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Washington D.C. Temple

Coordinates: 39°0′50.68440″N 77°3′56.24639″W / 39.0140790000°N 77.0656239972°W / 39.0140790000; -77.0656239972
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Washington D.C. Temple
Map
Number16
DedicationNovember 19, 1974, by Spencer W. Kimball
Site52 acres (21 ha)
Floor area156,558 sq ft (14,544.7 m2)
Height288 ft (88 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
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Additional information
AnnouncedNovember 15, 1968, by David O. McKay
GroundbreakingDecember 7, 1968, by Hugh B. Brown
Open houseSeptember 17 – November 2, 1974.
April 28, 2022 - June 11, 2022.
RededicatedAugust 14, 2022, by Russell M. Nelson[1]
Designed byFred L. Markham, Harold K. Beecher, Henry P. Fetzer, and Keith W. Wilcox
LocationKensington, Maryland, U.S.
Geographic coordinates39°0′50.68440″N 77°3′56.24639″W / 39.0140790000°N 77.0656239972°W / 39.0140790000; -77.0656239972
Exterior finishReinforced concrete sheathed in Alabama white marble
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms6 (stationary)
Sealing rooms14
Clothing rentalYes
Visitors' centerYes
(edit)

The Washington D.C. Temple (originally known as the Washington Temple, until 1999), is the 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Kensington, Maryland, located just north of Washington, D.C., and near the Capital Beltway, it was the church's first temple built east of the Mississippi River since the original Nauvoo Temple was completed in 1846. At 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2), it is the church's third-largest temple.

The construction of the temple was announced by church president David O. McKay on November 15, 1968. Construction was completed in 1974 at a cost of $15 million (about $152 million today). Over 750,000 people attended a seven-week open house before its dedication, an attendance record at the time for a temple open house. On November 19, 1974, church president Spencer W. Kimball dedicated the temple.

Designed to blend mid-century modern elements with traditional temple architecture, the building includes six gold-tipped spires modeled after the Salt Lake Temple. The temple has no cathedral-like space; instead, most rooms are quiet and intimate, and feature no windows. The three eastern spires represent the Melchizedek priesthood, with the three western spires representing the Aaronic priesthood. Standing 288 feet (88 m) tall, the temple's central eastern tower was the church's tallest at the time of its dedication. It supports an 18-foot (5.5 m) gilded statue of the angel Moroni. The temple's 57-acre (23 ha) wooded site has historical significance, with ties to early American settlement, Native American lands, and events related to the Civil War. Its site was chosen to make it a landmark along the Capital Beltway, and traffic reports often refer to it as "the temple".

Since 1978, the temple has hosted the annual Festival of Lights, drawing thousands to see live performances and millions of holiday lights, with a foreign ambassador as guest speaker each year. The temple is accessible to church members with a current temple recommend. Following renovations from 2018 to 2022, the temple was again opened for a public tour, welcoming thousands of visitors. Artwork commissioned for the renovation reflects the church's emphasis on diversity, aligning with efforts by church president Russell M. Nelson, who performed the rededication, to represent the church's global membership.

History

[edit]

The plan to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1968, by church president David O. McKay.[2] A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 7,[3][2] with Hugh B. Brown presiding, and attended by local church members and community leaders.[4] Land clearing began May 28, 1971.[5]

The site

[edit]

The temple is part of a 57-acre (23 ha) site along the Capital Beltway,[6][7] which was purchased in 1962.[8][9] The land was inhabited off and on by Native Americans, then by King James I (of England). The 4,220 acres of property changed hands multiple times until it was given to Colonel William Joseph, giving it the nickname "Joseph's Park".[10]

Other parts of the land were sold off, and eventually the remaining 3,182 acres were purchased by Daniel Carroll. Carroll's nephew, John, (who was the first Catholic bishop in the United States, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787), built a chapel on a property below the hill.[10] The property later passed to Daniel Carroll's grandson, who built a home a mile from the temple site, which he renamed "the Highlands", and then wore out the land growing tobacco on it.[10] Civil War troops briefly occupied the land, although no battles occurred on the site. The site at the edge of the property was never subjected to clear-cutting, so the old-growth forest remained.[10] The property eventually passed to Clarence Moore, who later died on the Titanic. His widow sold the estate, and the site passed between various companies and investors.[10]

