Washington D.C. Temple

The Washington D.C. Temple (known as the Washington Temple until 1999) is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Kensington, Maryland, United States, just north of Washington, D.C., near the Capital Beltway. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1968, by church president David O. McKay. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 7, 1968, with the dedication by Spencer W. Kimball on November 9, 1974. The temple was dedicated after an open house that attracted over 750,000 people. The temple was the first built by the church east of the Mississippi River since 1846, when the original Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.

The Washington D.C. Temple is known for its six gold-tipped spires and 18-ft tall gold statue of the angel Moroni. Built at a cost of about $15 million in 1968, the temple is the church's tallest; its easternmost spire is 288 ft tall. Its floor area of 160000 sqft is the third largest among church temples. Its design emulates the Salt Lake Temple with six spires, three on each end, and the building is encased in white Alabama marble.

The temple was closed in 2018 for renovations and was rededicated by Russell M. Nelson on August 14, 2022.

History
Plans to build the temple were announced on November 15, 1968, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on December 7. This ceremony was presided over by Hugh B. Brown and was attended by local church members and community leaders. Clearing the land started May 28, 1971. The temple site is a 57 acre wooded hill purchased in 1962 just north of the Capital Beltway. This site was selected in part due to its longstanding role in the history of America. For example, one of the first owners of the site was John Carroll, who was the first Catholic bishop in the United States and also spent two decades of his life in public service, during which time he served in the First Continental Congress and as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Additionally, many of the sites which are important to early church history, such as Nauvoo, Palmyra, and Kirtland, are within the original Washington D.C. Temple district.

Only 11 acre of the site was cleared to give the area a more remote feeling. The temple was designed by Keith W. Wilcox, Fred L. Markham, Henry P. Fetzer, and Harold K. Beecher, under the direction of Emil B. Fetzer. It was completed and dedicated in 1974. It was the church's first U.S. temple built east of the Mississippi River since 1846 and remained the church's only temple in eastern North America until the dedication of the Atlanta Georgia Temple in 1983.

At the time of the temple's completion, it served all Latter-day Saints in 31 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Original cost estimates for the temple were about $15 million. Members of the church within the temple's attendance district were asked to contribute at least $4.5 million. Eventually, local members donated around $6 million for the temple's construction.

At a completion ceremony the church's First Presidency buried a metal box with historical items near a corner of the temple. During the first week of the temple open house, government officials and diplomats from around the world were taken on special tours through the building. The open house continued for seven weeks and over 750,000 people went through the temple. The high number of people that attended the open house was attributed to the large amount of coverage that the temple and church received as it neared completion. Articles about the temple were printed in Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report. There was also a large press conference held that introduced the temple and church president Spencer W. Kimball. Demand for tickets to the open house was high and the tickets were gone before the first day of tours; times were extended to accommodate more people. Ten dedicatory sessions were held for the temple between November 19 and 22, 1974. Over 40,000 church members attended these dedicatory services.

During a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011, the temple sustained minor damage to some parts of the exterior. The tops of four spires were knocked off and fell to the ground, as did several pieces of marble from the building's facade. No significant damage was reported to the temple's interior or to the neighboring visitors' center. Repairs were made beginning in September of that year and no disruptions occurred in its normal operating schedule.

On February 23, 2017, it was announced that the temple would close for renovations to upgrade the mechanical systems and update finishes and furnishings. The temple closed in March 2018. The renovations were anticipated to be completed in 2020 and the adjacent visitors' center was scheduled to be operational throughout the renovation. In February 2020, the church announced that with renovations nearing completion, a public open house would be held from September 24 through October 31, 2020, with the temple scheduled for rededication on Sunday, December 13, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the church announced on June 17, 2020, that the open house and rededication dates would be postponed until large public gatherings were determined to be safe. On July 20, 2021, the church announced the open house would be scheduled for April 28 through June 4, 2022, with the temple scheduled for rededication on Sunday, June 19, 2022. However, on January 28, 2022, the church announced that the duration of the open house tours would be extended as needed, with the rededication pushed back to August 14, 2022. The church put up banners in the city to promote the event and recorded a virtual tour, led by Gary E. Stevenson and Dale G. Renlund, who serve as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. During the open house, over 250,000 people visited the temple.

The temple was rededicated by Russell M. Nelson in three sessions on August 14, 2022. The temple served 38 stakes in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and West Virginia at the time of its rededication.

Location
The temple is located in suburban Kensington, Maryland, north of Washington, D.C. It is accessible mainly from the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) exit 33, but also via the Red Line of the Washington Metro through a limited free shuttle service to and from the Forest Glen station. The look and white color of the temple, coupled with its location near the Capital Beltway has made it a local landmark. D.C.-area traffic reports often refer to the "Mormon temple" or "the temple".

Sometime after the temple was constructed, an unknown person painted "Surrender Dorothy" on the girders of a railroad bridge that crosses the Beltway; to drivers approaching the temple from the east, the words appeared like a caption under the building. The Maryland State Police removed the message, which has been repainted from time to time. Church newsletters have cited the graffiti as an example of misconceptions about their religion, although local members of the church generally find the re-appearing inscription amusing rather than offensive.

On August 24, 2018, "Surrender Donald" lettering (referring to US president Donald Trump) was spotted on the same bridge over the Washington Beltway. Evidently, the sign was made of easily removable letters that minimize property damage and was installed between 4 and 5 AM. Reportedly, Claude Taylor and his MadDog PAC claimed responsibility. On November 5, during the 2020 United States presidential election, "Surrender Donald" appeared again – this time in paint.

