The Grand Valley is an ever growing place, whether we are getting a new store in the mall, or getting more land developed for housing. But the biggest addition to the Valley in general is the opening of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Temple. Towering a hundred feet above the ground, this beautiful temple marks a new era for the LDS community in Western Colorado.
The temple, announced to be built in April 2021, has finally been finished with construction and is open to public tours before the Church gets dedicated, which is when the temple is officially consecrated. The temple offers a unique architecture blending traditional influences with the local community. Inside the temple, elements of the desert in Grand Junction can be seen, whether it’s Colorado’s state cactus, or beautiful wildflowers like the Indian Paintbrush that grow in the region. Tours inside the temple offer an experience for people who aren’t part of the Latter Day Saints to see what it’s like inside of it.
The temple, especially for the LDS community, is a huge and important addition to Grand Junction. “Normally me and my friends have to travel hours just to get to a nearby temple in Vernal, which means we only get to go on a temple trip like once a month,” states Kyla Guesta who is a freshman at Palisade and a member of the Latter Day Saints. “But now that we have a big new beautiful temple here in town, we can enjoy the presence of the Lord more frequently, and inform people who are not LDS members are able to explore our practices and beliefs. I feel proud to lead people closer to God.” While many people agreed that the temple itself was beautiful, some noted that the tour itself didn’t really help them understand more about the faith. “ The actual tour itself was underwhelming. I was under the impression that it would be guided by members of the Church and each room would be explained in great detail,” remarks Gaby Suazo, a senior at Palisade. “There were volunteer ushers at every corner willing to answer questions. However, it was self guided and completely up to interpretation if you don’t know anything about Mormonism like me. But, the architecture and design was incredible… One usher explained to me that every decoration in the temple is locally sourced or inspired by the Grand Valley’s landscape,” concludes Suazo.
Despite different opinions about the tour, the building itself represents a new era for the LDS Community of Grand Junction. By allowing the wider public to see inside the temple, this provides insight into personal beliefs and helps everyday people perceive another major religion in the U.S.
