In the News
Follow Us
The Fresno California Temple was dedicated on April 9, 2000, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was the 50th Latter-day Saint temple he had dedicated. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder William R. Bradford of the Seventy also participated in the event.
A total of 10,294 people were inside the house of the Lord at the four dedicatory sessions combined, including those who watched it over closed-circuit television in other rooms of the temple. The closed-circuit broadcast was also transmitted to the nearby Fresno California West Stake Center.
When President Hinckley stepped outside the temple for the cornerstone ceremony, he said, “What a beautiful morning. I’ve never been in Fresno on a more beautiful morning.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “May its doors be open to all who gather here with clean hands and pure hearts to assist in bringing to pass Thy great work in behalf of the living and the dead. May the work in this house unlock the prison doors beyond the veil, that those who there receive the gospel may rejoice in the vicarious work performed here in their behalf.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the Fresno California Temple here.
On Jan. 8, 1999, the First Presidency sent a letter to priesthood leaders in California to announce a temple for Fresno. At the time, the First Presidency comprised Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust.
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, with Elder John B. Dickson, president of the North America West Area, presiding. To prevent traffic congestion in surrounding neighborhoods, local Church leaders limited the number of attendees to 3,000. The groundbreaking services were moved to a stake center to avoid rain, then those in attendance walked to the temple site to break ground.
An open house was held for the temple from March 25-31 and April 3-4, 2000. Government and religious leaders, as well as other dignitaries, were in attendance.
The Fresno California Temple was dedicated during four sessions on April 9, 2000, by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. A total of 10,294 Latter-day Saints attended the four sessions.
The Fresno California Temple is a one-story building of approximately 10,700 square feet. The exterior is made with Sierra white granite, with rows of circles and rectangular windows surrounding the edifice. A multilevel tower sits above the temple and close to the entrance.
Inside the temple are a celestial room, a baptistry, two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. Green trees and grassy fields cover the 2.2-acre site, with a parking lot and meetinghouse north of the building.
8 January 1999
9 April 2000
6290 N. Valentine Ave.
Fresno, California 93711
United States
View schedule and book online
(1) 559-437-9451
This was the fourth Latter-day Saint dedicated in California and the first built in the central part of the state.
The Fresno California Temple was the 99th temple announced by the Church, even though it was the 78th temple dedicated.
It was the 50th Latter-day Saint temple dedicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, the same day as the groundbreakings of the Fukuoka Japan, Melbourne Australia and Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico temples. These happened a week after another three groundbreakings took place on the same day: The Oaxaca Mexico, Nashville Tennessee and Kona Hawaii temples all happened on March 13, 1999.
This was the fourth Latter-day Saint dedicated in California and the first built in the central part of the state.
The Fresno California Temple was the 99th temple announced by the Church, even though it was the 78th temple dedicated.
It was the 50th Latter-day Saint temple dedicated by Church President Gordon B. Hinckley.
The Fresno temple’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1999, the same day as the groundbreakings of the Fukuoka Japan, Melbourne Australia and Tuxtla Gutiérrez Mexico temples. These happened a week after another three groundbreakings took place on the same day: The Oaxaca Mexico, Nashville Tennessee and Kona Hawaii temples all happened on March 13, 1999.