Cardston Alberta Temple Wiki

Description

The Cardston Alberta Temple (formerly the Alberta Temple) is the eighth constructed and sixth of the still-operating temple. Located in Cardston, Alberta, it is the oldest Temple outside the United States. It is one of ten temples that do not have an angel Moroni statue, and one of four without spires.

History

Announcement

In General Conference of 4 October 1912 it was first announced there would be a temple built in Canada.[1]Deseret Evening News, 1 Jan. 1913.

It was reported in the 1 January 1913 Deseret Evening News that a site had not been picked, but it would probably be in either Raymond or Cardston.[2]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.” [3]Edward J. Wood Diary, Church History Library, MS 7313.

In a letter to Alberta Stake President Edward J. Wood on 13 February 1913 telling him, in confidence, that the Cardston site had been chosen. An eight-acre plot (now known as Temple Hill) was given to the church by Charles Ora Card (great-grandfather of writer Orson Scott Card and musician/lawyer/professor Arlen L. Card.) The official announcement would be made some months later at the site dedication. [4]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”

This was the first temple in a push to bring the temples closer to the members. (The Laie Temple would be announced later, though it would be completed first.)

Firsts

It was determined during the planning for the Cardston temple that an assembly hall was not necessary for a temple. Consequently Cardston temple was the first temple designed to not have an assembly hall (though the more rapidly completed Laie Temple would be the first constructed temple to not have one.) [5]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”

Unlike previous temples, where an architect was chosen by the Church to design the temple to general direction from the First Presidency, multiple Architects were invited to submit designs for the new temple Most of these designs held to the classical/Gothic themes of the 4 Utah temples. A design by Hyrum C. Pope and Harold W. Burton was the winning design and it was instead heavily influenced on the exterior by Frank Lloyd Wrights Unity Temple. Burton and Pope had their career launched by this success, and would also go on to design the Laie temple, to submit a design (unchosen) for the Mesa Temple, and to Design the Oakland California Temple.

Groundbreaking

Site Dedication

27 July 1913, President Joseph F. Smith arrived in Cardston to confirm the location of the temple and dedicate the site.  [6]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking was performed on 9 November 1913  by Daniel Kent Greene. Construction started shortly thereafter. [7]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”

The granite used in building the temple was hand-hewn from quarries in Nelson, British Columbia. Later additions would be built of artificial precast granite

Construction

19 September 1915 – 2,000 people were in attendance to watch as David O. McKay placed the cornerstone on the temple. [8]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.” ]

23 September 1917 – capstone was placed on the temple, worked turned to the interior. [9]”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”

Dedication

The temple was dedicated on 26-29 August 1923 by President Heber J. Grant in 11 Sessions.[10] Heber J. Grant (), “Prayer offered at the Dedication of the Alberta Temple, at Cardston, Canada, August 26, 1923”, Improvement Era, 26 (12): 1075–1081, October 1923.

At the time of Dedication the temple was  29,431 sq feet ( sq m)

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

The Temple was the 6th active temple dedicated. It was the first in Canada, and the First outside of the United States. There was one other temple, the Mesa Arizona Temple, under construction at the time of it’s dedication.

The New Road

The site expanded to more than 10 acres (4.0 ha) in the mid-1930s. This was done by moving the road in front of the temple further west, and landscaping the original road into the grounds.

Renovation 1955-1962

Starting in 1955 an extensive renovation program was begun. The hill between the terrace wall and the temple proper, where walking gardens had been, was excavated. Roofs were put in and the south area was given over to a kitchen and cafeteria, with the area north going to laundry facilities. The rest of the area became administrative space and expanded dressing rooms.

The courtyard was covered and added to the temple. A new covered porch was added over the entryway.

These early renovations had a theme of renew and update attached. Original workmanship was frequently updated and painted over, including murals.

As part of the expansion, a new courtyard was added to the temple on the west end surrounding the entryway, and caped off at the street end by a new “Bureau of Information” (Visitor’s Center) and a Genealogy Library.

Rededication

All the new additions and renovations were rededicated on 2 July 1962 by Hugh B. Brown. This made the then “Alberta Temple” the first temple in the Church to be rededicated.

Rededication Order

At the time of this rededication, there were 11 other temples in operation, the rededicated Cardston Temple bringing the number up to 12. There was one temple, the Oakland California Temple, under construction at that time.

1964-1966 Renovation

A renovation was begun in 1964 that enclosed the entryway in glass, allowing for protection from the weather, and the installation of small lockers, likely for shoes, in the entrance area.

An extension was approved and added to the East end of the temple. The new extension has an assembly hall and lockers. The extension took the temple to 65,000 sq ft.

1988-1992 Renovation

In 1988 the temple closed for a long renovation. Upgrades were made to the mechanical and electrical systems. After the work necessitated uncovering the temple’s original murals, the focus shifted primarily to restoring the temple to its 1923 glory. The west end porch and reception area was removed and a new entryway was added. the expansion took the temple to 89,405 sq feet.

Open House

Second Rededication

The temple was rededicated on 22-24 June 1991 by President Gordon B. Hinckley 12 sessions. more than 25,000 attended the dedicatory sessions.

Dedicatory Prayer

Rededication Order

At the time of the rededication of the Cardston Alberta Temple there were 43 Other dedicated temples, 3 of which were undergoing renovation. The Predication brought the number of actively operating temples up to 42. Additionally there were 4 announced temples awaiting groundbreaking.

