Oakland California Temple
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| Oakland California Temple | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Number | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dedication | 19 November 1964 by David O. McKay |
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| Site | 18.3 acres (7.4 hectares) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Floor area | 95,000 sq ft (8,800 m2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | London England Temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Followed by | Ogden Utah Temple | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official website • News & Images | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coordinates: 37°48′28.0″N 122°11′57.1″W / 37.80778°N 122.199194°W The Oakland California Temple (formerly the Oakland Temple) is the 15th constructed and 13th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS temple in Oakland, California was announced on May 26, 1962, and dedicated on November 19, 1964 by David O. McKay.
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[edit] Physical description
Located in the city of Oakland, California at 4770 Lincoln Ave, it is the only temple built with a modern five-spire design and exhibits an Oriental motif. Its architect was Harold W. Burton.[1] The exterior of the temple is reinforced concrete faced with sierra white granite from Raymond, California. On the north and south faces of the temple are two decorative friezes, and is the last temple to have such. The back (south side) is a depiction of Christ descending from heaven to the people of the American continent soon after his resurrection in the Holy Land. The front (north side) illustrates Christ preaching His gospel to the people. Within the front garden courtyard there is a statue of children in front of a bronze plaque bearing a scripture from 3 Nephi 17, from the Book of Mormon, telling how Christ blessed the children during his visit to the people of ancient America.
The temple sits on a prominent site in the Oakland hills and has become a local landmark. Through the front courtyard are stairways which lead to the temple terrace situated above the ground floor of the temple. From the temple grounds and terrace are spectacular views of the Bay Area, including downtown Oakland, the Bay Bridge, Yerba Buena Island, downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. The Grounds are accented by flowers, palm trees, and a formal-style man-made river running from one fountain to the other.
The temple was built on an 18.3-acre (74,000 m2) plot, has 4 ordinance rooms, 7 sealing rooms, and has a total floor area of 95,000 square feet (8,800 m2).[2]
The Visitor Center has free tours around the grounds and atop the temple daily.
[edit] History
The building of the Oakland Temple, as well as other temples in California was planned as early as 1847. The Mormons who had traveled by ship around Cape Horn to California were told by Brigham Young that "...in the process of time, the shores of the Pacific may yet be overlooked from the Temple of the Lord."[3]
[edit] And it Came to Pass Pageant
In the nearby Interstake Center, local members performed a Latter-day Saint Pageant (an annual theatrical production) for many years. The pageant, commonly known as the "Temple Pageant," was a musical stage production rehearsing the history and legacy of the LDS Church. It was one of only a few "temple pageants" around the country; others include the Easter Pageant in Mesa, Arizona and the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti, Utah. Until its retirement it was the only such pageant performed indoors as well as the only one to be fully accompanied by a live orchestra. Initially, the pageant consisted of three acts performed over three consecutive nights, however, it was eventually shortened to an hour and a half.[4][5][6] In November 2007 the pageant was officially retired in a letter to regional stake and mission presidents by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, one of the Presidents of the Seventy.
[edit] Additional images
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 The North frieze |
 The South frieze |
 Dedicated in 1963 |
 The main tower |
 One of the corner towers |
 Statues and plaque in the inner courtyard |
 A close-up of the statues in the inner courtyard |
 A copy of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus in the Visitors' Center |
[edit] 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 California
[edit] References
- ^ Candland, Evelyn (1992). An Ensign to the Nations: History of the Oakland Stake
- ^ Satterfield, Rick. Oakland California Temple
- ^ McKay, David O., Oakland California Temple Dedicatory Prayer, November 1964.
- ^ Rott, Dale (2005). Intersections Between Theatre and the Church in the United States: 1930-1990. The Journal of Religion and Theatre.
- ^ Ghaznavi, Shanna (July 1999). Stars under the Sky. New Era published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Last accessed 2007-12-01.
- ^ LDS Living Magazine article
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Oakland California Temple |
- The Oakland California Temple page on the website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Oakland California Temple on ldschurchtemples.com
- OaklandTemple.org
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