LDS Temple News Presents the House of the Lord Elko Nevada Temple

The Elko, Nevada Temple sits on 5.2 acres. Its groundbreaking and site dedication took place 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 features white Mount Airy granite stone, with a design that includes a single central tower. Covering 12,901 square feet and reaching 108 feet in height, it is 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 was held 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 began in 1855 in The Meadows (Las Vegas). Nevada was part of Utah Territory until it became a state in 1864. The first stake in Elko County was organized in 1942. At that time, 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 of approximately 10,000 square feet. The exterior rendering was unveiled 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 faithful members who travel to other temples. He encouraged cultivating greater love for God and neighbors during the construction. An open house was announced on 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 white Mount Airy Granite veneer.

Native desert globemallow flowers are incorporated 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, echoed in the white shades of the celestial and sealing rooms. Entry and waiting areas feature wool rugs matching these patterns. Porcelain field tiles imitate stone, with Emperador Light 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 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 either sapele veneer or painted metal feature custom hardware designed to match the temple’s motifs.