President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rededicated the Freiberg Germany temple in three sessions Sunday, September 4, 2016, after the temple underwent extensive renovation and expansion.
The sessions were broadcasted to meetinghouses throughout Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Switzerland, enabling thousands of Latter-day Saints to participate. These countries are part the Freiberg Germany temple district.
Assisting President Uchtdorf were Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Patrick Kearon, of the Seventy and President of the Europe Area and Elder Larry Y. Wilson, Executive Director of the Temple Department. They were accompanied by their wives.
Prior to the rededication, more than 500 Mormon youth from the temple district, gathered on September 3, 2016, to participate in a cultural celebration representing their spiritual and cultural heritage and the diverse history of the area. The 12- to 18-year-old youth sang, danced and narrated their way through the various histories and cultures they represent. This cultural celebration was broadcasted to the countries in the temple district.
Elder Patrick Kearon said that the 'rededication is a wonderful moment. The temple hasn't been available while it has been improved and refined, and I think that everybody is going to rejoice in the fact that they can come and perform sacred ordinances here'.
The temple serves more than 52,000 Mormons in Europe and is located at Hainichener Strasse, 64 in Freiberg, Germany, not too far from the historic city of Dresden. Church membership in all of Germany is over 39,000.
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The temple, originally dedicated in June, 1985, was closed on February, 2015 for renovations. It has been lengthened by 15 meters, has larger, more comfortable rooms, and a new basement with air conditioning. This is the second renovation of the temple; the first was in 2002.
The 2,000 square meters building is crowned with a gilded statue of the angel Moroni, an ancient prophet in the Book of Mormon, who is significant to Latter-day Saints for his role in the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A free open house was held from August 8 through 27, 2016, to allow people to view the inside of the temple. More than 20.000 people toured the temple.
Other temples in the Europe Area include Copenhagen, Helsinki, Frankfurt, The Hague, Madrid, Stockholm, Bern, London and Preston, United Kingdom. Temples in Lisbon, Paris, and Rome are currently under construction and will be dedicated in the future. The total number of temples in operation worldwide is 150, with 31 more temples in different stages of announcement or construction.
Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint differ from meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Jesus Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through baptism, marriage and other ordinances that unite families for eternity. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man.