St. George Utah Temple facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

St. George Utah Temple

Quick facts for kids

Closed for Renovation

Number

Dedicated

April 6, 1877 by
Daniel H. Wells

Site

6 acres (2.4 hectares)

Floor area

110,000 sq ft (10,000 m²)

Height

175 ft (53 m)

Preceded by

Nauvoo Temple

Followed by

Logan Utah Temple

Official website: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/details/st-george-utah-temple • News & images

Additional information
Announced	January 31, 1871
Groundbreaking	November 9, 1871 by Brigham Young
Open House	October 15–25, 1975 (after renovations)
Rededicated	November 11, 1975 by Spencer W. Kimball
Designed by	Truman O. Angell
Location	250 East 400 South St. George, Utah United States
Exterior finish	Native red sandstone quarried north of the city and plastered white.
Temple design	Castellated Gothic
Ordinance rooms	3 (stationary sessions)
Sealing rooms	18
Clothing rental	Available
Cafeteria	Available
Visitors' center	Available
Notes	A private dedication was held on January 1, 1877 by Erastus Snow. The original tower of 147 feet was disliked by Brigham Young and was struck by lightning and burned to its base after Young's death. It was rebuilt according to Young's original design with a 175 ft (53 m) tower.

The St. George Utah Temple is a special building belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah. It was finished in 1877. This temple was the third one built by the church. It was also the very first temple built in Utah. This happened after many church members, called pioneers, moved west from Nauvoo, Illinois.

The temple is in the southwestern city of St. George. It was designed by Truman O. Angell. Its style is similar to the Nauvoo Temple. The St. George Temple is the oldest temple still used by the church today. It has three rooms for special ceremonies and 18 rooms for families to be joined together. The temple covers a large area of 143,969 square feet. It was the first temple where church members could do all the special ceremonies for their family members who had passed away.

History of the St. George Temple
Temple Design
- Exterior Design
- Interior Design
Admittance to the Temple
Temple Presidents
Gallery
See also

History of the St. George Temple

Brigham Young, who was the leader of the church, announced the temple's construction on November 9, 1871. He chose St. George because many loyal followers lived there. He hoped the temple would bring people together in this challenging area. St. George was founded by 309 families. They were sent there to start a cotton farm.

Building the temple helped provide food and jobs. This was important because the early settlers faced tough times. They sometimes struggled with hunger and money problems.

When the St. George Temple was announced, the Salt Lake Temple was still being built. It would not be finished for another 22 years. The St. George Temple was built to meet the church's immediate need. It provided a place for important temple ceremonies. This temple became the third one completed by the church. It was also the first in Utah.

Choosing the Temple Site

Brigham Young picked a 6-acre plot for the temple. Even though he had health problems, he watched over the building work. He even had a winter home nearby. When work started, builders found the ground was wet and swampy. They asked Young if they should move the site. But he insisted that this was the right place. Young said the site had been chosen long ago by the Nephites, a people from the Book of Mormon.

To fix the wet ground, workers dug drains. This helped remove as much water as possible. Then, they added stone to create a strong foundation. Teams of oxen brought large lava rocks from a nearby quarry. These rocks were crushed into gravel. This made a dry and solid base for the temple.

The Cannon Pile Driver

Workmen suggested using an old cannon to crush the stone. This cannon was made in France. Napoleon had used it during his war in Russia. The cannon was left behind during Napoleon's retreat. It traveled from Siberia to Alaska and then to California. Members of the Mormon Battalion brought the cannon to Utah.

St-George-Temple-piledriver-display-St-George-News

The cannon used as a piledriver

Workers created a pulley system using horses. The cannon was filled with lead and covered in wood. It was lifted thirty feet high. Then, it was dropped to compact the foundation. It is said that Brigham Young told the workers: "when the cannon was dropped and it bounced three times, then the foundation was solid enough."

Building the Temple Walls

After the foundation was strong, construction on the temple began. The walls were built using red sandstone from the area. A white plaster was then put over the sandstone to make the temple look white. Workers gave one day out of every ten as free labor. This was their way of helping build the temple.

The temple under construction, the lower half of the sandstone being prepared for a whitewash coating

Some members gave half their wages to the temple. Others gave food, clothing, and other items. This helped those who worked full-time on the building. Women decorated the inside with handmade carpets. They also made fringe for the altars and pulpits. All of this was made from silk produced in Utah. It took local church members six years to finish the temple.