In September 1962, plans were underway to transform the site into a shopping center, with a supermarket, high-rises, and townhomes.[10][11] However, during negotiations for the temple site, a personal connection developed between church representatives and the Jewish owners of the property, including David Bazelon. The owners discarded a competing offer, and sold the land to the church at a discount, motivated by shared respect for religious history and the sacred purpose of the temple.[10]

Only 11 acres (4.5 ha) of the 52 acre (21 ha) site was cleared.[8] The temple was designed by Keith W. Wilcox, Fred L. Markham, Henry P. Fetzer, and Harold K. Beecher, and Emil B. Fetzer.[12][13] It was the church's first temple built east of the Mississippi River since the Nauvoo Temple, which was dedicated in 1846.[14][15][16]

Original cost estimates for the temple were about $15 million (about $152 million today).[17][18] Church members in the temple's district contributed about a third of the cost of construction,[17] and members who would use the building were asked to raise about $4.5 million.[19]

When it opened, the temple served about 300,000 Latter-day Saints in 31 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.[20] Many of the sites which are important to early church history, such as Nauvoo, Palmyra, and Kirtland, are within the original Washington D.C. Temple district.[11]

Front view with main entrance

On September 17, 1974, during the first week of the temple open house, government officials and diplomats from around the world were taken on tours of the building. Betty Ford, who attended, said that the temple was "one of great beauty and a great addition to our surroundings here in Washington."[19]

The temple open house was almost canceled at the last minute when a fire marshal required an emergency backup generator for the sprinkler system in case of a power outage. Harold Ranquist, a local member and Army Reservist, spent eight hours the day before the event using his military connections to locate a generator. A generator was installed just 25 minutes before the open house began. “That day,” Ranquist said, “30 tickets were committed to the various Colonels and Generals with whom I had spoken.”[19]

Church president Spencer W. Kimball held a news conference on the bridge of the temple[5], drawing more than 100 reporters and photographers.[5] The open house continued for seven weeks, drawing more than 750,000 people.[21][22][23] At a completion ceremony the church's First Presidency buried a time capsule with historical items near a corner of the temple.[5] This included scriptures (the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants), copies of current newspapers, photos of church leaders, a replica of a statue of Brigham Young, and tickets from the dedication.[5] Church president Spencer W. Kimball held ten dedicatory sessions between November 19 and 22, 1974,[21] drawing about 4,200 people apiece.[19] It became the church's 16th dedicated and operating temple.[21]

The temple and its surroundings

On April 23, 2011, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake knocked off the tops of four spires and shook loose several pieces of marble from the building's facade. Repairs were made the following month and no disruptions occurred in its normal operating schedule.[24][25]

On February 23, 2017, the church announced the temple would close in March 2018, to update furnishings and the mechanical system,[26][22] The renovations were anticipated to be completed in 2020 and the adjacent visitors' center was scheduled to be operational throughout the renovation.[27] In February 2020, the church announced that with renovations nearing completion, a public open house would be held from September 24 through October 31, 2020, with the temple scheduled for rededication on Sunday, December 13, 2020.[28] However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the church announced on June 17, 2020, that the open house and rededication dates would be postponed until large public gatherings were determined to be safe.[28] On July 20, 2021, the church announced the open house would be held from April 28 through June 4, 2022, with its rededication scheduled for June 19, 2022.[29] However, on January 28, 2022, the church announced that the duration of the open house tours would be extended as needed,[30] with the rededication pushed back to August 14, 2022.[31] The church put up banners in the city to promote the event and recorded a virtual tour, led by Gary E. Stevenson and Dale G. Renlund, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[32] During the open house, over 250,000 people visited the temple.[21]

