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Houston Texas Temple

Coordinates: 29°59′59″N 95°32′00″W / 29.9996°N 95.5333°W / 29.9996; -95.5333
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Houston Texas Temple
Map
Number97
DedicationAugust 26, 2000, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site11 acres (4.5 ha)
Floor area33,970 sq ft (3,156 m2)
Height159 ft (48 m)
Official websiteNews & images
Church chronology

Caracas Venezuela Temple

Houston Texas Temple

Birmingham Alabama Temple
Additional information
AnnouncedSeptember 30, 1997, by Gordon B. Hinckley
GroundbreakingJune 13, 1998, by Lynn A. Mickelsen
Open houseAugust 5–22, 2000
RededicatedApril 22, 2018, by M. Russell Ballard
Current presidentRandy C Tolman
Designed bySpencer Partnership Architects and Church A&E Services
LocationSpring, Texas, United States
Geographic coordinates29°59′59″N 95°32′00″W / 29.9996°N 95.5333°W / 29.9996; -95.5333
Exterior finishLuna pearl granite
Temple designClassic modern, single-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (stationary)
Sealing rooms3
Clothing rentalYes
NotesRededicated after repairing damage from Hurricane Harvey
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The Houston Texas Temple is the 97th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The temple serves over forty-four thousand Latter-day Saints in east Texas, and a few congregations in southwest Louisiana.

History

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After the September 1997 announcement that the LDS Church would build a temple in Houston, the search began for an appropriate site. The site chosen formerly belonged to a developer unwilling to sell. Years earlier, however, the developer had gone through difficult financial times and had made a promise to God that if God would help him avoid financial ruin, he would someday "pay God back". When the developer learned what was proposed to be built on his land, he decided to sell the land as his way of paying God back.[1]

The spire of the Houston Texas Temple bears a strong resemblance to that of the old Washington Chapel, a chapel at 2810 16th Street NW in downtown Washington, D.C. built by the LDS Church in 1933.[2] As the most visible symbol of the LDS Church’s presence in the national capital until the dedication of the Washington D.C. Temple in 1974, the Washington Chapel featured a golden figure of an angel blowing a trumpet atop its spire—a symbol typically reserved for temples. In 1977 the Washington Chapel was sold to the Unification Church, 20 years before the Houston Texas Temple was announced.[3]

LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Houston Texas Temple on August 26, 2000.[4] The temple has a total of 33,970 square feet (3,156 m2), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.[5]

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused significant flood damage.[6] As a result, although the temple had not been in use since August, the church formally announced its closure for renovations in October 2017.[7] Following completion of the renovations, the temple was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018.[8]

In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Houston Texas Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[9]

See also

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Dallas-Fort Worth Temples

Temples in Texas and Oklahoma (edit)

  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

Additional reading

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  • Holmes, Cecile S. (March 10, 1997), "Mormons plan to build Houston-area temple", Houston Chronicle, p. A-33
  • Nielsen, Wendy; Rasmussen, Harriet (June 20, 1998), "Ground broken for temple in Houston", Church News
  • Leon and Becky Rowley (July 11, 1998), "On the bright side", Church News
  • "Angel Moroni statues placed atop 2 temples", Church News, June 26, 1999
  • "Houston Texas Temple dedication dates announced", Church News, June 17, 2000
  • Swensen, Jason (September 2, 2000), "Elegant temple is dedicated in Houston", Church News
  • Swensen, Jason; Weaver, Sarah Jane (June 16, 2001), "Clean up after tropical storm floods Houston", Church News

References

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  1. ^ Nielsen, Wendy; Rasmussen, Harriet (June 20, 1998), "Land owner remembers promise made to the Lord", Church News
  2. ^ "Washington Chapel", Church History, retrieved May 4, 2023
  3. ^ "Addendum to Washington Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (PDF), Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey, retrieved May 4, 2023
  4. ^ "HOUSTON TEXAS: 'How glorious and complete is Thy plan'", Church News, September 2, 2000
  5. ^ "Facts and figures: Houston Texas Temple", Church News, September 2, 2000
  6. ^ Curtis, Larry D. "LDS temple suffers 'significant' damage as members help with Harvey recovery". Sinclair Broadcast Group. KUTV.
  7. ^ "Harvey Update: Houston Texas Temple Temporarily Closed", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 25, 2017
  8. ^ "Houston Texas Temple Reopens After Rededication", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 22, 2018
  9. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
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