About the San Diego Temple
The San Diego Mormon temple is an amazing site to see, situated on an elevated promentory on the East side of I-5 in Southern California. The magnificent ediface gleams in the brilliant California sun, as shining rays reflect from the sparkling white plaster mixed with white marble chips. The temple’s visual impact is unique among Mormon temples. Design architect William S. Lewis, Jr., and architect Kenneth Moeller headed up a talented team of designers and architects who drew their inspiration from both the Salt Lake City and Washington, DC, temples. The temple itself is located in a residential area, but overlooks a bustling commercial corridor on the other side of I-5.
The temple itself sits on just over seven acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. The setting features trees and flowers native to Southern California. Visitors can stroll among breath-taking flower gardens and stately palm trees. The effect is a peaceful calm, despite the temple’s location in a busy metropolitan area.
Mormon temples, while religious in purpose, are not a regular church. Instead, they are places where faithful members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can participate in special ritual ordinances. Due to the very sacred nature of these ordinances, they can only be performed in placesólike the San Diego Templeóthat are dedicated and consecrated as holy places. According to Mormon beliefs, the ordinances performed in temples bring participants closer to God and Jesus Christ through instruction related to the how man may progress to become more like God. These sacred ordinances include the temple endowment, temple sealings, and baptism for the dead.
Consistent with the fact that Mormon temples are not regular places of worship, they are typically open every day of the week except Sunday. This means that temples can be very busy places, depending on how many members come to participate in the ordinances offered in the temple. The daily affairs of a Mormon templeóboth spiritual and physicalóare administered by a temple presidency, along with a small staff and a large number of volunteers.
| Temple Lot Size: | 7.2 acres | |
| Temple Announced: | 7 April 1984 | |
| Site Dedication: | 27 February 1988 by Thomas S. Monson |
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| Groundbreaking Ceremony: | 27 February 1988 by Ezra Taft Benson |
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| Dedication Ceremony: | 25-30 April 1993 by Gordon B. Hinckley |
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| Temple Interior Size: | 82,447 sq. ft. |