Payson Temple Announced

LDS Church to build temple in Payson

Mormons in southern Utah County no longer will have to travel north to Provo or south to Manti to participate in their faith's most sacred rituals.

The LDS Church announced Monday it is building a temple in Payson, the 15th in Utah and the third in Utah County.

The new temple will help "meet the needs of a growing church membership in the area," LDS President Thomas S. Monson said in a statement, "and will ease the heavy use of the Provo temple, which is one of the busiest in the church."

Although artist renderings and construction dates are still to come, LDS officials announced the temple's location: a gentle slope at 930 West and 1550 South, a mile away from the 800 South exit on Interstate 15. The property boasts scenic views of the area as well as easy access to the freeway.

"I am thrilled to hear the news," said Robert Provstgaard, an LDS bishop in Payson who grew up playing in the very field chosen for the temple. "Payson is absolutely fitted for a temple."

About four months ago, he and other Utah County bishops were told the Provo temple had reached capacity. At peak times, people were waiting several hours to go through a ceremony.

The Payson temple -- the 152nd in operation or planned worldwide for the LDS Church -- will serve more than 20 Mormon stakes from Spanish Fork to Nephi, comprising roughly 78,000 Latter-day Saints.

"It's a big honor to have a temple put in your town," Payson Mayor Rick Moore said. "We're looking forward to working with the church and doing everything we can to facilitate what they need."

The freshman mayor, who is LDS, said the temple is sure to spark economic development but added, "if that's the only reason you're wanting a temple, then you've got problems."

Mormons consider temples sacred places, where they make promises and commitments to God. It also is where couples go to be married and "sealed" to one another for eternity.

City Councilman Brad Daley said the temple will shine a "spotlight" on Payson, a city of 17,500 people. He expects more homes to sprout in the rural area surrounding the temple site, which is zoned residential.

"A lot of developers like to build in and around the temple developments," Daley said. The homes, he noted, often are more marketable because of their proximity to the temple and their reputation as part of a "quiet community."

The only "negative" Daley anticipates is increased traffic, but he expects the city can handle it.

Rodney Mayo, an LDS bishop in Payson who works at Brigham Young University, considers the new temple a spiritual boon.

"Having a new temple always helps lift our spirituality and [church] activity level," he said. "We are blessed to live in a region where temples are so accessible."

Utah County already boasts two temples to the north -- in American Fork and Provo.

Last fall, the LDS Church announced plans to build a temple on Main Street in Brigham City in Box Elder County.

From Eva Dixon:

Hi,  This will be so wonderful for you as far a travel at night and early morning.  I imagine you will get to work there.  In SL , I know, they transferred many of our workers to Bountiful because they were already trained.  I was on my mission when Bountiful was dedicated.  It is hard to change from our Temple, but, I am so grateful now that I can't walk as far and can get to here easily iin 10-15 minutes.  The Lord does know what He is doing.   I am so grateful for the fantastic blessings that have come into my life in the past few weeks.  Love you, Eva