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Temple Dedication:
September 23, 1945 by George Albert Smith
Location:
1000 Memorial Drive; Idaho Falls, Idaho (in northwestern Idaho Falls on
the banks of the Snake River)
Site:
7 acres.
Exterior
Finish: Reinforced concrete; a mixture made from aggregate
and white cement called cast stone covers the 16-inch thick exterior walls
in two-inch thick slabs.
Temple Design:
Modern single spire design.
Number of
Rooms: One ordinance room and nine sealing.
Total Floor
Area: 86,972 square feet.
Current Temple
Schedule: Idaho
Falls Temple Schedule
Dedicatory
Prayer Excerpt: "Our hearts are filled with gratitude towards
Thee, O God our Eternal Father, that Thou didst cause Thy Spirit to move
upon our forebears and inspire them to come to this goodly land, declared
by Thee to be choice above all other lands, where thy might worship Thee
untrammeled; that Thou didst promise, 'The wilderness and solitary place
shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the
rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing
. . . And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land
springs of water.' For the fertility of this land which, once most undesirable
and forbidding, now produces in rich abundance delicious grain, fruits
and vegetables, we are most grateful. We too express to Thee our joy in
beholding great mountains towering majestically toward the sky to
inspire Thy children to look up as well as around them that they might
enjoy Thy handiwork."
Comments: The Idaho
Falls temple sits on a beautiful tract of land, donated by the Chamber
of Commerce, that overlooks the falls of the Snake River. Its existence
is a fulfillment of prophecy made in 1884 when Elders Wilford Woodruff
and Heber J. Grant were visiting the discouraged Saints who were working
hard to establish a foothold in this new, difficult area. Elder Woodruff
gave encouragement to the Saints by saying, "Be not discouraged; be not
disheartened, because God's blessing is upon this land." After
promising the Saints a time when the land would be dotted with gardens,
fine homes, schools, and meetinghouses, he said, "Yes, as I look into the
future of this great valley, I can see temples--I can see beautiful temples
erected to the name of the Living God where holy labors may be carried
on in His name through generations to come." The sketch drawn by
John Fetzer, Sr. was chosen by the board of architects as the design for
the temple. He affirmed that after praying for guidance, "he saw in vision
an ancient Nephite temple which he used as the basis for his design." His
son Henry helped develop the elevations for the tower by drawing from ideas
of modern skyscrapers. The architect said that the temple, "pointing skyward
. . . seems to tell of eternal values." Most of the construction
on the temple was completed in 1941, and it represented a record on temple
building for the Church. Indeed, the exterior was completely finished,
and it was expected to open for service the next year. However, due to
unavailability of materials caused by World War II, the temple's interior
could not be completed and, consequently, would not be dedicated
until after the war was finished in 1945. President Heber J.
Grant, who had directed the temple's erection, died just four months
before its dedication. Therefore, the responsibility of holding the
dedicatory sessions fell to his successor President George Albert Smith.
The state held beautification projects in preparation for the dedication
of such a holy and magnificent temple. The statue of the angel
Moroni was not added to the Idaho Falls
temple until September 5, 1983. President Devere Harris and officials of
that temple district thought that the temple's tower was ideal for such
a statue. The First Presidency agreed, and a helicopter was flown in to
place the ten-foot angel atop the temple.
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