Where It's Located
The Cardston Alberta Temple is located at 348 3rd Street West in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, just 15 miles north of the U.S.–Canada border. Situated on elevated ground in the center of town, the temple has become the defining landmark of this community, which was founded by Latter-day Saint pioneers in 1887. The temple sits on a 10-acre site and includes a distribution center.
Getting There
The nearest major airport is Lethbridge Airport (YQL), about an hour's drive from the temple, though it offers limited commercial service. Most travelers from the United States fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC), which provides numerous nonstop flights from major U.S. cities including Salt Lake City, Denver, Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. From Calgary, the drive to Cardston takes approximately three hours.
A Bit of History
The Cardston Alberta Temple was announced by President Joseph F. Smith on June 27, 1913. It was a landmark project, becoming the first temple built in Canada and the first temple constructed outside the United States. The site was dedicated on July 27, 1913, and groundbreaking followed on November 9, 1913.
Construction lasted nearly 10 years, with delays caused in part by World War I. During the final years of construction, visitors were invited to tour the nearly completed building before it was dedicated. President Heber J. Grant dedicated the temple during sessions held August 26–29, 1923, making it the sixth dedicated temple still in operation today.
The temple underwent a significant expansion that was dedicated in 1962, followed by a major three-year renovation beginning in 1988. After an open house in June 1991, President Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the temple. In 1995, the Government of Canada designated the Cardston Alberta Temple a Canadian National Historic Site, recognizing it as "the first consciously modern building in the province of Alberta."
Design and Architecture
The Cardston Alberta Temple is one of the Church's most architecturally distinctive temples. Unlike most temples, it does not feature a traditional steeple. Instead, it is crowned by a central pyramid-shaped tower, reflecting a bold modern design that was revolutionary for its time. It was also the first temple designed without a priesthood assembly room, marking a significant transition in temple architecture.
The temple contains approximately 88,562 square feet of floor space. Its exterior is finished with white granite quarried near Kootenay Lakes in British Columbia, with every original stone hand-hewn. Inside are four progressive instruction rooms, five sealing rooms, and one baptistry. The progressive instruction rooms feature beautifully preserved hand-painted murals and rare hardwood finishes, making the temple one of only a handful that still uses the traditional room-to-room progression for the endowment presentation.
The temple's design also served as the architectural inspiration for the Laie Hawaii Temple, further cementing its influence on early temple construction.
Final Thoughts
The Cardston Alberta Temple is one of the most significant temples in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the first temple built outside the United States and one of the Church's most architecturally unique buildings, it represents both the faith of early Canadian Saints and the global expansion of temple worship. For anyone interested in historic Latter-day Saint temples, the Cardston Alberta Temple is a remarkable destination that combines rich history with timeless beauty.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
https://broughmade.com
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