showcases white Mount Airy granite and a design with a single central tower. Covering 12,901 square feet and standing 108 feet tall, it is situated 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 transition 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 temple’s construction 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 was achieved in 1864. The first stake in Elko County was organized in 1942, when Nevada had over 184,000 members and around 350 congregations, with the Las Vegas and Reno temples already in operation.
The temple site was revealed on June 10, 2021, covering 5.2 acres adjacent to the Ruby View Golf Course. It is planned as a single-story structure of about 10,000 square feet. The exterior rendering was presented on September 17, 2021.
Elder Paul B. Pieper from the Quorum of the Seventy presided over the groundbreaking on May 7, with his wife Melissa and other Church leaders attending. He expressed gratitude for the temple and members who travel to other temples, encouraging a greater love for God and neighbors during construction. An open house was announced for August 27, 2025, with tours from August 30 through 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 represented through wood carvings, art glass, paint, fabrics, and metal motifs inspired by Paiute and Shoshone cultures. The color scheme of orange, yellow, and green mirrors Elko’s landscapes. The main temple and waiting room have green carpets with beige and geometric patterns, echoed in the white tones of the celestial and sealing rooms. Entry and waiting areas feature wool rugs matching these patterns. Porcelain tiles replicate stone, with Emperador Light used for counters and wall bases; Crema Ella for baptismal and instruction rooms; and Latte for transitions. Lighting includes brass and frosted-glass pendant lights and chandeliers from Preciosa, with crystals adding elegance to 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 match the temple’s motifs.