| St. George Utah Temple | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
 | ||||
| Number | 1 | |||
| Dedication | April 6, 1877, by Daniel H. Wells | |||
| Site | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) | |||
| Floor area | 143,969 sq ft (13,375.2 m2) | |||
| Height | 175 ft (53 m) | |||
| Official website • News & images | ||||
| Church chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Additional information | ||||
| Announced | 31 January 1871, by Brigham Young | |||
| Groundbreaking | 9 November 1871, by Brigham Young | |||
| Rededicated | November 11, 1975, by Spencer W. Kimball 10 December 2023, by Jeffrey R. Holland | |||
| Designed by | Truman O. Angell | |||
| Location | St. George, Utah, United States | |||
| Geographic coordinates | 37°6′1.450800″N 113°34′41.17439″W / 37.10040300000°N 113.5781039972°W | |||
| Exterior finish | Native red sandstone quarried from Little Cottonwood Canyon and plastered white. | |||
| Temple design | Castellated Gothic | |||
| Baptistries | 1 | |||
| Ordinance rooms | 3 (stationary) | |||
| Sealing rooms | 18 | |||
| Clothing rental | Available | |||
| Visitors' center | Yes | |||
| () | ||||
The St. George Utah Temple, formerly known as the St. George Temple, is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah. Completed in 1877, it was the third temple constructed by the church and the first in Utah, following the westward migration of Mormon pioneers from Nauvoo, Illinois, after the death of church founder Joseph Smith.
The temple was built over swampy land. Workers created a dry foundation by using a French cannon, reportedly used by Napoleon during his Russian campaign, which they lifted thirty feet in the air to use as a pile-driver for compacting the foundation. Local members worked for over six years, walking five miles daily and donating one day in ten as tithing labor. Church president Brigham Young thought the finished structure was too short and ought to be taller, although workers opted to complete the structure instead of redoing the tower. Two years after the death of Young, the tower was struck by lightning and destroyed; it was then rebuilt to honor his preference. The temple is the oldest in active use by the church and is the only temple completed during Young's tenure.
In 1877, Wilford Woodruff, then temple president, recorded the spirits of notable historical figures, including George Washington and Christopher Columbus, appeared to him in the temple and requested that ordinances be performed on their behalf. These were recorded by Woodruff over the span of two days and nights, which lead to temple work being done for 100 historical figures, including U.S. Founding Fathers and European leaders.
Situated in southwestern St. George, the temple was designed by Truman O. Angell with an interior layout similar to the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. It also has exterior elements common with contemporary Utah structures like the Salt Lake, Logan, and Manti temples, all of which have a fortified castle appearance. It has three ordinance rooms and 18 sealing rooms, covering a total floor area of 143,969 square feet (13,400 m2). Its architectural style combines Neo-Gothic and French Norman Revival design. Dedicated in 1877, the St. George Temple was the first where church members could perform all temple ordinances for their ancestors. The temple has gone through ten major renovations, the most recent (2019-2023) focused on restoring the original design and incorporating seismic upgrades. The temple is open only to members with a current temple recommend, while the nearby visitors’ center is open to the public.