Palmyra New York Temple

Palmyra New York Temple
Palmyra Temple as seen from the Sacred Grove
Number	77
Dedication	6 April 2000 (6 April 2000) by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site	5 acres (2 hectares)
Floor area	10,700 sq ft (990 m2)
Height	71 ft (22 m)
Preceded by	Louisville Kentucky Temple
Followed by	Fresno California Temple
Official website • News & images
Additional information Announcement 21 February 1999 Groundbreaking 25 May 1999 by Gordon B. Hinckley Open House 25 March 2000 – 1 April 2000 Designed by Dave A. Richards and Church A&E Services Location 2720 Temple Road Palmyra, New York Exterior finish White marble Ordinance rooms 2 with Movie, two-stage progressive sessions Sealing rooms 2 Clothing rental No Cafeteria No services Visitors' center Yes

The Palmyra New York Temple is the 77th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

The site for the Palmyra New York Temple, atop a wooded hill in pastoral western New York, is in an area prominent in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Nearby is the grove of trees known as the Sacred Grove in which the founder and first prophet of the church, Joseph Smith, reported having a vision in which he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, an event known as the First Vision. The temple grounds, on the border between the towns of Manchester and Palmyra, are also on the grounds of the original Smith Family Farm. The church itself was organized thirty miles away in Fayette, New York in 1830.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, held May 25, 1999, LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley commented on the area's rich history, saying that it was in that locale that Mormonism truly began. Hinckley also marveled at how much the church had grown since its founding in 1830.

Local reaction to the new temple was positive and more than 30,700 visitors toured the new temple before its dedication. The temple serves about 18,000 members within seven stakes. The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on April 6, 2000, the 170th anniversary of the organization of the church. While only about 1,200 members attended the dedicatory sessions within the temple itself nearly 1.5 million members took part through media broadcasts throughout the United States and Canada.

The Palmyra New York Temple has a total of 10,700 square feet (990 m²), two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms. The exterior is white marble. Forty art glass windows inside the temple depict local events in LDS Church history. A gold statue of the angel Moroni tops the single spire. Ornate carved cherry wood railings, wainscoting, and moldings line the halls, along with hand-sculpted carpeting.

See also

• Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region
• Temple architecture (Latter-day Saints)

External links

• Official Palmyra New York Temple page
• Information about LDS Temples in New York
• Palmyra New York Temple page