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47-577: Atlanta Temple may refer to: Atlanta Georgia Temple , a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Sandy Springs, Georgia The Temple (Atlanta) , a Reform Jewish synagogue in Atlanta Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Atlanta Temple . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

94-483: A big step toward that goal on this beautiful hillside today as we break ground on what will soon be the first Mormon Temple in the entire Southern United States. The building contract was awarded to Cube Construction, Inc. and over the next two years the property was developed to include the temple, an annex (including facilities for grounds keepers), a clothing distribution center, and a small apartment building for missionaries and other out-of-state temple workers. In 1988

141-448: A first or a third Sunday and for Sunday School teachers on a second or a fourth Sunday. Primary teachers may attend teacher council meeting on any Sunday as determined by the ward Primary presidency. The fast and testimony meeting is a monthly sacrament meeting held on a stake 's Fast Sunday , which is typically the first Sunday of each month. Those members who feel prompted go to the podium and share (or "bear") their testimony with

188-466: A new youth curriculum with uniform doctrinal themes, which allows leaders and teachers to adapt classes to the needs of youth. Beginning in January 2019, a new "home-centered and church-supported" program of gospel instruction was adopted using the same manual, Come, Follow Me , for adult, youth, and primary instruction both at church and in the home. With this new curriculum, lessons and messages from

235-493: A quorum or class in the ward, along with at least one of the priesthood or auxiliary leaders responsible for those teachers. Wards were to hold teacher council meetings for Relief Society, Young Women and priesthood teachers during the second hour of the three-hour block and for the Sunday School teachers during the final hour of the three-hour block. Primary teachers would attend the teacher council meeting being held during

282-498: A single 50-minute block. Primary is generally divided into two groups: Senior Primary (ages 8–11) and Junior Primary (ages 4–7); young children from 18 months to 3 years of age may attend a nursery class. Primary classes generally consist of children born in the same calendar year. Usually, half of the Primary, such as Senior Primary, meet in separate classes, while the other half, Junior Primary, meet in sharing and singing time, and at

329-413: A single class, multiple adult classes can be held. Local Sunday School presidents and bishops can create these classes for specific groups, such as young single adults, members who don't speak the ward's primary language, new members, returning members, and those learning about the church, or other groups. Historically, other optional adult Sunday School courses were held at various times, including during

376-537: A spirit of love and dedication. May their minds be lifted above the mundane affairs of the world to a higher and more heavenly plane. May any spirit of selfishness or unkindness or evil whose influence may affect them in the world, leave them when they enter the doors of this sacred and holy sanctuary… May the very presence of this temple in the midst of Thy people become a reminder of sacred and eternal covenants made with Thee. May they strive more diligently to banish from their lives those elements which are inconsistent with

423-581: A testimony is "a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior's true Church on

470-435: A three-hour block of time divided into three segments. In some congregations, the "block" schedule of meetings may have been held in reverse order of the table shown, wherein sacrament meetings would be held at the end of that block, after the other two meetings. On October 6, 2018, the church announced that beginning in January 2019, weekly services would consist of a two-hour block divided into two segments as follows (with

517-675: A volunteer capacity. Prior to the construction Latter-day Saints in the South traveled to either the Washington D.C. Temple or to other temples throughout the United States to be married , sealed to children or parents, receive blessings collectively known as the Endowment , or perform ordinances on behalf of deceased ancestors. The original area served by the temple included approximately 150,000 Latter-day Saints encompassing

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564-474: Is sacrament meeting which is attended by the combined congregation. Following an adjustment in January 2019, sacrament meeting is now held for 60 minutes. The foremost purpose of sacrament meeting is the blessing and passing of the sacrament , consecrated bread and water in remembrance of the body and blood of Christ, to the congregation. After the sacrament, the service usually consists of two or three lay sermons, called "talks," prepared and delivered by members of

611-712: The Ensign and Liahona . Conference talks address doctrinal topics drawn from scriptures and personal experiences, messages of faith and hope, church history, and information on the church, as it expands throughout the world. Throughout the 20th century, conference was held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle . With a maximum capacity of about 8,000 per session, the Tabernacle consistently filled to capacity, leaving thousands of attendees listening on loudspeakers outside or via broadcast in adjacent buildings. In 2000,

