Boston Mormon Temple: 100th House of the Lord

The beautiful modern, granite-faced, Mormon Boston temple was announced on September 30, 1995, and was erected to the Lord  on the gently-rising Belmont, Massachusetts’ 8-acre lot, and is comprised of about 69,000 square feet of dedicated and holy ordinance rooms, baptistery, sealing rooms, administrative and waiting areas. The groundbreaking was presided over by Mormon apostle, Elder Richard G. Scott, on June 13, 1997, during a cloudburst from the heavens; Mormon Prophet and President, Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple as the 100th mini-temple to be built after his ambitious vision in April 1998 of dotting the land with smaller, accessible temples for the gathering and redemption of God’s people. “We are moving on a scale the likes of which we have never seen before,” President Hinckley said in his closing remarks in the April 1998 general conference.  This is when his vision of accelerated temple-building was shared from the pulpit, including his remark that there might even be the 100th Mormon sanctuary before the end of the century.

Of the selected spot overlooking the town, noted by a Boston stake president, President Hutchins, President Hinckley commented:

As I stood there I had an electric feeling that this is the place…. The Lord inspired its acquisition and its retention. Very few seemed to know anything about it. I think I know why I have had such a very difficult time determining the [site]. I have prayed about it. I have come here three or four times. I have studied maps and tables of membership. With all of this I have not had a strong confirmation. I felt a confirmation as I stood in Belmont on this property this afternoon. This is the place for a House of the Lord in the New England area.

Notwithstanding some serious opposition from Northeastern neighbors, the temple construction prevailed, as did the prophetic vision, and the Boston Mormon temple steeple was erected subsequent to the temple dedication. An excerpt from the dedicatory prayer offered by President Hinckley reflects on both the opposition endured and the gratitude felt for the prevailing Hand of the Lord in establishing His house in the Boston, Belmont area:

… We are assembled to dedicate this Thy holy house. It is a special occasion. This temple becomes the 100th operating temple of Thy Church.
We have looked forward to this occasion. We have prayed for this day. We extend our gratitude to all who have labored so faithfully and diligently, often in the face of serious opposition, to bring to pass the miracle of the completion of this temple.
To us it is indeed a miracle. The ground on which it stands, the circumstances of its preservation for this use, and the decision to build it here—all are miracles unto those who have been a part of this process.

Now it is ready for the purposes for which it has been constructed. We are deeply grateful. We thank Thee for Thy marvelous and overruling actions which have made all of this possible.

And now, acting in the authority of the holy priesthood, even the fulness of the priesthood, and in the name of Thine Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Him this the Boston Massachusetts Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dear Father, please accept it as the gift of our hearts and hands. We present it with love for Thee and for Thy precious Son. We pray that Thou wilt bless it with the presence of Thy Holy Spirit. May it ever be sacred unto Thy people. May even those not of our faith look upon it as a hallowed structure, and do so with respect. Save it from the hands of evil men. May neither the vandal nor the destroyer be inclined to damage it or deface it in any way.

O God, the Eternal Father, we acknowledge Thine intervening hand in holding back the adversary in his machinations to delay and stop the construction of this sacred house. Thy Church has prevailed in the courts, and we pray that it will yet prevail. We pray that those who have been bitterly opposed may experience a change of feeling. May their hearts be softened. Wilt Thou touch them by Thy Holy Spirit, that their animosity may turn to gratitude and that their fears may fade as they contemplate, according to their knowledge, the true significance of this House of the Lord.

We are grateful that so many have come to view it, and we pray that a remembrance of this experience may remain with them always, to soften their feelings and lead them in the direction of Thine eternal work for which this house has been designed.
The building has no steeple. We dedicate it as being complete, but pray that the way may be opened for the placement of a steeple with the crowning figure of Moroni, Thine ancient prophet.

The temple stands, as each does, as an ode and witness to the immortality of the soul. In the words of Mormon apostle, RIchard G. Scott,

We believe that because of ordinances that can be performed in this sacred house, a man and a woman can be united for eternity and sealed to their children, who live worthily, forever. That ending of a religious [marriage] ceremony that is so common in the world today: `until death do you part,’ need not be the final outcome of marriage.

We pray that those who find this site or who walk near any Mormon temple, might know that they stand for them, are built for each of us who would take the invitation to heart to come unto Christ through baptism into His Church and kingdom, and be sealed together forever in His house, to come forth for eternity with redeemed loved ones. We invite your sincere questions and thoughts.