All photos courtesy of Gordon Coleman (gscoleman@ozemail.com.au)

The Australia Adelaide Temple was dedicated in four sessions on June 15th, 2000, by President Gordon B. Hinckley. It is now open for ordinance work.

Received the following from Br. Coleman: "Dear Jeremy,

Thought that you might like to know that there were over 5000 visitors to the first day of the Open season at the Temple on Saturday.

The place was flooded with visitors and was quite busy around the middle of the afternoon. One lady went round four times. The majority of visitors were very impressed with the building and many commented that they felt a special spirit within the walls.

The Temple Presidency will consist of

Bob Wilmot-President. He is a FIFTH generation Australian Mormon. His family joined the church in Australia in 1854!

Thomas Granger will be the Second Coun and Recorder

Thomas Hooper-Second Coun and Engineer.

Best wishes

Gordon"

   The Dedicatory Prayer

    Beloved and Eternal Father, we Thy covenant children bow before Thee in reverent prayer on this historic day. We feel so profoundly blessed in having this sacred temple in our midst so that we might more fully serve Thee in faith and in obedience to Thy divine will. Thou hast heard our prayers and answered them with this magnificent blessing.
    Acting in the authority of the eternal priesthood which Thou hast bestowed upon us, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate this the Adelaide Australia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unto Thee and unto Thy Beloved Son as the House of the Lord.
     Accept of our offering we humbly ask Thee. It is our gift to Thee in response to Thy revealed will that we should build such houses that the great work of salvation may go forward, not only for the living, but also for the numberless generations of the dead. They will be made to rejoice because of the ordinances which will be administered herein. They will rise from the bondage of the past, shake off the fetters which have bound them, and move forward on the way of immortality and eternal life.
     All that is done here will be in recognition of the immortality of the human soul. Because of the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer, Thy Beloved Son, the great gift of everlasting life is made available to us, as well as to the generations who have gone before us. We are blessed by Thy great plan of happiness. Help us to live worthy of the blessings Thou hast promised those who walk in obedience to Thy commandments and hold Thy name sacred before the world.
     Dear Father, we dedicate and consecrate this entire structure, the ground on which it stands, and all of the rooms and facilities found herein. May no unclean hand or impure heart desecrate this sacred edifice. May none unworthily breach its portals. It is Thy house, and we recognize that it must be maintained in holiness.
     We are grateful for this nation of Australia, where there is freedom of worship, freedom of assembly, and freedom to take upon ourselves the name of our Divine Redeemer, and to keep sacred the covenants which we make with Him.
     We express our profound thanks for the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom Thou didst reveal Thy will and Thine authority. Based on these revelations, there will be carried forward in this house a great work of redemption in behalf of the dead, many of whom have waited long for these saving ordinances. May this be a day of rejoicing on both sides of the veil, and may all who have the privilege of working here feel the obligation and responsibility of this great vicarious service.
     We remember before Thee all who serve in Thy kingdom wherever it may be established. May it roll forth to fill the earth as a small stone cut from the mountain without hands rolls forth to fill the earth. We remember the missionaries of Thy Church and pray that their testimonies may ring as with Thy divine voice. May they have the power and the capacity to find those who will accept the truth, and to teach them the doctrine which will bring gladness to their hearts, and to the hearts of the generations who have gone before them.
     We pray that Thy blessings may rest upon the temple presidency and the matron and her assistants, and upon all who serve here in whatever capacity. May all count it a great privilege and may they give of their time and their energy in a spirit of overwhelming love for Thee and Thy Son. Give them strength and vitality according to their need. Accept of their consecrated service.
     Now all that we have and are we place in Thy hands as Thy sons and daughters, praying that Thou wilt accept of our love and that Thou wilt smile upon us as those who have sought to accomplish Thy divine will, we humbly ask in the name of the Savior of all mankind, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

(copied from the Church News, June 24 2000)

Older pictures:

As of May 6, 2000

At approximately 08.00hrs Tuesday 11th April Y2K, the Angel Moroni landed on the Adelaide Temple.

As of April 11, 2000

 
As of April 1, 2000


March 11, 2000


February 5, 2000


December 12, 1999


November 20, 1999


October 16, 1999


September 18, 1999

GROUNDBREAKING:

May 29, 1999

LDS Church News Archives, Saturday, June 5, 1999 Rain, clouds in Adelaide do not dampen spirits during groundbreaking -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Phillip Howes Adelaide Australia Firle Stake president ADELAIDE, Australia -- In the midst of black clouds and heavy rain, almost 500 people gathered at the temple site here May 29 for the ceremonial beginning of the Adelaide Australia Temple. Bishops, acting as ushers, directed the steady flow of traffic to the nearby Firle Chapel, where the groundbreaking service was held. In the comfort of the chapel, to the sound of rain drumming on the roof, the congregation listened to Elder Vaughn J Featherstone of the Seventy and president of the Australia/New Zealand Area and other speakers. Elder Featherstone, who presided at the services, asked that the local Saints serve in the temple willingly and joyfully. He called the temple a wonderful credit to the members in Adelaide, who have "for years and years traveled between 15 and 20 hours each way to the Sydney Temple." By demonstrating a commitment to temple attendance, the Adelaide members "surely merit a temple in their midst," he said. After his talk, he offered the site dedicatory prayer. Current and former stake presidents recounted the history of the Church in Adelaide and exhorted all in attendance to become pure in heart. Sandra Howell, a stake Relief Society president, spoke on the atonement of the Savior. A 65-voice choir performed two selections -- "The Day Dawn is Breaking" and "High on the Mountain Top" -- under the direction of Marilyn Broomfield. They sang without musical accompaniment and their voices touched many hearts. The congregation proceeded to the temple site, and as they did, the rain stopped. Heavy black clouds gave way to clear skies as Elder Featherstone and local stake presidents broke ground. Next, local dignitaries -- including the mayor and his wife, various members of government and the principal of the adjacent high school -- as well as children were invited to participate. Church leaders announced plans to build the Adelaide Australia Temple March 17. The edifice, located just a few miles from the Adelaide City Center, will be one of four temples in the country. The Sydney Australia Temple was dedicated Sept. 20, 1984, by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Ground was broken for the Melbourne Australia Temple March 20 and the Brisbane Australia Temple was announced July 20, 1998.