More on the Temple

The Calgary Herald today confirmed it! The temple will be in Royal Oak:

Mormon temple slated for N.W.
by Sean Myers, Calgary Herald
Monday, October 06, 2008

The province's third Mormon temple could be ready to open in northwest Calgary in three years.

With more than 18,000 Mormons now living in the city, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on the weekend that Calgary would get a temple. The news came during the church's semi-annual world conference in Salt Lake City.

"We were all very excited to hear it announced," said Richard Melchin, a Calgary-based LDS elder who supervises church activity in Alberta. "It was during the conference so we had to be quiet, otherwise we would've been jumping and shouting for joy.

"We have a beautiful site with a panoramic view of the city."

Melchin said the church bought land adjacent to its Royal Oak Chapel at 81 Royal Elm Dr. N.W. about four years ago in anticipation of being granted a temple.

He said the decision to grant new temples is ultimately up to the president of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City. Few clues are given as to which congregations will be given permission to build temples until the announcement is made.

Melchin said hopes were raised when a church councillor arrived from Utah to inspect the site a few months ago.

"The best way to have a temple built in your city is to convince the Lord so he gives you one," said Brent Thomas, president of the church's Calgary Alberta North Stake.

Concept designs will be drawn up over the next six months. The temple is expected to be completed in about three years.

The LDS Church also announced it would build a temple in Rome, its first in the Mediterranean region.

Worldwide, there are more than 13 million Mormons, according to the church.

Alberta's first Mormon temple was built in Cardston in 1923 with another opened in Edmonton in 1999.

smyers@theherald.canwest.com
© The Calgary Herald 2008

The temple will be 10 miles from my house! According to Mapquest it'll take 20 minutes to drive there. I think I can do it in 15. A is our house and B is the temple.