Another beautiful temple in Utah ~ Just weeks after the March 20 dedication of the Draper Temple, a fourth temple in the valley is almost finished. The Oquirrh Mountain Temple will be open for public tours beginning June 1.
Fun facts ~ The Oquirrh (O'ker) Mountain Temple is 60,000 square feet and the exterior finish is light beige granite from China. It faces east toward the Wasatch Mountains. It will be dedicated August 21-23, in 9 sessions. The temple will be open for ordinance work on August 25, 2009. South Jordan will hold the distinction of being the only city in the world with two LDS temples, the other being Jordan River, located approximately 3 1/2 miles to the northeast.
Draper and Oquirrh Mountain TemplesElder William R. Walker who serves as the executive director of the Temple Department said that, "Although there are 129 temples in operation around the world, he admits that the simultaneous construction of two temples in such close proximity marks an unusual effort that might never be repeated."
The Oquirrh Mountain Temple is the thirteenth temple built in Utah and the fourth built in the Salt Lake Valley, following the Salt Lake Temple (1893), the Jordan River Utah Temple (1981), and the Draper Utah Temple.
