Built: 2002-2004 Designed by: Frank Fernandez Type: Holy Place Stories: 6 Maximum Height: 120 feet / 37 meters Location: 125 Columbus Avenue, New York, United States
N early two hundred years after the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the group opened its first temple in the heart of a city known as a den of iniquity: New York City. Unlike other Mormon temples, which are known for their attractive exterior architecture, this one resides within a meeting house built for the church in 1975. That building is unremarkable by most standards, with rows of minimal vertical setbacks, and very few windows. But the building, like most religions, beckons people to look for the beauty within. In this case, the beauty carved out of the first, fifth, and sixth floors which have become the temple.
Much of the interior is decorated in soothing shades of white, illuminated by white spotlights and lamps, and offset by black accents in the furniture. It is an immediately calming space, and the sound-proof walls create a welcome sanctuary from the cacophonous lifestyle that is Manhattan.
Perhaps the most impressive room is the Endowment Room. Since the Manhattan temple has no church grounds, a pastoral scene of mountains, trees, valleys and rivers, is painted on the walls and ceiling of this room to evoke a sense of the outdoors. Wooden support beams are exposed, rather than hidden, to give a sense of trees and nature that you can touch.
In a way, the founding of this temple is something of a homecoming for the Mormons. The church was founded in 1830 in upstate New York before being forced west. The opening of this temple, therefore, reflects many important religious themes: redemption, forgiveness, and hope.
Before this temple opened, New York Mormons had to go all the way to Boston, or Washington, D.C. for certain ceremonies.
The baptismal font rests on the back of 12 life-sized oxen statues representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
The door handles were designed to resemble the Statue of Liberty's torch, to give the building a little local flavor.
8 May, 2004 - In a gesture of goodwill to a curious community, the temple is opened to the public for a month. 56,000 people take the tour of a space that will be off-limits to non-believers and church members who have not attained a special status once it officially opens.
> Beehive accents on the doors, which reflect the church's belief in industriousness.
Kyle
Sunday, September 21st, 2008 @ 12:48am
Rating: Five stars. As for the three people that gave low ratings, let me say this: The temple wasn't built to please you - It was built for the Father. It's pretty low giving one star to The House of the Lord, if you ask me. Five stars for the Lord's holy dwelling place!
dani
Sunday, May 25th, 2008 @ 11:24am
Rating: Five stars. oh my goodness!i love the temples.i havnt been to this one yet but i would love to.i go to the st louis and dallas temple.
Tyrell
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 @ 10:38am
Rating: Five stars. This is a wonderful temple. I have seen every mormon temple and this is one of the nicest ones i have ever seen.
Cèsar Celestino
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 @ 1:41pm
Rating: Five stars. Love this sacred building, it`s the best place in the world, to be in His presence.
Lulu
Thursday, August 16th, 2007 @ 2:18pm
Rating: One star. Kitsch. Boring. Decorated like a middle brow "fancy" hotel.
joel
Wednesday, August 17th, 2005 @ 3:22am
Rating: One star. I realize this place is sacred to Mormons, but from an architectural perspective it is pure kitsch. Looks like one of Saddam's palaces.
helen
Thursday, August 11th, 2005 @ 5:17pm
Rating: Five stars. I am 13 and a mormon and I am British, but I have been in the Manhatton Temple and like all temples it is a holy place. I love being in the temples and doing divine work in them. They are beautiful clean places
Rob McKay
Tuesday, June 21st, 2005 @ 4:50am
Rating: Five stars. Its beautiful, truly 'a place of peace and rest, unmarred by eartly care'
Keith
Thursday, May 5th, 2005 @ 9:27pm
Rating: Five stars. I am impressed. Very nice photos and of course the building is magnificent! I was reading about the construction in news, awesome!
Xavier
Sunday, April 24th, 2005 @ 10:44am
Rating: Five stars. I love this place!!!
It's wonderfully,and amazing Work... ....
(p.s.>Taipei Temple said Hi!)
Hedi Wolfgramm
Thursday, February 10th, 2005 @ 12:24am
Rating: Five stars. This is one of the most beautiful temples i have ever seen
Dj Pojol
Sunday, November 7th, 2004 @ 2:25pm
Rating: Five stars. I think every house of the Lord is beautiful, and this one is tight! i love to go there somedays
Breein Robey
Thursday, October 14th, 2004 @ 11:18am
Rating: Five stars. This is a beautiful Temple in the middle of a busy city. There is a temple by my house so I've never been without one. I can take it for granted, but I am so happy for the people of New York that they finally have a Temple close by.
Sandy
Wednesday, September 29th, 2004 @ 9:44am
Rating: Three stars. A very good job of turning a building that is ugly on the outside into something better on the inside.
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New York, United States
Kyle
Five stars.
Cèsar Celestino
One star.
Rob McKay
Keith
Xavier
Three stars.