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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Hartford Connecticut Temple

The Hartford Connecticut Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Farmington, Connecticut. It is the first LDS temple in Connecticut and the second in New England, following the Boston Massachusetts Temple.

The temple is located at the intersection of Melrose Drive and Farmington Avenue.

History

On October 3, 1992, during the afternoon session of the church's 162nd Semiannual general conference, Gordon B. Hinckley, First Counselor in the First Presidency, announced plans for a temple in Hartford. However, three years later, plans for this temple were replaced with plans for the Boston and White Plains New York temples (later to be renamed the Harrison New York Temple).

In the October 1995 general conference, Hinckley explained,

After working for years to acquire a suitable site in the Hartford area, during which time the Church has grown appreciably in areas to the north and south, we have determined that we will not at this time build a temple in the immediate area of Hartford.

Hinckley apologized to the members of Hartford, who had joyed in the announcement of this temple, by saying,

We apologize to our faithful Saints in the Hartford area. We know you will be disappointed in this announcement. You know that we, and your local officers, have spent countless hours searching for a suitable location that would handle the needs of the Saints in New York and New England. While we deeply regret disappointing the people in the Hartford area, we are satisfied that we have been led to the present decision, and that temples will be located in such areas that our Saints in the Hartford area will not have to drive unreasonable distances.

After construction on the temple in Boston was complete, it was dedicated on October 1, 2000. However, construction of a temple in White Plains, on a 24-acre site for the temple at the intersection of Interstate 287 and Hutchinson River Parkway, was never started and eventually suspended. Reportedly, efforts had been underway until 2004, but construction was delayed by lawsuits and objections by local officials, and this temple was removed from the list on the church's official temple website soon after the Manhattan New York Temple dedication.

Second announced

On October 2, 2010, during the church's general conference, church president Thomas S. Monson announced plans for the construction of a temple in Hartford, 18 years after the original announcement by Hinckley.

In May 2012, the church released a rendering of the temple and announced it would be built in Farmington. The temple was planned to be approximately 25,000 square feet and the site plan was approved by the town planning and zoning commission in June 2012.

Groundbreaking

Ground was broken for the new temple by Monson on August 17, 2013.

Open house and dedication

A public open house was held from September 30 through October 22, 2016, excluding October 1 and Sundays. The temple was dedicated by Henry B. Eyring on November 20, 2016.

Award

In 2018, Architectural Digest chose the temple as the most beautiful place of worship in Connecticut.

See also

Temples in the Northeastern United States (edit)
  • = Operating
  • = Under construction
  • = Announced
  • = Temporarily Closed

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Scott (October 2, 2010), "President Thomas S. Monson opens conference by announcing 5 new temples", Deseret News, retrieved November 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "President Thomas S. Monson: Welcome to conference; 5 new temples", Deseret News, October 2, 2010, retrieved August 18, 2013.
  3. ^ Avant, Gerry (August 17, 2013), "Pres. Monson breaks ground for the Hartford Connecticut Temple", Church News, retrieved August 18, 2013
  4. ^ "New Temple Leaders Called to Serve in 2022", Newsroom, LDS Church, October 24, 2022 [26 May 2022], retrieved October 24, 2022
  5. ^ "President Thomas S. Monson: Welcome to conference; 5 new temples", Deseret News, October 2, 2010, retrieved August 18, 2013.
  6. ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (November 1992), "The Sustaining of Church Officers", Ensign, retrieved August 18, 2013
  7. ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (November 1995), "Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship", Ensign, retrieved August 18, 2013
  8. ^ "Five New Temples Announced". Newsroom. LDS Church. October 2, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  9. ^ Hartford Connecticut Temple, Temples, churchofjesuschrist.org. Accessed on line Oct. 20, 2017.
  10. ^ McCallum, Kaitlin (January 20, 2012), "Mormons Plan Temple in Farmington", Farmington Patch, retrieved August 18, 2013
  11. ^ "Plans are announced for 3 more temples", Church News, October 2, 1992, retrieved August 18, 2013
  12. ^ "2 temples to be built in eastern U.S.", Church News, October 7, 1995, retrieved August 18, 2013
  13. ^ "Temples renamed to uniform guidelines", Church News, October 16, 1999, retrieved August 18, 2013
  14. ^ According to a Deseret News Article about the Manhattan Temple."N.Y. Temple to get spire", Deseret News, June 10, 2004, archived from the original on October 10, 2012, retrieved August 18, 2013
  15. ^ "Connecticut and Indiana Mormon Temple Renderings Released". Newsroom. LDS Church. May 16, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  16. ^ McCallum, Kaitlin (June 24, 2012), "Mormon Temple Approved", Farmington Patch, retrieved August 18, 2013
  17. ^ Federico, Hillary (June 20, 2012), "Commission Approves Plans For Mormon Temple In Farmington", Hartford Courant, archived from the original on June 24, 2012
  18. ^ Avant, Gerry (August 17, 2013), "Pres. Monson breaks ground for the Hartford Connecticut Temple", Church News, retrieved August 18, 2013
  19. ^ "Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for the Star Valley Wyoming and Hartford Connecticut Temples", Newsroom, LDS Church, March 25, 2016
  20. ^ "First Connecticut Mormon Temple Is Dedicated: 155th worldwide temple", Newsroom, LDS Church, March 25, 2016
  21. ^ Hansen, Kristine (January 17, 2018). "The Most Beautiful Place of Worship in Every State". Architectural Digest. Retrieved December 2, 2019.