The Monticello Utah Temple

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints


Photo by Jill Webber.

The Monticello Utah Temple is the first of the small temples announced by President Hinckley in the October 1997 General Conference for those areas of the Church with small, isolated but faithful members. This new type of temple is just as revolutionary as the Bern Temple and its twins. The new temples that follow the Monticello plan are significantly smaller than any previous temple, and will not have such physical facilities as a cafeteria or laundry. They will be open only as needed by the local population and will be maintained by local church members as well. This means that persons wanting to visit the temple must contact the temple office to schedule appointments for sessions and must bring their own clothes.

Despite its small size, the Monticello Temple has all the facilities necessary for performing temple ordinances. Including facilities for providing the endowment ceremony in any available language, including Navajo and Ute. A feature that is very much appreciated by the Native Americans in the district. The Monticello Temple served as a prototype for all the other small temples to follow, and the Church has made several changes to the newest small temples. For example, most of the other Monticello style temples will have two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms, instead of one of each. They will also be larger than Monticello, at between 10,000 and 11,000 square feet instead of 7,000. Finally, the Monticello Temple was unique in that it was the only temple in the Church with a white Angel Moroni Statue rather than a gold one. However, the white statue was often difficult to see so the Church replaced it with a new gold leaf statue on May 25, 1999. The new statue is also unique in that it is two feet larger than all other Angel Moroni Statues on small temples.

The temple was announced on 4 October 1997.
Ground was broken and construction begun on 17 November 1997.
The cornerstone was laid and the temple dedicated on 26-27 July 1998.
There is 1 Sealing room and 1 Ordinance room in the 7,000 square foot temple.
The spire is 70 feet tall.
The Monticello Temple serves 5 stakes in southeastern Utah, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico.

Pictures of the Interior:

The Waiting Area.
Source: Open House Brochure.


The Baptistry.
Source: Open House Brochure.


The Celestial Room.
Source: Open House Brochure.

Rooms not Pictured:
The Sealing Room
The Ordinance Room

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