Nauvoo Illinois Mormon Temple
 The Nauvoo Temple. Photo in the public domain. |
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple that stands today is the 113th dedicated temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is the third temple to be built in Illinois (after the original Nauvoo temple and the Chicago Temple).
History
The current Mormon temple of Nauvoo replaces an original temple completed in 1846. The original was partially destroyed by a tornado on May 27, 1850, and later condemned and demolished by the Nauvoo City Council.
Construction on the new temple began on October 24, 1999. The new temple was designed after the pattern of the old and actually incorporated construction materials and furniture from the original. The exterior is covered in limestone quarried in Russellville, Alabama.
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple was officially dedicated on June 27, 2002, on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith.
What to See
Due to its historical importance, the Nauvoo Temple attracts thousands of Mormon visitors each year, as well as an increasing number of Mormon residents in the small town (population 1,063). The temple is the centerpiece of a complex of 27 restored historic buildings designed to provide a sense of life during the church’s early days.
The Nauvoo Illinois Temple is designed in the Greek Revival style. The building is rectangular in shape with a single tower topped by a dome and a golden Angel Moroni.
Inside, the baptismal font, supported by 12 carved limestone oxen, is a duplicate of the original with the addition of a metal lining to prevent deterioration. The floor of the Baptistery, the largest of any Mormon temple, is in red brick tile (as in the original temple). The ceiling features a dome, and intricate moldings.
The floors of the temple are hardwood and decorated with rugs, runners, and furnishings typical of the 1840s. The first floor Assembly Room, featuring ten chandeliers, was duplicated on a smaller scale allowing enough area for planned administrative offices.
The second floor has dressing rooms, and the upper floors house the endowment rooms and six sealing rooms. It was done in progressive style featuring a Creation Room, Garden Room, World Room, Terrestrial Room, and Celestial Room with murals being used for the first time since the construction of the Los Angeles California Temple.
Festivals and Events
In late July and early August is the one-and-a-half-week-long City of Joseph Pageant, which draws thousands of visitors to Nauvoo.
Quick Facts
| Address: | 50 Wells St, Nauvoo, IL, USA |
| Phone: | 217-453-6252 |
| Hours: | Temple not open to the public |
Sources
- Nauvoo Illinois Temple – LDS Temples
- Temples – Official LDS Website
- Animosity simmers in a river town: Mormon roots and Mormon resentment - MSNBC, Aug. 9, 2004
