BOISE, ID – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have some 14 million members worldwide. The LDS Church has more than 130 temples around the globe. In Idaho, they plan to build another one near Meridian. Soon Idaho will have more temples than any other state besides Utah and California.
Church leaders in Salt Lake City selected twelve acres of farmland near Meridian for their next temple in Idaho. It will be the Church’s second in the Treasure Valley and fifth in the state. Craig Rasmussen is a spokesman for the LDS Church. He says temples are where the Church holds the most important ceremonies.
Craig Rasmussen: “Such things as a temple marriage where a couple is married for, in our belief, that they will be married not just in life but then in the hereafter. And also it’s a place where people go and receive and make sacred promises to God and to their families and to their spouses.”
Idaho accounts for more than 415,000 church members. Utah and California have the highest number. Rasmussen says there are about 100,000 followers in the Treasure Valley. But growth is just one reason for the new temple.
Craig Rasmussen: “The Church is working to bring the temples closer to the people so that they will not have to have a large expense to travel to be there to participate in these sacred, holy sacraments.
Rasmussen says plans for the new temple aren’t done. Once Church leaders sign off on them, they’ll submit the papers to Ada County Planning and Zoning for approval.
Copyright 2011 Boise State Public Radio