Newport Beach Mormon Temple
The year 2005 was a landmark year for Mormons living in southern California. This was the year that saw the dedication and opening of the Newport Beach Mormon temple, the sixth in California and the third in the southern portion of the state. The temple is beautifully nestled in the valley community, where it serves over 50,000 Mormons living in the surrounding area.
The public open houses that were conducted when the temple was complted (and prior to its dedication) generated quite a bit of interest among the thousands and thousands of people who attended. One reporter, interviewing a Church member, gave the following as part of his story during the open house:
We feel very strongly about the sacred nature of what goes on inside Mormon temples. It’s obviously not a secret thing because you’ve been through. We gave you pictures and photographs. We’re taking a hundred fifty-plus thousand people through here over a period of six weeks, so the building itself, there’s nothing secret. But to us, going in, making covenants, being in that very special place, binding ourselves together as families, that’s very sacred and we don’t want that to become commonplace. (Life and Times, KCET, August 17, 2005)
Mormons obviously view temples (including the Newport Beach temple) as special places. All Mormon temples are designed with the same purpose-to help faithful Mormons worship the Lord in a way that brings them closer to Him. Those unfamiliar with Mormons may wonder exactly what temples are used for. (Hint: they are not used for Sunday meetings!) Why do Mormons view temples as sacred places and eagerly await their opening? What goes on inside those temples? If you’ve ever wondered such things, we hope you will enjoy this Web site, which should answer most of your questions. Click one of the links available, and you can discover more about Mormon temples in general, and the Newport Beach temple in particular.