Leadership announced for new Mormon temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced its leadership for Philadelphia's new Mormon temple - the first in the city and the state.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced its leadership for Philadelphia's new Mormon temple - the first in the city and the state.
Bruce and Nancy Winn of Hockessin, Del., will oversee the functioning of the temple, the church said late Monday.
Bruce Winn had previously served as president, then CEO, of Wilmington-based Corporation Service Co. A few years ago, the Winns returned from a three-year missionary assignment with the church in Salt Lake City.
They will be assisted by James and Nancy Boik of Berwick, Columbia County, Pa., about a 2 1/2-hour drive north of Philadelphia, and Wynn and Pamela John of Newark, Del.
Each of the six new leaders will serve as an unpaid volunteer for about three years, the church said.
The new Mormon temple, at 1739 Vine St. in Franklintown, will host free open-house tours, from Aug. 10 through Sept. 9, except Sundays, as previously written about on Philly.com.
Officially known as the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple, it stands about a block north of Logan Square and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
The temple is expected to serve about 50,000 Latter-day Saints from four states - Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The closest Mormon temples now are in New York and Washington.
The Philadelphia temple, announced in 2008, broke ground in September 2011.
The 53,000-square-foot granite neoclassical temple features two soaring spires, one topped by a gold-leaf statue of the Angel Moroni, a Book of Mormon herald, with trumpet in hand. A block east of the temple, a meetinghouse and a 32-story residential tower are being built on the 1600 block of Vine Street.
The temple, designed for the performance of sacred ordinances, will be open only to church members in good standing on and after its Sept. 18 dedication.
The meetinghouse will be open to the public, including for Sunday worship services, as will the temple's landscaped grounds.
The temple and meetinghouse are expected to be completed by the end of this month, with the exception of landscaping, Flora McConkie, a church spokeswoman for the Philadelphia region, said Tuesday. The high-rise is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
Reservations for individuals and families for the open-house tours can be made online at PhiladelphiaMormonTemple.org.
Groups can call 855-537-2000.
Since online reservations were first accepted May 23, more than 40,000 tour reservations have been made, the church said.
People can drop by without a reservation, but may not be guaranteed a spot.
"Making a reservation online is highly encouraged," McConkie said. "We would do all we could to accommodate those who arrive without a reservation."
Tours are open to all ages and are wheelchair-accessible. Some parking will be available, but public transportation is recommended. Modest dress is requested.
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