Coordinates: 37°52′7.586400″S 145°12′45.43920″E / 37.868774°S 145.212622°E / -37.868774; 145.212622 The Melbourne Australia Temple is the 90th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On 30 October 1998 the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that a temple would be built in Melbourne, Australia. The Melbourne Australia Temple is one of five temples in Australia. Previously, members from the area had traveled twelve hours one-way to visit the Sydney Australia Temple.
Missionary work was slow in Australia until the 1950s when the number of people joining the Church suddenly exploded. In 1955 there were 3,000 members in Australia, just five short years later there were almost 10,000. By 1970 the number of members more than tripled to 32,000. In 1980 it had jumped to 50,000. Today there are more than 100,000 members in Australia, making The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the fastest growing Christian church in the country.
On 20 March 1999 a groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication was held. The site for the temple is 5.98 acres (24,200 m2) and is also the site of a meetinghouse. The temple was open to the public for tours 2-10 June, 2000. Those who toured the 10,700-square-foot (990 m2) temple were able to see the stunning craftsmanship, the Celestial room, two sealing rooms, two ordinance rooms, baptistery, and learn more about Mormon beliefs.
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Melbourne Australia Temple on 16 June 2000. Four dedicatory services were held to accommodate all the members that wanted to attend. The Melbourne Temple serves 18,000 members in eight stakes from Victoria, Tasmania, and Southern New South Wales.
Famous quotes containing the words australia and/or temple:
“I like Australia less and less. The hateful newness, the democratic conceit, every man a little pope of perfection.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“But what we gain’d in Skill we lost in Strength.
Our Builders were with Want of Genius curst;
The second Temple was not like the first;
Till you, the best Vitruvius, come at length,
Our Beauties equal, but excel our Strength.”
—John Dryden (1631–1700)