2nd South Jordan Temple ground dedicated

Mormon church president dedicates building site of new temple,
announces plans for Guatemala temple

The Associated Press
Saturday, December 16, 2006
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SALT LAKE CITY

The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
dedicated the building site for the faith's second temple in South
Jordan, Utah on Saturday, making it the first city in the world with
two Mormon temples.

During Saturday's ceremony, Gordon B. Hinckley also announced plans
for the Utah-based church to construct a temple in Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala.

The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple will be built in South Jordan on an
11-acre ( 4.4-hectare) site along a western mountain bluff.

The 12.5 million-member faith has 124 operating temples in 37
countries. Another 10 are planned or under construction.

Temples play an important role in the Mormon faith. Considered sacred,
members perform religious ceremonies within the buildings, including
proxy baptisms and marriage ceremonies known as sealings. They are
closed to non-church members and only Latter-day Saints in good
standing are allowed to enter temples.

Worldwide temple construction has been a major focus of the
96-year-old Hinckley's 11-year reign over the Mormon church. More than
70 have been built under his leadership.