The Cardston Alberta Temple

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

In many ways the Cardston Temple was revolutionary. It was the first temple built in a foreign country, it was the first temple started by someone other than Joseph Smith or Brigham Young. Also, since it was begun before the Laie Temple, it was the first temple without a tower or an assembly hall. Designed by the same architects as the Laie Temple, it is well adapted to the flat prairie on which it stands. Since each of the four sides of the temple is identical; the temple is approachable from any direction. It echoes the shape of Old Chief Mountain behind it. The Cardston Temple is the first temple designed with the rooms of the endowment laid out in such a way that the ceremony progresses both upward and inward toward the centrally located, and raised, celestial room.

Ground was broken and construction began in November 1913.
The cornerstone was laid in September 1915.
The temple was dedicated on 26-29 August 1923.
The temple was remodeled and rededicated on 2 July 1962.
And was remodeled and rededicated again on 22-24 June 1991.
There are 5 Sealing Rooms in the temple.
The Endowment Ceremony is presented in the traditional 4 Ordinance Rooms.
Before remodeling the temple had 29,431 square feet, after the first remodeling it had 65,000 square feet,
after the second remodeling it has 89,405 square feet.
The temple has no spire.
The Cardston Temple serves stakes in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, southeastern British Columbia, northern Montana, western Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

Pictures of the Interior:

The Waiting Area.
Source: Open House Brochure.


The Bride's Room.
Source: Open House Brochure.


The Chapel.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazine.


The Baptistry.
Source: Temples 1988.


One of the five Sealing Rooms.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazine.


Another Sealing Room.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazinee.


The Creation Room.
Source: Video from www.lds.org "Official Temple List".


The Garden Room.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazinee.


The World Room.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazine.


The Terrestrial Room.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazine.


The Celestial Room.
Source: Aug. 1962 Improvement Era Magazine.

Rooms not Pictured:
3 Sealing Rooms
The Creation Room

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