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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Groundbreaking of the Ephraim Utah Temple
The groundbreaking of the Ephraim Utah Temple was presided over by President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Aug. 27, 2022. President Nelson had ties to the Utah site because his mother was born in Ephraim, his father was born in Manti, three of four grandparents were born in Ephraim, and all eight of his great-grandparents lived in Ephraim.In his dedicatory prayer on the site, President Nelson said, “We are deeply grateful for our ancestors. They have laid a foundation of faith that undergirds our spiritual strength. May we learn who they are, find their qualifying information, and bless their lives with sacred rites offered vicariously in this holy house.”
Timeline of the Ephraim Utah Temple
May
01
2021
Announced
President Russell M. Nelson announced a temple for Ephraim, Utah, on May 1, 2021, in a prerecorded video that was played at a press conference inside the Manti Tabernacle. In this message, President Nelson also explained modified plans for the Manti Utah Temple’s renovation, which started October 2021.
August
27
2022
Groundbreaking
The Ephraim Utah Temple groundbreaking ceremony was held on Aug. 27, 2022, with Church President Russell M. Nelson presiding. In addition to his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, President Nelson was accompanied by Elder Walter F. González, a General Authority Seventy; and Elder Kevin R. Duncan, executive director of the Temple Department.
The Ephraim temple was announced May 1, 2021, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking and site dedication for this house of the Lord were held on Aug. 27, 2022, and presided over President Nelson.
Atop the structure and toward the front is a multilevel octagonal tower with four arched windows on the base, eight arched windows on the tower, and a domed cupola on top. The temple will be built on a 9.16-acre site, with flower gardens and tall trees decorating the grounds.
Architecture and Design of the Ephraim Utah Temple
According to exterior renderings, the Ephraim Utah Temple will be a three-story building of approximately 39,000 square feet. Around the building are large, arched windows, with arches adorning the entryway around the entrance as well.Atop the structure and toward the front is a multilevel octagonal tower with four arched windows on the base, eight arched windows on the tower, and a domed cupola on top. The temple will be built on a 9.16-acre site, with flower gardens and tall trees decorating the grounds.
Groundbreaking Photos of the Ephraim Utah Temple
Quick Facts
Announced
1 May 2021
Groundbreaking
27 August 2022
Groundbreaking presided by
Location
200 N. 400 E.
Ephraim, Utah 84627
United States
Appointments
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This will be the second Latter-day Saint temple in Sanpete County, Utah.
Fact #2
President Nelson said he “received very clear instruction” from the Lord shortly after April 2021 general conference that a new temple should be built in Ephraim.
Fact #3
A President of the Church of Jesus Christ had not broken ground since President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the site of the Hartford Connecticut Temple on Aug. 17, 2013. This made a difference of just over nine years without a prophet breaking ground for a house of the Lord.
Fact #4
Besides the Ephraim temple, President Nelson has participated in only three other temple groundbreaking ceremonies: the Accra Ghana, Curitiba Brazil and Brigham City Utah temples. The Ephraim temple was his first groundbreaking as President of the Church.
Fact #5
After President Nelson finished his dedicatory prayer on the temple site, rain began to fall. As the prophet was leaving the ceremony, a woman in the crowd called out to him, “These are the tears of joy of our ancestors.”
Additional Facts
Fact #1
This will be the second Latter-day Saint temple in Sanpete County, Utah.
Fact #2
President Nelson said he “received very clear instruction” from the Lord shortly after April 2021 general conference that a new temple should be built in Ephraim.
Fact #3
A President of the Church of Jesus Christ had not broken ground since President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the site of the Hartford Connecticut Temple on Aug. 17, 2013. This made a difference of just over nine years without a prophet breaking ground for a house of the Lord.
Fact #4
Besides the Ephraim temple, President Nelson has participated in only three other temple groundbreaking ceremonies: the Accra Ghana, Curitiba Brazil and Brigham City Utah temples. The Ephraim temple was his first groundbreaking as President of the Church.
Fact #5
After President Nelson finished his dedicatory prayer on the temple site, rain began to fall. As the prophet was leaving the ceremony, a woman in the crowd called out to him, “These are the tears of joy of our ancestors.”