Laie Hawaii Temple
797421
226024727
2008-07-16T14:18:19Z
Viriditas
101805
/* Architecture */ ce
{{LDS Temple/Laie Hawaii Temple | format= Infobox LDS Temple }}
'''Laie Hawaii Temple''' is a [[Temple (Latter Day Saints)|temple]] of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) located on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|northeast shore]] of the Hawaiian island of [[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]]. The temple sits on a small hill a half-mile from the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the town of [[Lā'ie, Hawai'i|Lā{{okina}}ie]], {{convert|35|mi|km}} from [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]]. Along with [[Brigham Young University Hawaii]] and the [[Polynesian Cultural Center]], the Laie Hawaii Temple plays an important role in the town of Lā'ie, with the temple Visitors Center attracting more than 100,000 people annually.<ref name="Kayal_2004">{{harvnb|Kayal|2004|loc=[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/27/national/27religion.html The New York Times]}}.</ref>
Laie Hawaii Temple was the first LDS Church temple built outside of the [[continental United States]]. The temple is also the oldest to operate outside of [[Utah]], and the fifth-oldest Latter-day Saint temple still in operation. The site of the temple was dedicated by Church President [[Joseph F. Smith]], on [[June 1]], [[1915]], and the completed structure was dedicated by Church President [[Heber J. Grant]] on [[November 27]], [[1919]]. Laie Hawaii Temple was formerly known as the '''Hawaiian Temple''' or the '''Hawaii Temple''' until a standard naming convention for LDS temples was adopted in the early [[2000s]].
==History==
{{seealso|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii}}
During the [[California Gold Rush]], the first ten [[Missionary (LDS Church)|Mormon missionaries]] to Hawaii departed [[San Francisco]] on the ship ''Imaum of Muscat''. After 20 days at sea, the ship arrived on December 12, 1850, in [[Honolulu Harbor]] of what was then known as the [[Sandwich Islands]] ([[Hawaiian Islands]]).<ref name="LDS_1964_3">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=3}}.</ref> A week later, nine missionaries received their assignments; two headed to the island of [[Kaua'i]], three to [[Lahaina, Hawaii|Lahaina]] on the island of [[Maui]], two to the Big Island of [[Hawaii (island)|Hawaii]], and two stayed behind in [[Honolulu]]. These nine missionaries formed the basis of the [[Mission (LDS Church)|Sandwich Islands Mission]].<ref name=Wallace_2000">{{harvnb|Wallace III|2000|loc=[http://www.laiecommunityassociation.org/history.html History]}}.</ref> The first LDS Church congregation in Hawaii was established on the island of Maui in 1851.<ref name="LDS_1964_7">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=7}}.</ref> Missionaries settled on the island of [[Lanai|Lāna{{okina}}i]] in 1854.<ref name="LDS_1964_8">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=8}}.</ref>
Mormon missionaries came to the village of Lāʻie on the island of [[Oahu|O{{okina}}ahu]] in 1865.<ref name="LDS_1964_9" /> In that year, the church purchased a {{convert|6000|acre|km2|sing=on}} sugarcane plantation as a gathering place for the [[Latter-day Saints]] in the area.<ref name="LDS_1964_9">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=9}}.</ref> While on a mission to the Sandwich Islands, Joseph F. Smith first proposed building a temple in Hawaii during a meeting in Lāʻie on February 15, 1885.<ref name="BYU_planning">{{harvnb|BYU|2006|loc=[https://apps.byuh.edu/apps/pirat/Planning/docs/THE_DESTINY_OF_LAIE_AND_ITS_ENTITIES.pdf The Destiny of La'ie]}}.</ref> [[George Q. Cannon]], one of the original ten missionaries, visited Lāʻie in 1900 and became revered as a [[prophet]] for promoting the idea of a new Hawaiian temple among his congregations.<ref name="Webb_1993_134">{{harvnb|Webb|1993|p=134}}.</ref> In 1915, Joseph F. Smith, then sixth president of the LDS Church, announced plans for the first temple outside the continental United States and chose Lāʻie for construction.<ref name="Webb_1993_134" /> On [[November 27]], [[1919]], church president [[Heber J. Grant]] presided over the Hawaiian Temple's dedication. Grant called the Hawaiian people "descendants of Lehi" (a [[Lehi (prophet)|prophet]] in the ''[[Book of Mormon]]''), and saw the future of the new temple in Lāʻie as a magnet for [[Polynesia]]n converts.<ref name="Webb_1993_134" /> After the temple was completed, many Polynesians moved to Lāʻie, hoping to participate in temple [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]].<ref name="Webb_1993_134" /> Tourists were also drawn to the area, and guide books of the time compared the Lāʻie temple to the [[Taj Mahal]].<ref name="Webb_1993_135">{{harvnb|Webb|1993|p=135}}.</ref>
