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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Mormon Temple Debuts
Albuquerque NM Journal 16Feb00 D1
By Paul Logan: Journal Staff Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO -- The open house for the Albuquerque New
Mexico Temple starts tomorrow, giving nonmembers the chance to see
the Temple before it opens. Following a tour for the media given by
Elder Rex Pinegar, President of the LDS Church's Southwest U.S. Area,
Albuquerque Journal writer Paul Logan wrote his reaction to the
building, calling it one of Albuquerque's most elaborate houses of
worship.
The $14 million temple includes Austrian crystal chandeliers,
hand-painted gold-leaf ceiling designs and deep pile rugs with
hand-cut sculpted designs. Rooms in the 33,000 square foot building
include cherry wood trim, crystal light fixtures and original
paintings. Particularly noteworthy is a 9-foot-tall, 1,750-pound
chandelier hung in the center of the Celestial Room as well as the
room's hand-painted ceiling that took four days to complete.
The temple will serve a district including 51,000 members in New
Mexico and an additional 10,000 people from eastern Arizona and
southern Colorado. Members had been traveling to Mesa, Arizona and
Denver, Colorado. It is located on a 10-acre site in the Northeast
Heights of Albuquerque.
The temple will employ 12 full-time employees, including supervisors
for the cafeteria and laundry. In addition, the Church expects about
600 members to volunteer in the temple each week. The temple's
dedication is scheduled for March 5th.
The Church expects large crowds to visit during the open house and
can accommodate hundreds of visitors an hour. Logan also gives
background about the Church and about the increase in temples in
recent years.
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