Announced: May 28, 1988.
Location: In the Bountiful foothills on east bench (at 1650 East), 640 S. Bountiful Blvd, Bountiful, UT 84010-1394; phone: (801) 296-2100.
Site: 11 acres.
Exterior finish: Bethel white granite.
Temple design: Modern, with single spire.
Architect: Allen Ereckson, architect of record; Keith Stepan, project architect; and Church architectural staff.
Contractor: Oakland Construction Co.
Project manager: Jerry Sears.
Construction adviser: Michael Enfield.
Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, four endowment rooms, eight sealing rooms.
Total floor area: 104,000 square feet.
Dimensions: 145 feet by 198 feet; statue of Angel Moroni on top spire; 176 feet high.
District: 30 stakes in Central and south Davis County, Utah.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: May 2, 1992, by President Ezra Taft Benson.
Dedication: Jan. 8-14, 1995, by President Howard W. Hunter, 28 sessions.
Dedicatory Prayer
Done by President Howard W. Hunter
O God, our Eternal Father, thou great Elohim, Creator of the heavens, the earth and all things thereon, we come before thee this sacred and blessed day with bowed heads, full hearts and subdued spirits.
We pray to thee, our Father, in the name of thy Beloved Son, thine Only Begotten, even our Redeemer and our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. We know that through obedience to thy divine commandments, we may return to thee and be blessed with life eternal in thy exalted presence.
We are grateful for this long-awaited day of dedication, when this, thy Holy House, has been completed. Bless, we pray thee, those faithful members here and throughout the world who have contributed their tithes which have made possible this magnificent edifice for thy name's honor and glory and for the blessing of all who enter herein. Let peace prevail as we lift our voices in songs of praise and words of prayer unto thee, our God.
We are thankful that thou sent thine Only Begotten Son to this earth to be its Savior, and the Prophet Joseph Smith to bring about the restoration, and that thou did appear to the Prophet in person to open the heavens and to restore to the world the knowledge of thee and thy Son and thy holy purposes.
The atonement wrought by thy Son gives purpose to our being and turns our thoughts heavenward. We thank thee that thou did reveal unto thy priesthood even the sacred sealing power, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, so that in this temple and all thy other holy houses, thy faithful Saints may be endowed with power from on high and may enter into those everlasting covenants which open the door to the receipt of all of the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the holy prophets. The Plan of Salvation taught in the temple with simplicity, yet with power, will be as a never-failing beacon of divine light to guide our footsteps and keep them constantly on the pathway of eternal life.
As we do the work in this temple for those who have gone beyond, we are reminded of the inspired counsel of President Joseph F. Smith who declared: "Through our efforts in their behalf, their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them; and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice."
We seek to be like thee; we seek to pattern our lives after the life of thy Son; we desire righteousness for ourselves and our children and our children's children. We plead with thee to make us worthy to inherit the fullness of those blessings found only in thy holy temples—even those blessings which grow out of a continuation of the family unit forever. We thank thee for the freedom we enjoy in this blessed land. Grant that the freedom emanating from the inspired Constitution, which provides us the opportunity to erect this holy temple, may be strengthened in other lands and open the way for more temples to dot the landscapes of countries throughout the world, that all thy worthy children may be blessed as we are here today.
Bless thy messengers of glory—even the missionaries of thy Church—that they may proclaim with persuasion and power thy truths. Protect them, watch over them, and lead them to those whom thou hast prepared to hear, to believe, and to embrace the Gospel of thy Beloved Son.
Father in Heaven bless, we pray thee, the President of the Church and his counselors who comprise the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric with thy guiding influence and inspiration.
Bless the temple president and his counselors, together with their wives, and all who will assist in the operation of this temple.
Bless thy children throughout the world who know hunger, who have no shelter and who face daily suffering. May we who have been blessed with abundance reach out in a spirit of love and true charity to those who yearn for our help.
In a time of departure from safe moorings, may youth of the noble birthright carry on in the traditions of their parents and grandparents. They are subjected to the sophistries of Satan. Help such youth to stand firm for truth. Open wide to their view the gates of learning, of understanding, of service in thy kingdom. Bless them with a lengthened view of their eternal possibilities.
Today when the family unit is under attack and things long held sacred are often ridiculed by the world, we seek thy help to make us equal to our tasks, that our homes may be havens of peace and happiness. In our families, may we pause to pray and think to thank.
We express our gratitude for all who have participated in the preparations for this day of dedication, as well as for those who made possible the highly successful open house event. We ask thy blessings to attend that vast throng who walked within these sacred walls and felt stirring thoughts course through their minds and hearts. May the spirit of the temple continue with them. And now, our Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the Holy Priesthood and in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate unto thee and unto thy Son this, the Bountiful Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate it as a house of baptism, a house of endowment, a house of sealing, a house of righteousness, for the living and for the dead.
