Completed Mormon temple to host sacred ceremonies for region of 13,000
by Laura Bednar
The construction of the Cleveland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is complete, standing 100 feet tall on Brecksville Road.
Groundbreaking for the Mormon temple was June 1, 2024. The two-year construction included connecting pre-fabricated elements from locations in Mexico and Utah, as well as some local companies. The modular temple is 9,950 square feet and sits on just over 11 acres.
This is the 221st operating temple worldwide and the second in Ohio, with the other in Columbus. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints attend weekly services in accessible “meetinghouses,” but temples serve as sacred buildings that members make treks to visit.
The Cleveland temple covers four regional groups called stakes: Cleveland, Akron, Hiram and Kirtland, which combined have 13,000 church members.
Robin Laubaugh, temple open house co-coordinator, explained that people may visit the temples as often as they like, with some visiting more regularly depending on where they live. She said the Cleveland temple allows the “opportunity to make the temple a frequent occurrence.”
The temple design draws from historic Cleveland buildings including the diamond pattern from Cleveland Trust Building’s art glass, Cleveland Public Library’s ceilings and the Terminal Tower, according to press information. The architect and interior designer was NWL Architects and the contactor was Haskell.
The stone exterior is modeled after the Cleveland City Hall and Cuyahoga County Court House. The interior design also gives a nod to the region with the incorporation of the white trillium, Ohio’s state wildflower. Walls and carpets are beige and décor incorporates blue, green, red, coral and gold to reflect the hillside of Lake Erie at sunset and buildings along East 4th Street in Cleveland. The spire atop the roof is purely decorative without bells or activity.
Elder B. Corey Cuvelier led a tour of the building, which started with a reception/recommend desk where people sign in to enter the temple. Elder Mathias Held, of the temple department in Salt Lake City, said, “Temples are the most treasured places on Earth.”
Mormons can only enter if they are in good standing with the church, are living a righteous life and living up to the promises they made to God. Members must meet with church leaders to determine their path to entry and gain admittance.
Laubaugh said Mormons believe temples are literally “the house of the Lord.” “It’s where we learn more about God, Jesus and the commandments and make promises to follow those commandments,” she said.
The one-floor temple starts with changing rooms for the members to change into matching white clothing. Cuvelier said the clothing enforces the idea that “all are equal before God,” and is a symbol of purity. Earthly possessions like phones are stored in lockers.
The first room in which “ordinances,” or ceremonies, take place is the Baptistry, where members are baptized by full immersion in a small pool. Off the Baptistry is the Confirmation room, in which members can receive the Holy Spirit.
Each ceremony is modeled after practices in the Bible, including the initiatory area, where members sit in a small room with a sink to be anointed with water and oil. In the instruction room, members watch a video – the same shown in every temple – that explains where members came from, why they are on Earth and the potential to get to Heaven.
It is also in this room where members “make covenants to God to live a life of obedience,” according to Cuvelier. Officiators are present in the room to lead the instruction ceremony.
After making these promises, members move to the celestial room to pray and reflect.
“It separates us from the rest of the world,” said Cuvelier. The room was described as a “quiet place to ponder the peace, beauty and blessings of Heaven.”
The final space is called the sealing room, where couples kneel on an altar in the center of the room to be married. In the Mormon faith, men and women are “sealed” together for eternity both in Earth and in Heaven. Families can also be sealed together.
Cuvelier explained that all of the ordinances in the temple can also be done on behalf of a person’s deceased ancestors.
“The first time you come to the temple is for yourself,” he said. “Subsequent times are for ancestors.”
The temple is open Tuesday through Saturday, with hours to be determined. Held said hours will be based on when people come to the temple. There are 20-40 workers inside assisting when the temple is open. On any given day, he said there might be 200 visitors, though not all at once. This number may grow when there are events or youth groups visiting on a Saturday.
A public open house was held this summer. Once the temple is officially dedicated in August, it is closed to the public, as it is considered a sacred space for those of the faith. Church member Marika Stacey said a gate surrounds the temple, but when it’s open, community members are welcome to enjoy the outdoor space and sit on benches in the garden.