To the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Asia, the Hong Kong China Temple is the house of God. Church members come to the temple to worship and to honor their families, both past and present.
The Hong Kong China Temple serves members of the Church of Jesus Christ who come from an area encompassing approximately half of the world’s population and landmass. This temple is at the heart of the Asia continent and is considered an extremely important part of the Church’s activities in Asia. Some of the areas served include: India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
- The Hong Kong Temple Stands as a Beacon to Members in Asian Areas
- Friends and Family from Mongolia Celebrate a Wedding at the Hong Kong Temple
- A Group from Thailand in Native Dress at the Hong Kong Temple
- The Beautiful Grounds at the Hong Kong Temple Emanate Peace
- The Architecture of the Hong Kong Temple Finds its Roots in Hong Kong
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Members of the Church gained the opportunity to come to a temple closer to their areas in May 1996, when the construction on the Hong Kong China Temple was complete. There are many inspiring stories of members’ sacrifice and determination to raise the necessary transportation funds to travel from other areas to visit the temple in Hong Kong.
One member in a distant country brought his wife to the Hong Kong China Temple. He said that in order to come, it was necessary to sell the family cow. The cow was a source of milk and of income for the family. When asked why he sold the cow that was so valuable to the family at the time, he commented that going to the temple and taking temple covenants with his wife was more important than anything else.
This striking building has become an architectural asset to the beautiful Kowloon Tong neighborhood in which it resides. It features high-arching windows, and sculpted granite walls, arcaded with window vaults and casements. The design was inspired by early Hong Kong colonial architecture and is completed by a gold dome, atop which sits a single spire supporting the statue of the Angel Moroni. This statue represents an important prophet from the Book of Mormon, which along with the Bible are sacred scriptures testifying of Jesus Christ.
After construction, a temple open house was held for the public during May of 1996, as is the tradition for new temples. At this open house, the public is given the opportunity to tour the interior of the temple and have questions answered. During the public open house of the Hong Kong China Temple, over 13,000 people, not of the LDS faith, toured the temple, including 500 VIP guests and 25 ministers of other faiths.
The building of the Hong Kong China Temple provides great blessings to members of the Church and demonstrates the faith of the Church in its future and the continuing growth of the Church in Asia.
There are 136 operating temples throughout the world, 15 temples under active construction, and 15 more temples have been announced and are in pre-construction phases. After all announced temples are completed, there will be 166 temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world.