On Thursday, September 25, 2025, Church members gathered on a nearly 20-acre parcel southwest of Hickman Avenue for the groundbreaking of the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple in Las Vegas.
Elder Michael A. Dunn, First Counselor in the United States Southwest Area Presidency, presided and offered a dedicatory prayer. He asked for divine guidance “that the beauty and craftsmanship of this temple may reflect the divine truths that will be taught within its walls,” and for spiritual preparation for those who will eventually enter. His words pointed to the dual nature of temple building—hands shaping stone and wood, and the House of the Lord shaping the hearts of those who enter.
The program featured voices from across the community. Elder Thomas A. Thomas emphasized how temple worship continually redirects personal focus: “When I enter a temple, it is a reminder of my love for the Savior … Am I striving to be a peacemaker … Am I trying to love my neighbor?”
Youth speaker Avrie Stephens added her perspective, sharing the peace and clarity she felt in preparing herself for temple worship. Her testimony underscored how early discipleship can provide both confidence and purpose.
Once complete, the Lone Mountain Temple will be the fourth house of the Lord in Nevada, joining those in Las Vegas, Reno, and soon Elko. The Las Vegas Nevada Temple was dedicated in 1989, the Reno Nevada Temple in 2000, and the Elko Nevada Temple is scheduled for dedication on October 12, 2025.
President Russell M. Nelson first identified Lone Mountain as a future temple site in October 2022, when he announced 18 new temples worldwide. In that address, he urged members to place greater focus on temple worship. “May you focus on the temple in ways you never have before,” he said. “I bless you to grow closer to God and Jesus Christ every day.”
The new Lone Mountain structure, designed as a three-story building, will rise between North Grand Canyon Drive and Tee Pee Lane. Its placement in the northwest valley makes temple attendance more accessible to members living in a high-density Latter-day Saint area.
The state has witnessed steady growth in membership. Nearly 190,000 Latter-day Saints now gather in more than 360 congregations across Nevada. That growth is organized into 40 stakes, supported by over 200 meetinghouses. The statistics illustrate why another temple is being added: not just as an architectural addition, but as a response to the lived needs of a growing faith community.
The story of temples in Nevada, however, stretches further back. In 1855, settlers built the Old Mormon Fort, the first permanent non-Indigenous structure in the Las Vegas Valley. Though the early settlement was short-lived, it left a footprint that connected the Church to the region’s origins.
The fort—now preserved as a historic site—stood at a crossroads of cultures, trade, and faith. The Lone Mountain Temple rises in a landscape where that early experiment in desert living has given way to a sustained and thriving community.
This continuity highlights a striking contrast: what began as a modest adobe fort is now reflected in the permanence of stone temples, designed to stand for generations. Where early settlers sought survival, today’s members are thriving as they seek covenant blessings, family connections, and sacred instruction.
Temples differ significantly from local meetinghouses, where weekly worship and community activities are held. While chapels are open to all who wish to attend services, temples are reserved for ordinances and covenants that Latter-day Saints believe unite families for eternity.
This distinction framed the remarks at the ceremony. Leaders spoke of holy ground and covenant people, underscoring that the Lone Mountain Temple is not only a physical landmark but also a spiritual home.
The symbolism of craftsmanship was a recurring theme. Leaders prayed for the hands that will mold glass, steel, and stone, seeing in that work a reflection of God’s artistry in shaping lives. That symbolism resonates with members who view temples not merely as buildings but as places where earthly labor intersects with eternal purpose.
With shovels turned, the work is now underway. For Nevada’s Latter-day Saints, the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple represents accessibility, heritage, and hope. It will stand alongside Las Vegas’s vibrant modern skyline, yet point members inward toward reflection and upward toward heaven.
Over time, the temple is expected to become more than a landmark of stone and glass. It will be a gathering place where generations find peace, strength, and deeper connections to their families and their faith.
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
