Orem Utah Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- March 31, 2024 – Painter behind Conference Center mural shares his journey of art and faith
- March 4, 2024 – Geneva Road getting upgrade to accommodate temple traffic
- January 21, 2024 – Elder Christofferson Dedicates Orem Utah Temple
- January 21, 2024 – Orem Utah Temple dedication a ‘milestone in the progress’ of God’s kingdom, Elder Christofferson says
- January 20, 2024 – 1 leader dedicates 2 temples on 2 consecutive Sundays on 2 continents
News Stories
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Elder Christofferson Dedicates the Orem Utah Temple
"Today we dedicate this magnificent temple, a testament to the faith of many generations, with the promise of more faithful, covenant-keeping generations to come," said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the dedication of the Orem Utah Temple on Sunday, January 21, 2024. He noted that the temple is a place where Latter-day Saints can find heavenly help and eternal perspective. "What had seemed overwhelming and impossible can, with the Lord’s help, find resolution, and we are more certain of His help." The three-story, 71,998-square-foot temple is the 19th dedicated house of the Lord in Utah.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Open House Begins for the Orem Utah Temple
Journalists and other invited guests toured the Orem Utah Temple this morning, as the open house gets underway. Free public tours begin Friday, October 27, and continue through Saturday, December, 16, 2023 (excluding Sundays and Thanksgiving Day). Located between the Wasatch Mountains and the shores of Utah Lake, the temple occupies a beautiful site settled by Norwegian immigrants who arrived in Utah in 1864. As converts to the Church, generations of the Williamsen family homesteaded the 15 acres that were eventually purchased by the Church in 2004. The area was home to many fruit orchards, inspiring the cherry blossom design found throughout the temple.
Photo: Brent R.
Orem Utah Temple Open House and Dedication Announced
A public open house for the Orem Utah Temple has been announced for Friday, October 27, through Saturday, December 16, 2023, excluding Sundays and Thanksgiving Day. A media day will kick off the event on Monday, October 23, followed by invited guest tours through Thursday, October 26. The temple will be dedicated in two sessions on Sunday, January 21, 2024.
Photo: Brent R.
Sod Laid on the Orem Utah Temple Grounds
Fresh rolls of grass sod are greening up the beautiful grounds of the Orem Utah Temple. Landscaping efforts are progressing rapidly including the planting of hundreds of trees and plants in parking lot islands, garden strips, and flowerbeds. Exterior lighting tests have begun, creating a captivating visual display for motorists traveling Interstate 15. Construction began 32 months ago.
Photo: Brent R.
Fresh Concrete Pour at the Orem Utah Temple
Newly poured sidewalks are curing next to a drop-off zone at the Orem Utah Temple. These walkways connect to the circular entrance plaza where hundreds of paver stones have been cut and laid in a fan pattern around the central planter. Cladding of hardscape structures on the grounds continues, and a section of asphalt has been removed from the center of the on-site roundabout to accommodate a circular planter.
Photo: Brent R.
Landscaping the Center Garden Strip at the Orem Utah Temple
Crews are preparing the large garden strip on the center approach to the Orem Utah Temple for landscaping. Bright orange markings designate where curved curbing will be poured, encircling the walkways, lamp posts, and trees that are already in place. Parking lot islands on either side of the garden strip have been covered in mulch and planted with shrubs. Cladding of the steeple is completed, and scaffolding will soon be removed.
Photo: Brent R.
Building a Temporary Canopy at the Orem Utah Temple
Dozens of posts have encircled the entrance plaza at the Orem Utah Temple as crews assemble the structural support for a temporary canopy. Once enclosed, installers will begin to lay stone pavers under the temperature-controlled conditions. On the third floor, directly above the main entrance, the stained-glass window panes for one of the four sealing rooms are being installed.
Photo: Brent R.
Baptistry Windows Installed in the Orem Utah Temple
The exquisite stained-glass windows installed in the baptistry of the Orem Utah Temple feature the flora and fauna of nearby Utah Lake including a brightly colored dragonfly and a dignified snowy egret. Scaffolding has been removed from the front of the temple but remains around the steeple. The temple has been under construction for 27 months.
Photo: Brent R.
Stained Glass Installation Begins at the Orem Utah Temple
The first panes of stained glass have been installed in the Orem Utah Temple. The stunning windows feature a floral pattern on a background of blue swirls. The floral theme is echoed in the stonework that surrounds the windows and spandrel panels. The temple has been under construction for almost 27 months and is one of three currently under construction in Utah County. The other two are the Lindon Utah Temple and Saratoga Springs Utah Temple.
