St. George Utah Temple

St. George Utah Temple
Number	1[1] [2]
Dedication	April 6, 1877, by Daniel H. Wells
Site	6.5 acres (2.6 ha)
Floor area	143,969 sq ft (13,375.2 m2)
Height	80 ft (24 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
← Nauvoo Temple St. George Utah Temple → Logan Utah Temple
Additional information
Announced	January 31 1871, by Brigham Young
Groundbreaking	November 9, 1871, by Brigham Young
Rededicated	November 11, 1975, by Spencer W. Kimball December 10, 2023, by Jeffrey R. Holland
Designed by	Truman O. Angell
Location	St. George, Utah, United States
Geographic coordinates	37°6′1.450800″N 113°34′41.17439″W / 37.10040300000°N 113.5781039972°W / 37.10040300000; -113.5781039972
Exterior finish	Native red sandstone quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon and plastered white.
Temple design	Castellated Neo-Gothic
Baptistries	1
Ordinance rooms	3 (stationary)
Sealing rooms	18
Clothing rental	Available
Visitors' center	Yes
(edit)

The St. George Utah Temple, formerly known as the St. George Temple, is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah. Completed in March 1877, it was the third temple constructed by the church and the first in Utah, following the westward migration of Mormon pioneers from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of church founder Joseph Smith.

The temple was built over swampy land. Workers created a dry foundation by using a French cannon, used by Napoleon during his Russian campaign, which they lifted thirty feet to use as a pile driver for compacting the foundation. Local members worked for over six years, walking five miles daily and donating one day in ten as tithing labor. Brigham Young, the church president, thought the finished tower was squat. Two years after Young's death, the tower was struck by lightning and destroyed; it was rebuilt to align with his preference. It is the oldest temple in active use by the church and the only one completed during Young's tenure.

In August 1877, Wilford Woodruff, then the temple president, recorded that the spirits of "eminent" historical figures appeared to him in the temple and requested that ordinances be performed on their behalf. These were recorded by Woodruff over the span of two days and nights, which lead to proxy baptisms and endowment ceremonies being performed for 100 historical men and women.

Situated in southwestern St. George, the temple was designed by Truman O. Angell with an interior layout similar to the earlier Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. It has exterior elements that can give it the appearance of a fortified castle. It has three ordinance rooms and 18 sealing rooms, covering a total floor area of 143,969 square feet (13,400 m²). Its architectural style combines Neo-Gothic and French Norman Revival design. Dedicated in April 1877, the St. George Temple was the first where church members could perform all temple ordinances for the dead. The temple has gone through ten major renovations throughout its history. Only church members with a current temple recommend may enter, while the nearby visitors' center is open to the public.