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Stockholm Sweden Temple

Coordinates: 59°7′28.83360″N 18°6′33.03719″E / 59.1246760000°N 18.1091769972°E / 59.1246760000; 18.1091769972
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Stockholm Sweden Temple
Closed for renovation
The temple in June 2017.
Map
Number34
Dedication2–4 July 1985, by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site4.47 acres (1.81 ha)
Floor area31,000 sq ft (2,900 m2)
Height112 ft (34 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
←
Freiberg Germany Temple
Stockholm Sweden Temple 		→
Chicago Illinois Temple
Additional information
Announced1 April 1981, by Spencer W. Kimball
Groundbreaking17 March 1984, by Thomas S. Monson
Open house10–22 June 1985
Designed byJohn Sjostrom and Church A&E Services
LocationVästerhaninge, Sweden
Geographic coordinates59°7′28.83360″N 18°6′33.03719″E / 59.1246760000°N 18.1091769972°E / 59.1246760000; 18.1091769972
Exterior finishMasonry exterior with copper roof
Temple designModern adaptation of six-spire design
Baptistries1
Ordinance rooms4 (stationary)
Sealing rooms3
Clothing rentalYes
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The Stockholm Sweden Temple (Swedish: Templet i Stockholm) is the 34th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As of 2024, the temple is closed for reconstruction, which is expected to last three years.

The temple sits on a 4.47-acre (1.81 ha) lot with six spires rising above the pines of the nearby forest. A cobblestone path leads to its doors.[1] Prior to its current, major reconstruction, the temple had a total of 16,366 square feet (1,520.5 m2),[1] four ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms. The temple serves Latter-day Saints from the countries of Sweden, Norway, and Latvia.

History

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The April 1981 announcement of the Stockholm Sweden Temple was received with virtually no opposition. There were numerous sites explored for the building of the temple, but the one decided upon by church leaders was in Västerhaninge in Haninge Municipality, just south of Stockholm. Municipal officials and merchants welcomed the temple project, and later the Municipality showed further support by changing the name of the street on which the temple is located to Tempelvägen ("The Temple Road").[2]

The temple in February 2003

Ground was broken for construction on 17 March 1984,[3] and the temple was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley during 11 sessions held 2–4 July 1985. Four of the dedicatory sessions were translated into Swedish, three into Finnish, two into Norwegian and two into Danish. The Swedish postal service issued a special commemorative stamp cancellation, available in a trailer parked near the temple, to celebrate the dedication.[4]

On July 29, 1988, an explosion, caused by a bomb placed outside the temple, caused minor damage to a side door of the structure.[5] In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Stockholm Sweden Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[6]

2020s replacement

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In September 2022, the church announced the temple would close the following year to allow for extensive renovations and reconstruction, which would nearly double the temple's square footage.[7] Temple operations shut down beginning 26 March 2023.[8]

While preparing to renovate the temple, the church discovered several issues with the structure that could not be repaired, most notably, its foundation was not constructed below the frost line and heaving over the decades had caused cracking. This resulted in replacing, rather than simply renovating the building. The new temple will resemble the original structure, but will be slightly longer and wider, and include the addition of a basement.[9][10] Demolition of the original temple began in earnest in January 2024.[9]

Site archaeology

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The area surrounding the temple is known for its Iron Age burial grounds, including Jordbro Grave Field.

The temple itself was built on a part of the ancient Åby Grave Field (Åbygravfältet).[3][11] During 1982–1983, prior to construction of the temple, an archaeological excavation of the future temple grounds was carried out. Hundreds of gravesites, most of which contained cremations and were marked by stones laid out in intricate patterns, were discovered. The graves dated primarily from the Pre-Roman and Roman Iron Ages, with the latest dated circa 100–200 CE.[11] In 2000, directly across Tempelvägen from the temple grounds, the remains of a pentagon-shaped structure were excavated.[12] These remains were described in the media as an ancient Norse temple.[13][14] The ancient and modern temples are only 165 feet (50 m) apart.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Hawkins, Chad S. (2016). Temples of the New Millennium: facts, stories, and miracles from the first 150 temples. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 70–71. ISBN 9781629721491.
  2. ^ Evans, Richard (2 June 1985). "Building of temple in Sweden is greeted with 'open arms'". Church News. Salt Lake City. p. 11.
  3. ^ a b Palm, Håkan (25 March 1984). "Nordic temple rites 'a pinnacle'". Church News. Salt Lake City. p. 7.
  4. ^ Van Orden, Dell (14 July 1985). "Temple in Sweden — longed-for day arrives". Church News. Salt Lake City. pp. 3, 8.
  5. ^ "Stockholm Temple Bombed". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 29 July 1988. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  6. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Plans Announced for Temples in Puerto Rico and Sweden". Church Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Templet i Stockholm - Information". jesukristikyrka.org (in Swedish). Jesu Kristi Kyrka av Sista Dagars Heliga. 25 March 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ludvigsson, Anna (27 January 2024). "Nu rivs Sveriges enda mormontempel" [Sweden's only Mormon temple now being demolished]. Mitt i (in Swedish). Stockholm. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Herrens hus i Sverige byggs om" [The House of the Lord in Sweden is being rebuilt]. jesukristikyrka.org (in Swedish). Jesu Kristi Kyrka av Sista Dagars Heliga. 9 February 2024. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ a b Äijä, Karin (1985). "Det stora gravfältet vid Åby i Västerhaninge och dess märkliga gravformer" (PDF). Fornvännen (in Swedish). 80: 121–132. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  12. ^ Tempelvägen: Rapport från Arkeologikonsult, 2002:2, Delundersökning av Åbygravfältet i Västerhaninge (PDF) (Report) (in Swedish). Arkeologikonsult/Norn ICS AB. pp. 2, 106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  13. ^ Österman, Hans (21 January 2001). "Hittade 2000 år gammalt tempel i Västerhaninge". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Stockholm. Archived from the original on 21 January 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Iron Age temple found in Sweden". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Associated Press. 24 August 2000. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
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