When it was done, the temple contained a lot of lumber. This wood was hand-chopped and brought from 40 to 80 miles away. Workers also used 17,000 tons of volcanic rock and sandstone. This stone was hand-cut and pulled by oxen.

Temple Dedication

To celebrate the finished building, the church's general conference was held there. This happened on April 6, 1877. During this time, the temple was officially dedicated. Daniel H. Wells, who was a leader in the church, gave the dedicatory prayer. The St. George Temple was the only temple finished during Brigham Young's 29 years as church president.

The Cupola's Story

Brigham Young was not happy with how tall the tower was at first. But because building had taken so long, he likely did not want to delay it more. Two years after he passed away, in 1883, lightning struck the tower. This caused a fire that destroyed the tower. The rest of the temple was not harmed. The new tower was built twice as tall. This was done to honor Brigham Young's wish for a taller tower.

A Special Visit

According to Wilford Woodruff, who was a temple president and church leader, something special happened in August 1877. He said that the spirits of the Founding Fathers and other important historical figures appeared to him in the St. George Temple. They asked why special temple ceremonies had not been done for them.

Woodruff wrote about these events in his personal journals. They happened over two days and two nights. After this, special ceremonies like baptisms were performed in the temple. These were done for a total of 100 men and women. Some of the historical figures mentioned were George Washington, Christopher Columbus, and Marie Antoinette. It is also said that soon after, ceremonies were done for 85 Native American Chiefs.

Temple Renovations

The temple has been updated ten times over the years. This includes fixing the cupola after the lightning strike. In 1917, the building next to the temple, called the annex, was made bigger. In 1938, big changes were made to the floor plan. Rooms were moved, and new paintings were added.

The former temple annex

In 1975, the annex was expanded again. This helped change how the temple ceremonies were presented. Instead of live actors, a film was used.

The current temple annex

On November 4, 2019, the temple closed for more updates. During this time, older additions were removed. The goal was to bring back the original look of the temple. They also added earthquake-proof upgrades. New designs were added, like a five-point gold star and a quatrefoil. Other new features included a skylight, a bride's plaza, and better landscaping. A new entrance to the baptistry was built. Steel trusses, murals, and a new annex were also added. The electrical system and heating and cooling units were updated.

Temple Design

Truman O. Angell designed the temple. He worked under Brigham Young's guidance. Angell had worked as a carpenter on the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. The St. George Temple's design uses ideas from those earlier buildings. The temple is a rectangular shape. It has two stories, an eight-sided spire, and a large assembly hall. The temple sits on a 6.5-acre plot. This area includes walking paths, gardens, seating, and a beautiful water feature.

The St. George Temple from its southeast corner

Exterior Design

The St. George Temple looks similar to the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples in its overall shape. However, the outside designs are different. The St. George Temple mixes Neo-Gothic style with a French Norman Revival Style. It has parapets and battlements, which look like castle walls. Inside these towers, Angell added six-sided staircases. Some elements, like the pilasters from Nauvoo and Kirtland, were replaced with thin buttresses. In between these, he added a round window design. Other temples built later, like the Salt Lake City Temple, looked more like strong castles.

Interior Design

The temple was first designed with two large meeting halls. These were similar to the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. The lower hall was divided by curtains for the special ceremony rooms. Today, the temple's inside has one large assembly hall. It also has a baptistry for performing baptisms for the dead. There are three rooms for special ceremonies and eighteen sealing rooms. These sealing rooms are where families can be joined together forever.

After the 2023 renovations, the design focused on the pioneer era. Andy Kirby, a church director, said the inside design matches the historic temple. It looks like furnishings from the 1870s and 1880s. The lights match the time period. They have glass shades with a gothic design. The millwork (woodwork) throughout the building also fits the time. The 2023 updates also added new paintings in each instruction room. Three different artists created these. Each painting shows the beautiful, rugged landscape of southwest Utah.

Admittance to the Temple

Like all temples of the church, the St. George Temple is not used for Sunday church services. Church members believe temples are sacred houses of the Lord. Members of the church who have a special pass, called a temple recommend, can enter for worship. The visitors’ center next to the temple is open to everyone.