Where It's Located
The Stockholm Sweden Temple is located at:
Tempelvägen 5
SE-13742 Västerhaninge, Sweden
The temple sits approximately 20 miles south of central Stockholm in the municipality of Haninge.
The property covers approximately 4.47 acres and is surrounded by wooded scenery, including slender pine trees and bilberry plants.
Getting There
Västerhaninge is connected to Stockholm by public transportation, making the temple accessible from the capital without needing to rent a car.
For international travelers, Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the city's primary international airport. From central Stockholm, travelers can use the commuter rail system to reach Västerhaninge and then continue to the temple.
Because the temple is currently closed for reconstruction, visitors should not plan on attending temple sessions until the renovation is completed and a reopening date is announced.
A Temple Decades in the Making
The story of the Stockholm Sweden Temple goes back to the 1970s.
At a Scandinavian Area General Conference in August 1974, President Spencer W. Kimball challenged the Saints of Scandinavia about the possibility of having temples in their own countries.
He asked whether they wanted a temple and whether they would use it, then declared that they could have temples in their lands as the Church continued to grow.
The Stockholm Temple eventually became the fulfillment of that vision.
The First Nordic Temple
The Stockholm Sweden Temple was the first temple built in the Nordic countries. It was also the fourth temple constructed in Europe.
That gave the temple enormous significance for Latter-day Saints throughout Scandinavia.
Its temple district eventually served members not only in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, but also the Baltic States and Russia.
Temple Announcement
The Stockholm Sweden Temple was announced on April 1, 1981.
The announcement came as the Church was experiencing significant growth in Scandinavia and as members were looking forward to having a temple much closer to home.
Before Stockholm was completed, Scandinavian members had to travel considerably farther to participate in temple ordinances.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on March 17, 1984, with Thomas S. Monson presiding.
The groundbreaking itself had a distinctly Scandinavian complication: the ground was frozen.
A torch was used to cut through the ice so that the earth could be turned for the ceremony.
Unfortunately, the ice froze again overnight, meaning it had to be cleared a second time.
It's a fitting story for a temple built in Sweden.
Viking Graves Delayed Construction
Construction encountered an unexpected historical obstacle.
Ancient Viking graves were discovered on the property, and the Swedish government asked the Church to suspend construction for more than a year so that anything of archaeological value could be removed.
This is one of the most fascinating details in the temple's history.
The temple wasn't simply being constructed on an empty parcel of land—it was being built on ground containing remnants of Sweden's Viking-era past.
A Swedish Architect
The Church selected John Sjöström, a Swedish architect, to design the temple.
Sjöström went to considerable lengths to make the temple harmonize with the architecture and environment of Sweden.
That local influence remains one of the temple's defining characteristics.
Rather than appearing like a building transported from Utah and placed in Sweden, the temple was deliberately designed to belong to its Scandinavian setting.
Public Open House
The Stockholm Sweden Temple held its public open house from June 10–22, 1985.
The response was enormous.
Approximately 47,609 people toured the temple during the 12-day open house.
The open house also generated significant interest in the Church.
During the event:
- Approximately 2,200 copies of the Book of Mormon were distributed.
- 1,213 referral cards were received.
More than half of the referrals reportedly came from within the boundaries of the ward where the temple was located.
Dedication
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Stockholm Sweden Temple on July 2–4, 1985.
The dedication was conducted over multiple days and included sessions translated into several Scandinavian languages.
The dedication was therefore not merely a Swedish event—it was a major event for Latter-day Saints throughout the Nordic region.
A Multilingual Dedication
The cultural diversity of the temple district was reflected in the dedication.
The dedicatory sessions were translated into:
- Swedish — four sessions
- Finnish — three sessions
- Norwegian — two sessions
- Danish — two sessions
This gives a good sense of just how broadly the Stockholm Temple served Scandinavian members.
"The Most Significant Day in the History of the Church in Scandinavia"
During the first dedicatory session, President Gordon B. Hinckley described the occasion as:
"the most significant day in the history of the Church in Scandinavia."
Given that this was the first temple in the Nordic countries, the statement captured the importance of the event for Church members throughout the region.
Architecture
The Stockholm Sweden Temple originally contained approximately 16,366 square feet.
Following its current reconstruction, the temple is expected to contain approximately 31,000 square feet, nearly doubling its size.
The temple rises approximately 138 feet and features six detached spires topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
Six Detached Spires
The six detached spires are one of the temple's most recognizable features.
They give the temple a distinctive vertical profile while allowing the main building to remain relatively low and harmonious with the surrounding wooded landscape.
The Angel Moroni statue rises above the building as its central visual feature.
Scandinavian Design
The architecture was intentionally influenced by Swedish surroundings.
John Sjöström's design emphasizes harmony with the local architecture and natural environment.
That is particularly noticeable when viewing the temple in its wooded setting.
The combination of the temple's light-colored exterior, vertical spires, surrounding trees, and landscaped grounds gives it a distinctly Scandinavian character.
The Temple Grounds
The grounds are one of the property's most attractive features.
The temple is surrounded by:
- Slender pine trees
- Bilberry plants
- Green landscaping
- Cobblestone pathways
- A distinctive rotunda
The result is a setting that feels much more like a peaceful Scandinavian estate than an urban temple complex.
Supporting Buildings
The temple property includes several other Church facilities.
Adjacent to the temple are:
- Patron housing
- Missionary housing
- Stockholm Sweden South Stake Center
- Temple president's residence
This creates a fairly complete Church campus around the temple.
Temple Renovation
The Stockholm Sweden Temple closed on March 25, 2023, for a major reconstruction project.
