LDS Church begins construction of new temple in Yorba Linda, only 9th in California – Orange County Register

By Lorraine M. Williams Last updated Jun 19, 2022

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated a new beginning this weekend in Yorba Linda.

The church dedicated a new temple on Saturday, which will be its ninth in California and the second in Orange County.

The temple will serve the LDS community within an 18-square-mile radius, providing space for “the most sacred services, ceremonies and sacraments of the church,” said Art Francis, communications director for the local coordinating council. of the church in Anaheim.

People try to stay cool during the dedication of the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Rigby, 6, throws dirt during the dedication ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register /SCNG )
Children sing “I love to see the temple” during the dedication ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register /SCNG)
The California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be built on this 5.4-acre site in Yorba Linda and will be the ninth temple in California, (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A rendering shows what the new California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will look like, during a groundbreaking ceremony in Yorba Linda on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Gilberto Valle holds his 10th grandson, Dominic, 3 months, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange Departmental Register/SCNG)
Jared Jimenez, 5, participates in the dedication ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
On Saturday, June 18, 2022, people perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the Yorba Linda California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. , and his wife Yvonne Bragg are in the center. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

It replaces the smaller church building on Bastanchury Road; city planners approved the project in May.

The temple design was changed from its original proposal after feedback from the city and the community, Francis said.

The proposed temple steeple was lowered from 99 feet to 70 feet, matching the height of the other two church steeples in the city, and it was moved to the front of the building, he said.

He said the temple also includes a portico, matching typical Southern California architecture for a “Spanish mission look.”

The entrance to the temple has been moved from Osmond Street to Bastanchury Road to address concerns raised at community meetings, Francis added.

“We did this out of courtesy to the neighbors,” he said. “We feel, under the warning of our Savior, that we are meant to love our neighbors. It was important to us that they felt they had a say.