Ground broken for Deseret Peak LDS Temple in Tooele

Ground was broken for a new “House of the Lord” in Tooele on Saturday.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that work has officially begun on the new Deseret Peak Temple, a three-story, 70,000-square-foot structure that will be a half-hour from Salt Lake City at 2400 N. 400 West. A 20,000-square-foot meetinghouse will also be built at the site.

General authority Seventy Brook Hales presided over a groundbreaking ceremony attended by about 200 Latter-day Saint leaders and guests.

“Help us that through the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we might be prepared and worthy to enter thy sacred house to receive the blessings of exaltation available for ourselves and for our ancestors,” Hales prayed at the ceremony, according to a news release. “Please bless all that will live in this temple district that they will feel the godly power of this sacred edifice.”

The new temple will be the first one in Tooele County and will serve the surrounding towns of Erda, Grantsville and Stansbury Park. It was originally supposed to be built in Erda, but that plan, along with a surrounding high-density development, faced opposition from some residents.

Ground was broken on several Latter-day Saint temples in Utah in the past year. The coming Taylorsville Temple had its groundbreaking ceremony on Halloween and work began on the Red Cliffs Temple in St. George in November. Attendance at those pre-vaccine events was limited because of the pandemic.

Utah has 15 operating Latter-day Saint temples — though at reduced capacity due to the coronavirus — with two pioneer-era structures (Salt Lake and St. George) undergoing renovation. Another 10, counting one announced earlier this month for Ephraim, are in the works.