Idaho Falls Idaho Temple, Mormon temple in Idaho Falls, United States
The Idaho Falls Idaho Temple is a two-story building of white quartz and cast stone, its stepped tower rising from a wide base to a single spire crowned by a gold angel Moroni statue. The base has rows of small dark windows, and trees partly screen the lower level. Inside are four ordinance rooms, nine sealing rooms and a baptismal font.
Announced by Heber J. Grant in 1937, the temple was built on a 7-acre site beside the Snake River; ground was broken on December 19, 1939. Its exterior was finished in September 1941, but World War II shortages delayed the interior by four years. George Albert Smith dedicated it on September 23, 1945, the only temple he dedicated. It was rededicated by Henry B. Eyring on June 4, 2017, after a two-year renovation.
Only members holding a temple recommend may enter, so the cultural life most visitors meet is outside: the visitor center east of the temple shows films and displays and holds a replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue. The 2017 rededication was preceded by a youth celebration at Holt Arena, "Temple by the River Reflections", with about 11,000 participants and costumes sewn from 27 miles of cloth.
Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holding a temple recommend may enter the building; other visitors stay outside. The public visitors' center east of the temple shows films, exhibits and multimedia presentations and holds a replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus statue. The grounds, with ponds and waterfalls, are open to walk through.
The grounds were redesigned in 2011 with a new waterfall feature that replaced the original reflecting ponds. This addition gave the exterior spaces a refreshed appearance from their previous design.
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