South valley members prepare for temples
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Residents of the south end of Utah's Salt Lake Valley are witnessing a remarkable moment in Church history — two temples being built simultaneously, one within eyesight of the other. Church leaders say faithful members will be needed to serve in the future temples.
SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH
There was once a time when the south end of the Salt Lake Valley was synonymous with good farmland. Wide open spaces allowed a few hard working families to operate dairies, perhaps harvest a few acres of alfalfa and earn a quiet living far removed from the noise of Salt Lake City and its subdivisions.
That pastoral era's all but gone. Several years worth of landscape-altering development has turned once rural communities such as Draper, Riverton and South Jordan into full-fledged cities where people live, work, go to school and recreate.
Still, it's easy to scan the Salt Lake Valley's southern edges and see the area once again experiencing a bumper season. Where crops flourished and cattle once roamed, temples are being built. For the first time since the organization of the Church, a pair of temples are being constructed simultaneously, one within eyesight of the other. Once completed and dedicated, the Draper Utah Temple and the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple will be the third and fourth temple operating in Utah's Salt Lake County.
Folks living in this area have, of course, always had easy access to the temple. The venerable Salt Lake Temple remains a short drive away, and the 28-year-old Jordan River Utah Temple shares the same South Jordan zip code (84095) as the future Oquirrh Mountain edifice. Still, Church leaders and local members say the dual construction projects are blessing lives and prompting many to rededicate themselves to gospel living and temple service.
Ground broken
On Aug. 5, 2006, President Gordon B. Hinckley presided at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Draper Utah Temple. There he responded to a question that many had asked: Why so many temples in Utah? The Church president's answer was simple.
"It is because we need them. The Jordan River Utah Temple is extremely busy, and the Salt Lake Temple is likewise busy. It is a great tribute to our people that they are so faithful in temple attendance."
Some six months later, President Hinckley participated in a similar ceremony signalling the beginning of construction at the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. "(Patrons) won't know how to spell (Oquirrh) — but they don't come to the temple to spell," said President Hinckley with a smile. "They come to serve in the work of the Lord."
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy presides over the Utah areas. The decision, he said, to build two new temples in the Salt Lake Valley "is prophetically driven." Countless lives will be blessed as more and more people have an opportunity to patronize and serve in the future temples.
"The new temples will re-energize many of the saints who live in the south end of the valley," Elder Rasband said.
Members who will live in the districts of the future temples have proven to be temple-going people. Legions of bleary-eyed youth living in the Jordan River Utah Temple district have arisen early to visit the temple and perform baptisms, often before school starts. Others stop by after class or on the weekends. Meanwhile, adults sometimes wait a bit to join an endowment, sealing or initiatory session during "prime time" operating hours.
"These temples are being built because of the faithfulness and devotion and wonderful temple service that so many saints in the Salt Lake Valley have engaged in," noted Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy and executive director of the Church's temple department.
Jordan River Utah Temple President Robert L. Backman, an emeritus General Authority, agrees that the south valley members are, indeed, ready for additional temples. "They've demonstrated this by their activity in the Jordan River Utah Temple." Still, the longtime Church leader added that no one is being turned away from the temple. There are ample opportunities to serve — particularly during daytime hours on weekdays.
Much enthusiasm
Scores of temples have been built across the globe over the past decade. In areas such as Latin America or Europe, the new temples were dedicated amidst a wave of enthusiasm by local members who would be able to regularly attend the temple for the first time. Utah members living inside the boundaries of the future temples approach their new temple with far different circumstances. Still, they say they are enjoying similar excitement.
"I'm thrilled about the new temple," said Mechelle Stout, who lives a hardy walk away from the Oquirrh Mountain construction site in South Jordan. "I'm thrilled with the idea that any temple is busy enough to need new temples."
Sister Stout said her children will never forget their excitement watching a temple as it is built from the ground up. One of her young daughters frequently asks her parents to take her on a car ride to the construction site so they can watch the temple being built.