We humbly pray that thou wilt accept this edifice and let thy blessings be upon it. Let thy spirit attend and guide all who officiate herein, that holiness will prevail in every room. May all who enter have clean hands and pure hearts. May they be built up in their faith and depart with a feeling of peace, praising thy holy name. We dedicate the ground on which the temple stands, sensing it was reserved for this purpose. We dedicate the beautiful structure, from the unseen footings to the majestic figure of Moroni crowning its highest point. We dedicate the baptistry, all of the facilities for administering the sacred ordinances, the endowment rooms, the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, and the lovely celestial room, together with all ancillary facilities and the beautiful grounds with their lawns, flowers, trees, and shrubs. Protect all from any devastating influence, destruction, or defacement.
May this House provide a spirit of peace to all who observe its majesty, and especially to those who enter for their own sacred ordinances and to perform the work for their loved ones beyond the veil. Let them feel of thy divine love and mercy. May they be privileged to say, as did the Psalmist of old, "We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
As we dedicate this sacred edifice, we rededicate our very lives to thee and to thy work.
O, Holy Father, bless thy children everywhere with the peace promised by thy Son—even the peace which passeth understanding. Shield us, we pray, from selfishness or sin and provide the power that we might rise above all that is sordid or below the dignity of thy children.
And now we dedicate this temple as an abode for thee and thy Son. Let thy glorious light ever shine upon it. Wilt thou place thy ratifying seal of approval upon this dedicatory service and upon all we have done and shall do in this, thy Holy House, which we now present to thee.
May we, thy children, merit thy bounteous blessings and thy watchful care, we pray, in the name of thy Beloved Son, even the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord, Amen.
200,000 attend dedicatory sessions
A total of 201,655 members attended the 28 dedicatory sessions of the Bountiful Utah Temple, the largest number attending a temple dedication in the history of the Church.
The temple was dedicated Jan. 8-14, and opened for temple work at 6 a.m. Jan. 17. On that day, Temple Pres. Harold C. Yancey said a large crowd entered for the first session and almost immediately filled three endowment rooms. Some nine weddings were performed. `We've had a wonderful first day," he said.Although it was chilly for the first dedicatory session on Jan, 8, the weather during the week was unseasonably mild, with a January thaw melting snow the latter part of the week. Snow fell Sunday, Jan. 15, and on Jan. 17 a heavy storm dressed the entire area in white.
The Bountiful Temple District is made up of 28 stakes in southern Davis County, from Kaysville on the north to North Salt Lake on the south.
Of those participating in the dedication, 67,551 attended at the temple; 82,174 at the Salt Lake Tabernacle; 20,463, Bountiful Regional Center; 13,418, Ogden Tabernacle; 5,399, Brigham City Tabernacle; and 12,650 at the Logan Tabernacle. Sessions were carried to the Brigham City Tabernacle on the first and last days of the dedication. Two sessions a day were transmitted to the Logan Tabernacle in the evenings during the week, with three sessions on Saturday.
The dedication was a highlight described by one member in one word: "Wonderful." Others were equally touched by the experience. Day after day, session after session, members arrived at the temple dressed in their best clothing.
As soon as one session began, lines began forming for the next session and members waited patiently from one to two hours.
Among the families attending were the Ioakima Talo family of Clearfield, Utah, who are members of the Mapusaga (Samoan) Ward in the Salt Lake Hunter Stake. They came to the 10:30 a.m. session on Jan. 13. "It was very nice," said Brother Talo.
Several bishops in the Utah North Area, including some outside the temple district, were contacted by the Church News. The bishops issued from 35 to nearly 200 tickets to ward members.
Bishop Johnny E. Fry of the Oakridge 4th Ward, Farmington Utah Oakridge Stake, estimated that 92 percent of the temple recommend holders in his ward attended with their children. He also said the number of non-recommend holders in the ward dropped from 35 percent to 11 percent as the dedication time arrived. The ward prepared for the dedication for many months, and promoted it throughout the ward. "Spiritually, it was a quantum leap forward for our ward," said Bishop Fry. Bishop Stephen W. Knight of the West Bountiful (Utah) 4th Ward, said several members of his ward who had not been to the temple for some time had renewed their recommends for this occasion. "There was a lot of excitement," said Bishop Knight. "I sense that the ward members have renewed enthusiasm and dedication for temple work. We have really high hopes in that direction.
"There is also a lot of enthusiasm among the young people. The dedication has lived up to our expectations. We are delighted to have a temple this close and be able to look at it from our home. It will have an impact on our lives."
Bishop Randy A. Jackman of the Rose Park 4th Ward in Salt Lake City said about 100 members of his ward attended dedicatory sessions in the Bountiful Regional Center. "Everyone had a wonderful experience and it was very spiritual for them all. A lot of people are excited about temple work. This will definitely have a long-term impact on our ward."
