Great Info about Mormons and Mormonsim

The Saints in the Canadian province of Alberta are feeling very blessed because they now have two Mormon temples one in Cardston and a new temple in Edmonton. “To have a temple located here is going to bless lives in ways we really don’t even understand yet,” said Elder Bennett. “This has literally been a fulfillment of the hopes and dreams and aspirations of a generation that has lived and served in Edmonton.” President Donald D. Salmon, the new temple president, echoed Elder Bennett's sentiments when he said, "We have become something we never thought we would become—a temple city."¹

Previous to the building of the Edmonton temple many LDS couples would move to Cardston after retirement to be near a temple. Now the building of the Edmonton temple has changed their lives. President Salmon and his wife had planned on moving soon, "We are staying and many others are staying, too," he said. Some like the Merkley's are even moving back to Edmonton, "We are coming home to family and the temple; we can't beat that," said Sister Merkley.²

The Church had a slow start in Edmonton with the first meeting actually not held until 1933, with only 15 members present. It was not until 1951 that the first official Mormon meetinghouse was built. Now the new temple will serve about 15,700 members in the area. Many members expect the Mormon temple to bring even greater growth to the church; among them is Stake President LeRoy Rollins who said about the new temple, "I imagined it. I worked toward it. I knew we would have a temple in Edmonton, it had to be. It marks a status we have not had before. It will cause even greater growth in this city."³

President Salmon also believes that the new temple will unite members in the area. "The temple gives us the association with all members," he explained, "We are coming together to work and serve."⁴

Within temples members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform their own saving ordinances, serve the Lord, and those who have died through proxy work. They perform sealings, baptisms, and endowment services for themselves and those who did not have a chance to perform the ordinances while living.

The exterior of the Edmonton Alberta temple is white granite and has a single spire topped by a statue of the angel Moroni. The groundbreaking services were held on 27 February 1999. Before the dedication of the Mormon temple a public open house was held similar to the open house for the Manhattan temple.

During the dedicatory prayer President Hinckley prayed for the nation of Canada saying, “Let Thy providence be felt in this great nation of Canada, that it shall continue to be a land where Thy sons and daughters enjoy the precious boon of freedom of assembly and worship… Bless those who govern that they shall look with favor upon Thy people, and may Thy work grow in numbers, in majesty, and in strength in this good land.”⁵

(1) “News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 74
(2) 18 December 1999, Church News.

What:	The Edmonton Alberta Temple is the 67th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple has approximately 10,925 square feet of floor space and includes a celestial room, two ordinance rooms seating 40 people in each room, two sealing rooms and a baptistry. The exterior is white granite stone with art glass windows. The lone spire is topped by a gold statue of the angel Moroni (mo-RONE-eye).
When:	Plans for the temple were announced 11 August 1998 by the First Presidency of the Church. Groundbreaking services were held on 27 February 1999. A public open house will be held Friday and Saturday, 3-4 December 1999. The temple will be formally dedicated Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 December 1999.
Why:	The temple is considered a "house of the Lord" where the Savior’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other sacred ordinances focusing on the eternal potential of family relationships.
Where:	The temple is in the community of Edmonton, Alberta. Its mailing address is 14325 53rd Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 5G6, Canada.
Who:	The temple will primarily serve nearly 15,700 members of the Church in Alberta.

“News of the Church,” Ensign, Mar. 2000, 74
Canada’s 5th and the Church’s 67th operating temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley in seven sessions held 11–12 December. “Let Thy providence be felt in this great nation of Canada, that it shall continue to be a land where Thy sons and daughters enjoy the precious boon of freedom of assembly and worship,” said President Hinckley in his dedicatory prayer. “Bless those who govern that they shall look with favor upon Thy people, and may Thy work grow in numbers, in majesty, and in strength in this good land.”

“To have a temple located here is going to bless lives in ways we really don’t even understand yet,” said Elder Bennett. “This has literally been a fulfillment of the hopes and dreams and aspirations of a generation that has lived and served in Edmonton.”

Quoting Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 [D&C 109:22] in his dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley said, “May ‘thy servants … go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them.’ ”

Location: 14325 53rd Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Site: 1 acre. Exterior Finish: Light gray granite veneer quarried in Quebec. Temple Design: Classic modern, single-spire design. Number of Rooms: Two ordinance rooms and two sealing. Total Floor Area: 10,700 square feet.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  11 August 1998
GROUNDBREAKING AND SITE DEDICATION:  27 February 1999, by Yoshihiko Kikuchi
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE:  3–7 December 1999
DEDICATION:  11–12 December 1999, by Gordon B. Hinckley

Edmonton Alberta Temple