Portland Oregon Temple
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The Portland Oregon Temple is a
temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
(LDS Church) located on of land near the intersection of Highway 217 and I-5 in
Lake Oswego, Oregon Lake Oswego ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, primarily in Clackamas County, with small portions extending into neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Population in 2020 was 40,731, an 11.2% increase since 2010, making it the ...
. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 1984 by church president Spencer W. Kimball, during the church's general conference. Dedicated in 1989, the Portland Oregon Temple was the church's first temple in
Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...
and the 42nd in the church. Prior to its dedication by Gordon B. Hinckley, over 314,000 people attended the public open house.


History

The temple was dedicated in 1989 by Gordon B. Hinckley and was the church's first in Oregon, with the
Medford Oregon Temple The Medford Oregon Temple is the 79th operating Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The intent to build the temple was announced on March 15, 1999, by the church's First Presidency (LDS Church), First ...
completed in 2000. The temple serves members in the
Portland metropolitan area The Portland metropolitan area is a metropolitan area, metro area with its urban area, core in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington (state), Washington. It has 5 principal cities, the largest being Portland, Oregon. The U.S. Office of Man ...
, other parts of Oregon, and cities in
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
. In 1988, during it construction, the church stated it had 90,000 members and was the second largest denomination (behind the
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
) in the area .
University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; ) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1889 by the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, it is the state's second oldest university, a flagship university in th ...
historian, Ferenc Morton Szasz, places the structure in a group of Post-World War II temples built in the western American States, calling the group of temples "the most impressive religious structures of the entire western postwar building boom." The church's acquisition of the property in Lake Oswego in the 1960s marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Initially intended for a
junior college A junior college is a type of post-secondary institution that offers vocational and academic training that is designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations or support roles in professions such as engineering, a ...
, two decades later, church leaders decided to repurpose the site as the location for the temple. The announcement on April 7, 1984, of the intent to construct the temple set the stage for a property development process that faced early opposition. The approval process included at least 27 public hearings, eight
lawsuits A lawsuit is a proceeding by one or more parties (the plaintiff or claimant) against one or more parties (the defendant) in a civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. T ...
, and four petition drives intended to stop development. The groundbreaking ceremony, to signify beginning of construction, was attended by local church members and community leaders, was held on September 20, 1986, with Hinckley, then a member of the
First Presidency Among many churches in the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency (also known as the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is the highest presiding or governing body. Present-day denominations of the movement led by a First Presidency ...
, presiding. The temple was dedicated on August 19, 1989 by Hinckley. In 1994, the Royal Rosarians of Portland, Oregon awarded the temple first place for commercial rose plantings. In 2020, like the church's other temples, the temple was closed in response to the
coronavirus pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.


Construction and challenges

In addition to the difficulties faced during the approval process for the temple, the construction process faced various challenges. These included a demanding schedule, coordination intricacies, and the sensitivity of working in the neighborhood. The supersaturated soil required a redesign of the foundation, and the church hired an arborist to protect the trees during construction. W. Craig Zwick, a church general authority with a construction background, played a role as the
general contractor A contractor (North American English) or builder (British English), is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and the communication of information to all involved parties throughout the c ...
for the temple. Before the dedication ceremony, the temple had a symbolic cornerstone placed in a recess, a capsule that contained scriptures, photographs, historical records, artifacts, and items related to the church in the area.


