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Bern Switzerland Temple
The Bern Switzerland Temple (formerly the Swiss Temple) is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was the church's first temple in Europe and the second outside of North America,[1] after the Laie Hawaii Temple. The intent to build the temple was announced on July 1, 1952, by church president David O. McKay.[2] The temple was designed by church architect Edward O. Anderson, and the plans were redrawn into German specifications by Wilhelm Zimmer.[3] The temple’s architecture uses a modern-contemporary style.[3] A groundbreaking ceremony, to signify the beginning of construction, was held on August 5, 1953.[4] HistoryThe LDS Church in SwitzerlandThere have been church members in Switzerland since the mid-19th century; the church's first missionary entered Switzerland in 1850, with the encouragement of Lorenzo Snow of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was attempting to establish a mission in Italy and surrounding countries. Snow visited Switzerland in February 1851 to dedicate the land for missionary work, and in March of 1851 the first Swiss converts were baptized.[5] As of October 2024, there are over 9,000 church members in Switzerland.[6] The Swiss TempleThe 2.8-hectare (7-acre) lot was selected in July 1952 by LDS Church president David O. McKay and Samuel E. Bringhurst, then president of the Swiss-Austrian Mission.[7] The architects were Edward O. Anderson and Wilhelm Zimmer. Groundbreaking and dedication of the lot were performed by McKay on 5 August 1953,[8] who then dedicated the temple on 11 September 1955.[9] The temple was known as the "Swiss Temple" until the current naming convention for temples was adopted in the late 1990s.[10] The Bern Switzerland temple has four ordinance rooms, seven sealing rooms, and a total floor area of 3,302.3 square metres (35,546 sq ft). Its temple district includes stakes in France, Switzerland, and the district in Jerusalem, Israel.[11] The presentation of the endowment was particularly challenging in this temple, because it was the first international one, requiring many different languages for its attendants. It was solved by using a film, dubbed in all required languages. Gordon B. Hinckley, as a church employee, supervised the initial making of the film and was the person responsible for transporting it to Switzerland.[12] The Los Angeles California Temple, which was dedicated in 1956, was the last one designed for live endowments;[13] since then all new temples have been equipped with recordings instead of live presentations by temple workers. For several decades, only the Manti Utah and Salt Lake temples used live presentations, but the church announced in 2021 that both temples would convert to use of film after extensive remodeling.[14] In early 1990, the temple closed for renovations.[9] After the complete renewal of the interior, the temple was rededicated by Hinckley, who was then a member of church's First Presidency, on 23 October 1992.[15] In connection with the fiftieth anniversary of its dedication, a 4-metre-tall (13 ft) statue of the angel Moroni was placed on top of the tower on 7 September 2005.[9] In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Bern Switzerland Temple was closed for a time in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[16] The Bern Switzerland temple is featured briefly in the Woodkid music videos for "Iron" and "Run Boy Run". Though the building is located in Münchenbuchsee, its postal address is assigned to the neighboring municipality of Zollikofen. Design and architectureThe building has a modern-contemporary architectural style coupled with a traditional Latter-day Saint temple design. Designed by Edward O. Anderson and Wilhelm Zimmer, the temple's architecture reflects both the cultural heritage of Bern and the spiritual significance to the church.[17] SiteThe temple sits on a 7-acre plot, and the landscaping around the temple features gardens, hedges, trees, and grass fields.[18] These elements are designed to provide a tranquil setting that enhances the sacred atmosphere of the site. ExteriorThe structure stands 140 feet tall[19], constructed with reinforced concrete with gray terracotta trimmed in white.[18] The exterior has a single spire with a statue of the angel Moroni on top.[19] InteriorThe temple includes a baptistry, a celestial room, four ordinance rooms, and seven sealing rooms, each arranged for ceremonial use. SymbolsThe design has elements representing Latter-day Saint symbolism, which provide deeper spiritual meaning to the temple's appearance and function. Symbolism is important to church members. The temple itself is a symbol, being a “house of the Lord” and as a symbol of faith.[20] The Bern Switzerland Temple in particular is one of “...the Church’s most visible and oldest structural manifestations of growth and dedication.”[21] RenovationsOver the years, the temple has undergone several renovations to preserve its structural integrity, update facilities, and enhance its spiritual and aesthetic appeal. The most significant renovation project commenced in 1990.[18] Renovations focused on key areas, including expanding and modernizing the temple.[18][22] These changes were made to ensure the temple's compliance with contemporary building standards and to accommodate the evolving needs of church members. One of the notable aspects of the renovation was the addition of more ordinance rooms; the pre-existing single 250-seat auditorium was replaced by four 70-seat ordinance rooms. This enhancement meant that a new endowment session could begin every half hour instead of every two hours.[22] The renovated temple was rededicated in 10 sessions from October 23-25, 1992, by Gordon B. Hinckley.[18] Temple presidentsThe church's temples are directed by a temple president and matron, each serving for a term of three years. The president and matron oversee the administration of temple operations and provide guidance and training for both temple patrons and staff.[23] The first president of the Bern Switzerland Temple, serving from 1955 to 1957, was Samuel E. Bringhurst, with the matron being Lenora K. Bringhurst. They served from 1984 to 1987.[23] As of 2024, Franz R. Gaag is the president, with Fabiola D. Gaag serving as matron.[18] AdmittanceFollowing the completion of the temple, the church announced that a public open house would be held from September 9-10, 1955.[18] The temple was dedicated by David O. McKay in 10 sessions from September 11-15, 1955.[17] After the temple’s 1990-1992 renovation period, another open house was held, from October 8-17, 1992. During that open house, almost 33,000 people toured the temple.[18] The temple was rededicated from October 23-25, 1992, by Gordon B. Hinckley in 10 sessions.[17] Like all the church's temples, it is not used for Sunday worship services. To members of the church, temples are regarded as sacred houses of the Lord. Once dedicated, only church members with a current temple recommend can enter for worship.[20] See also
References
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bern Switzerland Temple.
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