By Alex B. Leeman
The Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple is soon to become the 104th temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Winter Quarters Temple will be formally dedicated on April 22. It is the second of three temples being built at historical sites of the Church of Jesus Christ.
The first, the Palmyra New York Temple, was dedicated April 6, 2000. Completion of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple is expected in early 2002.
Similar to the Palmyra Temple, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ announced that one session of the Winter Quarters Temple dedication will be broadcast to stake centers in the U.S. and Canada. All baptized, temple worthy members may attend by obtaining a special dedication recommend from their bishop or branch president.
Liz Welch, an Omaha area public affairs person for the Church of Jesus Christ, said the temple is built adjacent to the Mormon Pioneer Cemetery near the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters. The Church-owned center was opened in 1997.
Welch called the temple a tribute to the pioneers.
'A lot of people dedicated their time and their effort hundreds of years ago when the pioneers were here and settled and then moved forward to go west,' Welch said.
According to Church of Jesus Christ officials, Winter Quarters served as a staging point and temporary headquarters for the church during its nineteenth century migration west. Over 70,000 pioneers passed through Winter Quarters on their way west.
Church officials said the temple will serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifice and hardships of the pioneers.
Today, about 34,000 Latter-day Saints live in the Winter Quarters Temple district, which includes 12 stakes covering parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Missouri.
Welch said members in the area are preparing to attend the temple.
'They are thrilled,' said Welch. 'We''re thrilled to think that we will have a temple here.'
Previously, members had to travel 7 hours to St. Louis to attend the temple.
The open house for the Winter Quarters Temple began March 21 with VIP and group tours for media, local clergy, and government officials. Public tours will begin Friday, March 30, and will continue until Saturday April 14. No tours will be conducted during General Conference.
According to Welch, guests have to be bussed to the open house because there is very little parking near the temple.
As a result, Welch said only about 50,000 guests can be accommodated during the open house.