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Bentonville Arkansas Temple

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Coordinates: 36°23′06″N 94°10′59″W / 36.3851°N 94.1830°W / 36.3851; -94.1830
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Bentonville Arkansas Temple
The Bentonville Arkansas Temple during open house
Map
Number181
Dedication17 September 2023, by David A. Bednar[3]
Site18.62 acres (7.54 ha)
Floor area28,472 sq ft (2,645.1 m2)
Height111.67 ft (34.04 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Brasília Brazil Temple
Bentonville Arkansas Temple 		→
Moses Lake Washington Temple
Additional information
Announced5 October 2019, by Russell M. Nelson[1]
Groundbreaking7 November 2020, by David A. Bednar[2]
Open house17 June-1 July 2023
Current presidentScott Boyd Clark
LocationBentonville, Arkansas, United States
Geographic coordinates36°23′06″N 94°10′59″W / 36.3851°N 94.1830°W / 36.3851; -94.1830
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (progressive)
Sealing rooms2
(edit)

The Bentonville Arkansas Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) located in Bentonville, Arkansas. The intent to build the temple was announced on October 5, 2019, by church president Russell M. Nelson, during general conference.[4] It is the LDS Church's first temple in the state of Arkansas, and the 181st in operation worldwide.[5][6] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on November 7, 2020, conducted by David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.[7]

History

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On October 5, 2019, during general conference, church president Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct the Bentonville Arkansas Temple.[8] The temple's location was announced on April 23, 2020, adjacent to a current meetinghouse on McCollum Drive.[9][10]

On August 28, 2020, the LDS Church released a rendering of the temple and announced that a groundbreaking ceremony would be held in November 2020, with David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presiding remotely at the event.[11] The groundbreaking took place on November 7, 2020,[12][13] the same date on which ground was broken for the Red Cliffs Utah Temple.[14][15] The temple was dedicated by Bednar on September 17, 2023.[16]

Design and architecture

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The temple's architecture reflects the cultural heritage of the Bentonville region and its spiritual significance to the church.[17] The design was inspired by local historical buildings, including “the neoclassical Benton County Courthouse, the colonial-revival-style Massey Hotel and the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.”[4]

The temple sits on an 18.62-acre lot.[4] The site is located near I-49, close to its junction with Highway 72.[5] The landscaping around the temple features dogwood trees, as well as other local trees and shrubs.[17]

The temple has a single attached domed central tower and is constructed with beige precast concrete panels.[5] The exterior has art glass windows with dogwood blossoms, sunbursts, and diamond designs.[4][18]

The interior has painting and area rugs centered around a color palette of soft blues, greens, golds, and pink.[8][18] The interior painting “includes several patterns reminiscent of quilting and lace tatting to evoke Bentonville’s small-town American feel.”[18] The interior also contains art glass with the same quilt-like red, yellow, and blue designs as the exterior art glass.[8][18] The temple includes two instruction rooms, two sealing rooms, and a baptistry,[4] each arranged for ceremonial use.

The design has elements representing the heritage of the Bentonville area, providing spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members and includes the diamond patterns found throughout the temple’s interior and exterior, which are a nod to the diamond mine in Arkansas, the only diamond mine in the United States.[17] Another symbolic element is the dogwood flower motif; dogwood flowers are among Arkansas’ first springtime flowers.[18]

Temple presidents

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The church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[19] Since its 2023 dedication, Scott B. Clark and Sandra G. Clark are the president and matron.[19][20]

Admittance

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Following the completion of the temple, a public open house was held from June 17-July 1, 2023 (excluding Sundays).[21] The temple was dedicated by David A. Bednar on September 17, 2023.[22]

Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[23]

See also

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class=notpageimage|
Temples in the Southeastern United States (edit)
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

References

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  1. ^ "President Nelson Announces Eight New Temples at October 2019 General Conference", Newsroom, LDS Church, 5 October 2019
  2. ^ "Church Breaks Ground for Bentonville Arkansas Temple", newsroom, LDS Church, 7 November 2020, retrieved 28 September 2023
  3. ^ "Two US Temples and One in Brazil Dedicated on the Same Day", newsroom, LDS Church, 17 September 2023, retrieved 28 September 2023
  4. ^ a b c d e "Bentonville Arkansas Temple". Church News. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  5. ^ a b c "Bentonville Arkansas Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  6. ^ Walch, Tad (2020-04-23). "Church announces location of Bentonville Arkansas Temple". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  7. ^ "Elder Bednar presides remotely over the groundbreaking for the Bentonville Arkansas Temple". Church News. 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  8. ^ a b c "President Nelson Announces New Temples During General Conference". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  9. ^ "Bentonville Arkansas Temple Location Announced". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  10. ^ "Latter-day Saint church announces location of temple in Arkansas". KSTU. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  11. ^ Update on Three US Temples, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 28 August 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ Martin-Brown, Becca (21 November 2020). "LDS temple soon to rise: Bentonville Stake breaks ground on McCollum Road". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  13. ^ Church Breaks Ground for Bentonville Arkansas Temple, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 7 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  14. ^ Groundbreaking Held for Red Cliffs Utah Temple, Newsroom, churchofesuschrist.org, 7 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  15. ^ Miller, Debbie (13 January 2022). "Temple takes shape: Sacred space will be first of its kind in Arkansas". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ As verified here.
  17. ^ a b c "The First House of the Lord Opens in Arkansas". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Bentonville Arkansas Temple Fact Sheet" (PDF). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. June 12, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Presidents and Matrons of the Bentonville Arkansas Temple | ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org". Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  20. ^ "These 5 U.S. and 3 international temples will have new leaders this year — learn about them here". Church News. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  21. ^ "Bentonville Arkansas Temple Public Open House". Temple Open Houses. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  22. ^ "Bentonville Arkansas Temple: Elder Bednar's focus on Savior, covenants". Church News. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  23. ^ "Inside Temples". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
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