Jump to content

Houston Texas Temple

Coordinates: 29°59′59″N 95°32′00″W / 29.9996°N 95.5333°W / 29.9996; -95.5333
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 website • News & 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
(edit)

The Houston Texas Temple is a temple temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Klein, Texas, a suburb of Houston. The intent to build the temple was announced on September 30, 1997, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley, during general conference. It was the second built in Texas, following Dallas, and is the church's 97th operating temple. The temple has a single spire with a gold statue of the angel Moroni on its top, and was designed by the Spencer Partnership, using a classic modern style combined with traditional Latter-day Saint design.

A groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of construction, was held on June 13, 1998, and was presided over by Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy. The temple was dedicated on August 26, 2000, by Hinckley in three sessions. The structure is 33,970 square feet and includes two ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry.

In 2017, significant flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey severely damaged parts of the temple, leading to a major renovation project. The temple was closed for repairs, and after extensive restoration work, it was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018. During the renovation, 54 new pieces of artwork were added to enhance the spiritual atmosphere of the temple.

The temple serves over forty-four thousand Latter-day Saints in east Texas, and a few congregations in southwest Louisiana.[citation needed]

History

[edit]

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 Houston Texas Temple was modeled after the old Washington Chapel, a historic building dedicated by church president Heber J. Grant at 2810 16th Street NW in downtown in downtown Washington D.C., on November 5, 1933.[2] As the most visible symbol of the Church’s presence in the national capital until the dedication of the Washington D.C. Temple in 1974, the Washington Chapel featured the angel Moroni on top of its spire—a symbol typically reserved for temples. In 1977, the Washington Chapel was sold to Columbia Road Recording Studios, who then sold it to the Unification Church.[3][4] The angel Moroni statue was removed before the property transferred hands. The chapel was sold 20 years before the Houston Texas Temple was announced.[4]

Following completion of construction, a public open house, held from August 5 through August 22, 2000, drew approximately 27,800 visitors.[5] Church president Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Houston Texas Temple on August 26, 2000.[6][7] In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused significant flood damage.[8] While the temple had not been in use since August, the church formally announced its closure for renovations in October 2017.[9] Following completion of the renovations, the temple was rededicated by M. Russell Ballard on April 22, 2018.[10]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Houston Texas Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Design and Architecture

[edit]

The building uses both a classic modern and traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. The temple was designed by the Spencer Partnership in collaboration with the church's in-house architectural team.[12] The temple is on an 8-acre plot, and the landscaping around the temple has gardens and a central fountain.[10][12]

The structure has multiple stories and is constructed with Luna Pearl granite.[12] The exterior has a single spire with a gold angle Moroni statue.[13] The design uses elements that reflect both the local culture and broader church symbolism.[14]

The interior has elegant design elements, centered around a celestial room to create a spiritually uplifting environment. The temple includes two instruction rooms, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry, each arranged for ceremonial use.[10]

The design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, to provide deeper spiritual meaning to its appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members, which inclues the angel Moroni statue, representing the restoration of the gospel.[13]

Renovations

[edit]

A significant renovation project started in 2017, following severe flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.[14] On August 26, 2017, floodwaters breached the temple, inundating the basement, main floor, and annex building with over a foot of water. The baptistry was completely submerged, and several inches of water damaged carpets and furniture on the main floor. The second floor remained unaffected. The Church later closed the temple for repairs and refurbishments.[15]

The renovations focused on structural repairs, interior redesign, and the addition of new artwork.[10] The renovation was expedited and was completed in approximately seven months, nearly half the expected duration, and was completed under budget. This swift turnaround was considered “nothing short of a miracle” by church leaders.[10]

The renovated temple was rededicated on April 22, 2018, by M. Russell Ballard, [[Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The rededication ceremony was a single, invitation-only session without the customary open house or cultural celebrations.[16]

See also

[edit]
Dallas-Fort Worth Temples

Temples in Texas and Oklahoma (edit)

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

Additional reading

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  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. ^ "The Washington Chapel: An Elias to the Washington D.C. Temple | Religious Studies Center". rsc.byu.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Addendum to Washington Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (PDF), Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey, retrieved May 4, 2023
  5. ^ "'A Milestone in Church History': 100 Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "Houston Texas Temple". Church News. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  7. ^ "HOUSTON TEXAS: 'How glorious and complete is Thy plan'", Church News, September 2, 2000
  8. ^ Curtis, Larry D. "LDS temple suffers 'significant' damage as members help with Harvey recovery". Sinclair Broadcast Group. KUTV.
  9. ^ "Harvey Update: Houston Texas Temple Temporarily Closed", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 25, 2017
  10. ^ a b c d e "Houston Texas Temple Reopens After Rededication", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 22, 2018
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b c "Houston Texas Temple: Facts and figures". Church News. September 2, 2000. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Angel Moroni statues placed atop 2 temples". Church News. June 26, 1999. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "'A place that feels like home': Houston Temple ready for rededication". Church News. April 20, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Houston Texas Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Houston Texas Temple to be rededicated in April". Church News. February 8, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Houston_Texas_Temple&oldid=1289541140"