The temple was rededicated by Russell M. Nelson in three sessions on August 14, 2022.[33][34] at the time of its rededication the temples district covered 38 stakes in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia .[21]

Location

[edit]
Temple as seen from the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway

The temple is located in suburban Kensington, Maryland, north of Washington, D.C. It is accessible mainly from the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495).[35] The temple is considered an iconic local landmark, due in part to its proximity to the Capital Beltway.[36][9][37] Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said the temple is an "iconic landmark" and a "beacon of hope".[38][37] D.C.-area traffic reports often refer to it as "the temple".[39], and as a landmark, is usually mentioned daily in traffic reports.[40]

In 1974, a group of Catholic schoolgirls seeking to promote their production of The Wizard of Oz created the message "Surrender Dorothy" on the Linden Lane bridge bridge above the beltway.[41] They met after midnight and spelled out the phrase—referencing the Wicked Witch’s message in The Wizard of Oz—putting wadded newspaper into a chain-link fence.[41] Although the original message was removed, it soon reappeared as graffiti.[41]

By the early 1970s, the graffito "Surrender Dorothy" had become a recurring feature on the CSX bridge crossing over the Capital Beltway, near the temple. The Washington Post called it "the single most famous graffito in the Washington area."[41][42] Highway crews periodically removed the graffiti, but it repeatedly reappeared.[41] According to the Deseret News, the temple became "known affectionately by locals as Oz."[43] In 2022, D. Todd Christofferson was asked by CBS News what church members think when they hear the temple compared to the land of Oz, he said that it makes them smile, and that part of the reason the open house was happening was so people "see it as something much, much more than Oz."[44]

Author Orson Scott Card, writing for the Deseret News in 2005, explained that the humor of the "Surrender Dorothy" graffiti lay in its unintentional connection to The Wizard of Oz: "This is funny because clearly the (Latter-day Saints) didn't intend their temple to remind anybody of a classic fantasy movie, but once somebody put up the graffiti, it made everybody think of it and laugh." Card noted that the juxtaposition of the temple's architecture with the lush greenery and the clever quote created this unexpected cultural link.[43]

Design and architecture

[edit]
Model of the temple's interior

The seven-story Washington D.C. Temple has a distinctive architectural style, blending elements of mid-century modern architecture with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design.[45] The temple's modern six-spire design was modeled after the Salt Lake Temple[12]—with three towers to the east representing the Melchizedek priesthood and three to the west symbolizing the Aaronic priesthood[4][21]—to make the building recognizable as a temple of the church.[12] The temple has no cathedral-like space inside; most rooms are small, "quiet and intimate", and windowless.[46][40]

The central eastern tower is 288 feet (88 m) tall, the tallest of the church's temples at the time of its dedication.[21] The temple has a total floor area of 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2), making it the church's third-largest.[21] The temple has a baptismal font used for members to perform proxy baptisms for the dead;[12][35] with 12 oxen representing the 12 tribes of Israel[12]; six ordinance rooms; and fourteen sealing rooms.[21] The angel Moroni statue, standing on the tallest tower, is 18 feet (5.5 m) tall and weighs 2 tons.[21][47] This was one of the first to depict the angel holding a set of golden plates.[48] The Washington D.C. Ward meetinghouse displayed a similar statue until it was moved to the Church History Museum.[48][49] The building is made of reinforced concrete and structural steel, the outer walls are covered in white Alabama marble, and the spires are coated in 24-carat gold.[50][51] There are two large stained-glass windows on the eastern and westernmost spires.[45] Other window-type spaces in the facade are covered with translucent marble shaved to 0.625 inches (1.59 cm) thick.[52]

Symbols in the art glass on the temple's east and west sides represents tenets of Latter-day Saint faith. During the 2018 restoration, an architectural glass firm restored the glass by taking charcoal rubbings before cleaning and recasting it in resin to match the original design.

