Right Across from the Tabernacle

The location for the Brigham City LDS Temple was announced in the Box Elder News Journal on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009. Here are a couple of pictures that I took on Thursday of the empty lot across from the Tabernacle where the Temple will be built.

Interestingly enough, I was talking to the parents of Dhat just the night before the announcement and they told me that the news of the location of the Kansas City Temple took over a year from when it was announced in general conference. I was hoping that Brigham City's Temple wouldn't take that long! And it didn't.

My wife and I ran into President Monson's brother at the school on Wednesday after work. I hadn't seen the newspaper yet, so I asked Mr. Monson if he had any inside info on the location. He said yes and my wife also chimed in, saying that the announcement was in the newspaper. I felt chagrined, but excited.

By the way, I was watching general conference when President Monson was speaking and just about to announce the 5 new temples. Before he had mentioned any cities, the image of this empty lot across from the Tabernacle popped into my mind. Then, President Monson said, "Brigham City, Concepcion, Chile, ..." I don't remember any other locations after the first two because I was so excited and surprised.

Brigham City, Utah

Brigham City, Utah, named after the Mormon prophet Brigham Young, is a small community of 17,000 in Northern Utah, nestled between the western base of the Wellsville Mountains and the Great Salt Lake.

Beautiful Fall colors in the mountains above Brigham City
A view of Brigham City from the microwave towers above the "B"

Another view
Brigham City at dusk

Utah North Area Conference

Elder Rasband spoke to 76 stakes, including 10 at Utah State University, in the Northern Utah Area this morning. He mentioned the new Brigham City Temple, the 151st in the Church. He explained the purposes of temples and quoted Malachi 4:5-6, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

He then explained that Elijah did come in 1836 and restored the sealing keys. Doctrine and Covenants 110: 13 - 16 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

Lastly, he spoke of the great protective blessings available in the Temples in the last days and quoted Alma 26:5 - 7; Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

I am very anxious to see this Temple built!

We hope the Brigham City Temple is as beautiful as this.

Location Location Location

The location of the Brigham City, Utah LDS Temple has not yet been announced, but as soon as it is, I will keep you updated. I plan to have weekly updates with photos of the construction.