Plans to construct the Fort Lauderdale Temple were first announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson in October 2009. Ground was broken for the new temple on 18 June 2011. The temple will serve approximately 25,000 Church members from congregations in south Florida.
The exterior of the 30,500-square-foot temple includes colors of blue, green and earth tones reflective of the Florida environment.
In conjunction with the dedication of the temple, there will also be a cultural celebration featuring music and dance on Saturday, 3 May 2014.
While the Church’s 18,000-plus meetinghouses are open to all people who wish to attend religious services, temples are open only to faithful Latter-day Saints after they are formally dedicated. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make promises to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow men.
The Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple will be the 143rd operating temple of the Church worldwide and the second in the state. The Orlando Temple, dedicated in 1994, was the first Latter-day Saint temple built in the Sunshine State.
This day was a very long one for our family. It was three and a half hours each way but with hungry children that easily stretches into longer in the car. Once we got inside the temple our children were silent and sweet. My stress faded away as I held my sweet Solomon and he said things like, "this is my favorite" or "ohhh!" or "awwww."
We were able to see the place where the bride gets ready and it was magnificently beautiful. I found tears in my eyes as I thought of my daughters being there some day.
On this Easter weekend I want to share that I know my family can be together forever and yours can too.
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