Dedication of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple
The Grand Junction Colorado Temple was dedicated Oct. 19, 2025, by President Jeffrey R. Holland, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Holland said, “We are now opening what is undoubtedly western Colorado’s most important chapter with the completion of a house of the Lord in Grand Junction.” He added that in a time of division, hostility and dishonesty, the temple is a place of instruction, peace, cleanliness and divine covenants — “a world as close to God’s world as we can find in mortality.”
President Holland was joined by Elder Steven R. Bangerter, General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department, and his wife, Sister Susan Bangerter; Elder Karl D. Hirst, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the United States Central Area, and his wife, Sister Clair Hirst; and Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and his wife, Sister Carol S. Waddell.
The house of the Lord “is one of the ties on earth that He has with His children that are here,” President Holland said. “It is the obvious place to which God could come if He had family business on the earth. And ultimately, all of His business on earth is family business.”
Bryson and Elise Rasmussen, a married couple from the Adobe Creek Ward of the Fruita Colorado Stake, are grateful that their then-3-year-old son will grow up with a temple nearby. “I just never thought that this was something that would happen, at least while I lived here,” Elise Rasmussen said. Bryson Rasmussen said he also appreciated the articulate, reverent way that President Holland spoke about the temple. “I always think about that after he speaks,” Bryson Rasmussen said. “What words am I choosing to speak with other people, and how will that bring reverence to the conversation?”
Dale and Janalee Bowen, local Latter-day Saints and chairs of the Grand Junction temple’s open house committee, reflected on the many ways that the new house of the Lord will bless their part of Colorado. Dale Bowen noted the greater accessibility it will provide, especially during winter months when driving is harder; while Janalee Bowen said the temple brings light to the entire community. “We’ve had [people] not of our faith feel like it’s their temple, too, for the valley,” she said. “It’s not just for us. It’s a light to the whole area.”
For Frank Frigetto, a member of the Liberty Cap Ward, Grand Junction Colorado West Stake, the Grand Junction temple is especially meaningful because it’s blessing the place where he joined the Church. Frigetto said he was born and raised in Grand Junction and introduced to the Church as an adult. The city is where his roots are, and joining the Church “just added to that joy. I just feel the Spirit everywhere.” As the only Church member on his side of the family, Frigetto said he’s particularly looking forward to performing more ordinances for his deceased ancestors.
Stephanie Sherman, a member of the Bookcliff Ward, Grand Junction West stake, is also a convert to the Church. Born in Grand Junction to a nonreligious family, Sherman said she attended church as a child with a Latter-day Saint friend until she was baptized at age 12 with her parents’ permission. Now, Sherman gets to participate in temple worship in the place her faith began. “I’m really excited to be five minutes away from the temple, to … do a lot of temple work for family that just took us so much longer before.”
San Juan Branch President Nicolas Taylor said his Spanish-speaking branch has seen significant growth since the temple was announced. He took several new Church members to the temple open house, he said, and they’re now eagerly awaiting both the dedication and the opportunity to perform baptisms for the dead. “There’s a feeling that comes with the growth of Zion,” President Taylor said, continuing that “the effect of the temple on the Hispanic community in western Colorado has been palpable.” The Grand Junction Colorado Temple, he added, is “the jewel in the crown of our lives here in western Colorado.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “In all these efforts, we bless those Saints of the temple district, Thy sons and daughters, who will receive their own ordinances here, including being sealed as a couple and thus providing that their children will be born under the covenant.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple here.
Timeline of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple
President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of the Church, announced a house of the Lord for Grand Junction, Colorado, on April 4, 2021. A groundbreaking ceremony was then held on April 16, 2022, with Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong — first counselor in the North America Central Area presidency — presiding.
After a public open house from Sept. 11-27, 2025, the Grand Junction Colorado Temple was dedicated Oct. 19, 2025, by President Jeffrey R. Holland, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Architecture and Design of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple
The 29,630-square-foot Grand Junction Colorado Temple incorporates elements celebrating western Colorado’s natural environment — especially the state’s official cactus, the claret cup cactus. Other design motifs tied to the desert landscape include Indian paintbrush, cliffrose blossoms and peach blossoms.
The peach blossom design can be seen in the door hardware as well as the African sapele hardwood millwork throughout the house of the Lord, a subtle nod to the region’s orchards. Mineo marble, the primary flooring stone, is accented by new saffron, red jasper, verde laguna and quetzal green marbles, reminiscent of southwestern canyon landscapes.
Art glass and additional elements throughout the building draw from the crimson color of the claret cup cactus flower, as well as shades of amber, green and pale pink. Carpets and nylon area rugs throughout the temple use warm colors and organic patterns inspired by the regional landscape.
Interior Photos of the Grand Junction Colorado Temple
