Nashville Tennessee Temple |
84th operating temple |
Phone Number: 615-791-8668.
Site: 6.86 (including adjacent meetinghouse).
Exterior Finish: Imperial Danby white marble.
Temple Design: Classic modern, single-spire design.
Number of Rooms: Two ordinance rooms and two sealing.
Total Floor Area: 10,700 square feet.
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication: 13 March 1999 by John K. Carmack
Public Open House: 6–13 May 2000
Dedication: 21 May 2000 by James E. Faust
May 21, 2000, five and a half years since the Nashville Tennessee Temple's initial announcement, is the day that finally saw its dedication. After three years of trying to gain approval for a large temple in the suburb of Forest Hills, the Church opted to build a smaller temple next to the Franklin Tennessee Stake Center about 20 miles southwest of Nashville. It serves about half of the state's 30,000 members.
Presiding at the groundbreaking services was Elder John K. Carmack of the Seventy and president of the North America East Area. During his comments he declared, "It's the faith, righteousness and prayers of the people in this area that brought the temple here." He also drew an analogy between the difficulty experienced securing a site for the Nashville temple to Jacob in the Old Testament who had to work and wait seven years to marry Rachel. He quoted Doctrine and Covenants 124:36 noting that temples "appointed for refuge" by the Lord were prophesied to be associated with stakes.
In addition, Elder Carmack related a missionary experience of Wilford Woodruff. He explained that Elder Woodruff had entered a tavern one day and had asked for food and lodging after becoming soiled on a rainy day. The owner agreed on the condition that Elder Woodruff would preach to some of his friends. He consented. Later that evening he was escorted among several hundred men who had assembled to embarrass the Mormon. He began by asking them to join him in song, but they refused. He then requested that they pray with him, but again they refused. Silently pleading with the Lord to know what to do, he was blessed with a knowledge of all the sins of those present. One by one, the crowd began to leave, as he proceeded to reveal what he knew (Church News, 20 March 1999).