After extensive remodeling, church president [[Spencer W. Kimball]] rededicated the temple on [[June 13]], [[1978]].<ref name="Satterfield_2007" /> A $5.5 million renovation, renewal, and [[beautification]] project along Hale La{{okina}}a Boulevard leading to the temple began in 2003, lasting 14-months.<ref name="Adamski">{{harvnb|Adamski|2004|loc=[http://starbulletin.com/2004/12/11/features/story3.html Honolulu Star-Bulletin]}}.</ref> [[Norfolk pines]] suffering from termite infestation were replaced with [[Roystonea|royal palms]], new decorative lighting was added to the terraces, and landscaped roundabouts were put in place. At the same time, the Visitors Center was upgraded with [[interactive kiosk]]s and new displays. Although non-Mormons are not allowed inside the temple, public tours of the grounds outside are open to the public.<ref name="Kayal_2004"/>
==Architecture==
{{seealso|Temple architecture (LDS Church)}}
The Laie Hawaii Temple is {{convert|47224|sqft|m2}} and houses three [[ordinance room]]s and six [[sealing room]]s.<ref name="Satterfield_2007" /> The temple sits on an {{convert|11|acre|ha|sing=on}} site that was once part of a large [[Sugar plantations in Hawaii|sugarcane plantation]].<ref name="LDS_1964_9">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=9}}.</ref> Joseph F. Smith wanted the Hawaii Temple to resemble [[Solomon's Temple]] referred to in [[biblical canon|holy scripture]]. The design of the temple is often compared to the [[Cardston Alberta Temple]].<ref name="Burlingame_2004"/>
[[Image:LDS Laie Hawaii Temple opposite view.jpg|left|thumb|View from the descending pools looking down towards the Pacific Ocean]]
Construction of the temple first began in February, 1916. Native materials consisting of crushed lava rock were used to build the temple, along with reinforced concrete.<ref name="LDS_1964_10">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=10}}.</ref> The building's gleaming white finish was created using [[Stone carving|pneumatic stone-cutting]] techniques.<ref name="Satterfield_2007" /> The temple has the shape of a cross when seen from the air; the highest point of the temple is {{convert|50|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}, and it measures {{convert|102|ft|m|1|lk=off|abbr=on}} from east to west and {{convert|78|ft|m|1|lk=off|abbr=on}} from north to south.<ref name="LDS_1964_10">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=10}}.</ref> The front exterior was designed in the form of a [[Greek cross]], but lacks a tower, a rarity in LDS Church temples.<ref name="Satterfield_2007" /> Apart from the Laie Hawaii Temple, only two other church temples lack towers or spires: the Cardston Alberta Temple and the [[Mesa Arizona Temple]].<ref name="Satterfield_2007">{{harvnb|Satterfield|2007|loc=[http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/laie/ Laie Hawaii Temple]}}.</ref>
The exterior of the temple exhibits four large [[frieze]]s cast in [[bas-relief]] depicting God’s dealings with Man. The north frieze depicts the story of the [[Book of Mormon]]. The west frieze shows the people of the [[Old Testament]]. The [[New Testament]] and the [[Great Apostasy#The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Apostasy]] are depicted on the southern frieze of the temple, and the restoration of the Church through [[Joseph Smith, Jr.|Joseph Smith]] is shown on the east frieze. On the grounds of the temple are a statue of [[Joseph (Book of Mormon)|Joseph]] being blessed by his father and one of the Prophet [[Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet)|Lehi]] in a scene from the [[Second Book of Nephi]] in the [[Book of Mormon]].<ref name="LDS_1964_8">{{harvnb|LDS|1964|p=8}}.</ref>
The landscaped temple grounds contain [[tropical garden]]s, with plants such as [[hibiscus]], [[Justicia umbrosa|Brazilian plume]], [[birds of paradise]], [[lantana]], [[red ginger]], [[bougainvillea]], [[plumeria]], [[Ixora]], and others.<ref name="Sarafian">{{harvnb|Sarafian|Colton|2001|loc=[http://colton.byuh.edu/byutour/ Laie Walking Tour]}}.</ref> At the base of the temple grounds is a fountain separating an LDS [[Family History Center (LDS Church)|Family History Center]] and a Visitors Center, where a ten-foot sculpture replica of [[Bertel Thorvaldsen]]'s ''[[:Image:Thorvaldsen Christus.jpg|Christus]]'' stands inside the entrance.<ref name="Sarafian"/>
==Folklore==
At least two [[tale]]s from [[Mormon folklore]] are connected to the history of Laie Hawaii Temple: one concerning divine providence—the arrival of precious materials needed to complete the building of the temple, and another relating to divine protection during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].
