This week in Church history
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50 years ago
Plans to build a temple in Hamilton, New Zealand, were announced by the First Presidency on Thursday, Feb. 17, according to the Feb. 19, 1955, Church News.
The announcement came shortly after President David O. McKay returned from a tour of the missions of the Pacific that included New Zealand.
The article stated: "In announcing the temple location at Hamilton this week, President McKay explained there is a great need for the edifice and that it will be 'a source of spiritual strength' to the members of the Church.
"The new temple will serve members of the Church in New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific Island missions."
The temple site was 25 miles south of the mission headquarters in Auckland and on a 1500-acre site where a Church school was at that time under construction.
According to the article, "It is likely that the temple will be erected on a beautiful knoll on the college property, overlooking Hamilton."
At that time, there were eight temples in use in the Church. Temples were under construction in Los Angeles, Calif., and Bern, Switzerland. Sites had been chosen for temples in London, England, and Oakland, Calif.
