More than 560 community members gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Austin Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Aug. 17, featuring appearances by state Sen. Pete Flores, state Rep. Terry Wilson and Cedar Park Mayor Pro Tem Anne Duffy.
The temple, which is expected to open around 2026, will serve about 32,000 members in the area, said Kelli Wright, the church’s Austin-area media specialist.
The overview
The 30,000-square-foot, one-story temple will be built on 10.6 acres located next to the church’s current meetinghouse at 1801 E. Park St., Cedar Park, where any community members may attend Sunday worship services or weekday activities.
As the church’s most sacred building, the temple will be exclusively reserved for church members to hold ceremonies, including weddings and baptisms by proxy for the deceased, Wright said. The Austin temple will be the church’s sixth temple in the state, with temples in Houston, Lubbock, McAllen and San Antonio.
In their own words
“We gratefully acknowledge, honor, and show appreciation to our many neighbors, friends, and civic officials in Cedar Park, Round Rock, and the Greater Austin region who have graciously permitted this holy house to be erected,” Elder Michael A. Dunn said in a news release. “We pray that it will be an everlasting blessing and a beacon of hope to all in this community, regardless of their beliefs.”
Stay tuned
Construction is expected to be complete in two to three years, according to a news release from the church. The community at large will be invited to tour the new temple before it is formally dedicated.
