Hamilton New Zealand Temple facts for kids

Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Quick facts for kids Closed for Renovations
Number	11	edit data
Dedicated	20 April 1958 (20 April 1958) by David O. McKay
Site	86 acres (35 hectares)
Floor area	44,212 sq ft (4,107 m2)
Height	157 ft (48 m)
Preceded by	Los Angeles California Temple
Followed by	London England Temple
Official website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/hamilton-new-zealand-temple • News & images
Additional information Announced 17 February 1955 Groundbreaking 21 December 1955 by Ariel Ballif, Wendell B. Mendenhall, and George R. Biesinger Open House 28 March – 19 April 1958 Designed by Edward O. Anderson Location 509 Tuhikaramea Road Temple View Hamilton 3218 New Zealand Exterior finish concrete block and white-painted structural steel Temple design Modern contemporary, single spire Ordinance rooms 1 (Movie, stationary sessions) Sealing rooms 3 Clothing rental Yes Cafeteria Full Visitors' center Yes

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple is a very special building for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's located in Temple View, a suburb near Hamilton, New Zealand. This temple was the 13th one ever built by the Church and the 11th one that is still being used today. It has a modern design with a single spire, similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple.

History of the Temple

The idea for building a temple in New Zealand started with a man named Wendell B. Mendenhall. He was asked by the Church president, David O. McKay, to find the perfect spot. On February 17, 1955, President McKay officially announced that a temple would be built.

When it was finished in 1958, the Hamilton New Zealand Temple became the first temple built by the Church in the Southern Hemisphere. It was also only the second temple built outside of the United States and Canada.

A special ceremony to start building, called a ground-breaking, happened on December 21, 1955. The temple sits on a large piece of land, about 86 acres (35 hectares). This land also used to be home to the Church College of New Zealand, which was a high school for students aged 12 to 18.

The temple building is quite large, covering about 44,212 square feet (4,107 square meters). Inside, it has special rooms for different ceremonies, including a baptistry. The tall spire on top of the temple reaches 157 feet (48 meters) into the sky.

What's really cool is that the temple was built almost entirely by Church members who volunteered their time. Many of these volunteers were missionaries. Local Church members helped them by providing money, food, and places to stay.

On December 22, 1956, Hugh B. Brown, a Church leader, placed the ceremonial cornerstone of the temple. Before the temple was officially opened, it was open for public tours for 23 days. During this time, about 112,500 people visited the temple to see inside.

President David O. McKay dedicated the New Zealand Temple on April 20, 1958. Today, the temple serves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and New Caledonia. There's even a story, or Māori folklore, that the Māori King Tāwhiao predicted where the temple would be built before he died in 1894.

On January 19, 2018, the Church announced that the temple would close in July 2018 for big renovations. These updates are expected to be finished in 2021. In 2019, another Church president, Russell M. Nelson, announced that a second temple would be built in Auckland, New Zealand.

Temple Leaders

Temples are led by special leaders called presidents. Some of the notable presidents who have served at the Hamilton New Zealand Temple include Glen L. Rudd (from 1984 to 1987), Douglas J. Martin (from 1992 to 1995), and Sidney M. Going (from 2013 to 2016).

Images for kids

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  The beautiful Celestial room inside the temple, before it was dedicated.

See also

In Spanish: Templo de Hamilton para niños