Columbia River Washington Temple

Columbia River Washington Temple
Number	107
Dedication	18 November 2001 (18 November 2001) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	2.88 acres (1.2 hectares)
Floor area	16,880 sq ft (1,568 m2)
Preceded by	Perth Australia Temple
Followed by	Snowflake Arizona Temple
Official website • News & images
Additional information Announcement 2 April 2000 Groundbreaking 28 October 2000 by Stephen A. West Open House 27 October – 10 November 2001 Current President Garth L. Tingey (2007) Designed by Church A&E Services Location 969 Gage Boulevard Richland, Washington United States Exterior finish Bethel white granite from Vermont and Italy Temple design Classic modern, single-spire design Ordinance rooms 2 with Movie, two-stage progressive sessions Sealing rooms 2 Clothing rental No Cafeteria No services Visitors'  center No

The Columbia River Washington Temple is the 107th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Columbia River Washington Temple, located in Richland, is the third temple in the state of Washington, following the Seattle Washington and Spokane Washington Temples. Church membership in Washington has grown from 67,000 members in 1970 to nearly 230,000 in 2001. Because of the tremendous growth Church leaders felt another temple should be built within the state. The Columbia River Temple serves 32,000 members in eastern Washington and northern Oregon.

Some parts of the temple foundation includes 2-inch river rock used as fill in concrete forms. During construction of the temple, people were allowed access to open bins of this river rock at the edge of the construction site. Many people wrote names of children, loved ones, etc. on the rocks that were later incorporated into the building itself.

The temple was announced in April, 2000; and groundbreaking ceremonies followed that same year. Presiding at the groundbreaking ceremony was Elder Stephen A. West, who himself served as a missionary in the area many years before.

Before the temple was dedicated it was opened to the public. Nearly 65,000 people visited the temple during the open house period. President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet of the LDS Church, dedicated the Columbia River Washington Temple on 18 November 2001. Allan D. Alder and his wife, Roma, of Hermiston, Oregon were the first temple president and matron (2001–2004).

The Columbia River Washington Temple has a total of 16,880 square feet (1,568 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.

See also

• Temple (Latter Day Saints)
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington

External links

• Official LDS Columbia River Washington Temple page
• Columbia River Washington Temple page