;Construction
[[Image:HIMap-doton-Laie.PNG|right|220px|thumb|The town of Lāʻie (red dot) located on the Island of Oʻahu.]]
During the initial construction of the temple, builders ran out of wood, a scarce commodity on the islands. Local members were able to procure the needed lumber when a ship ran aground and needed to unload some of its cargo of wood. The temple builders volunteered to help the ship and were given the lumber out of gratitude. The lumber taken from the ship proved to be just enough to finish the temple.<ref name="Satterfield_2007" /><ref name="Burlingame_2004">{{harvnb|Burlingame|2004|loc=[http://starbulletin.com/2006/04/02/travel/story03.html Honolulu Star-Bulletin]}}.</ref>
;Pearl Harbor
On [[December 7]], [[1941]], [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] aircraft pilots attempted to [[bomb]] or [[Strafing|strafe]] the Hawaiian Temple just prior to or just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. According to this story, the Japanese were prevented from attacking the temple by mechanical failure or from an unseen protective force.<ref name="Baldridge_Chase_2000_165-190">{{harvnb|Baldridge|Chase|2000|pp=165-190}}.</ref> Variations on this tale also suggest that the Japanese pilot who attempted to attack the temple was converted to the LDS Church after he saw a picture of the temple in the possession of Mormon missionaries in Japan.<ref name="Baldridge_Chase_2000_165-190" /> Although there is an eyewitness who believes he saw the attempted bombing, and a former missionary who says he met the Japanese convert, historians have found little supporting evidence that would substantiate these stories.<ref name="Baldridge_Chase_2000_165-190" /><ref name="LDSWorld_2001">{{harvnb|SHIELDS|2001|loc=[http://www.shields-research.org/Hoaxes/LDSWorld_Internet_Hoaxes_and_Mormon_Urban_Legends.htm#bomb%20Hawaii%20temple LDS World]}}.</ref>
==See also==
{{commons}}
* [[Kona Hawaii Temple]]
* [[Comparison of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
* [[List of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by geographic region]]
* [[LeConte Stewart]]
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
== References ==
<div class="references-2column">
*{{Citation
| last = Adamski
| first = Mary
| title = Dedication is set for Laie project
| newspaper = [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]
| year = 2004
| date = [[2004-12-11]]
| url = http://starbulletin.com/2004/12/11/features/story3.html
| accessdate = 2008-07-16
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Baldridge
| first = Kenneth W.
| last2 = Chase
| first2 = Lance D.