The reconstruction is expected to last approximately three years.
The project will nearly double the building's size, taking it from approximately 16,366 square feet to around 31,000 square feet.
This is much more than a cosmetic renovation.
It is essentially a major expansion and reconstruction of the temple.
Expanded Instruction Rooms
Following the renovation, the temple will feature two instruction rooms, each designed to seat approximately 40 people for presentation of the endowment.
The expanded capacity should help the temple better serve its district once it reopens.
New Spires
One of the most visually obvious parts of the current reconstruction is the work on the temple's detached spires.
The current construction status describes crews as building the detached spires and applying finishes to the exterior walls.
That means the temple's distinctive six-spire appearance is becoming increasingly visible as reconstruction progresses.
Current Status
As of the latest information on the temple's page, the Stockholm Sweden Temple is:
Closed for renovation.
Current milestones include:
- Announcement: April 1, 1981
- Groundbreaking: March 17, 1984
- Open house: June 10–22, 1985
- Original dedication: July 2–4, 1985
- Closed for reconstruction: March 25, 2023
- Current status: Reconstruction underway
- Rededication: Not yet announced
- New public open house: Not yet announced
A Temple That Served an Enormous Region
The Stockholm Temple's district was once much larger than Sweden alone.
After 1989, the temple district expanded to eventually include:
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- Denmark
- The Baltic States
- Russia
This made Stockholm an important center for temple worship across northern Europe.
The expansion also demonstrates just how significant this temple was before the Church eventually built additional temples throughout the region.
A Royal Visit
One of the most unusual events in the temple's history occurred on August 23, 1995.
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited the temple grounds during their annual Eriksgata excursion.
Thomas S. Monson assisted in welcoming the royal couple.
A plaque on the temple grounds commemorates the occasion.
Exploring Stockholm
A future trip to the Stockholm Sweden Temple offers an excellent opportunity to explore one of Europe's most beautiful capitals.
Stockholm is spread across numerous islands and combines historic neighborhoods with modern Scandinavian design.
Major attractions include:
- Gamla Stan
- The Royal Palace
- Vasa Museum
- Skansen
- Stockholm City Hall
- ABBA The Museum
- Djurgården
- Stockholm Archipelago
Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan, Stockholm's historic old town, is one of the city's biggest attractions.
The medieval streets are lined with colorful buildings, cafés, restaurants, shops, and historic sites.
The neighborhood is an excellent place to simply walk around and experience the city's historic character.
The Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is one of Stockholm's most unique attractions.
It houses the remarkably preserved Vasa warship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was recovered more than 300 years later.
For anyone interested in Swedish history, it is one of the city's must-see museums.
The Stockholm Archipelago
Stockholm is surrounded by a massive archipelago containing thousands of islands and islets.
During the warmer months, ferries can take visitors into the surrounding waters for hiking, sightseeing, restaurants, and traditional Swedish summer scenery.
It is a completely different experience from exploring central Stockholm.
Swedish Food
A temple trip to Sweden is also a great excuse to try traditional Swedish food.
Popular dishes include:
- Swedish meatballs
- Gravlax
- Toast Skagen
- Cinnamon buns
- Pickled herring
- Princess cake
- Lingonberry-based dishes
And, of course, no Scandinavian trip is complete without experiencing a proper Swedish fika.
Why the Stockholm Temple Matters
The Stockholm Sweden Temple represents a major turning point in the history of the Church in Scandinavia.
For decades, Scandinavian Latter-day Saints hoped for a temple closer to home.
President Spencer W. Kimball's 1974 challenge helped establish that hope, and the temple was eventually announced in 1981.
When it was completed, it became the first temple in the Nordic countries.
Its importance went beyond Sweden because members from across Scandinavia traveled there for temple worship.
A Temple Surrounded by Swedish History
There is something especially interesting about the temple's location.
The property contained ancient Viking graves, causing construction to be delayed for more than a year while archaeologists recovered items of historical value.
Today, the temple stands surrounded by Scandinavian forest and architecture designed specifically for its Swedish setting.
That combination gives the Stockholm Temple an unusually strong connection to the history and landscape of the country where it was built.
Planning a Future Visit
If you're planning a trip specifically to attend the Stockholm Temple, you'll need to wait for its reopening.
The temple is currently closed, and new open-house and rededication dates have not yet been announced.
Once reconstruction is finished, the public will be invited to tour the renovated temple during an open house before its rededication.
That will make the reopening particularly exciting because visitors will be seeing a substantially expanded building rather than simply a lightly renovated version of the original temple.
Final Thoughts
The Stockholm Sweden Temple is one of the most historically significant temples in Europe.
Announced on April 1, 1981, it became the first temple built in the Nordic countries and the fourth temple constructed in Europe.
Groundbreaking took place on March 17, 1984, and the public open house drew an extraordinary 47,609 visitors in June 1985. President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on July 2–4, 1985.
Its history includes some remarkable details: a groundbreaking conducted on frozen ground, a more-than-year-long construction delay caused by Viking graves, a design created by Swedish architect John Sjöström, and a 1995 visit from King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Today, the temple is undergoing a major reconstruction that will nearly double its size from 16,366 to approximately 31,000 square feet. The project includes expanded instruction rooms and reconstruction of its distinctive detached spires.
Once the work is finished, the Stockholm Sweden Temple should once again serve as a major spiritual center for Latter-day Saints in Sweden and the surrounding Nordic region.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a future trip could combine temple worship, Swedish history, Viking heritage, Scandinavian architecture, the Stockholm archipelago, Gamla Stan, Swedish food, and the reopening of one of Europe's most historically important temples.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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