Atlanta Latter-day Saints Temple Reopens

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by Linda McMillian

NORTH FULTON, GA —For almost 40 years Latter-day Saints in Georgia have been able to worship, pray and take part in sacred ordinances at their Temple in Sandy Springs. The COVID-19 pandemic brought all of those activities abruptly to a standstill… until now.

Nelson Zivic, Roswell Stake Presidency First Counselor, explained:
“We feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to worship again in the Temples, even with limited access due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, limited access to temples doesn’t limit the access to our Father in Heaven. He has always been there and will continue to be by our side.

“The Temple is an essential part of our worship. In this holy place we make covenants with God and participate in symbolic, simple yet very sacred ordinances. We commit ourselves to follow the teachings and example of our Savior Jesus Christ.

“We are reminded of the scripture found in the Old Testament: 'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart' (Psalm 24:3–4)

“May we all recommit ourselves again to love and serve God and our neighbor and do our part in making this world a better place.”

In Christianity, within both the Old and New Testaments, temples have been built as houses of God and considered places of Holiness. In 1836 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began building such temples again. Click here for additional information.

It is in these temples that worthy members are married “For All Time and Eternity” and commitments are made to live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As explained at the Church's website, anyone, regardless of religion, may enter a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse and attend services. However, because of the sacredness of the temple only members of the Church, who are in good standing, are allowed to enter the temples.

The Atlanta Georgia Temple was the first to be built in the Southeastern United States. Almost 10,000 members were there to observe the groundbreaking ceremony on March 7th 1981. It was dedicated June 1, 1983 by Gordon B. Hinckley, who became president of the Church in 1995.

According to the Church, “The originally proposed design for the Atlanta Georgia Temple fell short in the eyes of a Faith & Values reviewer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who noted the absence of a spire and gold angel. A short time later, however, on January 10, 1982, Church architect Emil B. Fetzer announced revised plans for the temple, which commenced a tradition of incorporating a spire and angel Moroni into the design of nearly every successive temple of the Church until the 2020s.”

In Church theology, the Prophet Moroni had a significant role in restoring the gospel to the world. Accordingly, he is placed atop some temples to herald the second coming of Christ and the spreading of His gospel throughout the world.

In May 1983, over 60,000 people toured the Atlanta Georgia Temple during its nearly three-week public open house.

To learn more about the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the purpose for temples, anyone interested can attend Sunday services at their local Meeting House location.