A Pictorial History of Mormonism | Temples of the LDS Church Part I

Scattered across the globe, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has constructed 168 temples, each one a beautiful house of the Lord where worthy members can come to worship and bind themselves and their families to God. Below I have included pictures of the first 20 of these beautiful houses of worship and included some interesting facts about each, and how they fit into the storied history of Mormonism. (More installments in this series to come)


1. St. George Utah Temple
Location: St. George, Utah, USA
Dedicated: April 1877 by Daniel H. Wells
Fun Fact: The St. George Temple is the oldest operating temple of the LDS Church. Other temples had been built before it, but these were either destroyed by arson or natural disasters or had to be abandoned when the Saints fled westward.

2. Logan Utah Temple
Location: Logan, Utah, USA
Dedicated: May 1884 by John Taylor
Fun Fact: The exterior walls, made of rough-hewn, dark limestone, were originally painted off-white to give the building a smoother texture, but in the early 1900's the paint was allowed  to weather away and show the temple's characteristic rough stone.

3. Manti Utah Temple
Location: Manti, Utah, USA
Dedicated: May 1888 by Lorenzo Snow
Fun Fact: Every year, a pageant celebrating the history of the Church is performed on the hillside on the temple grounds.

4. Salt Lake Temple
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Dedicated: April 1893 by Wilford Woodruff
Fun Fact: The Salt Lake Temple is perhaps the most well-recognized of all LDS temples. It was built over a forty-year period and was the first Mormon temple to have a public open-house before its dedication. By square-footage, it is the Church's largest temple and its distinctive architecture makes it an international symbol of the Church.

5. Laie Hawaii Temple

Location: Laie, Hawaii, USA
Dedicated: November 1919 by Heber J. Grant
Fun Fact: Construction on this iconic tropical temple came to a screeching halt when builders realized they were running short on lumber. The members were asked to pray for an answer to this predicament. In just a couple days, a freighter was found stranded on a nearby coral reef. The captain of the ship offered the Church all of his cargo if they would help unload it. He was carrying lumber, and enough of it to finish the temple.

6. Cardston Alberta Temple

Location: Cardston, Alberta, Canada
Dedicated: August 1923 by Heber J. Grant
Fun Fact: First temple built outside of the United States.

7. Mesa Arizona Temple

Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA
Dedicated: October 1927 by Heber J. Grant
Fun Fact: The Mesa Arizona Temple became the first to perform temple ordinances in a non-English language when Spanish ordinances were offered in 1945.

8. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA
Dedicated: September 1945 by George Albert Smith
Fun Fact: The outside of the temple was completed in 1941 with completion of the interior planned for the next year. However, World War II shortages prompted the construction to wait until after the war.

9. Bern Switzerland Temple

Location: Zolikofen, Bern, Switzerland
Dedicated: September 1955 by David O. McKay
Fun Fact: First European temple.

10. Los Angeles California Temple

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Dedicated: March 1956 by David O. McKay
Fun Fact: Construction was also delayed for many years by World War II

11. Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Location: Hamilton, Waikoto region, North Island, New Zealand
Dedicated: April 1958 by David O. McKay
Fun Fact: For many years, this temple offered over-night ordinances to accommodate weekend visitors who had traveled long distances.

12.London England Temple

Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Dedicated: September 1958 by David O. McKay
Fun Fact: The open-house for the London temple drew an unprecedented 76,324 visitors.

13. Oakland California Temple

Location: Oakland, California, USA
Dedicated: November 1864 by David O. McKay
Fun Fact: The Oakland temple's exterior features two 35 foot panels with relief sculptures of Christ preaching in Jerusalem on the north panel, and Christ preaching in the Americas on the south.

14. Ogden Utah Temple

Location: Ogden, Utah, USA
Dedicated: January 1972 by Joseph Fielding Smith
Fun Fact: This temple holds the distinction of the first to be dedicated in Utah after Utah became a state. The other four were dedicated while Utah was still a territory.

15. Provo Utah Temple

Location: Provo, Utah, USA
Dedicated: February 1972 by Joseph Fielding Smith
Fun Fact: Many consider this valley temple to be one of the busiest temples of the whole Church.

16. Washington D.C Temple
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Dedicated: November 1974 by Spencer W. Kimball
Fun Fact: The open-house of this temple was extremely successful, with over 750,000 visitors, among them then First Lady Betty Ford. The extensive open-house yielded more than 75,000 inquiries by non-members to the missionaries.

17. São Paulo Brazil Temple

Location: São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Dedicated: November 1978 by Spencer W. Kimball
Fun Fact: Prior to this temple's construction, the nearest temple for Brazilian Saints was the Washington D.C. Temple, nearly 5,000 miles away.

18. Tokyo Japan Temple

Location: Tokyo, Honshu, Japan
Dedicated: October 1980 by Spencer W. Kimball
Fun Fact: This was the first LDS temple built in all of Asia.

19. Seattle Washington Temple

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Dedicated: November 1980 by Spencer W. Kimball
Fun Fact: The Seattle Temple was built close to the Bellevue Airfield, and because of this, the Church was asked to reduce the planned height of its steeple, and place a warning strobe light on the Angel Moroni statue. In 1983, the Bellevue Airfield shut down, so the strobe light was permanently shut off.

20. Jordan River Utah Temple

Location: South Jordan, Utah, USA
Dedicated: November 1981 by Marion G. Romney
Fun Fact: At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jordan River Temple,  Prophet Spencer W. Kimball gave some remarks, offered a prayer, and then personally operated an enormous Caterpillar tractor to move the first large shovelful of dirt. The groundbreaking of temples is normally conducted with hand shovels.

