Hamilton New Zealand Temple

The Hamilton New Zealand Temple (also known as the Hamilton Waikato Temple and formerly as the New Zealand Temple) is the 13th constructed and 11th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Located just outside Temple View in Hamilton, it was built with a modern single-spire design very similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple. Until the completion of the Auckland Temple, it remains the only LDS temple in New Zealand.

Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Number11
DedicationApril 20, 1958, by David O. McKay
Site86 acres (35 ha)
Floor area45,251 sq ft (4,204.0 m2)
Height157 ft (48 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Los Angeles California Temple
Hamilton New Zealand Temple		 →
London England Temple
Additional information
AnnouncedFebruary 17, 1955, by David O. McKay
GroundbreakingDecember 21, 1955, by Ariel Ballif, Wendell B. Mendenhall, and George R. Biesinger
Open houseMarch 28 – April 19, 1958
August 26-September 17, 2022
Rededicated16 October 2022, by Dieter F. Uchtdorf[1]
Designed byEdward O. Anderson
LocationHamilton, New Zealand
Geographic coordinates37°49′34.62599″S 175°13′28.64280″E
Exterior finishconcrete block and white-painted structural steel
Temple designModern contemporary, single spire
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms2 (Movie, stationary)
Sealing rooms8
Clothing rentalYes
Visitors' centerYes
()

History
Celestial room
(prior to dedication)

The site for the temple was first chosen by Wendell B. Mendenhall who had been given a special assignment by LDS Church president David O. McKay to choose the site.[2] The building of an LDS Church temple in New Zealand was announced by David O. McKay on 17 February 1955. With its completion in 1958, it was the first temple built by the LDS Church in the Southern Hemisphere and the second to be built outside of the United States and Canada.

A ground-breaking ceremony and site dedication were held on 21 December 1955. The site of the temple is on 86 acres (350,000 m2), which included the LDS Church-owned Church College of New Zealand, formerly a secondary school for students aged twelve to eighteen.

The temple is 44,212 square feet (4,107.4 m2), has one ordinance room, three sealing rooms, and a baptistry. The spire rises to a height of 157 feet (48 m). The temple was built entirely by church labour missionaries who volunteered all of their time. Local members supported these workers with money, food, and lodging.

Hugh B. Brown, then an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, placed the ceremonial cornerstone of the temple on 22 December 1956. The temple was open for public tours for 23 days prior to the dedication. During this time about 112,500 people toured the temple. The New Zealand Temple was dedicated by David O. McKay on 20 April 1958.[3] The temple serves Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and New Caledonia.[4] According to Mormon folklore, the Māori King Tāwhiao accurately predicted the site of the temple before his death in 1894.[5][6]

On 19 January 2018, the LDS Church announced that in July 2018, the temple would close for renovations that are anticipated to be completed in 2021.[3] In 2019, Russell M. Nelson announced the location for a new LDS Church temple in Auckland —the second temple in the country.[7] In April 2022, Russell M. Nelson announced the location for a new LDS Church temple in Wellington —the third temple in the country.[8]

Presidents

Notable presidents of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple include Glen L. Rudd (1984–87), Douglas J. Martin (1992–95), and Sidney M. Going (2013–2016).

See also
Temples in New Zealand
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

References
  1. "'A beacon of light and a place of hope': Elder Uchtdorf rededicates Hamilton New Zealand Temple", Church News, Deseret News, 16 October 2022, retrieved 21 October 2022
  2. N. B. Lundwall (1993). "Site for New Zealand Temple Selected and Acquired". Temples of the Most High. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft. ISBN 0884948757. OCLC 29788408.. Unauthorized reprint
  3. Jones, Morgan. "Hamilton New Zealand Temple to close in July 2018 for extensive renovations", Deseret News, 19 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  4. "Hamilton New Zealand Temple District". Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  5. LDS Church (1958), The Mormon Temple, Temple View, Hamilton, New Zealand: Bureau of Information, Zealand Temple, LDS Church, p. 13, OCLC 367545393, alt.
  6. Kezerian, Sandra L. (31 March 2012), "Visiting our Family History Missionaries at the Archives", WellingtonNewZealandMission.blogspot.com
  7. Stauffer, McKenzie. "LDS president announces location for New Zealand temple", KUTV, 21 May 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  8. "The Prophet Announces 17 New Temples". 3 April 2022.

Further reading
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