Church is dedicating 6 temples in just 36 days — but as many have been dedicated in shorter times before
In April 2000, 6 temples were dedicated in a calendar month; 2 months later, another 6 were dedicated in just 15 days
Attendees walk into the Bentonville Arkansas Temple for its first dedicatory session in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Church is dedicating 6 temples in just 36 days — but as many have been dedicated in shorter times before
In April 2000, 6 temples were dedicated in a calendar month; 2 months later, another 6 were dedicated in just 15 days
Attendees walk into the Bentonville Arkansas Temple for its first dedicatory session in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Three weeks ago, on Sunday, Sept. 17, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints marked the first time three temples were dedicated on the same day — the Brasília Brazil, Bentonville Arkansas and Moses Lake Washington temples.
And now, 22 days later, on Sunday, Oct. 8, the Church will have another two of its houses of the Lord be dedicated — the McAllen Texas and the Feather River California temples.
Five temple dedications in a three-week span — that has to be some sort of record, right? And even more so with the Oct. 22 dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple, the sixth in 36 days.
Actually, the Church has had six temple dedications is an even shorter time — first in a single calendar month, then later in half the time.
Steve and Barbara Jorgensen, of Moses Lake, walk around the Moses Lake Washington Temple in the late afternoon sunlight in Moses Lake, Washington, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Brian Nicholson, for the Deseret News
6 dedications in a month, 6 more in 15 days
Both times occurred in the year 2000, when President Gordon B. Hinckley and Church leaders were rushing to meet President Hinckley’s charge to have a worldwide total of 100 dedicated houses of the Lord prior to the end of the 20th century — the end of 2000.
In April 2000, members of the First Presidency dedicated six temples in that calendar month, the first being when President Hinckley dedicated the Palmyra New York Temple on Thursday, April 6, 2000, the 170th anniversary of the formal organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Three days later, on Sunday, April 9, 2000, President Hinckley dedicated the Fresno California Temple, with President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency dedicating the Medford Oregon Temple a week later, on April 16, 2000.
On Sunday, April 23, 2000, the First Presidency counselors dedicated two temples on the same day — President Faust the Memphis Tennessee Temple and President Thomas S. Monson, the first counselor, the Reno Nevada Temple. The month’s sixth temple dedication came when President Hinckley dedicated the Cochabamba Bolivia Temple on Sunday, April 30, 2000.
Youth stand in front of the Brasília Brazil Temple following a devotional with Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Bárbara Leite, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Bárbara Leite, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Listed, the six dedications in April 2000 looked like this:
April 6, 2000 — Palmyra New York Temple, by President Hinckley
April 9, 2000 — Fresno California Temple, by President Hinckley
April 16, 2000 — Medford Oregon Temple, by President Faust
April 23, 2000 — Memphis Tennessee Temple, by President Faust
April 23, 2000 — Reno Nevada Temple, by President Monson
April 30, 2000 — Cochabamba Bolivia Temple by Presidency Hinckley
Two months later — in June 2000 — the Church dedicated another six houses of the Lord in half the time, in 15 days.
It started on Sunday, June 4, 2000, when Presidency Hinckley dedicated the Montreal Quebec Temple and President Faust the San José Costa Rica Temple on the same day. A week later, on June 11, 2000, President Hinckley dedicated the Fukuoka Japan Temple.
The McAllen Texas Temple is pictured in summer 2023.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Then came three more dedications in a South Pacific swing over the next week, with President Hinckley dedicating the Adelaide Australia Temple on Thursday, June 15, 2000; the Melbourne Australia Temple on Friday, June 16, 2000; and the Suva Fiji Temple on Sunday, June 18, 2000.
Although 12 days still remained in the month, the next temple dedications wouldn’t come until July 8-9, 2000, with President Monson dedicating the Mérida Mexico and Veracruz Mexico temples, respectively.
Listed, the six dedications from June 4-15, 2000, are:
June 4, 2000 — Montreal Quebec Temple, by President Hinckley
June 4, 2000 — San José Costa Rica Temple, by President Faust
June 11, 2000 — Fukuoka Japan Temple, by President Hinckley
June 15, 2000 — Adelaide Australia Temple, by President Hinckley
June 16, 2000 — Melbourne Australia Temple, by President Hinckley
June 18, 2000 — Suva Fiji Temple, by President Hinckley
The angel Moroni atop the Feather River California Temple in Yuba City, California
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Recent, upcoming temple dedications
A look at recent and upcoming temple dedications:
Sept. 17, 2023 — Brasília Brazil Temple: Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the new house of the Lord in Brasíla, the capital city of South America’s largest nation. It was the first of the day’s three dedications.
Sept. 17, 2023 — Bentonville Arkansas Temple: Two hours later, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the Bentonville temple.
Sept. 17, 2023 — Moses Lake Washington Temple: And two hours after that, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the house of the Lord in Moses Lake.
Oct. 8, 2023 — McAllen Texas Temple: Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the McAllen temple, located at the southernmost tip of the state of Texas.
Oct. 8, 2023 — Feather River California Temple: Two hours later, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the house of the Lord in northern California’s Yuba City.
Oct. 22, 2023 — Bangkok Thailand Temple: Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate Thailand’s first temple.
Nov. 12, 2023 — Okinawa Japan Temple: Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in Okinawa.
Jan. 14, 2024 — Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple: For the first such event of the new year, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the second temple located in Lima.
Jan. 21, 2024 — Orem Utah Temple: A week later, the Orem temple will be dedicated. A presiding Church leader has yet to be announced for the dedicatory sessions.
Of note, the St. George Utah Temple will be rededicated on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.
The Bangkok Thailand Temple at night surrounded by skyscrapers in Bangkok, Thailand, in the summer of 2023,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