The bridge between the entry room and the temple represents leaving the world behind to enter the holy house of the Lord.[46][12] Inside ornate dressing rooms, members change into all-white clothing.[12] The celestial room has a high ceiling, gold leaf-adorned walls, a large central crystal chandelier and 12 smaller ones,[53] and a modern furniture design.[45] The celestial room is meant to symbolize heaven, and was designed for prayer and quiet contemplation.[12][35] No ordinances are performed in the celestial room.[35]

Despite the lack of glass windows, the temple is well-lit, representing the light of Christ, according to church apostle David A. Bednar said.[45] The doors to the temple "feature medallions with seven different symbols: a star, a planet, concentric circles representing eternity, the sun (complete with a face like the Nauvoo sunstone), the earth, seven concentric pentagons representing seven dispensations, and the moon."[54] The interior includes a stained-glass depiction of the Tree of Life, a symbol in the Book of Mormon.[8]

Church leaders directed architects, including lead architect Keith W. Wilcox, to design and situate the temple to be easily be visible from the Capital Beltway, to inspire curiosity about the faith.[45]

The temple occupies a 52-acre site, with only 11 acres developed.[8] The temple has green lawns and annuals over 64,822 square feet, along with perennials, shrubs, and trees meant to complement native vegetation.[11]

Renovations

[edit]

Over the years, the temple has undergone several renovations to update facilities and systems and increase its spiritual and aesthetic appeal.

A renovation from 2018 to 2022 upgraded the mechanical and electrical systems to bring the temple in line with contemporary building standards and meet the evolving needs of the church and its members.[45][53][55] The renovation also cleaned the stained-glass windows to increase interior light and make the temple look better from the outside.[45] Artisans specializing in architectural glass, drywall, and plastering were employed to ensure that the renovation kept the original design while incorporating modern techniques.[11][45] The renovated temple was rededicated on August 14, 2022, by Russell M. Nelson.[56]

Artwork

[edit]

In 2022, John Scott's 1974 mural The Last Judgment in the temple's entryway was removed and replaced by His Return, an 8-by-12-foot mural depicting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was painted by Dan Wilson, a fine arts graduate from Utah Valley University who has said he is inspired by Carl Bloch. Drawing on spiritual practices such as fasting and priesthood blessings, Wilson spent 2,000 hours painting to the piece, expanding the number of angels from 120 to over 300, aiming to reflect ethnic diversity.[57][58][59][60]

Other artworks commissioned for the 2022 renovations aimed to reflects the church's diverse global membership, aligning with church president Nelson's temple expansion initiative, according to Emily Utt, a church historian.[57] Paintings by Elspeth Young—such as With a Sincere Heart, The Pure in Heart, He Restoreth My Soul, and And Thou Didst Hear Me—include figures of diverse ethnicities, such as a Filipino woman, a Mestizo woman from Mexico, and an African American woman in prayer.[57][61]

Cultural and community impact

[edit]
Festival of Lights at the Washington D.C. Temple, 2014

The visitors' center next to the temple acts as an educational resource, helping members and non-members understand the role of the D.C. temple's place in church history, and generally of temples in the church and as a symbol of God.[62] Another building, the Washington D.C. FamilySearch Center, enables members and nonmembers to do genealogical research with organizations such as the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.[63][11]

Since 1978, the temple has hosted the annual Festival of Lights at the visitors' center from December 2 to January 1.[64][19][65] The event attracts thousands of visitors who come to view millions of lights on the temple grounds.[66] The festival features live performances by the Washington, D.C. Temple Choir; a public lighting ceremony; a narrated outdoor nativity scene; and nightly performances from various regional artists and musicians.[67][68] Beginning in 1989, church leaders began inviting foreign ambassadors to co-host the annual Festival of Lights at the temple's visitors' center.[17][19] The initiative has continued, strengthening diplomatic relationships and drawing attention to the temple's significance in the community.[17] Each year, a different ambassador to the United States is invited as a guest speaker at the festival's opening lighting ceremony. For example, in 2011, J. W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. and his wife, Donna, hosted Brazilian Ambassador to the United States Mauro Vieira, with L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding.[69]

