Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Smithfield Utah Temple

Ground has been broken in Smithfield, Utah, for the Smithfield Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve, accompanied by fellow Apostle Elder Gary E. Stevenson, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony on June 18, 2022. Elder Stevenson conducted the event. Both Apostles are natives of Cache Valley in northern Utah, where Smithfield is located.  

“Our hearts are full of appreciation for those who have gone before us and who have laid the foundation for a temple in northern Cache Valley,” said Elder Cook in the dedicatory prayer. “We pray that this temple will be a beacon light for the communities it serves.” 

The Smithfield Utah Temple was announced in April 2021 by Church President Russell M. Nelson. It will be the second temple in Cache County. The first is the Logan Utah Temple, one of the oldest temples in the Church. 

The Smithfield Utah Temple will be built on a 13.3-acre site at the intersection of N 800 West and W 100 North. Plans call for a three-story structure of about 81,000 square feet.  

“As we now break ground in preparation for the construction of the Smithfield Utah Temple, we express our sincere feelings of gratitude and joy,” Elder Cook continued. “We express our profound appreciation to [God] for the covenants and ordinances of the temple, which give us hope and bring us joy during all seasons and in all circumstances of life.” 

Attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony was by invitation only, while those who reside in the temple district were able to watch a broadcast. Newsroom will add the full broadcast as soon as it is available. 

Utah is home to nearly 2.2 million Latter-day Saints in almost 5,400 congregations. The Smithfield Utah Temple will join 27 other temples in operation, under construction or announced in the state of Utah. These include such historic structures as the Salt Lake and St. George temples, which are currently under renovation.  

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints differ from meetinghouses or chapels, where members meet for Sunday worship services. Each temple is considered a “house of the Lord,” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. In the temple, Church members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to follow Jesus Christ and to serve their fellow man.