Portland Oregon Temple, Mormon temple in Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States.
The Portland Oregon Temple is a religious building belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in Lake Oswego, a suburb just south of Portland, Oregon. The structure is built with white marble, features a green roof, and has six spires surrounding a central tower.
The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 1984, by church president Spencer W. Kimball. Ground was broken on September 20, 1986, and Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the building on August 19, 1989, as the church's first temple in Oregon and its 42nd overall. Approval had required at least 27 public hearings, eight lawsuits and four petition drives.
The Portland Oregon Temple belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is reserved for members who meet specific religious requirements. This means most visitors can only see it from the outside, which itself draws many people to walk the grounds.
The temple is easy to reach by car from nearby Interstate 5 and Highway 217. The outdoor grounds are open to all visitors, but entry inside the building is limited to church members.
The temple's six spires carry symbolic meaning: the three taller spires on the east stand for the First Presidency and the Melchizedek Priesthood, while the three slightly lower ones on the west represent the Presiding Bishopric and the Aaronic Priesthood. The 13-foot gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni tops the tallest spire at 183 feet.
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