Bishop Terry D. Carpenter of the Ogden (Utah) 48th Ward said about 35 members of his ward attended sessions in the Ogden Tabernacle. "For those who attended, it will leave an everlasting impression," he said.
Bishop Evan P. Guymon of the Grandview Ward, Ogden Utah Weber Heights Stake, estimated that 100 ward members attended a dedicatory session. "We attended the first session at the Ogden Tabernacle. It was just wonderful."
In Logan, Bishop Robert L. Jensen of the Logan 24th Ward, Logan Utah East Stake, said 110 members of his ward attended dedicatory sessions in the Logan Tabernacle. He noted that he'd used up all the tickets he was allotted and had to obtain more to meet the request.
"Every one I've talked to enjoyed it a great deal," he said. "I'm hoping this will increase temple activity."
Public invited to Bountiful Temple
At the official opening of tours of the Bountiful Utah Temple Thursday morning, Nov. 3, Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve hosted members of the media at an open house. Throughout the remainder of the day and on Friday, Nov. 4, he hosted government, business, community and education leaders, representatives of other religions and other special guests on tours of the new edifice.
Public tours of the temple begin Saturday, Nov. 5, and are scheduled to continue through Dec. 17, except Sundays and Thanksgiving. On Tuesdays through Saturdays, tours are scheduled for 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. The temple will close to tours at 6 p.m. on Mondays.While tours are free to the public, tickets are required. Earlier, tickets were distributed in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties through local Church units. Ample tickets are still available at the Bountiful Regional Center (formerly Valley Music Hall), off I-15 at the Woods Cross exit. (Telephone 801-299-4222.)
Officials anticipate 900,000 to 1.1 million people will tour the temple during the open house. More
than 33,000 tickets were issued for Saturday, Nov. 5, alone.
The new temple is located about nine miles north of Salt Lake City in the foothills of Bountiful overlooking the Great Salt Lake. It will be the Church's 47th temple in operation and Utah's eighth. About 92,000 members reside in the 28 stakes that comprise the temple district, which extends from North Salt Lake to Kaysville in Davis County.
"We are certain that anyone who participates in either the open house or in the dedicatory sessions that will be held in January will never be the same again, with respect to their attitudes and perspectives toward the House of the Lord," said Elder John E. Fowler of the Seventy and president of the Utah North Area. "Whether they're members of the Church or not, active or not, everyone who walks through this sacred edifice will be forever changed by the spirit of the Bountiful temple.
"This open house is a wonderful and unique opportunity for everyone in the vicinity. It is very infrequently that people who are not members of the Church or who have not been to the temple are able to experience first-hand a house of the Lord. This is a special edifice, the construction and use of which is unique to the Latter-day Saint people. We desire greatly to have as many people as possible come see it during the open house. All are welcome. The active and less-active Latter-day Saints and those who are not members of the Church will have a marvelous experience as they visit the temple."
Elder Blaine P. Jensen, the regional representative who is vice chairman of the Bountiful Utah Temple committee, said: "The temple is ready. We feel that we have all the arrangements made to accommodate these many thousands of visitors who will attend the open house. Our great hope is that all who come will have a worry-free and an interruption-free spiritual experience as they go into this magnificent building."
Directions to the temple and instructions for parking are printed on the back of each ticket, along with other key information pertaining to attending the open house. "We will do all in our power to make this a marvelous experience for everyone. We will be able to accommodate people with handicaps or special needs.
"We are extremely pleased with the support of the local members of the Church. We anticipate that before the completion of the dedication we will have had 40,000 volunteers involved."
After the open house, the temple will be closed for three weeks to prepare for the dedication, which will comprise 28 sessions from Sunday, Jan. 8 to Saturday, Jan 14. Each of the temple district's 28 stakes will be assigned a dedicatory session. Tickets to attend the dedicatory sessions will be issued to those baptized members 8 years of age and older who are determined to be worthy by their bishops.
The First Presidency has invited members of the Church who live in Salt Lake and Weber counties, as well as those in Davis County who are not part of the temple district, to participate in the events of the dedication, Elder Fowler said. Tickets will be available through their bishops. Many members will be invited to participate in the dedicatory services through closed-circuit television at the Salt Lake and Ogden tabernacles and the Bountiful Regional Center.
"No matter where members attend the dedication, it will be a wonderful experience," Elder Fowler said. "Can you imagine the excitement of being in the Tabernacle on Temple Square or in one of the other great assemblies and being part of a dedication session with thousands of other Latter-day Saints, relishing the beautiful spirit of that occasion?"
The new temple, constructed by Okland Construction Co., includes 100,000 square feet. It has four ordinance rooms, eight sealing rooms, a celestial room, baptistry, offices, laundry and cafeteria. Ground was broken for the edifice May 2, 1992, by President Ezra Taft Benson.