Design and architecture

The temple uses marble walls, with a tower design with six spires, meant to be a symbol pointing to heaven, against the backdrop of the forest. The tallest spire goes to 170 feet, adding to 183 ft, including the 13 foot statue of the angel Moroni on the top (which is meant to represent the spreading of the gospel). The statue of Moroni is covered in a gold leaf. The 65,000 square foot building has 127 rooms, with the original design featuring a cafeteria, nursery, and baptistry. The total cost of the building was $22 million, with all costs set aside before construction began. Funding was raised in part by local members, with the rest funded by
tithing A tithing or tything was a historic English legal, administrative or territorial unit, originally ten hides (and hence, one tenth of a hundred). Tithings later came to be seen as subdivisions of a manor or civil parish. The tithing's leader or ...
. The temple's design has been compared to a medieval castle. The temple has the second highest number of sealing rooms of the church's temples (with 14), behind the
Jordan River Utah Temple The Jordan River Utah Temple (formerly the Jordan River Temple) is the 20th operating Temple (LDS Church), temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in South Jordan, Utah. The intent to build the temple was announced on ...
(with 17). The interior has a skylit atrium in the foyer, and uses mahogany woodwork throughout the interior. The architect of the Portland Oregon Temple was Leland A. Gray, who also worked on the designs of the Manhattan New York Temple, Dallas Texas, Johannesburg South Africa, Stockholm Sweden, and Abba Nigeria temples, among others. The building has modern features coupled with traditional Latter-day Saint temple designs, reflecting both the cultural heritage of Portland and the spiritual significance of the church. Site The temple was constructed on a property located about 10 miles south of Portland. The preliminary plans called for a three-story structure of 80,500 square feet. The landscaping around the temple features
gardens A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...
, large trees, fountains, and reflective pools with walkways that surround the temple. There is also a visitors' center on the grounds where individuals can read materials, watch videos, and participate in exhibits which teach about
Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
. These elements are provide a peaceful setting aimed to enhance the site's sacred atmosphere. Exterior The temple is constructed with white Vermont marble. The exterior is characterized by its white marble walls, spires, domes, and its green Vermont slate roof, each chosen for their symbolic significance and alignment with temple traditions. The six spires symbolize what
Brigham Young Brigham Young ( ; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until h ...
who taught about them representing the priesthood, according to the direction of the temple. The three spires on the east represent the First Presidency and the
Melchizedek Priesthood The priesthood of Melchizedek is a role in Abrahamic religions, modelled on Melchizedek, combining the dual position of king and priest. Hebrew Bible Melchizedek is a king and priest appearing in the Book of Genesis. The name means "King of Righ ...
. The three spires on the west, which are slightly lower in height, represent the Presiding Bishopric and the Aaronic Priesthood. The design incorporates elements that are reflective of both the local culture and the broader church symbolism. Interior The interior features a two-story celestial room that has three chandeliers, long wall tapestries, and a grand staircase, designed to foster a spiritually uplifting environment. The temple includes a
baptistry In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptist ...
, celestial room, four ordinance rooms used for the
endowment ceremony In Mormonism, the endowment is a two-part ordinance designed for participants to become kings, queens, priests, and priestesses in the afterlife. As part of the first ceremony, participants take part in a scripted reenactment of the Biblic ...
, fourteen sealing rooms, and an
assembly hall An assembly hall is a hall to hold public meetings or meetings of an organization such as a school, church, or deliberative assembly. An example of the last case is the Assembly Hall (Washington, Mississippi) where the general assembly of the s ...
, each of which have ceremonial use. Symbolic elements are integrated into the design, providing deeper meaning to the temple's function and aesthetics. Symbols Incorporated into the design are symbolic elements representing the
Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...
and the
Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''. The book is one of ...
, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is an important subject to church members and include the spires and baptismal font. The central spire represents reaching upwards to heaven, with the angel Moroni on its top symbolizing the church’s mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the temple, baptismal fonts rest on the back of 12
oxen An ox (: oxen), also known as a bullock (in BrE, British, AusE, Australian, and IndE, Indian English), is a large bovine, trained and used as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castration, castrated adult male cattle, because castration i ...
, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the strength and power of God’s work.


