Mormon Church to Build Two New Temples

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church will build two new temples in Utah to accommodate a rise in the number of members practicing the church’s most sacred rituals, such as baptisms and marriage ceremonies, the church’s president said.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Gordon B. Hinckley said Saturday at the opening session of the church’s semiannual general conference that members performed a record 32 million temple ceremonies last year.

Temple ceremonies include proxy baptisms and marriage ceremonies known as sealings.

“Temple service is the end product of all our teaching and activity,” Hinckley told about 21,000 people gathered to observe the proceedings.

One temple will be built in South Jordan, about 20 miles south of church headquarters, in a sprawling 4,200-acre, 13,000-unit housing development that is under construction, Hinckley said. He did not reveal a second site.

The Mormon church has 122 temples in 37 countries.

Temples are not open to the public and members must be in good standing _ including tithing 10 percent of annual personal income _ to enter and perform such ceremonies.

Are Mormon Temples Christian?
- by Luke P. Wilson

Mormons gather twice a year _ in April and October _ to hear from church leaders. The event draws more than 100,000 to Salt Lake City.

About 12 percent of the church’s 12-plus million members live in Utah, where former president Brigham Young settled the church in 1847 after fleeing persecution in Nauvuoo, Ill., two years after the church’s founding prophet, Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob.

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