Dedication of the Louisville Kentucky Temple
Rain was pouring the day the Louisville Kentucky Temple was dedicated on March 19, 2000. Despite the poor weather, though, both a choir and attendees of the dedication stood outside the temple — sometimes for hours — in order to enter the building and participate in the dedicatory ceremonies.
One member said of the experience, “If someone had asked me two years ago if I would be willing to stand in the rain all day to get a temple, I would have gladly said, ‘Yes!’”
Another attendee at the event had a similar positive sentiment, saying that although her body was freezing, her spirit was singing. “I can’t imagine being able to attend sacrament meeting every Sunday literally in the shadow of a temple.”
President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the Louisville Kentucky Temple on March 19, 2000.
Accompanying President Monson were Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Loren C. Dunn, president of the North America East Area.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “May this house stand as an expression of Thy love for Thy children. May the peace of the Lord be here. May there be quiet and reverence. May this be a house of worship wherein Thy holy name and that of Thy Son is spoken in praise unto Thee and unto Him.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Louisville Kentucky Temple here.
Timeline of the Louisville Kentucky Temple
The Louisville Kentucky Temple was announced March 17, 1999. A groundbreaking ceremony was held two months later, on May 29, 1999, presided over by Elder John K. Carmack, president of the North America East Area.
Just a year later, after an open house from March 4 to March 11, 2000, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the temple in four sessions.
Architecture and Design of the Louisville Kentucky Temple
The Louisville Kentucky Temple stands on a base of 10,700 square feet and features a similar design of the smaller temples built in its time. The exterior is made with Danby Vermont marble, and the structure is surrounded with a white fence. A single spire atop the edifice holds a statue of the angel Moroni. The grounds are covered with green grass, trees and various shrubs.
The interior of the temple holds a baptistry, two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms.