LDS Temple News Presents the House of the Lord Dallas Texas Temple

The Dallas Texas Temple is a pretty amazing place, being the first temple built in Texas. It opened its doors to the public from September 7 to September 26, 1984, and was dedicated by the beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley between October 19 and October 24, 1984. It even had a rededication on March 5, 1989. Covering six acres, the temple features a gorgeous light-colored marble exterior and a stunning gold-leafed Angel Moroni statue up top. It offers 44,207 square feet of space, stands 95 feet tall, and sits at 617 feet elevation. Inside, it’s designed with five instruction rooms, four sealing rooms, and one baptistry, making it a significant spot for everyone. When the temple was announced on April 1, 1981, excitement really took off in the community. There was a special ceremony for the groundbreaking on January 22, 1983, with President Hinckley leading the way. The temple’s six spires rise beautifully among the trees in northern Dallas, symbolizing its important purpose, while the well-kept grounds full of colorful flowers make it even more inviting. At the groundbreaking, about 90 guests, including Regional Representatives and stake presidents, gathered to celebrate this big day. During the open house that lasted 20 days, nearly 88,000 visitors checked out the temple, filled with curiosity. President Hinckley highlighted how significant the temple is for Texas, reminding everyone of its unique place among other buildings. In 1987, the temple went through some exciting remodeling that added 22,749 square feet. This renovation brought in a new ordinance room, a cozy cafeteria, bigger laundry facilities, and a relocated baptistry, helping it serve the community even better. There were also improvements to the grounds finished in June 2006, including a pretty cascading fountain that made the space feel even more welcoming. The announcement of the Dallas Texas Temple got local church members pumped to get involved in activities and renew their commitments. While some leaders expressed concerns at first, many came around as the temple became a cherished part of the community. During the groundbreaking, President Hinckley expressed how important the temple is for Texas, which resonated with those present. The event brought together various influential leaders, and Elder Jacob de Jager from the First Quorum of the Seventy shared his heartfelt experiences related to temple ordinances. The construction saw community members step up, with many volunteering for clean-up efforts and others donating generously. One widow even went above and beyond in her donation, showing her support for the temple project. Of the roughly 88,000 visitors during the open house, about 56 percent were nonmembers, many invited warmly by church members. This outreach created goodwill and led to several people being baptized shortly after visiting. The Dallas Texas Temple has firmly established itself as a special place for performing important ordinance work, making a lasting influence in the spiritual life of Texas.