LDS Church breaks ground on Wyoming temple


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AFTON, Wyo. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground Saturday on a new temple in Wyoming's scenic Star Valley.

The Star Valley Temple was announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson in October 2011; it will be the church's first temple in the state of Wyoming.

Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Latter-day Saints joined together at the future temple site, 885 South Washington Street, to symbolically begin construction on the new temple.

"We didn't realize it would be so close (that) we could look at it out of our front room window and see the spire," said Nyla Robinson, a resident of nearby Afton, Wyoming.

She and her husband, Kay, said they are most excited that church members who currently travel to Idaho Falls will have a temple closer to their homes.

"They are just the salt of the earth and grateful to have a temple here," Kay Robinson said.

Mormon settlers moved to the Star Valley in the late 1800s. Though the region is known for its harsh winters, early Latter-day Saints persevered with hopes of one day having a temple to worship in.

"Generations of saints have looked forward to when they would have a temple here," said Elder Kent F. Richards, executive director of the LDS Church's temple department.


There is nothing quite like a groundbreaking for a brand new temple in a brand new place. But particularly here, it seems there has been a marvelous outpouring of the spirit and a marvelous outpouring of love from the community.

–Elder Kent F. Richards, LDS temple dept.


"It is going to be a great symbol of our faith and the faith of our ancestors, so it is going to be a great blessing," said McKell Allred, another Star Valley resident.

Church leaders called Saturday's groundbreaking a historic moment for the area.

"There is nothing quite like a groundbreaking for a brand new temple in a brand new place," Elder Richards said. "But particularly here, it seems there has been a marvelous outpouring of the spirit and a marvelous outpouring of love from the community."

It's the beginning of a new era for the Star Valley.

"Everyone here — you can just feel the excitement here! They have been praying, waiting, for a long time, and what a blessing for them," said Elder Craig C. Christensen, a member of the church's Presidency of the Seventy.

Construction will get underway in the next few weeks, and church leaders said the temple is expected to be finished a little more than two years from now.

There are currently 173 LDS temples throughout the world in operation or under construction.

Contributing: Jordan Ormond, Derek Petersen

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