"All of our minds are being turned toward the temple," she said.
Artie Hunter of Draper, Utah, is a family history lover and a regular patron of the Jordan River Utah Temple. Yes, it's only a 10-minute drive from his home to that temple. But he believes the Draper Utah Temple is being built because it's needed.
"A lot more people will have an opportunity to serve," said Brother Hunter, a former stake president who spends his days indexing names that will be used in temple work. "I've also had several people who are not members of the Church ask that I take them to the temple open house next year."
Sister Stout can walk outside the construction site of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple in South Jordan, peer to the east and lock her eyes on the Draper Utah Temple. If she shifts her gaze slightly to the left she can enjoy a clear view of the Jordan River Utah Temple's white stone exterior. The presence of such edifices stands as a comforting, deeply spiritual symbol.
"I've heard it said that Satan's power is diminished wherever a temple is built," said Sister Stout. "Who wouldn't want that in our neighborhood?"
A great responsibility
Draper Utah Eastridge Stake President Jorge Becerra accepts the adage "where much is given much is required."
Yes, the sister temples under construction in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley will be a great blessing to those in their respective districts. But they also exact a sacred responsibility.
"This is a great gift," he said. "Now it's required of us to move forward more diligently."
The construction of the new temples has reminded President Becerra and his fellow priesthood leaders in the area of their ongoing charge to prepare others for temple blessings. For those with temple recommends, preparing to serve faithfully in the future temple is reliably simple.
"Our members are preparing for the temple by attending the temple," he said. "We have seen a surge of people taking time from their busy lives to serve in the temple."
President Becerra added he is especially pleased by the surge of young people in his stake who are doing baptisms at the the Jordan River Utah Temple on a regular basis, even as they look forward to serving in the Draper Utah Temple.
Elder Rasband shares President Becerra's excitement for the youth in the area. In a time when young people are bombarded by the varied messages of the world, the temple offers precious clarity. "These new temples are going to provide the youth with opportunities to focus on spiritual (truths)."
South Jordan Utah Highland Stake President Robert Homer recently enjoyed a tour of the work being done in the interior of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. He was moved by what he witnessed. "This is going to be a remarkable season."
The coordinator for the open house and dedication activities at the new South Jordan temple, President Homer admits to a few anxious moments as he watches the scaffolding-enclosed building outside his own neighborhood take shape. He recently attended the dedication of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. That event only added to his excitement.
"This temple will touch hearts — the whole structure and architecture is built to elevate the spirit."
President Homer understands the new temple will be a sacred house of learning. Its construction, he said, can help all within his stake better understand the purposes of the temple.
"There will be those who discover the temple has much more to offer than they really thought."
President Homer said the new temples are serving as spiritual catalysts — prompting a new interest in the house of the Lord for those members of his stake who have never been to the temple and for those who have not entered a temple in years.
Increased temple work, added Elder Walker, will help many "see things through spiritual eyes and know the will of heaven."
A house of God
The construction of a new temple — be it in Utah or anywhere else in the world — offers all members an opportunity to rededicate their own lives to the principles taught in the house of the Lord. All Latter-day Saints can use this special period of building to refocus and double their efforts to prepare for temple blessings, said Elder Rasband, who grew up in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley.
President Thomas S. Monson participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies for both the Draper Utah and Oquirrh Mountain Utah temples. He reminisced about riding horses in Draper with friends as a young man. He spoke of boyhood memories of bicycling, ice skating and visiting relatives near the area where the new temple in South Jordan is being built. And in both ceremonies, President Monson challenged members to "do a little temple building ourselves."
He repeated the counsel found in Doctrine and Covenants 88:119: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning; a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."
There's no better blueprint for the two new temples being built, each within sight of the other. There's no better blueprint, he said, for one's own life.
"We are engaged in a magnificent project here that affects all eternity."
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
