New Mormon Temple will open in Philadelphia in September.
Mormons consider the United States Constitution to be a document that was “divinely inspired,” so perhaps it is not a surprise that the 152nd Mormon temple to be built is in Philadelphia, reports Religion News Service.
A Look Inside Philly’s New Mormon Temple[/tweetthis]
The temple pays homage to Independence Hall, including a church-commissioned painting of Benjamin Franklin, which hangs in the foyer.
This is the first Mormon temple that truly connects the religion to the birth of this nation, which is significant because members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often feel like outsiders in their own country.
The temple will be open to the public for a month, after which time only Mormons will be permitted to enter.
The design and architecture of the temple was no accident, with its inward-sloping windowsills, checkered floor tiles, wooden furniture and color concepts which harken back to the late 18th century and Independence Hall.
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the official name of the temple, will be dedicated on September 17, five years to the day after its groundbreaking. The temple stands 208 feet tall, and will serve some 41,000 Mormons who live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The Philadelphia temple will save many folks a trip to either New York City or Washington, D.C.
The temple is located at 18th and Arch Streets, very close to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The month-long public viewing period will run from August 10 through September 9, then after the dedication, only Mormons in good standing will be permitted to enter.
The Mormon church does not share the costs of the construction of its temples, but it is known that it was funded by tithes from Mormons around the world. Contractors speculate that the temple must have cost tens of millions of dollars.
NY on our way to #Philly for a tour of the new #Mormon Temple. pic.twitter.com/Lx6iflnrpj
— Scott Ferson (@scottferson) July 29, 2016