Other parts in this series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
More to come...

History of Mormonism: Lifestyle of the Pioneers

Early on in the history of Mormonism, a group of people known as the pioneers sacrificed everything. They gave up their property, their comfort, and their way of life in order to head westward in search of a new life, and more tolerant conditions to practice their religious beliefs. But what was the average day like for one of these intrepid go-getters?
Dress
The men generally wore pants made from duck, if not denim. Shirts were also fashioned from denim, and shoes usually took the form of moccasins.
The women would handcraft their own calico dresses, with long sleeves and high necklines. Due to scarcity of materials, and for the sake of efficiency, they usually only wore two dresses a year while on the trail. Women would also typically wear a sunbonnet, which to modern eyes looks as though it would be unbearable to wear in the heat, but was actually a great way to fight the heat. The material of the bonnet would shield a woman's head from the sunlight, but was also quite breathable, allowing for a breeze to help cool off.
Travel
Most of the pioneers pulled handcarts across the plains and the rocky mountains, though some advance scouts would pave the way on horses to check for potential hazards. These two-wheeled carts were moved by simply pulling a yoke-like bar at the front and others pushing on the back. Since they moved completely on human power, the pioneers had to pack only the essentials. Some attempted to lug large possessions like pianos or armoires across the plains, but quickly learned after a short distance that it was not practical. One account tells of a family who actually left their family piano in Iowa, burying it deep in the ground, wrapped tightly in animal skins. A later group uncovered it and brought it to Salt Lake City when it was easier to do so.
The pioneers would travel in large convoys of wagons, called "wagon trains". On a good day, a wagon train would likely travel 10-15 miles, though in inclement weather, or other bad conditions, they could only travel a mile or two. As a rule, they did not travel on Sundays, in an effort to keep the Sabbath. On Sundays they would hold worship services and praise God.
Food
Most of what the pioneers ate was rather simple fare. They brought with them some rations of cornmeal and other staple crops, though these did not always last the whole trip. They would often make due with what they were able to hunt, trap, or gather from the land.
Entertainment
The pioneers got very creative with their entertainment. Some of the ways children would play were quite simple. Many would chase frogs or play with simple toys, like a hoop and stick. They also devised many games to pass the time, ranging from wrestling, tag, "hide-the-thimble", and even spelling bees. The travelers enjoyed making crafts, whittling, knitting, and the like.

As always, if you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, please click here to chat live with real missionaries!

Timeline of Mormon History

Since the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, members of the LDS Church have seen and participated in a rich and ever-growing history. From its early days to its most recent hours, the events surrounding Mormonism are most certainly grand. In chronological order, here is a timeline of major events in the history of Mormonism.

December 23, 1805- Joseph Smith Jr. is born in Sharon, Vermont.

Spring 1820- Joseph Smith Jr. is visited by God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

September 21, 1823- The Angel Moroni appears to Joseph Smith Jr. and informs him of the Golden Plates.

September 22, 1827- Joseph Smith Jr. obtains the Golden Plates from the Hill Cumorah.

May 15, 1829- Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are given the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist.

May-June 1829- Josehp Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery are give the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John.

June 1829- Translation of the Golden Plates into what would become the Book of Mormon is finished.

March 26, 1830- The Book of Mormon is officially published by E. B. Grandin's Bookstore in Palmyra, New York.

April 6, 1830- The Church is officially founded.

December 1830- The Church gathers in Ohio.

June 1831- Church members begin to gather in Jackson County Missouri.

February 27, 1833- The Word of Wisdom is introduced.

July 23, 1833- Cornerstone is laid on the Kirland, Ohio Temple.

October 27, 1838- Due to mounting tensions between Mormons and disgruntled neighbors, Governor Lilburn Boggs of Missouri orders an "Extermination Order" on the Mormons. Though long forgotten and obviously not in effect any time in the 20th Century, the order was rediscovered in the records and officially rescinded in 1976.

October 30, 1838- Saints are attacked by an angry mob at Haun's Mill, Missouri.

April 6, 1841- The Nauvoo, Illinois Temple is completed.

June 27, 1844- Joseph Smith Jr. and brother Hyrum Smith are martyred by an angry mob.

July 24, 1847- Under the direction of Brigham Young, the first Mormons enter the Salt Lake Valley, settling what is now the state of Utah.

December 27, 1847- Brigham Young officially named Prophet of the Church.

April 6, 1853- Construction begins on the Salt Lake Temple.

September 1890- The Church issues a moratorium on the practice of polygamy.

April 6, 1893- Construction on the Salt Lake Temple is finished.

1913- The Church supports the Boy Scouts of America program. The program becomes the official activity of the Church's young men.

1918-1938- LDS Seminary buildings begin to be built adjacent to many public high schools in Utah.

Late 1940's- The Church sends relief supplies to Europe at the end of World War II.
January 1971- The Church's official magazines are retooled, giving rise to the publication of the Ensign, the New Era, and the Friend.

1978- All worthy men are allowed to receive the priesthood.

February 7, 1993- A man named Cody Judy threatened Howard W. Hunter and an audience of 15,000-17,000 at a Fireside with a suitcase he claimed held an explosive. He threatened to detonate it unless Hunter would read a paper supposedly declaring Judy the new President of the Church. Howard W. Hunter refused, and Judy was detained by security.

Spring 2000- Construction of the LDS Conference Center is completed, and the building becomes the main meeting place for General Church meetings. Biannually, the General Conference of the Church is held in and broadcast from this engineering marvel.

To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can chat live with real missionaries here!

For more church timelines, check out this series about the Latter-day prophets.