658-736: The Atlanta Temple ) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) was the first temple built by the church in the Southeastern United States and the second temple east of the Mississippi River since 1846. Members of the church consider it a literal "house of God" comparable to the ancient Israelite temple where, as recorded in Bible , God spoke with Samuel . Emphasizing this belief,

705-601: The church's president and other leaders speak. The talks, given in several sessions over several days, are carried worldwide by radio, television, satellite, and Internet broadcasts. Beginning in October 2018, the sessions consist of four general sessions, a women's session (in October each year) and a priesthood session (in April each year). The talks are translated into over 80 languages and are later made available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in printed church publications such as

752-628: The Atlanta Temple (Flights to Atlanta were often cheaper than those to Mexico City , Lima , Peru, or Guatemala City where the church dedicated temples in the early 1980s. Temples were dedicated in Bogotá , Colombia in April 1999 and Caracas Venezuela in August 2000). Between 1983 and 2000 bus loads of worshipers came to the Atlanta Temple from across the South every weekend, sometimes staying in

799-706: The LDS Church dedicated a new 21,000-seat Conference Center , which became the home of general conference. Conference satellite broadcasts may be watched live in thousands of chapels worldwide. The public is invited to attend or watch general conference either through the broadcasts, on the Internet, in the Conference Center, or other areas at Temple Square. The conference is also broadcast nationally and internationally on many satellite or cable providers through BYUtv and on local networks in some areas. In

846-422: The LDS Church, congregations for Sunday services are grouped geographically, with larger (roughly 150 to 400 people) groups known as wards , and smaller (2 to about 150 people) ones, known as branches. The congregations gather in meetinghouses , also referred to as "chapels" or "stake centers," on property that is typically owned by the church. In some cases, rental property may be used as a meetinghouse. Although

893-476: The LDS Church, a temple is a building dedicated to be a "House of the Lord," and they are considered by church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time during an "open house." During the open house, the church conducts tours of the temple with missionaries and members from the local area serving as tour guides, and all rooms of

940-531: The Relief Society and Young Women meet briefly at the beginning of the session for a prayer, hymn, and announcements and then separate into classes, as the men and boys do. The Young Women are divided into multiple classes, but typically ages 12–13, ages 14–15, and ages 16–17 classes. Children younger than 12 attend Primary . Through the end of 2018, Primary consisted of two time blocks of 50 and 60 minutes. Beginning in January 2019, Primary now consists of

987-728: The Sunday of each month on which the indicated meetings are to occur identified): Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood (2nd and 4th Sundays) Under direction of the bishop (5th Sunday) Young Women and Aaronic Priesthood (2nd and 4th Sundays) Under direction of the bishop (5th Sunday) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , church leaders announced in mid-March 2020 that all large public gatherings, including weekly worship services, would be discontinued until further notice. Weekly services have since resumed in many locations, as directed by local area presidencies. The main Sunday service

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1034-668: The addition of a spire including a 10-foot-6-inch (3.20 m) statue of the angel Moroni . The Atlanta Temple was dedicated in services held on June 1–4, 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley . It was the first of over 90 temples he dedicated. In the dedicatory prayer, Hinckley affirmed the sacred nature of the temple in these words: May all who enter its portals realize that they are entering Thy house as Thy guest, and conduct themselves always with reverence and respect and love for Thee. May all who enter these holy precincts feel of Thy spirit and be bathed in its marvelous, sanctifying influence... May they come with clean hands and pure hearts and in

1081-480: The building may sometimes be referred to as a "chapel," the room that is used as a chapel for religious services is actually only one component of the standard meetinghouse. All people, regardless of belief or standing in the church, are permitted to attend weekly meetings. The sacrament (similar to communion, the Lord's supper, or the eucharist in other churches) is offered weekly. Latter-day Saints also come together in meetinghouses for various activities throughout

