LDS temple in Philadelphia beginning to take shape


9 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PHILADELPHIA — After four years of construction, the LDS temple in Philadelphia is starting to take shape.

"It is hard to put it into words how magnificent this temple is and is going to be," said Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

That is how Elder Christofferson felt last week as he toured the site of the church's new temple while he was in town to speak at the Catholic-sponsored World Meeting of Families.

"It is true to the sense of history and architecture of Philadelphia," Elder Christofferson said. "I think, in time, it will really become a landmark in this city because it is so beautiful and uniquely suited to what Philadelphia is and has meant to the history of the United States over the years."

The temple is being built in the heart of downtown, and it is right across the way from the Catholic cathedral and the Catholic Diocese has been supportive of the project.

"It is nice to have that symbolize the friendship and the mutual goals and the things we feel we can do together in support of families and a humanitarian vein," said Elder Christofferson.

This small visitors' center welcomes those curious about the temple.

Service missionaries who staff it also found a way to build bridges with the union construction workers.

Photo: KSL-TV
Photo: KSL-TV

"The only thing we could think of was cookies, and so why not have a Cookie Wednesday," said Sister Pam Carr, a service missionary in the visitors' center.

Early on, there were few takers for the cookies.

"It was kind of brutal at first. They wondered why someone was bringing them cookies, and we just explained the people here in Philadelphia are so excited for this temple, and they just want to thank you," said Sister Carr.

But in time, the cookies started to disappear. Now volunteers bake 300 every week.

"We have probably given out 15,000 cookies in two years, and we still have a year to go. I'll tell you their favorite is triple chocolate chip," said Sister Carr.

Sister Carr said the cookies have helped everyone involved in the project better understand each other.

"I think we are able to talk about their lives, too," she said. "They have become more than construction workers, they have become our friends."

That's why Cookie Wednesday will continue until the temple is dedicated next fall.

Photo: KSL-TV
Photo: KSL-TV

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Features stories

Sam Penrod

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast