Click here for San Diego California Temple information including temple schedule and directions from temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Announced: Apr. 7, 1984.

Location: In the northern part of city of San Diego near the suburb of La Jolla on a ridge above the San Diego, CA 92122-5000.

Site: 7.2 acres.

Exterior finish: Marble chips in plaster.

Temple design: Modern, with two major towers.

Architects: Deems, Lewis & McKinnley-William Lewis, and Hyndman & Hyndman.

Project representative: Stanley G. Smith.

Contractor: Okland Construction Co.

Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, four ordinance and eight sealing rooms.

Total floor area: 72,000 square feet.

Dimensions: 85-feet wide by 190-feet long by 169 feet high.

District: Stakes in San Diego area and northwestern Mexico..

Groundbreaking: Ground broken Feb. 27, 1988, by President Ezra Taft Benson; site dedicated the same day by President Thomas S. Monson.

Dedication: April 25-30, 1993, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, 23 sessions.

Dedicatory Prayer

By President Gordon B. Hinckley

O God, our Eternal Father, thou great Elohim, the Almighty who is above all, we come before thee on this day of dedication, in the name of thy beloved Son, the Redeemer of the world, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Hear our prayer and accept our offering, we humbly ask thee.

We are grateful for this day when thy holy house is completed. We thank thee for the consecrated tithes of thy saints across the earth which have made possible the erection of this beautiful edifice. We thank thee for all who have labored to plan and create it. We thank thee for the glorious work for which it has been constructed. We thank thee for "the fullness of the priesthood" which will be exercised herein. It is thine eternal priesthood whose authority reaches beyond the veil of death.

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the atonement wrought by thy divine Son whose love has encompassed all mankind. Surely He is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." We praise His holy name as our Savior and our King.

We thank thee for thine eternal plan, including the ordinances to be performed in this holy house, for the salvation and exaltation of the living and the dead of all generations. We thank thee for the majesty and wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the authority thou hast restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith in this the dispensation of the fullness of times.

We thank thee for the spread of thy work across the world, that thou art moving in thy power to open the doors of the nations to thine ordained messengers. Bless them, dear Father, lead them, protect them, inspire them as they seek to teach thy holy word. We thank thee that hundreds of thousands of men and women of various faiths and philosophies have had the opportunity of walking through this sacred house prior to this time of dedication. May an attitude of respect and reverence grow within them. May very many of them be stirred to seek and learn the truths of thy restored work that they too might become eligible to enjoy the blessings offered herein. May any voices of criticism be stilled and any words of disrespect be silenced.

This temple will be used by many of the sons and daughters of Father Lehi. We thank thee for their faithfulness. We thank thee for this day when thou art remembering thine ancient covenant in behalf of these thy children, from whose eyes the shackles of darkness are now falling. Bless the posterity of Lehi, we pray thee. Lift from their weary shoulders the burdens of the past. Grant unto those who walk in faith an enlarged understanding of things divine as well as blessings of temporal peace and prosperity.

We are grateful that as we dedicate this temple, work is going forward to build others to be similarly dedicated to the accomplishment of thine eternal purposes. Touch the hearts of all whose assistance is needed to bring to pass the completion of these undertakings. We are living in the greatest era in the history of the world in the construction of these sacred houses. Open the way before us, provide the necessary means, and hedge up the way of the adversary that he shall not have power to frustrate or delay this work.

We thank thee for this nation under whose inspired Constitution we enjoy freedom of worship and freedom to build these sacred houses. Bless this land, we pray thee, and bless those who govern that the precious liberties enunciated in the Bill of Rights may never be abridged nor taken from the people. Strengthen the cause of freedom among the nations of the earth. And now, our beloved Father, acting in the authority of thine everlasting priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ, as thy servants duly commissioned, we dedicate unto thee and unto thy Son this the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wilt thou accept it as the offering of thy people. We present it as the abode of Deity and pray that thou and thy glorious Son might visit it and sanctify it by thy divine presence.

We have built it according to thy will, that thou might have a place to manifest thyself to thy people. We consecrate it with love. Let thy mighty blessings rest upon it and thy Holy Spirit constantly abide herein.

We dedicate the ground on which it stands, and this magnificent structure from the footings to the figure of Moroni which crowns its highest steeple. We dedicate the baptistry, all of the facilities for administering the various ordinances, including the sealing rooms with their sacred altars, the endowment rooms, and the beautiful celestial room, together with all fixtures and appurtenances appertaining thereto. We dedicate the ancillary structures and the grounds with their flowers, trees, shrubs and lawns. May all aspects of this beautiful edifice come together to present a picture of the wonders of thy creations and the majesty of thy work and thy glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of thy sons and daughters of all generations.

May thy watchcare be over this thy holy house. Preserve it from storm and tempest, from the tremblings of the earth, and most importantly, from any defiling hand of man. To the millions who will see it as they move swiftly over the adjacent highway may it be a thing of singular beauty from which shall emanate a spiritual glow that speaks of peace and goodness. May all who enter these portals come with clean hands and hearts, and minds free from the stain of the world. May they find within these walls a refuge from the noise and stress of the world. In their seasons of trouble, wilt thou here whisper peace and direction. May they come with glad expectation and leave rejoicing in the spirit found in this dedicated sanctuary.

Father, bless thy people everywhere who walk in faith and virtue before thee. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon them that they shall not lack food upon their tables nor shelter from the storm. Grant them peace in their lives and happiness in their homes.

