Idaho Mormons, community members gather for temple groundbreaking

Church members gather in Meridian, Idaho, for the temple groundbreaking ceremony held on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Marianne Holman Prescott

MERIDIAN, Idaho On a breezy summer day in an open field just south of the Boise River, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others in the community gathered Saturday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony commemorating the start of construction on the Meridian Idaho Temple.

With the Boise River bottom and beautiful Idaho landscape as a backdrop, an excited crowd watched as Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles grabbed a shovel and joined other church leaders to break ground for the states fifth temple.

Nothing could be more important than to have a temple for these people in this area, Elder Bednar said. For people in the community at large this will be a beautiful place not exclusive to Latter-day Saints.

Once completed, the temple announced by President Thomas S. Monson during general conference in April 2011 will serve Mormons living in the Treasure Valley and its surrounding region.

It is a marvelous step forward every time we have either a groundbreaking or a dedication, said Elder Kent F. Richards, who serves as a Seventy and executive director of the temple department for the LDS Church. Another temple is underway and immeasurable blessings will come to all, not only the saints in this area, but especially to those who come into the temple.

Located only 12 miles from the Boise Idaho Temple, the Meridian temple will reduce current demands on the Boise temple and accommodate the development and growth in surrounding areas.

We were surprised but excited, said Grant Francis, who serves as president of the Kuna Idaho East Stake. We have lived here for 15 years and have seen the area grow. It is exciting to be a part of it. Means we better utilize our temple as we participate in hastening the work.

Although Meridian has been on the map since the 1860s, it wasnt until the 1920s that members of the LDS Church moved to the area. For a few years members would travel to Boise or Nampa to attend church, and it wasnt until April 1932 that the first organized meeting took place.

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Idaho Mormons, community members gather for temple groundbreaking