Announcement of the Austin Texas Temple
President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the Austin Texas Temple on April 3, 2022, during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. A house of the Lord in this central-Texas city was among 17 announced by the Church President — and will be among eight temples in the Lone Star State.
Although missionary work began in Texas in 1843, Latter-day Saint history here essentially began with 300 members in what was called the East Texas colony of Kelsey — formed in 1898, after the Church purchased land. That small beginning grew to over 362,000 Latter-day Saints by the time the Austin temple was announced, with members spread in cities from Dallas to El Paso to San Antonio. The announcement of the Austin Texas Temple brought the total to seven temples in the state — either operating, under construction or in planning stages.
Church member Spencer Clayton of the Parkside Ward, Round Rock Texas Stake, said it succinctly about a house of the Lord coming to Austin. “The people here are amazing and deserve to have access to the blessings of eternity for them and their ancestors,” Clayton related. “... We couldn’t be more excited to have a temple coming to Austin.”
Ground will be broken for the Austin temple on Aug. 17, 2024, with Elder Michael A. Dunn — a General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the North America Southwest Area presidency — presiding.
Timeline of the Austin Texas Temple
The Austin Texas Temple was announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson on April 3, 2022. Ground was broken for the Austin Texas Temple on Aug. 17, 2024, with Elder Michael A. Dunn, first counselor in the North America Southwest Area presidency, presiding.
Architecture and Design of the Austin Texas Temple
According to site plans released by the Church on Dec. 19, 2022, the Austin Texas Temple will be a single-story building of approximately 30,000 square feet. The edifice will stand on a 10.6-acre site in Cedar Park, Texas. There is currently a meetinghouse on the site, serving multiple wards.
Architectural renderings of a house of the Lord in Austin, Texas, show an off-white exterior surrounded by vertical rectangular windows. A green, domed cupola atop a three-tiered tower with eight arched, stained-glass windows stands above the center of the building. Tall trees, shrubs and flower gardens adorn the grounds.