In 2021, the temple held the Reverse Open House Series, where local church members visited other religious groups in the DC area to learn about their beliefs, participate in their religious practices, and promote interfaith dialogue and understanding.[70]

Admittance and use

[edit]

The temple is not used for Sunday worship services, and is not open to the public like Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, but rather is a central place of worship and spiritual ceremonies for church members such as sealings and baptisms for the dead.[33][71][72] Entry into the temple is restricted to those who hold a valid temple recommend.[71] Church officials have said that activities within temples are not secret, but are sacred, deeply significant to church members, and therefore not discussed lightly or informally.[22][44][73]

Before the 1974 dedication, a seven-week public open house was held. This allowed people of all faiths to see the temple's architecture and learn about its sacred functions. More than 750,000 people visited,[72] about 100,000 more than at any previous temple open house.[21] The event was covered by local journalists, who described local residents' excitement and trepidation about the new building.[74][75][76][77]

Another public open house was held after a four-year renovation from April 28 to June 11, 2022, drawing more than 250,000 visitors to the temple.[78][79]

Temple presidents

[edit]

Since its dedication in 1974, the temple has been overseen by temple presidents and temple matrons, each typically serving a term of three years.[80] The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[81][82]

Notable temple presidents include Franklin D. Richards (1983–1986),[83] David S. King (1990–1993),[84][85] and F. Melvin Hammond (2005–2008).[86][87] As of 2024, the temple president is Peter K. Christensen, with Toby E. Christensen serving as matron.[88]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "President Nelson Rededicates the House of the Lord in Washington, D.C.", Newsroom, LDS Church, August 14, 2022, retrieved October 21, 2022
  2. ^ a b "WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA" (PDF). Historic American Buildings Survey. 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Washington DC Info". churchofjesuschrist.org. 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
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  5. ^ a b c d e "1974 revisited: 25 noteworthy events and elements tied to the Washington Temple dedication". Church News. July 24, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "No Title". The Washington Post. April 24, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
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  46. ^ a b "Inside the Latter-day Saints' Washington, D.C. temple - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. April 17, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  47. ^ Kelly, John (September 1, 2016). "At the Mormon Temple, a golden angel comes down to Earth". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Why do temples have the angel Moroni on top? Here's a look at the history of the iconic statues". Church News. July 30, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  49. ^ Kenney, Wendy. "Looking Up to Moroni". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  50. ^ "To Build a Temple". Ensign. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. August 1974. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  51. ^ "Okland Construction | Lds Washington Dc Temple". www.okland.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  52. ^ England, Kathy (October 1977). "The Washington D.C. Temple". Ensign. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
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  54. ^ "Why There Are Sun, Moon, and Star Symbols on Temples (+Their Deeper Meaning)". LDS Living. January 20, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  55. ^ Bríñez, Ana Álvarez (July 20, 2021). "Washington D.C. Temple Will Open to Public in 2022 for First Time Since 1974". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  56. ^ "The Prophet Rededicates the Washington D.C. Temple". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. August 14, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  57. ^ a b c "Local Latter-day Saints say Washington D.C. Temple artwork now reflects them, their city and church". Deseret News. April 29, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  58. ^ Scott’s mural is currently being cleaned and prepared for a new location. Citation: Noyce, David (April 22, 2022), Missing: This Washington D.C. Temple mural. Here’s what happened to it., The Salt Lake Tribune
  59. ^ "Get to know the artist who made the Second Coming painting in the Washington D.C. Temple". Church News. August 9, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  60. ^ "The mistakes and miracles behind the massive new Second Coming painting in the DC Temple". LDS Living. May 5, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  61. ^ "Model for LDS Temple painting of a pioneer has a pioneer heritage of her own". Deseret News. December 29, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  62. ^ "Welcome to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center". DC Temple Visitors' Center. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  63. ^ "Washington DC FamilySearch Center". locations.familysearch.org. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  64. ^ "Lights of Christmases past and present: How the Temple Square celebration has changed over 55 years". Church News. November 27, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
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