Dedication

After the temple's completion in 1989, an open house was held where members and non-members could tour the temple and learn about its significance to the church. The temple's open house drew over 300,000 visitors. Guided tours during the open house experienced high demand, with some visitors waiting up to 45 minutes in line to enter. Approximately 2,500 visitors per hour flowed through the temple. The tours for this temple were originally done in silence. Involvement of local church members included about 9,000 volunteers contributing to the open house experience, including distribution of church literature and promoting the event through various media channels. Various inserts were sent out about the temple open house along with invitations, with as many as 1.5 million copies distributed. A movie about the temple was produced and shown on cable television, that was filmed on the grounds. Testimonials included spiritual experiences during the open house, with one anecdote involving a man initially distributing
anti-Mormon Anti-Mormonism refers to individuals, literature and media that are opposed to the beliefs, adherents, or institutions of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement as a whole. It may include hostility, prejudice, discrimination, persecution, ...
literature. He opted to take a tour of the temple, after which he stopped distributing the information. The temple's grounds continue to be enjoyed by the surrounding community: in 2014, it was reported that 900 people visit daily. The 1989 dedication of the temple took place in gatherings held from August 19 to 21 and included over 40,000 church members from the temple district of Oregon and Washington participation in the 11 dedicatory sessions. Church president
Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson (August 4, 1899 – May 30, 1994) was an American farmer, government official, and religious leader who served as the 15th United States Secretary of Agriculture during both presidential terms of Dwight D. Eisenhower and a ...
presided at the dedication, and was the first to use a trowel of mortar at the ceremony, along with his counselors in the First Presidency, and other leaders in attendance. The temple was dedicated by Benson's first counselor, Gordon B. Hinckley, who emphasized the temple's significance as "a place of peace and holiness, a refuge from the storms of life," and "There is no compensation for service in terms of the coin of the world, but somehow there is a balm in these houses."
Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson (August 21, 1927 – January 2, 2018) was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). As president, he was considered by adherents of the rel ...
, Benson's second counselor, celebrated his 62nd birthday during the services, and adding a personal touch to the dedication, he invited a young local girl to join him, and presenting her with a white rose, he encouraged her to preserve it as part of the temple and return one day for a marriage ceremony. Other remarks were directed at youth during the sessions (the minimum age for attendance was eight years old), encouraging them to prepare to do baptisms for the dead, missionary service, receive the endowment, and to be sealed.


Visitors' center

On February 25, 2012, the church opened a new visitors' center adjacent to the temple. The visitors’ center replaced a former Church Distribution Center. The temple expanded its offerings with the addition of a visitors' center that was dedicated by Gary E. Stevenson in June 2013. The new visitors’ center serves as a place to learn about Jesus Christ, the restoration and doctrine of the church, temples, and eternal families. Among its features, the visitors' center houses a replica of Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's
Christus Christus may refer to: * Christ (title) People * Petrus Christus (c. 1410s – c. 1475), Dutch painter * Sir Christus (1978–2017), Finnish musician Music * ''Christus'' (Liszt), an oratorio * ''Christus'' (Mendelssohn), an unfinished oratorio ...
similar to those found in other church visitors' centers. Additionally, there is a mural depicting a sunrise over the local landscape, exhibits detailing the history of the temple, explanations of temples and their significance to families, and displays featuring members sharing their testimonies of Jesus Christ. An interactive exhibit introduces visitors to the Book of Mormon and its teachings, while another exhibit focuses on Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, providing insights into His life, teachings, and the biblical settings associated with them. Furthermore, there are exhibits showcasing the testimonies of the First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with teachings drawn from recent general conference addresses.


Temple presidents

Since its dedication in 1989, the temple has been overseen by a series of
temple president Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of a church temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity. ...
s, each serving for a term of three years. The president administers all temple operations and provides spiritual guidance for both temple patrons and staff. The first president of the Portland Oregon Temple was Lorin Edwarde (Ted) Perry, who served from 1989 to 1992. As of 2022, Lawrence Paul Blunck is the current president.


Admittance

Like all temples of the church, the Portland Oregon Temple is not used for
Sunday worship In Christianity, the Lord's Day refers to Sunday, the traditional day of communal worship. It is the first day of the week in the Hebrew calendar and traditional Christian calendars. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the ...
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 In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord. Temples are considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usuall ...
can enter for worship. The visitors’ center is available to the public.


See also

* List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region * The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oregon * Religion in Portland, Oregon


Gallery

File:Portland Temple Sign.JPG, Portland Temple Sign File:Spire of the Portland Oregon Temple, 2018.jpg, Spire of the Portland Oregon Temple File:Portland Temple at night.JPG, Portland Temple at night


References


External links

*
Portland Oregon Temple Official sitePortland Oregon Temple
at ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org {{LDS-Temple-USA 20th-century Latter Day Saint temples in the United States Buildings and structures in Clackamas County, Oregon Buildings and structures in Lake Oswego, Oregon Temples (LDS Church) completed in 1989 Temples (LDS Church) in Oregon Tourist attractions in Clackamas County, Oregon 1989 establishments in Oregon