Mormon Temples to ‘Dot the Earth’
Mormons believe that temples are very sacred, very special places. The blessings available through temples are held in the highest of esteem by Mormons, and they want those blessings to be available to all people. While it is possible for everyone to qualify to enter the temple, it may not be possible for all people to physically make it to the temples, particularly if they live in areas that are far from a temple. For instance, before the Las Vegas temple was dedicated in 1989, faithful Mormons needed to travel hundreds of miles to visit a temple.
To make the burden of travel easier on members, the Church continually tries to build temples all over the world so that the blessings of the temple can be available to the largest number of Mormons. It is expected that the building of temples will continue, as part of the Church’s preparation for the return of the Savior at the Second Coming:
We expect to see the day when temples will dot the earth, each one a house of the Lord; each one built in the mountains of the lord; each one a sacred sanctuary to which Israel and the Gentiles shall gather to receive the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Perhaps they will number in the hundreds, or even in the thousands, before the Lord returns. [Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1982), 277.]
The Las Vegas Mormon temple is not, therefore, the only Mormon temple. There are over 125 other temples, all over the world. Here are just a few sites where you can get information about specific temples:
- Oakland Temple (California, USA). Nestled in the Berkeley Hills, overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the Oakland temple has become a well-known area landmark.
- San Diego Temple (California, USA). This dazzling white temple provides a breathtaking sight for travelers down I-5 just north of San Diego.
To find out more about temples in general, consider visiting the general temples site sponsored by the Mormon Church.