Design and architecture
The Washington D.C. Temple has a distinctive architectural style, blending elements of mid-century modern architecture with traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. The temple was built with a modern six-spire design based on the design of the Salt Lake Temple, with the three towers to the east representing the Melchizedek priesthood, and the three towers to the west representing the Aaronic priesthood. The temple was designed to be similar in style and form to the Salt Lake Temple so that it would be easily recognized as a Latter-day Saint temple.

The central eastern tower reaches a height of 288 ft, the tallest of any of the church's temples. The temple has a total floor area of 160000 sqft, making it the church's third largest. The temple includes six ordinance rooms and fourteen sealing rooms. The temple's angel Moroni statue, on the tallest tower, is 18 ft tall and weighs 2 tons. The outer walls are covered in white Alabama marble and the spires are coated in 24-carat gold. There are two large stained glass windows on the eastern and westernmost spires. Although there appear to be no other windows, the marble was shaved to 0.625 in thick over window openings, thin enough to be translucent.

Incorporated into the design are symbolic elements representing core tenets of Latter-day Saint faith, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. The bridge between the entry room and the temple represents leaving the world behind to enter the holy house of the lord. The verticality of the temple itself, alongside the interior use of Gothic arches, symbolizes one’s journey on earth and eventual ascension to the kingdom of God, a journey which culminates in the celestial room. The bright, even light throughout the temple represents the light of God. Additionally, the doors to the temple “feature medallions with seven different symbols: a star, a planet, concentric circles representing eternity, the sun (complete with a face like the Nauvoo sunstone), the earth, seven concentric pentagons representing seven dispensations, and the moon.” The interior of the temple also features a stained-glass depiction of the tree of life, which is a symbol of Jesus Christ found in the Book of Mormon.

The temple sits on a 52-acre site. Only 11 acres of the site were developed, leaving the majority of the site unlandscaped in order to physically and visually separate the temple from the surrounding area. The landscaped areas feature gardens, walks, fountains, and a reflecting pool.

Renovations
Over the years, the temple has undergone several renovations to preserve its structural integrity, update facilities, and enhance its spiritual and aesthetic appeal. The most significant renovation project commenced in 2018.

The renovations focused on several key areas, including the mechanical and electrical systems and the gardens. These changes were made to ensure the temple's compliance with contemporary building standards and to accommodate the evolving needs of the church and its members.

One of the notable aspects of the renovation was the cleaning of the stained-glass windows. This particular enhancement served to amplify the light inside the temple and the effect outside of it.

Throughout the renovation process, care was taken to maintain the temple's historical and spiritual significance. Artisans and craftsmen specializing in architectural glass, drywall, and plastering were employed to ensure that both the exterior and interior renovations were in keeping with the original design ethos while incorporating modern advancements.

The renovated Washington D.C. Temple was rededicated on August 14, 2022, by Russell M. Nelson.

Cultural and community impact
The Washington D.C. Temple has made an impact on both the cultural landscape and the local community of Kensington, Maryland. Prior to its 2022 rededication, the temple facilitated the Reverse Open House Series, where local church members visited other religious groups in the DC area to learn more about their beliefs, participate in their religious practices, and foster an interfaith community.

Since 1978, the temple has annually hosted the Festival of Lights at the visitors' center, officially running from December 2 to January 1. The event attracts thousands of visitors who come to view millions of lights on the temple grounds. The festival features live performances by the Washington, D.C. Temple Choir; a public lighting ceremony; a narrated outdoor nativity scene; and nightly performances from various regional artists and musicians. Each year, a different ambassador to the United States is invited as a guest speaker at the festival's opening lighting ceremony. For example, in 2011, J. W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. and his wife, Donna, hosted Brazilian Ambassador to the United States Mauro Vieira, with L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presiding.

The visitors' center adjacent to the temple acts as an educational resource, providing both members and non-members with an in-depth understanding of the role of temples in the church and its unique place in church history. It also offers insights into the role of the temple as a symbol of God.

Other opportunities for education and community involvement are facilitated through the Washington D.C. FamilySearch Center, which helps both members and nonmembers to complete genealogical research and partners with organizations such as the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.

Admittance and use
Dedicated in 1974, the temple is a central place of worship and spiritual ceremonies for church members. Entry into the temple is restricted to those who hold a valid temple recommend.

Before its dedication, the temple was open to the public during a seven-week open house. This event allowed individuals of all faiths to experience the temple's architecture and learn about the sacred functions it would perform. Over the course of the open house over 750,000 people visited the temple, which is approximately 100,000 more people than at any previous temple open house. The event was covered by local journalists who advertised the opportunity to visit the new temple. While many were excited, others expressed trepidation about the new building.

Following a four-year renovation period, the temple was open to the public from April 28 to June 11, 2022, during which time the temple received over 250,000 visitors. Prior to the open house, a press conference was held, with 135 journalists from various publications in attendance. The rededication by Russell M. Nelson was held on August 14, 2022.

Temple presidents
Since its dedication in 1974, the temple has been overseen by temple presidents and temple matrons, each serving a term of three to five years. The roles of president and matron includes administration of temple operations and spiritual guidance for both temple patrons and staff.

Notable temple presidents include Franklin D. Richards (1983–1986), David S. King (1990–1993), and F. Melvin Hammond (2005–2008). As of 2024, the temple president is Clayton F. Foulger, with Marla R. Price Foulger serving as matron.