Las Vegas Mormon Temple

About the Las Vegas Temple

One of the distinctive features of the Las Vegas Mormon temple, noticable to anyone approaching the building, is its huge copper roof. This unique feature is offset by six huge spires made of white, cast stone. The combination provides an architectural presence that is unmatched in its simplicty and elegance by any other structure in the city. Designed by architect George Tate, the building integrates many touches that draw from the native Southwest area. For instance, the desert lily can be found on the edges of each spire and in places throughout the temple.

The temple is located on ten acres nestled in Frenchman Mountain, along the eastern side of Las Vegas. The site is surrounded by residential area. The location and surrounding area provide a quiet, peaceful atmosphere that makes the temple seem more secluded from the city than it actually is. The hustle and bustle of the huge valley are left far below as people ascend to the temple—in a symbolic way moving closer to God and leaving the world behind.

Mormon temples are definitely religious buildings, but they should not be confused with regular churches. Temples are special places where faithful members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can participate in special ritual ordinances. The sacred nature of these ordinances means that they can only be performed in places like the Las Vegas temple; places that are dedicated and consecrated as holy places. According to Mormon belief, the ordinances performed such temples bring participants closer to God and Jesus Christ through instruction related to the how man may progress to become more like God. These sacred ordinances include the temple endowment, temple sealings, and baptism for the dead.

Consistent with the fact that the Mormon temples are not regular houses of worship, they are typically open every day of the week except Sunday. Temples can be very busy places during the time they are open, depending on how many members come to participate in the ordinances offered in the temple. The spiritual and physical affairs of a Mormon temple are administered by a temple presidency, along with a small staff and a large number of volunteers.