Photo: Brent R.
Hardscaping the East Plaza of the Orem Utah Temple
At the east end of the Orem Utah Temple, concrete crews have poured a large circular slab that will serve as a gathering plaza for friends and family to receive newly sealed couples and families. Walkways and other hard elements are also being installed around the temple. Cladding of the exterior has progressed to the mechanical level and steeple. The temple is located near Utah Valley University where undergraduate enrollment has reached over 40,000 students.
Photo: Brent R.
Scaffolding Assembled Around the Orem Utah Temple Steeple
With crews finishing up stone installation on the upper walls of the Orem Utah Temple, scaffolding has been assembled around the steeple, which is the next structure to receive stone cladding. Trees and shrubs are being planted in the parking lot islands and around the perimeter of the property while hard elements are being installed on the grounds closer to the temple. There are currently eleven temples under construction in Utah and three undergoing renovation.
Photo: Brent R.
Award Offered in Arson Investigation of Orem Utah Temple Fire
The July 25 fire at the Orem Utah Temple is being investigated as arson, and a reward up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved. "In recent years there has been an unfortunate worldwide increase of violence, vandalism and desecration of religious sites and buildings," said Church spokesman Doug Andersen in a statement issued today. "We are grateful for the efforts of local and federal law enforcement officials to investigate such instances and prosecute those who engage in those actions."
Photo: Brent R.
South Side Scaffolding Removed from the Orem Utah Temple
Scaffolding has come down from the south side of the Orem Utah Temple, placing the beautiful granite cladding on full display. A delicate leaf pattern is carved into the casing around the upper arched windows, coordinating with the ornamentation in the spandrels and window headers. The ground closest to the temple has been prepared for landscaping, and remediation efforts have been carried out for a small fire that broke out last month.
Photo: Brent R.
Third Floor Fire at the Orem Utah Temple Under Investigation
The cause of a fire inside the Orem Utah Temple is under investigation. Flames became visible just before midnight last night. "The source of the fire is not yet known, but it is believed that the fire started on the third floor of the temple. Foam was used to extinguish the fire as much as possible, which limited water damage to the construction site. Damage is still being evaluated this morning. The church is grateful to the Orem Fire Department for their quick response," said Church spokesman Doug Andersen. Read more.
Photo: Brent R.
Hardscaping the Orem Utah Temple Grounds
Forms are being installed on the north side of the Orem Utah Temple for the hard elements that will be incorporated in the temple grounds. Stone cladding of the upper walls has wrapped around the east side to the north, while hanging brackets are installed in the sections ahead. On top of the temple, roofing materials are being affixed to the surface including each tier of the steeple.
Photo: Brent R.
Steeple Added to the Meetinghouse at the Orem Utah Temple Site
A white steeple has been added to the west end of the meetinghouse located on the Orem Utah Temple site. Brickwork has been completed, and a stucco finish is being applied to the rest of the walls. Long-awaited shipments of granite cladding have been delivered, allowing crews to continue installation on the upper walls of the temple. Roofing layers are being added to the multiple tiers of the steeple.
Photo: Brent R.
Bridal Exit Stonework on the Orem Utah Temple
Recent photographs of the Orem Utah Temple provide a close-up view of the beautiful stonework being attached to the bridal exit on the east (rear) side of the building. Stained glass will be installed in the rectangular windows that sit on either side of the arched doorway. The decorative parapet is intricately carved with symbols and shapes coordinating with the temple motif. Weeks of granite cladding are yet ahead, but brickwork on the meetinghouse is nearing completion.
Photo: Brent R.
Planting Trees on the Orem Utah Temple Grounds
Trees are being planted and sidewalks formed in the garden strip that runs directly in front of the entrance to the Orem Utah Temple. Concrete is being poured for other walkways around the temple and meetinghouse while more trees and shrubs are planted. Cladding on both buildings is making progress with granite work focused on the east side of the temple and brickwork focused on the west side of the meetinghouse. Trailers are being dismantled to make way for additional parking lot pavement.
Photo: Brent R.
Inscription Stones Installed on the Orem Utah Temple
The inscription stones that proclaim Holiness to the Lord – The House of the Lord were installed over the main entrance to the Orem Utah Temple earlier this week. Contractors are working as quickly as possible to complete the construction of this sacred edifice. "And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD" (Exodus 28:36).
Photo: Brent R.
Cladding the Upper Walls of the Orem Utah Temple
The snow-capped Lake Mountains stand under a deep blue sky and reflect in the still waters of Utah Lake to create a stunning backdrop for the beautiful Orem Utah Temple. Granite cladding has reached the upper walls of the temple while brickwork continues on the meetinghouse. Plastic sheeting has been used to enclose the maintenance building so the interior work can get underway. It stands at the southeast corner of the property.