1128-752: The building's façade bears the inscription "Holiness to the Lord – The House of the Lord." The announcement to build a temple in Georgia was made by the church's First Presidency in April 1980. A site for the temple was selected on a 13-acre (53,000 m ) lot in Fulton County , in the then-unincorporated city of Sandy Springs , between Barfield Road on the east and Glenridge Drive on the west, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Atlanta . Ground breaking ceremonies were held on March 7, 1981, with church president Spencer W. Kimball presiding. An estimated 10,000 spectators were in attendance. Special guests at

1175-587: The congregation. Hymns , accompanied by piano or organ , are sung throughout the service as a form of worship through music. Once a month, usually on the first Sunday, instead of prepared talks, members are invited to bear their testimonies about Jesus Christ and gospel principles. The testimonies are generally impromptu statements of personal faith. This meeting is called fast and testimony meeting . Sunday School classes are separated into adult and youth courses. Historically, adult Sunday School courses have been grouped by topic, with new members and visitors having

1222-512: The covenants they have made with Thee. Wilt Thou bless them, dear Father, with peace in their hearts and peace in their homes.” On November 14, 1997, Hinckley rededicated the temple after significant renovations to the interior and the addition of an expanded baptistry. Latter-day Saints consider it a sacred privilege to serve in the temple. With the exception of a small staff of grounds keepers, maintenance engineers, office workers, and security, all other temple workers, including sealers, serve in

1269-462: The earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel." Individuals bearing testimony are directed by the feelings of their heart or by the Holy Ghost as to what to share. Members are expected to be brief so that others may have the opportunity. Twice a year, the LDS Church holds general conference , where

1316-505: The end of each block, the two are reversed. Since January 2019, the 50-minute block for Primary includes singing time and instruction, with sharing time discontinued. Individual congregations will have the option of having the entire Primary meet for the instruction and singing time. In 2016, the church announced that each ward should hold a teacher council meeting once a month during the three-hour schedule of Sunday meetings. Those attending teacher council meetings include everyone who teaches

1363-496: The ground breaking included Georgia Governor George Busbee , Georgia Speaker of the House Tom Murphy , Joe Frank Harris , United States Senators Jake Garn and Paula Hawkins , United States Congressman Elliott Levitas , State Senators Nathan Dean, Joe Thompson, Joe Burton, and Wayne Garner, State Representatives Bill Cummings and Doug Vandiford, and Fulton County Commissioner Michael Lomax . In his remarks at

1410-428: The groundbreaking, Busbee commented on the high emphasis Latter-day Saints place on education within the family and the positive impact the temple would have on the state; I wish more Georgians placed such importance in the moral aspects of this life, for only through a common responsibility for our neighbor’s well-being can we insure that our state will be a better place for our children to live. And we are all taking

1457-410: The hour of the block that corresponds to when their class participates in sharing time. If necessary, participants could be divided into groups according to the needs of those they teach. Since January 2019, each ward will hold a teacher council meeting quarterly during the 50-minute class time. A ward will typically hold teacher council meeting for Relief Society, Young Women and priesthood teachers on

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1504-417: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlanta_Temple&oldid=1095722699 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Atlanta Georgia Temple The Atlanta Georgia Temple (formerly

1551-426: The most part members are discouraged from "shopping" for a different ward that is more convenient for them, or that has one where they might attend with friends or relatives, or that has a more likeable leader. While there is no formal dress requirement for Sunday meetings, women usually attend wearing skirts or dresses, and men wear suits or dress shirts and ties. Through the end of 2018, weekly services consisted of

1598-461: The number of out of state visitors to the temple. The First Presidency announced on April 4, 2009, that the temple would close on July 1, 2009, for 15–18 months of renovations. Changes as part of the remodeling included making the temple more accessible to those with special needs. Additional windows were added, as well as more art and art glass. Among the new works of art is a mural in the creation room by Linda Curley Christensen. When construction

1645-405: The option to attend an introductory class. In congregations with a diverse membership, classes might be organized in which the approved courses are taught in a variety of languages. When necessary, wireless headphones are made available, so the discussion can be translated into other languages. The Sunday School meets every other week and consists of a teacher presenting gospel messages drawn from

1692-416: The optional Sunday School classes are no longer taught during the meeting block. Each ward bishop will determine how other optional courses, including those before or after baptism, will be taught outside of the two-hour block. Youth Sunday School courses are for those who aged 12 to 18 and may be divided or combined by ages, depending on local needs, such as the number of youth. In 2013, the church instituted

