A First (And Last*) Look at the New Mormon Temple

The tour started across the street in the meetinghouse, where regular worship services take place. The meetinghouse, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, is simpler in detail but also Georgian Revival in character. Photo: Sandy Smith

The city installed temporary crosswalk signals in front of the temple to handle the expected crowds. Photo: Sandy Smith

Daytime view of the temple from the east.

Most recent LDS temples have been constructed in contemporary architectural styles, but the LDS Church chose Georgian Revival for the Philadelphia temple because of its connection to the city's Revolutionary Era heritage.

A view of the temple at sunset. While the architecture is in keeping with that of the city's most historic buildings, the choice of granite as the exterior material as well as its dimensions gives it much more heft than the modestly scaled originals.

A view of the temple at night. The church had a lot on Broad Street above Callowhill as its first choice for the temple site, but environmental concerns made that site unfeasible, so the temple wound up here instead. LDS Church member and NBC10 sportscaster Vai Sikahema said that "We believe things have a way of working out."

The inscription over the main entrance to the temple. Photo: Sandy Smith

The temple foyer contains the "recommend desk," where Mormons present their authorizations to enter the temple.

Behind the recommend desk is a reproduction of a painting of Jesus Christ by Danish artist Carl Bloch (1834-1890). "We think Mormons know more about Carl Bloch than the Danes do," Koons said. The crossed quill pens above the painting refer to the signing of the nation's founding documents in Philadelphia and the translation of the Book of Mormon in northeast Pennsylvania.

Mormons waiting to enter the temple may relax in the waiting room to the left of the foyer.

Mormons are like many Eastern religions in believing that life is eternal; thus baptism of one's ancestors can ensure their entrance into the Mormon faith (if they accept it). The baptismal fonts in Mormon temples are used exclusively by church members wishing to baptize their ancestors by proxy. The mural behind the font depicts Joseph Smith's baptism in the Susquehanna River, a rarity among Mormon temple artwork.

The baptistry in each temple is supported by twelve oxen in groups of three facing each of the main compass points, a reference to a description of the Temple of Solomon in I Kings. The railings (above) incorporate a wave motif found at the nearby Franklin Institute as well as the mountain laurel, Pennsylvania's state flower.

The murals in the first ordinance room on the second floor depict the upper Delaware and Susquehanna valleys as well as the upstate New York glen where Joseph Smith first heard the call to create the church.

The ordinance rooms are the primary sites of religious instruction within a Mormon temple. As one proceeds through the spaces on each floor and upward from floor to floor, the decorative elements become more refined to reflect the believer's approach to God. This is the second ordinance room, where Mormons make their covenants with God. Its chandeliers are modeled on those in the assembly room of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.

All of the furnishings and decorative objects in the temple are also designed to reflect local history and tradition. The level of elegance of the third floor hallway, seen here, is a little higher than that of the floor below it.

The two-story-high "celestial room" is the space where Mormons may contemplate their relationship to God and to his plan for their lives.

A large stained-glass window, an elaborate Swarovski crystal chandelier and recessed and indirect lighting in the dome fill the celestial room with light - again symbolizing the link between the believer and God.

Some tour participants noted the resemblance between the colors in the temple's stained-glass windows and those of the Philadelphia city flag. A pure coincidence, said Wilson, but perhaps divinely inspired?

Marriage is the highest of all the LDS Church sacraments, so it is fitting that the rooms devoted to it are on the top floor. Shown here is the brides room, where the family and guests may welcome the bride prior to the ceremony.

In a Mormon marriage, the wedded couple and their children are "sealed" to one another for eternity. In this room, church officials perform the sealing in front of witnesses, family members and guests who are authorized to enter the temple.

Detail of the stained glass windows and chairs found in the temple.

A lunette window and chairs in one of the temple's anterooms.

A Colonial-style bench seat and window in the temple.

The building to the temple's left serves as a visitor center where non-Mormons may learn more about the temple and the LDS Church. Rising in the background is the Robert A.M. Stern-designed apartment tower that is also part of the larger LDS Church development that includes the temple, visitor center and meetinghouse (spire at right in the background). The church notes that property values usually rise around its projects. Photo: Sandy Smith