Nearly 16,000 people toured the new Portland Oregon Temple during the first Saturday of its open house, suggesting that up to 200,000 people may visit during the 20-day open house from June 15 to July 8.
Nearly 40,000 people visited during the first three days.After the open house, the 65,000-square foot edifice, located in this suburb south of Portland, will be closed and prepared for dedicatory services, to be conducted Aug. 19-21 in 11 sessions. After dedication, it will be the Church's 42nd operating temple.
According to leaders, crowds of visitors were backed up and waited almost an hour to enter the temple on Saturday, June 17. After the tours during the opening days, most visitors were very positive about their experience.
Among those who toured the temple were civic and business leaders, owners and managers of radio and television stations, press representatives, clergy, and many Church members and their friends, said Brian L. Smith, Portland area public communications director. Also touring the temple were construction workers and architects who worked on the building.
Smith said the craftsmen who worked on the temple were very pleased to work on a project where quality was not compromised for a time deadline. As an example of the quality of workmanship, when the woodwork underwent a final inspection, any nick or scratch visible from 18 inches was re-finished.
"We had a steady line almost all the time," said Smith of the open house. A frequent remark jotted by visitors on guest cards was that the temple is "very beautiful." Some added, "Welcome to the neighborhood." Some less-actives who attended wrote that they "want to be worthy to return" after the temple is dedicated.
The announcement of the open house was extensive, Smith reported. Some 900,000 brochures about the temple were mailed to residents of the Portland area by local public communication directors. Other ward and stake members personally delivered additional invitations.
For example, Ray Baum, a high priest in the Le Grande (Ore.) Ward and a state representative, delivered a formal invitation on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives to all in attendance to visit the open house. However, pressing legislative matters prevented most the officials from attending then. Many are expected to visit the temple before the end of the open house, said Smith.
Invitations and brochures were also placed at businesses, information centers, motels along Interstate 5, the major freeway near the temple, and other locations.
Television, radio and newspaper coverage of the open house have been thorough. Articles have been printed in some 30 newspapers, and many radio stations and all the major television stations in the area have given coverage.
Representatives of the news media were the first to tour the temple, attending by special invitation on June 14. About 60 took preview tours. Also that day, a group of 230 dignitaries and special guests, including business and civic leaders, were hosted at a dinner and toured the temple.
A group of 60 clergymen and women from the Seattle area was hosted at a banquet and on tours June 15 by Smith and Larry C. Linton, also an area public communications director. Afterward, they gathered in the nearby institute of religion building and sang songs, "some of theirs and some of ours. We had a great time," said Smith.
Lines began forming as soon as the temple was opened to the general public on June 15. A five-minute video on the purpose of temples was presented on monitors to those waiting in line.
Within the temple, visitors viewed the foyer, which opens into a large, glass-walled atrium resplendent with plants. Visitors then descended to the basement level to see the baptismal font. Returning to the first level, visitors toured the chapel, dressing rooms, bride's room and administrative section. Next, they visited the second level where the ordinance rooms and seven of the 14 sealing rooms are located.
While on the second level, visitors entered the celestial room, the highlight of the tour. The room is overwhelming, said Smith. "It is bright, but not white, and the furniture and wall colors are accented in gold and gold leaf. Three huge chandeliers handing from the ceiling and long tapestries on the walls give you a feeling of brilliance when you enter the room," he said.
Steps in the celestial room lead to the third level, with two large paintings of the Savior displayed, he explained.
The tours end at the remaining sealing rooms, which have marble altars and a nearly white motif, and assembly hall, where stonework shows through the sunlit marble.
"It is a very beautiful building," said Smith.
