Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple

Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple
Number95
DedicationJuly 30, 2000, by James E. Faust
Site1 acre (0.40 ha)
Floor area10,890 sq ft (1,012 m2)
Height71 ft (22 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple
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Additional information
AnnouncedMarch 14, 1999, by Gordon B. Hinckley
GroundbreakingJuly 3, 1999, by Rex D. Pinegar
Open houseJuly 8–22, 2000
RededicatedMay 19, 2019, by Henry B. Eyring
Current presidentJeffrey Flynn Bellows
Designed byRichard Lueb and Church A&E Services
LocationYukon, Oklahoma, U.S.
Geographic coordinates35°35′30.64559″N 97°43′36.11999″W / 35.5918459972°N 97.7266999972°W / 35.5918459972; -97.7266999972
Exterior finishWhite marble quarried in Vermont
Temple designClassic modern, single-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (two-stage progressive)
Sealing rooms2
Clothing rentalNot available
()

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple is the 95th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the first built in the state of Oklahoma. Located in Yukon, a suburb of Oklahoma City, the temple was announced on March 14, 1999,[1] and at the time of its completion served Latter-day Saints across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas, and Missouri. A Groundbreaking occurred on July 3, 1999, with Rex D. Pinegar, a church general authority, presiding. The temple was dedicated on July 30, 2000, by James E. Faust of the church's First Presidency.

The temple has a single-story design with a four-tiered tower with a gold-colored statue of the angel Moroni on its top. The exterior is composed of light beige limestone, is 10,769 square feet, and has two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry.[2] In October 2017, the temple closed for extensive interior and exterior renovations. It was rededicated on May 19, 2019, by Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.[3]

History

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was announced on March 14, 1999, by the church's First Presidency. The temple was constructed on a 1-acre (0.4 ha) property at 12030 North Mustang Road in Yukon, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City.[4] The land had been purchased years earlier for the construction of a meetinghouse, along with an additional parcel donated by the sellers. The additional land was originally used as a baseball field by local church members. Preliminary plans called for a single-story structure of more than 10,000 square feet.[5]

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 3, 1999, and was presided over by Rex D. Pinegar of the Seventy, then president of the church’s North America Southwest Area,[6] and was attended by local church members and community leaders.[7]

Construction moved forward amid recovery efforts from a devastating tornado that struck the area in May 1999. Pinegar referenced the tornado in his remarks, acknowledging the faith and resilience of the community.[7]

After construction was completed, a public open house was held from July 15 to July 22, 2000, excluding Sunday. Approximately 40,000 visitors toured the temple during the open house.[5]

The temple was dedicated on July 30, 2000, by James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency.[5] It was constructed at a cost of $4.5 million,[23][8] and contains a total floor area of 10,769 square feet (1,000.5 m²), with two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.[9]

On April 10, 2017, the church announced that the temple would close in October 2017 for extensive renovations, with completion anticipated in 2019.[10][11][12] On January 16, 2019, the church announced the temple would be rededicated on May 19, 2019.[13][14] Although it was initially announced that no open house would be held,[13] an update on April 22 confirmed that an open house would occur from April 24 to May 1, excluding Sunday.[15][16][17] The temple was rededicated by Henry B. Eyring on May 19, 2019.[3]

In 2020, like all the church's others, the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple was closed for a time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Design and architecture

The Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple is on a 1-acre (0.4 ha) plot at 12030 North Mustang Road in Yukon, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City.[4] The landscaping surrounding the temple has lawns and trees, designed to provide a peaceful setting to enhance the sacred atmosphere of the site.

The temple is a single-story structure constructed with light-beige limestone.[2] The exterior has a central spire with a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni on its top.[19] The building design is meant to reflect traditional church symbolism while integrating a clean and modest aesthetic that complements the surrounding community. The interior of the temple includes two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.[20]

A significant renovation project started in October 2017, as announced by the church on April 10, 2017.[10] The renovations focused on structural upgrades, interior redesign, and technology enhancements.[12] The renovated temple was rededicated on May 19, 2019, by Henry B. Eyring.[3]

Temple presidents

The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each typically serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.

Serving from 2000 to 2005, the first president was Henry J. Chesney, with Peggy J. Chesney serving as matron.[11][21] As of 2025, Jeffrey F. Bellows is the president, with Marion L. Bellows serving as matron.[22]

Admittance

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[23]

See also

Dallas-Fort Worth Temples

Temples in Texas and Oklahoma ()

  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

References

  1. ^ "Six more temples announced; total now 108", Church News, March 27, 1999
  2. ^ a b "Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple Rededicated", Newsroom, LDS Church, May 19, 2019
  4. ^ a b "Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple". Church News. March 10, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple". Church News. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  6. ^ "Ground broken for first temple in Oklahoma", Church News, July 10, 1999
  7. ^ a b "Ground broken for first temple in Oklahoma". Deseret News. July 10, 1999. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  8. ^ Lang, George (February 12, 2000). "New temple to serve area Mormons". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple facts and figures", Church News, August 5, 2000
  10. ^ a b "LDS Church to close 4 temples in Japan, Paraguay, Oklahoma and Tennessee for renovation". Deseret News. April 11, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "New temple president". Church News. July 1, 2000. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Four Mormon Temples Will Close for Renovation", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 10, 2017
  13. ^ a b "Temple Rededications Announced for May 2019". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  14. ^ "Temple Rededications Announced for May 2019", Newsroom, LDS Church, January 16, 2019
  15. ^ "Public Open House Begins for Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, April 22, 2019
  16. ^ Hinton, Clara (April 24, 2019). "Oklahoma City Temple has open house". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "Public Open House Begins for Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  18. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Angel Moroni Statues on Temples". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. September 15, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "Angel Moroni Statues on Temples". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. September 15, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  21. ^ "New temple presidents". Deseret News. June 11, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  22. ^ "8 temples, from Colombia to Samoa, will have new presidents and matrons this year". Church News. March 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  23. ^ "Latter-day Saints Worship and Participate in Sacred Ceremonies in Temples". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. September 17, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2025.

Additional reading

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