Here stands the Melbourne Australia Temple a beacon of faith. The Melbourne Australia Temple is the 90th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It stands as one of six temples in Australia.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine the late 1990s. Members from this area traveled twelve hours to the Sydney Australia Temple. The announcement on October 30, 1998, that a temple would be built here brought joy.
The early days of the Church in Australia saw slow growth. Many early converts immigrated to the United States. Missionary work gained momentum in the 1950s. Membership exploded. In 1955, there were 3,000 members. By 1960, that number nearly tripled to 10,000. By 1970, the number more than tripled again to 32,000.
Consider this: By 1980, membership reached 50,000. Today, there are over 155,000 members in Australia. This makes the Church of Jesus Christ the fastest-growing Christian church in the country.
The groundbreaking ceremony occurred on March 20, 1999. P. Bruce Mitchell presided. The site spans 5.98 acres. A meetinghouse also sits here. From June 2-10, 2000, the Melbourne Australia Temple opened its doors to the public. Visitors explored the 10,700 square foot temple. They saw the celestial room. They marveled at the two sealing rooms. They observed the two ordinance rooms and the baptistry. They learned about Latter-day Saint beliefs.
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Melbourne Australia Temple on June 16, 2000. Four dedicatory services accommodated the many members. The Melbourne Australia Temple serves 18,000 members. They come from eight stakes in Victoria, Tasmania, and Southern New South Wales.
Edna Ord once served as secretary to Elder Bruce R. McConkie. He served as a mission president in Melbourne. That was from 1961-1964. Elder McConkie promised her a temple in Melbourne. After the 1998 announcement, she recalled his promise with joy.
Murray Lobley, a stake president, spoke at the dedication. He noted the Melbourne Australia Temple’s impact. Lives within and beyond the Church would be touched. President Hinckley dedicated four temples on one overseas tour. The Adelaide Australia Temple was dedicated the day before.
Before the Melbourne Australia Temple, the Sydney Australia Temple was 300 miles away. The new temples reduced travel significantly. Parts of the temple district were settled by British convicts. Temple President Keith O’Grady compared them to ancestors in spiritual chains. Temple work would aid their progression.
The exterior of the Melbourne Australia Temple is snow white granite. Grass fields, trees, and walkways adorn the grounds. Inside, the Melbourne Australia Temple features two instruction rooms. It also has two sealing rooms. The Melbourne Australia Temple shares similarities with the Adelaide Australia Temple. Both have the same square footage. They also have the same number of instruction and sealing rooms. They also have the same exterior finishes.
The Melbourne Australia Temple sits on a rising slope above the M3 freeway. It is about 15 miles from Melbourne’s city center. The site was once a welfare farm orchard. It was also the location of a Christmas pageant in the 1990s.
Now, as we stand here, remember the words of Elder John A. Widstoe. He said, “When we go through the temple for other people we taste the sweet joy of saviorhood.” The Melbourne Australia Temple stands as a testament to faith. It stands as a beacon of hope. It stands as a place of service.