LDS Church Opens Feather River Temple for Tours

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Area members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have been patiently awaiting the completion of one of their faith’s most sacred buildings since plans for it were announced by Church President Russell M. Nelson in 2018.

On Tuesday, August 15th, members of the media, local and state dignitaries were invited to join Church Officials and volunteers for an open house and exclusive first tours of the Feather River Temple.

The Feather River Temple sits on a 9-acre site originally sold to the church by Mehar Tumber, a devout Sikh man. Years prior, the church had difficulties in finding suitable grounds to build a Stake Center chapel and although Tumber’s peach acreage was not up for sale, he agreed to allow the sale. His daughter Raji told the Church her father felt it was “a blessing to have a religious organization…as an anchor to our property.”

Those grounds are now gorgeously landscaped with local flora and fauna, preserved oaks, and transplanted trees, including 100-year-old olive trees brought in from Corning and planted at the four corners surrounding the 38,000 sq. ft. holy LDS temple.

Project Manager Trulan Preece said that before its construction, teams performed a precedent study to understand the area and get a feel for it, which then translated into the temple’s overall design, including its landscaping, architecture, and décor aesthetic.

At the entrance to the temple, guests are met with the inscriptions, “Holiness to the Lord” and “House of the Lord,” carved in stone and written in gold above the great doors to the building. Elder Mark Bragg, president of the North American West Area for the LDS Church said that the words were “both a declaration as to what it (temple) is but also a reminder that all things within the house of the Lord point us to him.”

During the press conference, Elder Bragg said that the church likes to think of its temples as “an intersection between life here and eternity.” He continued, “I’ve heard it described sometimes as the knot that ties Heaven and Earth together. That’s what we hope you will feel.”

Upon entering the building, one observes a quiet calm and peace about the space. An image of Jesus Christ welcomes those into the reception area which is beautifully adorned with colorful custom artwork and textiles, representing native plants and landscapes, such as the California poppy and golden rolling hills adorned with oaks. The colors orange, gold, blue, and white permeate the décor, both on the lower and upper floors. Intricate stained-glass windows throughout the temple reflect almond blossoms seen in our area during spring, and rich gold leaf and mahogany add warmth to the serene interiors.

Guests are ushered through the lower floors that serve as office spaces for the temple presidency and their wives, other functional spaces such as laundry areas, and the main feature, the baptistry.

A large baptismal font rests on the back of 12 life-sized oxen, representing the 12 Tribes of Israel. The upper floor of the temple features instruction rooms, the elegant Celestial Room, and Sealing Room where sacred ceremonies are conducted, including marriages. A moment is provided in the Celestial Room for guests to sit and contemplate surrounded by light, glistening chandeliers, and large mirrors that reflect each other, giving the impression of visitors images continuing into eternity.

The building is indeed exquisite and a testament to the belief that it is truly the house of God on earth. Senator and church member Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh said that “the temple is a physical representation of our faith, but it is here as a testament to the strength of our commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ.” After taking a tour, Chairman of the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, Karm Bains said it “is a world class structure that will welcome thousands of visitors to our community.”

The temple will predominantly serve members from the Yuba-Sutter area, Gridley, Biggs, Chico, Oroville, Redding, Ukiah and Placer County. It is one of 12 temples in California, the first to be constructed since the Sacramento Temple opened in 2006.

During all the excitement of the Feather River Temple’s grand opening, committees and crews of hundreds of local volunteers worked to promote and welcome the public to share the temple experience – and not just members of the LDS church.

Area Manager of Communications for the LDS Church Kim Farah described the work of the volunteers and members of the public who made the open house possible. “This community overall, is extraordinary. This community loves each other. The interfaith and nonprofit groups work together,” she said, to make events like the temple grand opening and tours possible.

Exclusive tours were held until the temple opened to the general public on Saturday, August 19th. The open house tours will continue until Saturday, September 9th, 2023, with the exception of Sundays, August 20th, 27th, and September 3rd. Tours run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The temple will be formally dedicated Sunday, October 8th, wherein it will only be accessible to members of the church.