Temples under constructionTemples awaiting GroundbreakingTemples under renovation
San Diego CaliforniaBogota ColumbiaBern Switzerland
Orlando FloridaLondon England
Bountiful Utah
St Louis Missouri

National Historic Site

In 1992, the temple was declared a National Historic Site, and a plaque was dedicated in 1995.[11] “Canadian Register of Historic Places”, HistoricPlaces.ca, Parks Canada Agency

Presidents

TEMPLE PRESIDENTYEARS SERVED
President Clark L. Hardy2015–
President L. Mark Evans2012–2015
President Brent L. Nielson2009–2012
President Donald S. Hansen2006–2009
President Lynn A. Rosenvall2003–2006
President Heber B. Kapp2000–2003
President Joseph E. Jack1997–2000
President Merlin R. Lybbert1994–1997
President H. Lamont Matkin1991–1994
President Roy R. Spackman1986–1991
President Harold E. Bennett1982–1986
President Vi A. Wood1977–1982
President Elmo E. Fletcher1972–1977
President Heber G. Jensen1968–1972
President Octave W. Ursenbach1956–1968
President Willard L. Smith1948–1955
President Edward J. Wood1923–1948

Details

The temple has four ordinance rooms, five sealing rooms, and a floor area of 88,562 square feet (8,227.7 m2).

The Height  of the temple is 110 ft[12]Andrew Jenson, “Elder Andrew Jenson (Assistant Church Historian.)”[General] Conference Report, pp. 125–132, October 1923. Accessed 23 June 2017.

The width of the temple is currently 165 ft, and the length is 311 ft.

Cladding

Windows

the windows in the temple are leaded art glass created by the Detroit Stained Glass Co

Symbolism

Inscriptions

Cornerstone

South East corner of the temple, facing east, on the bottom of the upper level of the temple. This portion of the temple was originally a garden area, and the cornerstone could easily be accessed. Excavation  of the terrace to expand the temple put the cornerstone on the upper section of the temple, out of reach of the public.

Spires and Moroni

Spire

Interior

Exotic woods and finish materials were imported from all over the world. As you move through the temple, and especially as you move from room to room for the endowment ceremony, the wood gets darker in color, and with a higher level of detail.

Main Floor

The main floor of the temple featuers finishes made of Bird’s Eye Maple. Since the 1991 addition, a sculpted bas relief freize by Torleif S. Knaphus titled Christ the Fountainhead which used to sit in front of the temple is now in the temple lobby. The Chapel on the main level featuers paintings by A. B. Wright.

Baptistry

The baptistry features wood inlays of Ebony, Maple, Rose wood, and Tulip Wood. The Life size oxen and font upon their backs were created by Torleif S. Knaphus. Knaphus would recreate these oxen and this font near the end of his life for use in the Oakland California Temple Baptistry.

Paintings of murals along the upper edge of this room were done by A. B. Wright

Creation Room

Like the main level of the temple, the creation room is trimmed with Bird’s eye maple. The murals in this room, along the upper 1/5th of each of the walls, were painted by LeConte Stewart.

Garden Room

The Garden Room of the temple is trimmed in South American Walnut. The upper 2/3rds of the walls are covered with murals by Lee Greene Richards.

World Room

The world room is trimmed with African Mahogany. The 3/4 wall murals around the upper portions of the walls were painted by Edwin Evens.

Terrestrial Room

The walls of the terrestrial room are liberally covered with African Mahogonay, American Walnut, and Circassian Walnut . The murals along the upper 1/5th of the walls were painted by LeConte Stewart.

Sealing Rooms

The sealing rooms in the Cardston Alberta Temple have been trimmed out with Marble from Italy and Tennessee

Individuals and Contractors

Original

ArchitectHyrum C. Pope and Harold W. Burton
Contractor Member Built

Renovation 1986-1991

R. Michael Gibb – Growling and Gibb Architects of Calgary, Alberta Architect
Acorn Consulting Engineering Group,
Calgary
Mechanical Engineers
Campbell, Woodall and Associates, Calgary Structural Engineers
Mulvey & Banani International Inc. Calgary Electrical Engineers
S. I. Bellingham and Associates, Calgary Kitchen Consultant
Landplan Associates Ltd., Calgary Landscape Architect
Sunrich Contracting Ltd., Calgary (Richard Carter) General Contractor
Solar Mechanical Ltd., Lethbridge Mechanical Contractor
Roan Electric, Calgary Electrical Contractor
Alan J. Rudolph Project Manager

Sources and Links

External links

Additional Articles

Sources/Citation

References

References
1 Deseret Evening News, 1 Jan. 1913.
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ”The First Modern Temple – The History of the Cardston Alberta Temple,” LDS.org. Accessed 23 June 2017.”
3 Edward J. Wood Diary, Church History Library, MS 7313.
10  Heber J. Grant (), “Prayer offered at the Dedication of the Alberta Temple, at Cardston, Canada, August 26, 1923”, Improvement Era, 26 (12): 1075–1081, October 1923.
11  “Canadian Register of Historic Places”, HistoricPlaces.ca, Parks Canada Agency
12 Andrew Jenson, “Elder Andrew Jenson (Assistant Church Historian.)”[General] Conference Report, pp. 125–132, October 1923. Accessed 23 June 2017.