Groundbreaking of the Casper Wyoming Temple
The groundbreaking of the Casper Wyoming Temple was presided over by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, North America Central Area president, on Oct. 9, 2021. Strong winds and cold temperatures caused most of the event to be moved inside a meetinghouse, but the breaking of ground outside still took place.
In his dedicatory prayer on the site, Elder Nielsen said, “Our hearts are full of gratitude as we contemplate the magnitude of what is about to happen. This gathering is an answer to many prayers. We can only imagine the celebration on the other side of the veil among those whose sacrifices prepared the way for the blessings we enjoy today. Our hearts rejoice with them.”
The Casper Wyoming Temple is scheduled to be dedicated Nov. 24, 2024, by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Timeline of the Casper Wyoming Temple
The Casper Wyoming Temple was announced April 4, 2021, by Church President Russell M. Nelson. The groundbreaking and site dedication were held on Oct. 9, 2021, and presided over by Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, North America Central Area president.
After a public open house from Aug. 29 to Sept. 14, 2024, the Casper Wyoming Temple will be dedicated Nov. 24, 2024, by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Casper Wyoming Temple
The Casper Wyoming Temple is a single-story building of approximately 10,000 square feet. It features a steel-framed modular structure, built similar to the modular construction first used by the Church with its Helena Montana Temple, which was dedicated in June 2023. The exterior is a cladding of glass-fiber reinforced concrete.
The design motifs through the interior are based on the stylized versions of the Indian paintbrush — Wyoming’s state flower — and the sagebrush, both native to Casper and the surrounding area. Floor coverings include green carpet tile in the instruction room, cream wool area rugs in the celestial and sealing rooms, and red, green and tan decorative rugs in the entry and waiting area. Porcelain in the Timeless Marfil color is used in the interior, with granite in the color of Coast Green in the baptistry.
Art-glass windows and interior decorative painting feature local flora — including the Indian paintbrush — and geometric Native American patterns. The doors are stained sapele and painted poplar, with millwork employing the same woods. Landscaping of the 9.5-acre temple grounds includes large boulders and stones and grasses — all reflecting the region’s rocky prairie — along with native plants, multitrunk trees and evergreens.