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Coco Warner ReportingThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints broke ground in Draper this morning on a new temple. It's the third temple in the Salt Lake Valley and will serve an area that's growing quickly.
The Temple will sit up against the eastern foothills of Draper at about 19th East and 138th South. It will be next to and share parking with a stake center already built on this site. LDS church officials say this temple will help relieve overcrowding at other neighboring temples.
The choir made reference to a mountaintop, and this new Temple site doesn't lack for a view. Hundreds of people attended this morning's groundbreaking ceremony. It will be the twelfth temple in Utah for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley hinted there could be even more.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "If people continue to move here, it may become necessary to build another or two, but this will not be for some time. Don't count on it tomorrow!"
President Hinckley and others addressed the population growth the Salt Lake Valley is experiencing, and how this latest temple will relieve the overcrowded Jordan River and Salt Lake Temples.
Elder Merrill J. Bateman/Presidency of the Seventy: "You can see the growth that's occurring with all the homes that are in this area, with all the members of the church that have moved in here. More than one hundred thousand people will be in the temple district."
Today's groundbreaking included a dedication of the site and the ceremonial shoveling of the ground. That part proved to be the most memorable for the Koelliker kids.
Nathan Koelliker: "That I liked the digging!"
Sarah Koelliker: "It was special. I liked to dig the dirt!"
For others, it's what this temple will represent. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it will be a sacred house of worship.
Theresa Collins, Draper Resident: "We couldn't be more excited and more thrilled. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community and wonderful opportunity, personally, for our family."
When this Temple is completed-- in approximately two years-- it will be around the 130th working LDS temple in the world.
