Ground broken for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple

Invited company, together with Latter-day Saint youth from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, flip the soil on the groundbreaking of the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple in Springfield, Oregon, on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Mental Reserve, Inc.)

(Mental Reserve, Inc.)

SPRINGFIELD, Oregon — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke floor for its third temple in Oregon on Saturday.

In accordance with the Church announcement, Elder Valeri V. Cordón, a Normal Authority Seventy and first counselor within the North America West Space Presidency presided over the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple ceremony.

“We pray that the temple will likely be a beacon of hope and peace that evokes this group to come back unto Christ even in its development part,” stated Elder Cordón within the dedicatory prayer.

Cordón additionally paid tribute to Latter-day Saint members of Oregon, each previous and current, based on the Church.

“We acknowledge the primary saints who got here to this valley to stay peacefully of their humble circumstances,” stated Cordón. “We’re grateful for the trustworthy saints who stay on this space for his or her sacrifice, devotion and obedience.”

Church member Carolyn Schultz expressed her appreciation for individuals who ready the best way for the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple.

“Every [congregation] on this Willamette Valley space has its personal beloved historical past and reminiscences of particular individuals who helped construct the dominion,” stated Schultz.

Schultz has lived within the Willamette Valley space for her whole life, 83 years, based on the Church.

Different youthful Church members additionally shared their pleasure for the temple’s groundbreaking, like 11-year-old Thomas Fuller of Springfield, Oregon.

“I’m wanting ahead to seeing the Willamette Valley temple be constructed and to go inside sometime,” stated Fuller.

“I really feel just like the act of visiting the Lord’s home in itself helps me to work on changing into a greater individual,” stated Melanie Lambson of Coos Bay, Oregon. “Visiting the temple provides me a greater focus and jogs my memory why I’m right here on earth.”

The Willamette Valley Oregon Temple will likely be a single-story temple at about 30,000 sq. toes at Worldwide Boulevard and Company Manner intersection in Springfield, Oregon.

The temple was introduced in the course of the April 2021 Normal Convention by Church President Russell M. Nelson.