St. George Utah Temple

The St. George Utah Temple, formerly known as the St. George Temple, is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in St. George, Utah, United States. After the death of Joseph Smith, whom they considered to be a prophet, Mormon pioneers migrated west. They were later directed by his successor, Brigham Young, to settle in southwestern Utah and where this temple was completed in March 1877. It was the church's first completed in Utah, to meet an immediate need to conduct temple ceremonies.

The temple was built over swampy land. Workers created a dry foundation by using a French cannon, used by Napoleon during his Russian campaign, which they lifted thirty feet to use as a pile driver for compacting the foundation. For more than six years, members willingly contributed to the temple, which included daily travel to the work site, and dedicating one day out of ten as a form of tithing labor. Brigham Young, the church president, considered the completed cupola too short. Two years after he died, a lightning strike razed the tower, and the reconstructed height of the tower was doubled to his desired height. It is the oldest temple in active use by the church and the only one completed during Young's tenure.

In August 1877, Wilford Woodruff, then the temple president, recorded that the spirits of "eminent" historical figures manifested themselves to him in the temple and requested that ordinances be performed on their behalf. These were recorded by Woodruff over the span of two days and nights, which lead to proxy baptisms and endowment ceremonies being performed for 100 historical men and women.

Truman O. Angell designed the temple with interior structural similarities to the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. It has exterior elements that give it the appearance of a fortified castle. It has three ordinance rooms and 18 sealing rooms, covering a total floor area of 143,969 square feet (13,400 m²). Its architectural style combines Neo-Gothic and French Norman Revival design. Dedicated in April 1877, the St. George Temple was the first where members could complete all temple ordinances for the dead. The temple has gone through ten major renovations throughout its history. Only church members with a current temple recommend may enter, while the nearby visitors' center is open to the public.