Menu

Fresno California Temple

78th temple dedicated

Dedication of the Fresno California Temple

On March 20, 1999, at the groundbreaking of the Fresno California Temple, Elder John B. Dickson — a General Authority Seventy and president of the North America West Area — said, “We have ... learned that the family is the central unit in Heavenly Father's plan for His children.”

Elder Dickson continued: “This brings us to the purpose of our being here today, for we know not only that families are basic and important, but they can also be eternal. The building that will rise on this sacred piece of property is a building dedicated to the proposition of helping us to establish eternal families.”

Just over a year later, Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Fresno temple on April 9, 2000. He was joined by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder William R. Bradford, a General Authority Seventy.

When President Hinckley stepped outside the temple for its cornerstone ceremony, he said, “What a beautiful morning. I’ve never been in Fresno on a more beautiful morning.”

A total of 10,294 Saints were inside the house of the Lord at the four dedicatory sessions combined, including those who watched it over closed-circuit television in other rooms of the temple. The closed-circuit broadcast was also transmitted to the nearby Fresno California West Stake Center.

Among those in attendance were Higinio Rodriguez, Elva Rodriguez and their three children. The family had investigated and joined the Church just three years prior, and they reflected on their membership amid the temple dedication.

“I took a long time,” Brother Rodriguez reflected. “I was not converted by the elders; I was converted by Alma [in the Book of Mormon]. No one can [knowledgably] say the Book of Mormon is not true. Anybody who says so has not read it.”

Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “May its doors be open to all who gather here with clean hands and pure hearts to assist in bringing to pass Thy great work in behalf of the living and the dead. May the work in this house unlock the prison doors beyond the veil, that those who there receive the gospel may rejoice in the vicarious work performed here in their behalf.”

Read the dedicatory prayer of the Fresno California Temple here.

Timeline of the Fresno California Temple

January
08
1999
Announced
On Jan. 8, 1999, the First Presidency sent a letter to priesthood leaders in California to announce a temple for Fresno. At the time, the First Presidency comprised Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust.
March
20
1999
Groundbreaking
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, with Elder John B. Dickson, president of the North America West Area, presiding. To prevent traffic congestion in surrounding neighborhoods, local Church leaders limited the number of attendees to 3,000. The groundbreaking services were moved to a stake center to avoid rain, then those in attendance walked to the temple site to break ground.
March
25
2000
Open house
An open house was held for the temple on March 25-31 and April 3-4, 2000, with some 51,000 visitors. Government and religious leaders, as well as other dignitaries, were in attendance.
April
09
2000
Dedication
The Fresno California Temple was dedicated during four sessions on April 9, 2000, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. A total of 10,294 Latter-day Saints attended the four sessions.

Church leaders announced a temple for Fresno, California, on Jan. 8, 1999. Two months later, on March 20, 1999, the site was dedicated for construction by Elder John B. Dickson, North America West Area president.

After an open house from the end of March to the beginning of April 2000, the Fresno temple was dedicated April 9, 2000, with Church President Gordon B. Hinckley presiding.

Architecture and Design of the Fresno California Temple

The Fresno California Temple is a one-story building of approximately 10,700 square feet. The exterior is made with Sierra white granite, with rows of circles and rectangular windows surrounding the edifice. A multilevel tower sits above the temple and close to the entrance.

Inside the temple are a celestial room, a baptistry, two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. Green trees and grassy fields cover the 2.2-acre site, with a parking lot and meetinghouse north of the building.

Additional Facts

Fact #1
This was the fourth Latter-day Saint dedicated in California and the first built in the central part of the state.
Fact #2
The Fresno California Temple was the 99th temple announced by the Church, even though it was the 78th temple dedicated.
Fact #3
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, the same day as the groundbreakings of the Fukuoka Japan, Melbourne Australia and Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico temples. These happened a week after another three groundbreakings took place on the same day: The Oaxaca Mexico, Nashville Tennessee and Kona Hawaii temples all happened on March 13, 1999.

Quick Facts

Announced
8 January 1999
Dedicated
9 April 2000
Current President and Matron
Location

6290 N. Valentine Ave.
Fresno, California 93711
United States

Appointments

Additional Facts

Fact #1
This was the fourth Latter-day Saint dedicated in California and the first built in the central part of the state.
Fact #2
The Fresno California Temple was the 99th temple announced by the Church, even though it was the 78th temple dedicated.
Fact #3
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, the same day as the groundbreakings of the Fukuoka Japan, Melbourne Australia and Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico temples. These happened a week after another three groundbreakings took place on the same day: The Oaxaca Mexico, Nashville Tennessee and Kona Hawaii temples all happened on March 13, 1999.