We remember before thee thy prophet who is now old in years. Wilt thou bless him with comfort and gladness. We pray for those who assist him in administering the affairs of thy Church throughout the world. Bless all who serve in any capacity in thy cause and kingdom wherever they may be and whatever the level of their responsibility.

In accepting thy gospel we have become a covenant people. We have taken upon ourselves the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and have promised to keep His commandments. Strengthen us in our resolutions and guard us against failure in observing the obligations we have accepted. In thy sacred temples we make further covenants with thee. Give us the will to live above sin and selfishness. Save us from pride and arrogance. Smile with favor upon us we humbly pray thee. Bless us with a spirit of benevolence toward all who are in distress wherever they may be or whatever their circumstances.

Thou art the Omnipotent God of all the people. Thy Son is the Redeemer of all mankind. May recognition of thy holy name and the name of thy Son grow among the unbelieving until every voice shall rise in praise and every knee bow in worship. Thou Almighty God, we look to thee in love and gratitude. On this day of dedication may a new spirit of consecration come into our hearts that we may serve thee more acceptably through service to thy sons and daughters—those who dwell upon the earth and those who have gone before. May we bask in the light of thy divine favor. May we be found walking always in the paths which thou hast marked out for thy children, and lead us to pastures green and peaceful.

We ask it all as thankful sons and daughters in the name of thine only Begotten, our Savior who gave His life that we might have eternal life, even the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Church earns award for spreading word at temple open house

Efforts during the San Diego California Temple open house to increase public awareness of the temple and the Church has earned the top award given by the Public Relations Society of America.

The society has given the Church its prestigious Silver Anvil Award in the category of special events and observances by non-profit organizations."This is only the seventh Silver Anvil ever won in Utah in the 50 years since the society has been giving the award," said Bruce L. Olsen, managing director of the Public Affairs Department. "It is recognition that the type of public affairs work done through cooperation of the various departments of the Church is well respected."

The Silver Anvil is the second prestigious award given to the Church for its open house activities. Previously, the International Public Relations Association gave the Church its Golden World Award.

The Church's Temple and Missionary departments joined the Public Affairs Department in planning and staging the open house activities in early 1993, in cooperation with the San Diego Temple Open House Committee. Brother Olsen said the local temple committee in San Diego deserved a lot of credit because it implemented the presentation at the open house.

The open house at the San Diego temple was Feb. 20-April 3, and the temple was dedicated April 25-30.

The six-week open house was planned as a prototype event to raise favorable impressions of the temple and the Church, according to Brother Olsen.

Derek F. Metcalfe, managing director of the Temple Department, said research showed that the open house materials - an exhibit, a video presentation and a brochure - cleared up a lot of information about the Church that had been confusing to non-member visitors. He explained that the same presentation will be used at other temple open houses in the future including the Orlando Florida Temple and Bountiful Utah Temple.

One objective of the open house was to provide a meaningful experience to those attending. That was done by providing specific messages about the Savior, Jesus Christ, and about the sacred nature of temples and family relationships in the lives of faithful Latter-day Saints.

"You have to present those messages before the visitors go into the temple, because the temple is a silent tour," Brother Olsen said.

The original attendance goal of 650,000 guests was exceeded by nearly 11 percent, Brother Olsen said. Surveys following the open house indicated that more than 90 percent of the respondents who were of other faiths had a positive experience, he added, and message awareness was increased by more than 125 percent for three of four specific messages conveyed.

San Diego Temple begins taking shape

By John L. Hart

Church News associate editor

As the spires have risen over the San Diego California Temple, public interest in the temple has also risen.

Because of the location of the temple, adjacent to the I-5 freeway in north San Diego near La Jolla, its rapidly emerging shape has created widespread attention. Nearly 250,000 vehicles travel pass the site each day.Several local television stations have sent camera crews to photograph the temple, now about 50 percent completed, reported Clyde Romney, chairman of the San Diego Multi-Region Public Affairs Council of the Church. News accounts and photos also appear regularly in area newspapers and magazines, he said.

Floyd Packard, vice chairman of the temple committee, said even at this early point in construction, "We have been deluged with requests for information about the public tours."

Interest, he said, is also increasing among Church members within the temple district, which includes four California counties and extends into northern Baja California in Mexico. Stake presidents in the temple district and members of the temple committee have toured the partially completed structure in preparation for the public open house and dedication.

"We are planning for a tremendous turnout both from the public and from members when the open house is held," said Brother Romney. No dates have been announced for the open house, but the building is expected to be completed early in 1993, he said.

Local stake public affairs directors have met with the Multi-Region Public Affairs Council and are helping in the massive effort to make sure the open house is well-attended by both members and non-members, he said.

Construction is proceeding on schedule, according to the general contractor, Okland Construction of Salt Lake City.

Much of the landscaping has already begun so the lawns, shrubbery and trees will be well established upon completion of the construction.

Located on an eight-acre site, the temple contains 59,000 square feet. It will occupy only 3 percent of the site, leaving the surrounding area to be landscaped in an attractive and park-like setting, said Brother Romney.

Since the groundbreaking in February 1988, much of the work has involved grading and pouring concrete. When the metal frames of the several spires were put in place recently, the public was treated to its first look of how impressive the building will be.

The temple will dominate the area with its 190-foot spires, Angel Moroni statue, and bright white exterior, said Brother Romney.