New Twin Falls Temple Gleams From a Distance
culture, latter day saints, southern idaho, southern idaho for the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, the twin falls temple,
The Twin Falls Temple, a place of worship for Latter-day Saints, is a site to behold.
Towering more that 150 feet at its highest point, the gleaming white marble structure can be seen from as far away at 10 miles.
The 31,500-square-foot temple has been completed since summer 2008, and, like any temple worldwide, was open to the public for a brief period immediately following its construction. The open house drew nearly 160,000 people through the temple’s doors in five weeks. Organizers had only been expecting 125,000.
“It’s a beautiful building, and a lot of people found out about it and came here just to see it,” says Terry McCurdy, public affairs director for Southern Idaho for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Temples are distinct from everyday houses of worship for Latter Day Saints. Treated with the utmost reverence, they host sacred ceremonies such as marriage.
The special place they hold in the Mormon faith demands that only those who are joined with the LDS church should be allowed inside the impressive buildings. Following their open houses, temples are closed to the public, accessible only by LDS church members, which is why the open house is such a unique opportunity for a community.
“The open house is there so that people can go to and see the inside of the temple,” McCurdy says.
The Twin Falls Temple, just south of the Snake River Canyon, is now open to LDS church members only. But from the outside, it remains an imposing visual on Magic Valley’s landscape.
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Story by Michaela Jackson
Photo by Jeff Adkins