Photo: Brent R.
More Window Frames Installed for the Orem Utah Temple
On the second and third floors of the Orem Utah Temple, window frames are being inserted into the tall arched openings while blocking and steel brackets are being attached to the base of the walls ahead of granite cladding. Much of the ground floor remains tented under plastic sheeting where flat granite panels and sculpted granite moldings are being combined into a stunning finished exterior. An arched exterior door was recently cased in beautiful curved stone.
Photo: Brent R.
Granite Cladding Progress on the Orem Utah Temple
Construction workers at the Orem Utah Temple continue to clad the first level of the temple in ornamented granite panels. Work has begun on attaching hanging brackets to the second level, and plastic sheeting has been put up to cover the window openings on the second and third floors. A steel roof deck has been installed on the maintenance building, and brick layers are making progress on the exterior of the meetinghouse.
Photo: Brent R.
Spire and Finial Added to the Orem Utah Temple
A significant milestone was reached today in the construction of the Orem Utah Temple. The finial was assembled and installed to the top of the spire, bringing the temple to its final height. The spire itself was installed yesterday, despite a storm that had dropped snow early in the day. Once the storm clouds parted, however, the spire was hoisted to the top of the tower and bolted into place, adding an ornate beauty to this House of the Lord.
Photo: Brent R.
The Orem Utah Temple Is an Impressive Sight
The Orem Utah Temple is looking more magnificent each day and is especially catching the attention of travelers on Interstate 15 and FrontRunner—the local commuter train. Scaffolding still surrounds the ground floor of the temple where stone cladding continues, but it has been temporarily removed from around the steeple. A vapor barrier is being attached to the exterior of the meetinghouse, and work has begun on shingling the roof.
Photo: Brent R.
Meetinghouse Framing Progress at the Orem Utah Temple Site
Framing of the meetinghouse at the Orem Utah Temple site is swiftly moving forward. Framers have installed the roof trusses that span the main body of the building and are covering them in wood sheets to form the roof deck. Granite cladding of the temple, which has been hindered by shipping delays, has resumed at the southwest corner. The upper floors have been sheathed and mostly sealed. Framing and sheathing of the tower is also progressing.
Photo: Brent R.
Preparing to Clad the Entrance to the Orem Utah Temple
As granite cladding moves across the west face of the Orem Utah Temple, the recently sheathed and sealed entrance will soon be clad as well. Roofing continues over the south side of the main level while frames are installed in the south side window openings. Framing for the steeple is making good progress as is framing for the on-site meetinghouse. Just behind the temple, the floor slab has been poured for the maintenance building.
Photo: Brent R.
Scaffolding Erected Around Orem Utah Temple Steeple
The majestic Wasatch Mountains stand behind the Mountain of the Lord being constructed in the Utah Valley community of Orem. Scaffolding has been erected around the upper steeple of the Orem Utah Temple to give workers a platform to install steel studs, sheathing, and eventually granite cladding. Sheathing is nearing completion on the west (front) side of the temple while steel framing and sheathing continues on the north and east sides. Electrical and plumbing is being roughed in for the on-site meetinghouse ahead of the concrete slab pour.
Photo: Brent R.
Work Underway on All Levels of the Orem Utah Temple
Construction is progressing steadily on every level of the Orem Utah Temple. On the main level, granite cladding is proceeding at the north end where the first temporary windows have been installed. On the second and third levels, sheathing is being fastened to steel studs and covered in a white sealer. At the steeple level, welders are attached steel cleats, which will be used to anchor the light-gauge framing for the exterior walls.
Photo: Brent R.
Cladding the Orem Utah Temple in Granite
The first pieces of granite cladding have been installed on the north side of the Orem Utah Temple over the past couple of weeks. Orange sheathing was attached to the main floor exterior walls and has recently made an appearance on the upper walls. The sheathing is coated in a white sealer before hanging brackets are affixed for the granite. The roof deck has been completed for each tier of the tower, and footings have been installed for the meetinghouse.
Photo: Brent R.
Attaching Hanging Brackets to the Orem Utah Temple
The orange sheathing covering the exterior of the Orem Utah Temple is being coated in a white sealer before stainless steel brackets are attached for hanging the stone cladding. Mechanical equipment has been delivered to the third floor while steel framing continues on the upper levels. Concrete footings have been poured around the base of the steeple, and forms are being set for the footings of the meetinghouse, located west of the temple.