Location
20080 Stone Oak Parkway
San Antonio, Texas 78258-6920
United States
Contact
Telephone: (210) 538-0034
Facsimile: (210) 538-0038
Distribution Services: (210) 538-0048
Details
Announcement: 24 June 2001
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 29 March 2003 by H. Bruce Stucki
Public Open House: 16 April–7 May 2005
Dedication: 22 May 2005 by Gordon B. Hinckley
Site: 5.5 acres.
Exterior Finish: Granite.
Ordinance Rooms: Two ordinance rooms (two-stage progressive) and two sealing.
Total Floor Area: 16,800 square feet.
Temple Facts:
The San Antonio Texas Temple was the fourth temple built in Texas, following the Dallas Texas Temple (1984), the Houston Texas Temple (2000), and the Lubbock Texas Temple (2002).
Temple History:
On September 21, 2004, a 13-foot, gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was placed atop the San Antonio Texas Temple, coinciding with the 181st anniversary of the first appearance of Moroni to Joseph Smith.1
During its three-week open house period, the temple saw more than 50,000 visitors enter its doors including missionaries of San Antonio-based Evidence Ministries. Church representatives gave a tour to these missionaries, who stood on the streets every day of the open house distributing thousands of copies of an eight-page tabloid to passing motorists. Despite Ministries' claims that the Church misrepresents its differences with traditional Christianity, the Church interacted peacefully with Ministries' missionaries, even giving them use of its meetinghouse bathrooms.2
The evening before the temple dedication, 20,000 people filled the Alamodome for a cultural celebration, featuring fireworks, horses, and over 4,000 singers and dancers. The various presentations reflected on Texas history, patriotism, the importance of family values, and the story of the Mormon faith. In promoting the celebration, producer Gary Bradley noted, "It'll make people proud, and some parts of it will make people cry." Two hours before the musical celebration began, President Gordon B. Hinckley delighted the audience with a speech focused on the temple.3
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1. "Angel tops Mormon temple," MySA.com 22 Sept. 2004, 23 Sept. 2004 .
2. J. Michael Parker, "Mormon temple draws evangelical critics," MySA.com 7 May 2005, 22 May 2005 .
3. J. Michael Parker, "Mormon leader visiting S.A. for weekend events," MySA.com 20 May 2005, 22 May 2005 .