1739-484: The other members of their congregation. Members may choose to fast on this weekend for two meals and donate the money they would have spent for those meals to the church as fast offerings , which are used to operate the church's welfare program. As with all other donations, these are privately paid through donation slips or on the Internet. A ward or a family can fast in unity for a purpose, such as for an ill member or other personal or family needs. The church definition of

1786-501: The people had reached a critical mass. The leadership of the church wanted to make “every ordinance performed in the house of the Lord” available to those who sought them, without the previous restraints of distance and the expense of travel. As a direct result of this announcement, between 1999 and 2000, temples were dedicated in every state in the original Atlanta Temple district, except Arkansas and Mississippi. This dramatically decreased

1833-489: The property was further developed to include a meetinghouse (chapel) for regular Sunday worship and other church activities. The Atlanta Temple was the first of seven smaller temples built in the early 1980s. Its dimensions were smaller than previous temples and the original designs did not include a spire. However, at a regional meeting held in Tucker, Georgia , on January 10, 1982, church architect Emil B. Fetzer announced

1880-452: The scriptures, with participation from class members. Prior to the January 2019 changes to the Sunday meeting schedule, Sunday School was held weekly. In 2019, when the church moved to a two-hour block, Sunday School began being held every other week. Also, the two main adult classes were no longer to be called Gospel Doctrine and Gospel Principles, with encouragement for a combined adult class instead. For congregations where space won't allow

1927-612: The second hour of church will correspond with the lessons to be taught at home throughout the week. Men and boys 12 and older attend priesthood classes. Although all men and boys meet briefly at the beginning of the session for a prayer, hymn, and announcements, they then separate into classes. The men attend Elders Quorum . Boys are divided into priesthood quorums: Deacons (ages 12–13), Teachers (ages 14–15), and Priests (ages 16–18) Quorums. Classes may be combined if class sizes are small. Adult women attend Relief Society , and girls who are 12 to 17 attend Young Women . Occasionally,

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1974-437: The second hour of the Sunday meeting block, depending on the specific needs of each congregation. The most common of these was an optional adult course called Gospel Principles , designed for new members and those of other faiths who are interested in learning more about the church (often referred to as "investigators"). Other courses included topics such as Marriage and Family Relations and Temple Preparation. Since January 2019,

2021-592: The states of Georgia, Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Tennessee , South Carolina , and portions of North Carolina , Louisiana , and Arkansas . Until the dedication of the Orlando Florida Temple in October 1994 members of the church in the Caribbean also came to the Atlanta Temple. During the first decade of the Atlanta Temple's operation it was not unusual for Latter-day Saints from Venezuela and other South American countries to come to

2068-571: The temple all day Friday and again on Saturday. It became the spiritual hub for Latter-day Saints in the region. As of October 2015, the temple district area serves 124 congregations in Georgia, 11 in Tennessee, and nine in Alabama. On October 4, 1997, Hinckley announced that due to increasing church membership in the United States and around the world, the need to build smaller temples closer to

2115-466: The temple are open to the public. After a temple is dedicated, only members in good standing are permitted entrance and so they are not meetinghouses or houses of public worship. Most LDS temples are identified by a gold-colored Angel Moroni statue, adorning the top of the tallest spire. Temples have a different purpose from meetinghouses. In the LDS Church today, temples serve two main purposes: (1) temples are locations in which Latter-day Saints holding

2162-468: The week (except Mondays, which are reserved for Family Home Evening ). The church maintains a meetinghouse locator to help members and visitors find meetinghouses and meeting times in their area. Unlike most religions, members are expected to attend the specific ward they reside in and are discouraged from choosing a different congregation that meets in a different place or at a more convenient time. There are some exceptions to this rule (see below), but for

2209-415: Was completed, a public open house was held from April 9 through April 23, 2011. The temple was rededicated on May 1, 2011, by church president Thomas S. Monson . In 2012, the LDS Church opposed a proposal to rename Barfield Road to Mercedes-Benz Drive when Mercedes-Benz developed the adjacent land for their USA headquarters. Worship services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In

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