Announcement of the Bakersfield California Temple
President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the Bakersfield California Temple on April 2, 2023, during the Sunday afternoon session of general conference.
Bakersfield California Stake President Merrill Dibble, who had begun service as stake president only seven days before, expressed his excitement for the new house of the Lord in Bakersfield and the impact it will have on the community. “Bakersfield is a very religious area, and the Bakersfield temple will be a beacon to this community and a blessing to all those who enter,” President Dibble said.
Timeline of the Bakersfield California Temple
The Bakersfield California Temple was announced by President Nelson on April 2, 2023. Details about the temple’s groundbreaking have not yet been released.
Architecture and Design of the Bakersfield California Temple
According to site plans released by the Church on April 2, 2023, the Bakersfield California Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 30,000 square feet. The edifice will stand on a 13.07-acre site in Bakersfield, California. Also on the property will be a new meetinghouse and distribution center.
Architectural renderings of the house of the Lord show a white exterior surrounded by arched windows, with five arches surrounding the entrance. A tower with tall windows stands above the center of the building. Grass fields and flower gardens will adorn the grounds.