| chapter = The Purported December 7, 1941, Attack on the Hawai'i Temple
| title = Voyages of Faith: Explorations in Mormon Pacific History
| editor = Grant Underwood
| place = Provo, Utah
| publisher = Brigham Young University Press
| pages = 165–190
| year = 2000
| editor = Grant Underwood
| isbn = 0842524800
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = BYU—Hawaii
| chapter = The Destiny of La‘ie
| title = Office of Planning, Institutional Research, Assessment and Testing
| place = Laie, Hawaii
| publisher = [[Brigham Young University Hawaii]]
| year = 2006
| url = https://apps.byuh.edu/apps/pirat/Planning/docs/THE_DESTINY_OF_LAIE_AND_ITS_ENTITIES.pdf
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Budnick
| first = Rich
| title = Hawaii's Forgotten History: 1900-1999: The Good...The Bad...The Embarrassing
| publisher = Aloha Press
| pages = 46
| year = 2005
| place = Honolulu, Hawaii
| isbn = 0944081045
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Burlingame
| first = Burl
| title = X Marks the Spot: Mormon temple a Laie landmark since 1919
| newspaper = [[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]
| date = [[2004-04-02]]
| year = 2004
| url = http://starbulletin.com/2006/04/02/travel/story03.html
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Kayal
| first = Michele
| author-link =
| title = Mormons Spruce Up Their Aging Hawaiian Outpost
| newspaper = [[The New York Times]]
| pages =
| year = 2004
| date = [[2004-11-27]]
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/27/national/27religion.html
| accessdate = 2007-11-18
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = LDS
| author-link = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| title = The Mormon temple, Laie, Hawaii
| publisher = Bureau of Information, Hawaii Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
| pages = 1–20
| place = Laie, Hawaii
| year = 1964
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Satterfield
| first = Rick
| title = Laie Hawaii Temple
| work = Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| publisher = LDS Church Temples
| year = 2007
| url = http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/laie/
| accessdate = 2007-10-24
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Sarafian
| first = Michael
| last2 = Colton
| first2 = Don
| title = Laie Walking Tour
| publisher = BYU-Hawaii Student Association
| date = 2001
| year = 2001
| url = http://colton.byuh.edu/byutour/
| accessdate = 2008-07-14
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = SHIELDS
| title = Japanese pilot tries to bomb Hawaii temple
| work = LDS World LDS Internet Hoaxes and Mormon Urban Legends
| publisher = Scholarly & Historical Information Exchange for Latter-day Saints
| year = 2001
| url = http://www.shields-research.org/Hoaxes/LDSWorld_Internet_Hoaxes_and_Mormon_Urban_Legends.htm#bomb%20Hawaii%20temple
| accessdate = 2007-10-24
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Wallace III
| first = William Kauaiwiulaokalani
| author-link =
| title = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hawaiian Islands from 1850-1900;
| publisher = La'ie Community Association
| date = [[2000-01-30]]
| year = 2000
| url = http://www.laiecommunityassociation.org/history.html
| accessdate = 2007-11-17
}}.
*{{Citation
| last1 = Webb | first1 = T. D.
| title = Profit and Prophecy: The Polynesian Cultural Center and La'ie's Recurrent Colonialism
| journal = The Hawaiian Journal of History
| volume = 27
| pages = 127–150
| publisher = Hawaiian Historical Society
| place = Honolulu, Hawaii
| date = 1993
| year = 1993
| url = http://www.hawaiianhistory.org/pubs/hjh/hjhmain.html
| issn = 0440-5145
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Webb
| first = Terry D.
| chapter = The Temple and the Theme Park
| title = An Anthropology of Indirect Communication. [Association of Social Anthropologists Monographs 37]
| editor = Joy Hendry & C. W. Watson
| publisher = Routledge
| location = London and New York
| pages = 128–142
| year = 2001
| isbn = 0415247446
}}.
</div>
==Further reading==
*{{Citation
| last = Britsch
| first = R. Lanier
| title = Moramona: The Mormons in Hawaii
| series = Mormons in the Pacific series
| publisher = Institute for Polynesian Studies
| year = 1991
| place = Laie, Hawaii
| isbn = 0939154463
}}.
*{{Citation
| last = Garrett
| first = John
| title = Footsteps in the Sea: Christianity in Oceania to World War II
| volume = 2
| series = Narrative History of Christianity in the Pacific Islands
| publisher = Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. World Council of Churches
| year = 1992
| place = Suva and Geneva
| isbn = 982-02-0068-7
}}.
==External links==
* [http://www.lds.org/temples/main/0,11204,1912-1-41-1,00.html Official LDS Laie Hawaii Temple page]
{{List LDS Temple USA West}}
[[Category:1919 architecture]]
[[Category:Hawaiian architecture]]
[[Category:Honolulu County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Places of worship in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oceania]]
[[Category:Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States]]
[[Category:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii]]
[[de:Laie-Hawaii-Tempel]]
[[haw:Luakini ma Lā'ie, Hawai'i]]