A striking new building going up among cornfields on North Meridian is catching the attention of passers by.
The building is Kansas’ first temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A public groundbreaking was held in September 2024 but only more recently has the structure substantially assumed the appearance it will have when completed. It’s expected to be finished next year.
According to a news release from the Salt Lake City-based church, Kansas is home to about 40,000 LDS members. Currently, members must travel to Oklahoma or Missouri to worship in temples, where marriages and other ceremonies are held. The news release went on to state that Kansas was a “historically significant location” for early LDS settlements but was left behind as the church moved west.
The bright white, 9,950-square-foot building sits on a 6.42-acre site that is being extensively landscaped.
At the groundbreaking, church member John Bazzelle said his family had waited 110 years for a temple.
“This will be a great blessing for me, my family, members of the church and our community.”
