Auckland New Zealand Temple Wiki

Details

The Auckland New Zealand Temple is a Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced for Auckland New, Zealand. There are thirteen stakes in the Auckland metropolitan area where Church membership has grown significantly in recent years.

History

The Church was first established on the island nation in the 1850s and has more than 114,000 members today.^[1]”Twelve Temples Announced as October 2018 General Conference Closes,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 7 Oct. 2018.

Announcement

The city of Auckland was announced as the home of New Zealand’s second temple on October 7, 2018, by President Russell M. Nelson during the 188th semi-annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The country’s first temple, the Hamilton New Zealand Temple (1958) had recently closed for an extensive, multi-year renovation project. The Auckland New Zealand Temple was announced in the 60th anniversary year of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple, the same year it closed for a multi-year renovation..

The temple was announced in conjunction with temples for Pago Pago American Samoa, Okinawa Japan, Neiafu Tonga, Tooele Vally Utah, Moses Lake Washington, San Pedro Sula Honduras, and Budapest Hungary.

Temple Site

During a nine-day ministering tour of the Pacific islands, President Russell M. Nelson spoke at a devotional held Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Auckland’s Spark Arena to a congregation of 12,000. He said: “Today I am pleased to announce that the new temple will be built in Auckland on Redoubt Road.” The hillside site sits between the stake center for the Auckland New Zealand Redoubt Stake and the New Zealand Missionary Training Center. President Nelson added that the temple would be a “two-story building with a granite exterior. It’s light and beauty will be highly visible.”^[2]”President Nelson Announces Site for New Temple in Auckland New Zealand,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints News Release, 21 May 2019.

Temple Rendering

On March 12, 2020, an official exterior rendering of the Auckland New Zealand Temple was released.^[3]“Auckland New Zealand Temple Groundbreaking Date Announced.” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 12 Mar. 2020.

Groundbreaking

Elder Ian S. Ardern, president of the Pacific Area, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Auckland New Zealand Temple on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Attendance at the temple site was by invitation. ^[4]“Auckland New Zealand Temple Groundbreaking Date Announced.” Newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org, 12 Mar. 2020.

“This is an historic day as we dedicate the ground for the Auckland New Zealand Temple,” said Elder Ian S. Arden, president of the Pacific Area, at the groundbreaking ceremony held on Saturday, June 13, 2020. He added, “The temple will be a beautiful, bright light in the city of Auckland, inviting all to come unto Christ.” All three members of the Area Presidency and their wives were in attendance along with leaders from civic, religious, and community organizations including Mayor Phil Goff. In his remarks, Mayor Goff celebrated the diversity of faiths and cultures in New Zealand stating, “We are free to worship as we choose. Together, we must defeat prejudice, intolerance, and bigotry. We stand together against these things.” Groundbreaking Co-Chair, Ngatai Smith, emphasized that the temple will be “a place of beauty, holiness, peace, and tranquility. Most importantly, it will be a place where people will come to hear God speaking to them, words of comfort and gentle guidance.”¹

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Auckland New Zealand Temple was announced on the same day that the Church announced it was temporarily suspending all public gatherings of Church members worldwide, including sacrament meetings, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early June, the Pacific Area Presidency announced a delayed groundbreaking broadcast for the Auckland New Zealand Temple to be held on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. NZST. The online video transmission was a recording of the live services held one day earlier. Those who wished to participate watched the video on the Pacific Area website or on the Pacific Area Facebook page where it was pinned as a “watch party.” The presidency stated: “We are blessed that even in the midst of global challenges, the work of salvation continue and the bright beacon of the temple shines forth as a symbol of hope for all to see.”

Dedication

The open house and dedication dates will be announced after the temple is built.

Dedication Order

The Auckland New Zealand Temple will be the second temple built in New Zealand, following the Hamilton New Zealand Temple (1958).

Description

Location

The temple will be located on Redoubt Road in Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand. The temple will be built 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Auckland City, next to the New Zealand Missionary Training Center on the south and the Auckland New Zealand Redoubt Stake Center on the north.

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Additional Articles

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