The St. George Temple, located in Utah's Dixie, was dedicated in 1877, the first of the Utah temples. Even today it is an impressive building; imagine the awe with which it must have been greeted when new.

The first of the Utah temples. Some Latter-day Saints believe that Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, built in about 1000 BC, was the first temple of their religion (apparently this is not official LDS doctrine). Non-Mormons think this is a bit of a stretch, but so be it. The next temple was built in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1836; it still stands, under the ownership of the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and is not used for the ceremonies the other temples are.

The third temple (second in "this dispensation") was built in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. Soon after its completion, an arsonist destroyed the interior of the temple. In May 1925, a tornado knocked down one wall of the gutted structure and weakened the other walls, which were eventually taken down. It has now (2002) been rebuilt.

St. George was the next, dedicated in 1877. Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake were constructed more or less simultaneously, and were dedicated in that order.

The next was Hawaii. Hawaii? Yes, that's right. From then until now, LDS temples have been built around the world.

©D.L. Mark 1997-2003

Billings Montana | Boise Idaho | Boston Massachusetts | Bountiful Utah | Cardston Alberta | Columbia River Washington | Denver Colorado | Idaho Falls Idaho | Jordan River Utah | Kirtland Ohio | Laie Hawaii | Las Vegas Nevada | Logan Utah | Los Angeles California | Manti Utah | Medford Oregon | Mesa Arizona | Monticello Utah | Mount Timpanogos Utah | Nauvoo Illinois | Oakland California | Ogden Utah | Portland Oregon | Provo Utah | Reno Nevada | St. George Utah | St. Louis Missouri | Salt Lake | San Diego California | Seattle Washington | Spokane Washington | Temple Lot | Vernal Utah | Washington D.C. | Winter Quarters Nebraska | Temple Index | Back to Don's Web Site Home Page |