Groundbreaking of the Fort Worth Texas Temple
The groundbreaking of the Fort Worth Texas Temple was presided over by Elder Jose L. Alonso, a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Church’s North America Southwest Area presidency, on Oct. 28, 2023. Local faith, government and civic leaders also attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
In his dedicatory prayer on the site, Elder Alonso said, “We pray Thy blessings upon all our beloved neighbors, wishing them peace and solace as they unite in the pursuit of joy and hope. ... Loving Father, bless the youth of this area, igniting within them a fervent desire for goodness, unity and truth.”
Timeline of the Fort Worth Texas Temple
The Fort Worth temple was announced on Oct. 3, 2021, by President Russell M. Nelson. Just over two years later, ground was broken for the temple on Oct. 28, 2023, with Elder Jose L. Alonso presiding.
Architecture and Design of the Fort Worth Texas Temple
According to building plans, the Fort Worth Texas Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 30,000 square feet. Exterior renderings show arched window frames around the exterior of the temple, with five arches surrounding the entry doors.
Atop the edifice will be a multilevel tower with a square base and eight arched windows around the outside, with a domed cupola on top. The Fort Worth temple will be built on a 9.37-acre site, with grassy areas and flower gardens of many colors adorning the grounds.
The city of Fort Worth is located west of Dallas and in north-central Texas, where missionary work began in 1843. At the time, the territory was called the Republic of Texas and wouldn’t become a state until late 1845. Fort Worth was originally established in 1849 as an army outpost and is currently the 13th-largest city in the United States.