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President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the San Diego California Temple in 23 sessions starting from April 25 to April 30, 1993. President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, also presided and conducted the sessions. President Hinckley conducted 13 sessions, including the cornerstone session, while President Monson conducted 10 sessions.
During the last session he conducted, President Hinckley said, “God has provided opportunities for His children to partake of something that is far sweeter than what is available in mortality.”
While presiding, President Monson encouraged the young people to prepare themselves to enter the house of the Lord and to remember how they feel when they enter. “Make the temple part of your lives. The temple can bring you the supreme feeling of peace.”
Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “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 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.”
Read the dedicatory prayer of the San Diego California Temple here.
Plans to construct a house of the Lord in San Diego were announced prior to the Saturday morning session of April 1984 general conference. President Gordon B. Hinckley, second counselor in the First Presidency, said the Presidency met with the stake officers residing in the respective temple locations, in which they expressed their support for the upcoming temple plans.
President Ezra Taft Benson presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the San Diego California Temple on Feb. 27, 1988. President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the site on the same day.
A public open house was held for the temple from Feb. 20 to April 3, 1993. Nearly 21,000 people attended opening tours for the newly built San Diego temple, said Clyde Romney, chairman of the temple open house committee. Temple President Floyd L. Packard said the members were excited to finally have a temple.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the San Diego California Temple in 23 sessions starting from April 25 to April 30. President Monson presided at and conducted 10 out of the 23 sessions.
The 30-year-old San Diego temple closed July 31, 2023, for extensive renovations. July 29 was the last day of temple worship before the closure.
Plans to construct a house of the Lord in San Diego were announced on April 7, 1984. Four years later, President Ezra Taft Benson dedicated the site on February 27, 1988. Five years later, President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, dedicated the San Diego temple on April 25, 1993.
The temple was closed in July 2023 for extensive renovations.
The temple is 72,000 square feet, 85 feet wide, 190 feet long and 169 feet tall. The structure is built on a 7.2-acre site. The exterior is made of marble chips in plaster. There are two spires headed with the angel Moroni statue, surrounded by four smaller spires.
The interior includes one baptistry, one celestial room, four ordinance and eight sealing rooms.
7 April 1984
25 April 1993
7474 Charmant Drive
San Diego, California 92122-5000
United States
View schedule and book online
(1) 858-622-0991
This was the third Latter-day Saint temple dedicated in California.
The temple was named Headliner of the Year for 1993, in the landmark category, by the San Diego Press Club.
The Public Relations Society of America awarded the Church a Silver Anvil award in the category of special events and observances by nonprofit organizations because of this house of the Lord.
President Ezra Taft Benson presided over his first groundbreaking ceremony with the San Diego temple.
This was the third Latter-day Saint temple dedicated in California.
The temple was named Headliner of the Year for 1993, in the landmark category, by the San Diego Press Club.
The Public Relations Society of America awarded the Church a Silver Anvil award in the category of special events and observances by nonprofit organizations because of this house of the Lord.
President Ezra Taft Benson presided over his first groundbreaking ceremony with the San Diego temple.