Ground has been broken for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Shayne M. Bowen, First Counselor in the North American Southeast Area Presidency, presided at the event on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
“We are all sons and daughters of God—He loves us and wants us all to come home,” said Elder Bowen.
While speaking to guests, interfaith leaders, representatives of local government and community, and Church members in attendance, he said: “The temple is different than a chapel. It’s not where we have weekly meetings. It’s an opportunity that we have to go to the house of the Lord literally and to make covenants with Him.”
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“God is bringing His work to His people so that we can enter in and worship in the holy temple, receive the saving ordinances that will allow us to return home and live in His presence as families forever. There’s nothing better than that,” he said.
During the dedicatory prayer, Elder Bowen expressed gratitude for Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. “We are eternally grateful that through Thy plan of salvation and exaltation, with Jesus Christ at the center of Thy plan, each one of us has a clear path through Thy temples, to come home, back into Thy presence,” he prayed.
You can read more about the dedicatory prayer and other temples in Tennessee on Church Newsroom.