Nauvoo Illinois Temple

Nauvoo Illinois Temple
Number	113	edit data
Dedication	27 June 2002 (27 June 2002) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	3.3 acres (1.3 hectares)
Floor area	54,000 sq ft (5,000 m2)
Height	162 ft (49 m)
Preceded by	Asunción Paraguay Temple
Followed by	The Hague Netherlands Temple
Official website • News & Images
Additional Information Announcement 4 April 1999 Groundbreaking 24 October 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley Open House 6 May – 22 June 2002 Designed by FFKR Architecture[1] biased on design by William Weeks Location 50 Wells Street Nauvoo, Illinois 62354 United States Phone number 217-453-6252 Exterior finish Limestone block Temple design Greek revival Ordinance rooms 4 with Movie, four-stage progressive sessions Sealing rooms 6 Clothing rental Yes Cafeteria No services Visitors'  center Yes Notes Built on the site of the Nauvoo Temple and dedicated on the 158th anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., the exterior is an almost exact reconstruction of the original temple. Primary difference is weather-vane has been replaced with a statue of Moroni. However, the interior has 4 progressive ordinance rooms with murals like those in the early Utah temples leading to the celestial room and 6 sealing rooms.

Coordinates: 40°33′1.216800″N 91°23′2.972399″W / 40.550338°N 91.38415899972°W / 40.550338; -91.38415899972

For the original structure on the same site, see Nauvoo Temple.

The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is the 113th dedicated temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the third such temple that has been built in Illinois (the original Nauvoo Temple and Chicago Illinois Temple being the others).

Located in the town of Nauvoo, the temple's construction was announced on April 4, 1999, by LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley. Groundbreaking was conducted on October 24, 1999 and the cornerstones were laid November 5, 2000. The structure itself was built in the Greek Revival architectural style using limestone block quarried in Russellville, Alabama. It is built in the same location as the original structure that was dedicated in 1846.

The building measures 130 feet (40 m) long, 90 feet (27 m) wide, and 162 feet (49 m) tall to the top of the statue of Angel Moroni. It has an area of 54,000 square feet (5,000 m²). It is the only temple owned by the LDS Church today that has a bell tower, although Kirtland Temple also has a bell tower.

Church leaders and architects carefully worked to replicate the original exterior design of the 19th-century temple, which was damaged by an arson fire in 1848 and by a tornado on May 27, 1850. It was consequently condemned and demolished by the Nauvoo City Council. Construction materials and furniture were derived from the original design as well. Its interior floor plan is noticeably different from that of the old Nauvoo Temple, as is also the style of the golden angel at the top of the spire. The completion and official dedication was celebrated on June 27, 2002, on the anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith, the Church's founder.

Up to 1.5 million visitors a year have visited Nauvoo since the temple opened in 2002.^[2]

Original Nauvoo Temple

A Sunstone from the original Nauvoo Temple

Main article: Nauvoo Temple

The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the winter of 1846, the church attempted to sell the building, finally succeeding in 1848^{[citation needed]} . The building was damaged by fire and a tornado before being demolished.

Gallery

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  The Nauvoo Illinois Temple at night

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  The back of the temple.

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  Close up at the details of the temple.

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  Close up at the front entrance.

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  Close up of the east side of the temple.

References

1. ^ http://www.ldschurchnews.com/temples/76/Nauvoo-Illinois.html
2. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/11/09/nauvoo.temple.ap/index.html

External links

Media related to Nauvoo Illinois Temple at Wikimedia Commons

• Official LDS Nauvoo Illinois Temple page
• Nauvoo Illinois Temple page
• Photographs of the interior of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple
• Tour of the original Temple
• CNN: Mormon temple a tourism draw for tiny Nauvoo