Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple: An Informative Overview
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Provo, Utah. Announced by President Russell M. Nelson on October 3, 2021, the project represents a significant expansion and modernization of the temple presence on Temple Hill.
Location and site
- Address: 2200 Temple Hill Dr, Provo, UT 84604.
- The temple sits at an elevation of approximately 4,876 feet (1,486 meters) above sea level.
- The new Rock Canyon Temple will be built on a 17-acre site. This is an increase from the previous temple site’s 15 acres, made possible in part by removing the road that formerly ran along the front of the older temple footprint.
- The temple will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse. There is, however, a meetinghouse located off to the corner across the street.
Design and architecture
- Exterior materials: granite finish.
- Overall size: a large temple of approximately 163,000 square feet.
- Height: the building will rise to about 81 meters (265 feet, 6 inches).
- Spire: the design features a single, attached central spire. There will not be a gold-leafed Angel Moroni on the spire; the existing Angel Moroni statue from the prior temple is currently in storage.
- The official rendering of the temple was released to the public on November 24, 2021, giving members and the public a first look at the design and scale of the new structure.
Timeline and current status
- Announcement: October 3, 2021 (President Russell M. Nelson).
- Rendering release: November 24, 2021.
- Renaming: Originally referred to as the Provo Utah Temple, the facility was officially renamed Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple on February 20, 2024.
- Groundbreaking/construction start: construction began February 24, 2024.
- Expected completion: late 2027.
Context and significance
- The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple will be the sixth temple in the state of Utah.
- At the time of the temple’s announcement in October 2021, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported roughly 16.8 million members worldwide, with approximately 500 congregations in the state of Utah. The new temple reflects both the continued growth of the Church and the long-standing importance of temples to Latter-day Saint worship and community life.
Practical notes
- The temple site and design emphasize a large, prominent structure with granite exterior finishes and a single central spire. The decision not to place an Angel Moroni on the new spire and to store the existing statue is a notable change from many other temple designs.
- While the temple itself will not share a parking lot with a meetinghouse, there is a meetinghouse located nearby across the street, which will remain a part of the area’s religious campus.
Conclusion
The Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple is a major construction project for the Church and the Provo community. With its considerable size, elevated setting on Temple Hill, granite exterior, and prominent spire, it will be a striking addition to the city skyline when completed in late 2027. The project’s expanded 17-acre site and newly released rendering have already provided a glimpse of the scale and character of this next-generation temple.