1998 Dedication of the Monticello Utah Temple
The inspiration for the Monticello Utah Temple came after a visit to devoted Latter-day Saints south of the U.S. border.
In June 1997, during a three-and-a-half-hour car trip to the El Paso International Airport, President Gordon B. Hinckley considered the sacrifices of members in northern Mexico. He was returning from a centennial observance for Church-owned Juarez Academy in Colonia Juárez, Mexico, whose closest temple was around an eight-hour drive to Mesa, Arizona.
“As we were riding to El Paso, I reflected on what we could do to help these people in the Church colonies of Mexico,” said the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “... They’ve been the very epitome of faithfulness.”
The Prophet put these ideas onto paper during the subsequent plane ride, sketching a floor plan with only the essentials of a house of the Lord. The laundry facility, the cafeteria and other areas of the temple not necessary for temple ordinances were omitted from the plan, allowing the option for temples to be smaller with faster construction. The first was built in Monticello, Utah, so that Church leaders could supervise its construction and more effectively build smaller temples in the future.
President Hinckley dedicated the Monticello Utah Temple in eight sessions from July 26 to July 27, 1998. Six other general authorities spoke in a dedicatory session, including President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency; Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Seventy.
“I have never seen more excitement, appreciation or anticipation than from the members of this area over this temple,” said Elder Ben B. Banks, president of the Utah South Area, which was later merged into the Utah Area. “Though this is the Lord’s temple, they consider it their temple; they are excited about it.”
The ceremony was also broadcast via closed-circuit television to the adjacent meetinghouse, as well as to a stake center in Monticello. Approximately 1,300 people watched the cornerstone ceremony before the dedication. Before the temple opened for ordinance work, seven couples made appointments to have their weddings performed in the Monticello temple.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Thou has made Thy will known and blessed us with the means to erect many more temples, smaller in size, but complete in their necessary appointments. These will be convenient to Thy faithful Saints and will meet the needs of Thy growing Church throughout the world. This is the first of a new generation of such structures.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Monticello Utah Temple here.
2002 Dedication of the Monticello Utah Temple
Due to an increasing number of temple patrons, Church leaders soon realized that the Monticello temple’s small size would need to be expanded. After the building’s closure in April 2002, remodeling increased the area from approximately 7,000 square feet to 11,225 square feet.
This pioneer of smaller temples was extended on the southeast and southwest sides, as well as being added on to at the north end. The celestial room was moved to the north addition to make room for a second sealing room. A second ordinance room, a bride’s room and a waiting room were also added inside the edifice.
On Nov. 17, 2002 — exactly five years, to the day, after the temple’s groundbreaking — the Monticello temple was rededicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in one session. He was joined by his first counselor, President Thomas S. Monson; Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and Elder John H. Groberg, president of the Utah South Area.
The rededication ceremony was broadcast via satellite to the stake center in Monticello, the meetinghouse adjacent to the temple, and stake centers in the Utah cities of Moab and Blanding. Since there was only one rededication session, it was also rebroadcast in the afternoon to stake centers and meetinghouses to accommodate more viewers.
By the time this house of the Lord was rededicated, just over four years after its 1998 dedication, the earth had 49 new temples built in the smaller style of the Monticello temple.
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “A great work in behalf of the dead has been carried forward. Vicarious baptisms have been performed in behalf of many thousands. Initiatory ordinances have been enacted. The endowment has been given. Covenants with Thee have been made. And again, in behalf of those beyond the veil of death, families have been bound together for all eternity. What a glorious work has been accomplished in this, Thy house.”
Read the 2002 rededication prayer of the Monticello Utah Temple here.
Timeline of the Monticello Utah Temple
The Monticello Utah Temple was announced on Oct. 4, 1997, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. He then dedicated the temple almost 10 months later, from July 26 to July 27, 1998.
After renovations to expand the building, this house of the Lord was rededicated on Nov. 17, 2002, by President Hinckley.
Architecture and Design of the Monticello Utah Temple
Originally with an area of around 7,000 square feet, the Monticello Utah Temple was expanded in 2002 and now covers an area of 11,225 square feet. Off-white marble, imported from Turkey, covers the building’s exterior, along with tall art-glass windows from Germany. A spire on a square base stands above the center of the temple.
Inside the edifice are the celestial room and baptistry. When first built, the temple had one ordinance room and one sealing room, then another one of each was added in the 2002 additions. Built on 1.33 acres of donated land, the temple shares its grounds with an adjacent meetinghouse.