Temples in Europe Articles
Florence, Italy, is an interesting and incredible city. I studied Italian Art History there for a time when I was in college. One thing I love about Florence is that it is literally stuck in time. As one of the most well preserved places in Europe, in my opinion, you can easily step back into time just wandering through the narrow stone streets.
As a student of art history, the places I frequented the most were the gorgeous and mind-blowing Catholic cathedrals and churches. It enthralled me that I could wander anytime into the soaring ceilings of the Duomo by Brunelleschi or could discover a small, hidden chapel and see the genre-defining “Deposition of the Cross” by Pontormo – one of my favorite artists.
All this and more was at the tip of my fingers; a dream for any art student.
But my favorite church in Florence was in quite a different setting: the Latter -day Saint or “Mormon” congregation in the city. The Church of Jesus Christ... Read the rest of this article »
That a new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be built in Paris, France, was formally announced at the Mormon General Conference of October, 2011. However, since the French press got hold of the plan many months before, an informal announcement was made in July of 2011, while government approvals were still in progress. The temple is planned for the area of Le Chesnay. Le Chesnay is located in the western suburbs of Paris 16.7 km (10.4 mi) from the center (Wikipedia).
There are more than 36,000 Latter-day Saints in France, and they have attended the temple in other European countries, especially Germany and Switzerland.
The first LDS missionary to France was the apostle John Taylor, who later became prophet and president of the Church. He departed for Europe in 1849. The first congregation in France, consisting of six members, was organized in April 1850 in Boulogne-sur-Mer. By July 24, 1853, nine branches (small congregations)... Read the rest of this article »
On October 2, 2010, at the commencement of the 180th general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson announced the construction of a new temple in Lisbon Portugal. This will be the first temple for Portugal. Latter-day Saints in the country currently travel to the nearest temple in Madrid, Spain, a 400-mile drive.
Portugal currently has 6 stakes and 4 districts. Local congregations are called wards. They are under the administration of groups of wards, called stakes. Congregations too small to be wards are called branches. Groups of branches are organized into districts.
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On 4 October 2008 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that it would build a temple in Rome, Italy. The site ison nearly fifteen acres located at 376 Via di Settebagni. This site is on the outskirts of the city in the picturesque countryside near a freeway exchange.
Originally, trenches were dug every 10 to 15 feet across the property, since construction could not continue if Roman ruins were discovered. Latter-day Saints in the area held a special fast in the hope that the site (which the Church purchased in the 1990’s) would be free of antiquities. No antiquities were discovered anywhere on the 15 acres, yet a Roman village was discovered just 100 yards beyond the property’s boundary.
The Rome Italy Temple will be the first temple in Italy and in the Mediterranean region. For years, Italian Saints have traveled the long distance to the Bern Switzerland Temple, which now serves more stakes and districts from Italy than... Read the rest of this article »
Spain is a country where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is coming out of anonymity because of the strength and example of its members. Freedom of religion was not legally guaranteed in Spain until 1967, and then in October of 1968 the Mormon Church was officially recognized by the government of Spain. Mormon missionaries entered the country in May of 1969.[1]
With ninety-seven percent of Spain’s population being Catholic, the Mormon faith began with small congregations of English-speaking ex-patriates. But, with the strong missionary effort and the strength of the members there, the Church has grown extensively.
A mission was organized in July 1970. During this period, many Spanish-speaking members from other nations were transferred by their businesses to Spain and helped to strengthen new congregations. By 1974, 620 members met in 17 congregations.
One measure of the Church growth was the announcement of the Madrid Spain Mormon... Read the rest of this article »
Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe and is commonly referred to as the breadbasket, because of its many fertile farms. Eighty-percent of the 53 million Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians due to Christianity being introduced into the country in A.D. 988. After obtaining its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine is now a democratic nation and is enjoying a resurgence of culture and language.
The first Mormon missionaries arrived in the country of Ukraine in October 1990, and in June 1991 the Kiev Branch was formed. In September 1991, Elder Boyd K. Packer and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Mormon Church arrived to dedicate the land for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And finally, in October 1991, the missionary work officially began. During 1992, Mormon missionaries began preaching outside of Kiev; preaching in Donetsk, Gorlovka, and Khar’kov. In July 1993, the Ukraine Donetsk Mission was formed.
With the membership... Read the rest of this article »
The London England Mormon Temple sits on 32 acres of lush countryside at Newchapel in Surrey, England. This rectangular edifice reaches 160 feet high. The exterior is adorned with white limestone and topped by a lead-coated copper spire and, since the end of 2008, a statue of the angel Moroni. Surrounding the Mormon temple are gardens, which compose two-thirds of the acreage. Oaks trees (which are listed with the British registry), spacious lawns, an ornamental pond and colorful rhododendrons and azaleas beautify the grounds of the temple throughout the year.
The area of the London Temple has a rich history. At the time of early Christianity Celts, Romans, Saxons, and Danes occupied the area; now, Sir Winston Churchill’s property adjoins the grounds of the Temple.
After the property was purchased for the building of the temple, President David O. McKay and Church architect Edward Anderson spent time deciding where to place the Temple. Land selected... Read the rest of this article »
The building of the Copenhagen Denmark Mormon Temple was announced on March 17, 1999. On April 24, 1999 the site for the temple was dedicated and a groundbreaking ceremony was held. About 700 Mormons from the area were at the ceremony.
The Copenhagen Denmark Temple is a renovation of an existing building, the Priorvej Chapel. This chapel was built by Mormon members in 1931 and dedicated by Elder John A. Widtsoe, a member of the Twelve Apostles at the time. It was built in the Neo-classical style with columns in the front.
This building has had a long and interesting history. The day that the chapel was dedicated, June 14, was the eighty-first anniversary of the day that the first Mormon missionaries arrived in Denmark. During World War II, the chapel was used as a bomb shelter, and it luckily made it through the war with little damage. After World War II the chapel was remodeled to hold more classrooms for the growing membership. Compared with many... Read the rest of this article »
On the exterior of every Mormon Temple is engraved the words, “Holiness to the Lord.” Whenever one enters the Temple, he or she knows that it is a dedicated House of God. The Temple is a place of holiness and a place of peace apart from the world.
Mormon Temples are sacred structures in which eternal questions are answered. The Temples are houses of learning where truths are taught and ordinances are performed. These truths bring a knowledge of things eternal and motivate all that enter to live a more Christ-like life. The work that goes on in the Mormon Temple brings to light God’s eternal purposes with reference to man. For the most part, temple work is concerned with the family; with the sanctity and eternal nature of the marriage covenant and family relationships.
All are equal in the Mormon Temple; upon entering, street clothes are exchanged for white clothing. When dressed in temple clothing, it is impossible to tell someone’s station... Read the rest of this article »
The building of the Bern Switzerland Mormon temple was announced on July 1, 1952. With its completion, it became the ninth operating temple worldwide. The Bern temple was the first temple built outside of the United States and Canada, as well as being the first temple built in Europe.
The Bern temple, originally known as the Swiss temple, is also known for another first; it was the first temple to use a video presentation of the endowment ceremony. This was done because so many of the patrons of the Bern temple speak different languages. The films made it easier to meet the needs of those attending. Mormon history in the area is long and rich. The first mission was opened on November 24, 1850. The first Mormon missionary president was Thomas B. H. Stenhouse. It was in Switzerland in 1906 that Joseph F. Smith, who was the president of the Mormon Church at the time, made a prophecy that temples would be built in various countries of the world. At the... Read the rest of this article »
