Taylorsville Utah Temple Groundbreaking Signals Official Start of Construction

Ground was broken in Taylorsville, Utah, on Saturday, October 31, 2020, for a new temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“By tradition, a temple groundbreaking includes a site dedication prayer and turning of the soil,” said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who presided at the small gathering of Latter-day Saint leaders and invited guests. Local COVID-19 restrictions prevented a large-scale event.

Downloadable B-roll and SOTs

“Turning the soil symbolizes the beginning of construction,” Elder Gong said in his remarks.

The guests included local leaders representing the communities in the temple district along Utah’s Jordan River corridor, including Kearns, West Valley City, Taylorsville, Bennion, Murray and Cottonwood.

“Gathered in these times, in person and via technology, we acknowledge and rejoice with faithful generations, including in historic ‘over Jordan’ communities, who have, here at heart, made this valley home,” he said in the dedicatory prayer. “We celebrate the continuing legacy and promise of their righteous lives and examples.”

Elder Gong continued, “Grateful roots and wings, we come as one from across our generations, communities, heritages and languages — one in heart and mind, one in the restored gospel of Thy Son Jesus Christ, one in the household of faith and fellowship of the saints.”

The Taylorsville Utah Temple will be built on a 7.5-acre site located at 2603 West 4700 South. The three-story structure will be 70,000 square feet in size and will include a center spire.

The groundbreaking was special for Elder Gong because his wife’s father, Richard Lindsay, was the bishop of the congregation that built the meetinghouse that once stood on the site of the new temple.

“Our family has come to church, along with so many other families in the community, … for many generations,” said Elder Gong. “It’s such a special privilege to be connected that way; whether you’re first generation or sixth generation, this is still home.”

“We are grateful that temples are coming closer to the people everywhere,” said Elder Gong.

“This temple will be not just a blessing to the members of the church, but everyone in this community will take some sense of ownership and pride,” said Elder Craig C. Christensen, Utah Area President, who conducted the groundbreaking service.

"We’re just watching the temples start to dot this land," added Elder Christensen. "It’s a reflection of the strength of the saints in Utah."

“Joseph Harker was my ancestor who first converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and six generations later, I’m still following in his footsteps on the covenant path,” said Max Thomas Harker, a 17-year-old resident of Taylorsville.

“After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, the Harkers were called to help establish a fort here in modern day Taylorsville,” Harker explained. “Joseph Harker raised his family here and served in the Church his entire life.”

“Being at the groundbreaking, it is truly a beautiful experience,” shared Joann Montesinos Gómez. “I never ever thought in my life that I’d be able to participate in getting a temple built … and [be] part of that ceremony.”

A video of the groundbreaking will be available on Newsroom in the coming days.  

Utah Temples

The Taylorsville Utah Temple was announced in October 2019 by Church President Russell M. Nelson.

Utah has 25 temples announced, under construction, under renovation or in operation.

Utah currently has 17 operating temples. In addition to Taylorsville, temples have been announced in Lindon, Syracuse, Tooele Valley and Washington County (Red Cliffs). Temples in Layton, Orem and Saratoga Springs are currently under construction.  The Church has 168 operating temples in the world.

There are more than 2.1 million Latter-day Saints in Utah, an amount just under two-thirds of the state’s population of over 3.2 million residents.

Each temple is considered a “house of the Lord” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve their fellow man.