Saint George Utah Temple

In October 2008 I visited all thirteen Utah temples. It was then that almost all of the photographs were taken that appear in this series of posts. To download a photograph click on the image to obtain the full resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels with a file size of 3 to 4Mb.

With 18 sealing rooms (not all are in active use), the temple has more sealing rooms than any other temple

The swampy temple grounds was packed with volcanic rock using a cannon as a pile driver

Saint George Utah Temple Facts

Announced: 9 November 1871
Site: 6 acres.
Exterior finish: Native red sandstone quarried north of the city was used for the temple which was then plastered white.
Temple design: Castellated Gothic style.
Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, three endowment rooms, eight sealing rooms, 64 rooms in original structure.
Total floor area: 56,062 square feet in the original building; 108,536 square feet after remodeling completed in 1975.
Dimensions: 142 feet by 96 feet to top of buttresses 80 feet; to top of the vane, 175 feet; after remodeling 249 feet by 282 feet.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: 9 November 1871, by President Brigham Young; site dedicated by George A. Smith.
Dedication: 1 January 1877, completed portions were dedicated. Final dedication, 6-8 April 1877, by President Brigham Young presiding, and Daniel H. Wells offered prayer.

In 1975 the progressive-style ordinance rooms, used to present live-acting endowment sessions, were replaced with three motion-picture ordinance rooms

Saint George Temple Impressions

I have visited the grounds before but in October was the first time that I entered the temple. This was the first temple built in Utah and is the oldest operating temple. Even though it is in the heart of the city the grounds are quiet. There is no angel Moroni statue atop this temple. The Saint George temple is the first temple where endowments for the dead were performed.