The temple is a symbol—wherever one is—
it’s a symbol that Jesus Christ is there.
The legacy of Thomas Jefferson in architecture,
education, and religious freedom has paved the way for
a sacred temple in Richmond, Virginia.
It's so significant that in
the birthplace of religious freedom that we have a temple,
and that we get to come and worship exactly how we want to
as part of our belief—for everyone to worship how they will.
After two years of construction, the Richmond
Virginia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is complete.
One of the key elements of a temple
and temple design is we want to make sure that it belongs to
the people of that area. We want them to feel like this is their temple.
And one of the best ways we can do that is to really tie ourselves into
the history and and tradition of the location where we are.
Familiar and warm design cues are reflective of
the Thomas Jefferson–inspired University of Virginia
and his beloved home, Monticello.
A lot of these details that you see throughout
the building are quintessential design elements that we
see throughout Virginia.
Such features as dogwood blossoms,
Octagons and diamonds are incorporated in the temple's decor
and prominent in the foyer of the temple.
A reverent reminder of whose holy house this is.
We have an artistic rendering that's made out of art glass that actually
came from an old Protestant church here on
the East Coast that we’ve refurbished and placed in the building,
yet another connection both to our Savior and to the locale.
The art tries to elevate our vision and help us look heavenward.
So you’ll either see depictions of Jesus Christ Himself
or scriptural narratives that are in
the scriptures regarding Jesus Christ and His teachings.
Elegant furnishings adorn the temple with the highest standards of finishes
and attention to detail.
This is the house of the Lord.
And because we’re building His house, we strive to give our very best—
our very best craftsmanship, the very best materials that we can.
It’s not ostentatious. It’s simplistic beauty that elevates one’s
vision toward Christ.
Those finishes enhance the experience
for those who come to worship in this sacred space.
And progression through each room is designed to elevate that feeling.
The purpose of that is for us to be reminded of
the importance of our progress here on Earth and
the importance of us learning and growing and becoming better
and becoming more like our Savior.
The temple has been a location for personal revelation.
So many of the members that I meet with in my congregation desire to go to
the temple because they know that they're going to have that refuge from
the world, and they’ll have that connection. In the baptistry,
temple patrons can make offerings of baptisms for their ancestors,
who never had that chance while on earth.
Jesus commanded that all must be baptized to return to our
Heavenly Father. Latter-day Saints make promises to God and receive
a deeper understanding of Jesus and His teachings in
the instruction rooms.
We learn about who we are, our eternal potential.
We learn about what Heavenly Father really has in store for us
if we follow Jesus Christ, if we’re disciples of Jesus Christ,
and that only in and through Jesus Christ can we return to our
Heavenly Father.
Sealing rooms are where families are joined for eternity through marriage.
The symbolic journey culminates in the tranquility of the celestial room,
which represents our return to
the presence of our Heavenly Father through our Savior.
When you come to the temple, you go to a very quiet place.
You block out the world, if you will.
You can come and have peace and tranquility.
And that's what I look forward to,
that there is a place that I can come and communicate with Heavenly Father.
You'll have a feeling, a sense of unity when you come here. It's ours.
It’s Virginia’s. It’s not just the Church of Jesus Christ’s temple.
It's Virginia's temple. I think it'll just bring, like,
a sense of unity and community.