Church Leaders Break Ground in Ft. Lauderdale for Temple

Contributed By Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

  • 21 June 2011

An artist’s rendering of the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple.

“Having a temple will not only bring blessings to our members but peace and comfort as well.” —M. Anthony Burns, Area Seventy

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have broken ground for the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple, the second such structure in Florida.

Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Church’s Presidency of the Seventy presided over the Saturday, June 18 groundbreaking. He was joined by Elder William R. Walker, executive director of the Church’s Temple Department, in addition to several local Church leaders.

“It is so gratifying to see south Florida get a temple, a result of many efforts by those serving in our area,” said Area Seveny Elder M. Anthony Burns. “Having a temple will not only bring blessings to our members but peace and comfort as well.”

Plans to construct the Fort Lauderdale Temple were first announced by President Thomas S. Monson in October 2009. The temple will serve approximately 25,000 Church members from congregations in and around the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. The Orlando temple, dedicated in 1994, was the first Latter-day Saint temple in the “sunshine state.”

Once construction is complete, a public open house will be scheduled and announced. Following the open house, the temple will be formally dedicated.

There are currently 134 operating temples worldwide and 26 announced or under construction.

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